MPBAGS Chapter 84

After Gabriel left, I was heading back to Misha to take off the dress I had tried on when I happened to run into Kanna, who had just returned from her walk.

Her already round eyes widened and her cheeks flushed bright red. It was clearly a face that had fallen in love at first sight, and I thought this was exactly the kind of reaction Misha had wanted from Gabriel.

"Are you an angel? Why don't you have wings?"

Kanna exclaimed, covering her mouth in admiration. Why are all the people in my house so good at flattery? Misha's employees were pretty good at sucking up too—did they get lessons from Misha while I was away? Well, to survive next to a villainess, you have to act like a sycophant and put on a show.

"No wonder Lord Gabriel couldn't keep his composure. Even I'm wondering why the young lady isn't an angel..."

"You met Gabriel?"

"Yes. He left looking very exhausted."

Kanna mimicked his posture and walked with drooping shoulders. My conscience was stabbed with guilt. I was a bit harsh with my words.

Should I have just accepted it? Or at least said thank you!

It's not like I'm going to actually fall in love with him, and my goal is to avoid the villainess's death flags, so I just need to play along with Gabriel appropriately. That way Gabriel would actively protect me and stick around.

And I realized belatedly—wasn't it not even a real confession? I was the one who jumped to conclusions and asked if it was a confession. When I asked "Do you like me?" Gabriel couldn't say anything.

Was this confession attempt number 0? Did I rush ahead and reject him all by myself? Gabriel does like me, but he didn't exactly ask me to date him.

Ugh! Why did I do that? I really regret it...

I thought I had been managing my emotions well since possessing this body, but I had a sudden outburst in front of Gabriel. It wasn't even dawn, but I got caught up in dawn sentimentality and just took out my frustration on the male lead who was doing his role well. This is all because I prematurely woke up from sleep. That's why people need to get proper sleep.

Inwardly beating the ground in regret, I took Pudding from Kanna's arms. Even though he's nocturnal and it's not even bedtime, he's closing his eyes. When I scratched his chin, Pudding purred contentedly. Ahh. This is healing. Animal therapy is the best. All of today's fatigue has melted away. If only Pudding wasn't a beastman, I would have buried my face in his belly, but that's a bit regrettable.

"Kanna. Thank you for walking Pudding instead of me."

"Not at all. You were busy today, miss."

I had made plans with Gabriel today, so Kanna took care of the walk instead. Usually, these kinds of chores were handled by Kanna.

Kanna had the least seniority, so external duties were always handled by Henna and Daisy. Especially lately, I often brought along the experienced Daisy. So I think I've been neglecting Kanna a bit. I should reflect on this.

"Are you going to Lady Schmitiana's?"

"Right. Come with me."

Daisy and Henna would have already had their measurements taken, so I just need to measure Kanna. We can go together—I'll return the clothes and Kanna can get measured. Perfect.

"Me too?"

"Yes. I need to have yours made too."

"For me?"

"I already asked her to make ones for Henna and Daisy. You heard harsh words because of me when we went to the temple last time."

Kanna seemed to recall what happened at the Great Temple and nodded, then hugged me. Pudding, whose territory was being invaded, waved his hands. Hey, Pudding. Kanna took care of you all day, so at least share one side of my embrace with her.

"Miss..."

I heard a sobbing voice from below. Don't tell me she's crying? She's crying because I'm making her one dress?

This is Kanna, who when I was throwing around gold coins, was like "Wow, our miss is the best" and giving thumbs up? Our mentally strong Kanna, who even when I bought ready-made clothes enough to fill a carriage, calmly said "You'll have trouble choosing clothes"?

So custom-made clothes were the right answer? Good. Let's go with hiring Misha permanently.

"I belong to you until I die, miss. You can use me however you want."

Kanna said, sniffling. No... I won't use you. Saying such things with a stuffy nose doesn't sound very cool, you know? Really, the devotion range of a grateful female lead is extraordinary.

"You like me, don't you, miss?"

Kanna looked up at me while still in my arms. Tears were welling up in her eyes.

Actually, there's a separate answer to that, but given Gabriel's track record and all. I couldn't be cold to someone who's crying, so I just nodded.

When I think about it, usually when I read novels, I like the female lead the most. So I guess I like Kanna too.

Gabriel had a dream.

It was the familiar nightmare he always had. A carriage racing wildly, a young child getting crushed under the wheels. The coachman, angry that the carriage carrying an important person nearly had an accident, spewed curses and continued driving the horses. Someone whispered that the carriage belonged to some bishop.

'That high-ranking person made great contributions to catching those sorcerer scum. For someone to get in the way of such a carriage, isn't he also a sorcerer?' 'Don't go near. You'll be cursed.' Murmuring voices could be heard. A few people who had come forward to help heard those words and pretended not to notice as they left.

Gabriel pleaded with the adults for help.

"Please save me, my leg, the bleeding won't stop."

However, the people around only watched, not daring to help the child who had nearly overturned the carriage of God's chosen one.

Gabriel carried the child on his back. He promised to hold on a little longer, that he would find a priest and ask for help. His body naturally swayed from carrying a child who was a head taller than him.

Gabriel went to find a priest. It was a priest who sometimes performed miracles using holy water while going around the slums. The priest uttered the same words he had said more than a hundred times before. 'I'm sorry, but I can't help.'

"Liar!"

Gabriel rushed at the priest but was immediately subdued. A higher-ranking person who appeared later clicked his tongue at the chaotic scene.

"What is all this?"

"Father Jabanya..."

The priest explained the situation and was immediately scolded.

"You fool! Since it's holy water to be used for the poor anyway, you could have given it to this child!"

"That's... yesterday Harut got slightly injured, so I gave him the remaining holy water."

"What to do..."

Meanwhile, the warmth on Gabriel's back was fading. The heart beat even slower. Gabriel felt déjà vu from the familiar heartbeat. A very slowly beating heart. This was definitely hers...

"I'll help you."

Father Jabanya's voice soon changed to the cold, monotone voice of Lady Evangeline.

Those were the words he had hoped to hear all his life. And they were also words he had often heard since meeting Evangeline Rohanson. Gabriel hoped for the white, cold hand extended to him, but when he looked back, nothing existed there.

Then, over his dimly awakening consciousness, voices could be heard.

"Captain? Are you sleeping? Even when you worked all night, you were fine."

"You don't usually doze off when looking at documents, but you must have been tired today."

"You just came back from the Rohanson estate earlier."

"That's right. What should we do? Should we wake him?"

These were familiar voices. Raphaela and Uriel? The dream gradually became blurry and he could see his closed eyelids.

"Bishop Marik summoned Sir Michel... Shouldn't we inform the captain?"

Gabriel immediately became alert at the familiar name he heard. Right, that was the name of the carriage owner back then.

"He's already awake, so it's fine."

"Captain!"

Raphaela welcomed Gabriel. A summons from Bishop Marik. Normally, Raphaela would have woken Gabriel without hesitation, but he must have looked particularly exhausted today. It was probably the influence of what happened at the Rohanson estate. Gabriel frowned and shook off his drowsiness.

So, why did Bishop Marik summon Michel?

"Michel? Did he go ahead?"

"No. He said he had to speak with you first, captain, and is stubbornly refusing the bishop."

'You've got a good subordinate.' Raphaela joked. Of course, it was also meant to mock the fact that this one subordinate was a troublemaker.

Gabriel got up from his seat and adjusted his clothes. Raphaela helped the captain by smoothing out the wrinkled parts.

"Bishop Jabanya must have spilled everything about Michel, right? That old man joined Bishop Marik's faction. Not an ounce of loyalty, what a hypocrite."

Bishop Jabanya was the only one who had witnessed Michel's situation at that time. There was definitely Jabanya's influence in summoning Michel. First he sent a spy disguised as a tutor to the Rohanson estate, and now this—he really does all sorts of things. When Raphaela said "Let's kill him," Gabriel stopped him.

"Bishop Jabanya isn't as heartless as you think."

"The old man who only pretends to be nice in front of others while looking out for his own interests?"

"Raphaela, I'm indebted to Bishop Jabanya."

"I think the help you gave him was greater, don't you? Who helped that old man become a bishop?"

Gabriel had been able to escape the slums and grow up in the temple's orphanage thanks to Jabanya's help when he was young. Not only that, but he was also able to hold a funeral for the brother he lived with.

Now that many years have passed, Jabanya's goodness may have faded considerably, but at the time, Jabanya had bestowed an unforgettable great favor on Gabriel.

Of course, that was only from Gabriel's perspective.

Raphaela considered it nothing special. To Raphaela, who was born as a duke's son, kindness was natural, and he thought sending a child to an orphanage instead of providing holy water was a natural measure.

After that, Gabriel entered the knights at a young age and now, as captain of the knights, he was being used like Jabanya's right hand, so the debt had already been repaid and then some.

Since their positions always differed when it came to talk about Bishop Jabanya, Gabriel decided to focus on urgent matters instead of arguing.