"Let's prepare something sweet, Miss Canillia."
At that moment, Lia doubted what she heard. He definitely called her 'Canillia'.
As she shook her head in astonishment, Claude leans and put his lips close to her cheek.
"I just said what came to my mind. If you wait here, they'll approach you. So... Please be careful."
A soft breath flowed on her fine cheek. His lips didn't touch it, but it was a kiss on the cheek for a woman.
Her cheeks flushed red as she stares at the corner of the nearby bench. Claude blinked as he looked down at Lia, who had stiffened, then walked away. Her hands that were holding the parasol trembles.
'Is it a virtue of a high-ranked noble that they should have to be kind to an unpleasant and terrible person? If it's not, then does he really suspects that I'm a woman?'
'What the hell does the Young Duke wants to identify?'
In the distance, Claude leisurely crossed the park and enters a lush dessert
store. She could see how several people got surprised by his presence.
Beyond the transparent window, she can see him carefully choosing sweets like
cookies and caramel.
"Hey, pretty sister..."
Preoccupied, Lia then turned her head to a small voice that's calling her. A hesitant girl with a grimy face is standing in front of her.
The girl is about 10 years old.
Next to the girl was another child, who seems to be her younger brother, with a
runny nose and was looking up at Lia with curiosity while sucking his thumb.
"What's going on?"
"We're so hungry. Could you buy us one bread. Please?"
The child clutched her belly, unable to touch the fine dress that Lia is wearing. It was like a an image of her.
Lia was also always hungry, and covered with dirt. She would always say that she's hungry whenever she sees a person who is clean, and would always hope for someone's kindness.
'I can't believe these kids are being used for crimes...'
She could instinctively tell. If the children lure her, the real criminal will soon
appear and kidnap her.
Trying to pat the child's head, Lia stopped and opened her wallet instead. It'll
be too suspicious if one would fall for it easily.
"I'll give you money, so go eat whatever you want."
They shook their head in surprise seeing Lia take out a 10 gillie coin. Then the child with teary eyes said.
"If you give me money, I'll lose it to the old men. Then we're still be hungry. Sister, please buy us just one bread. Just one... Then we can share it for a week! The bread at Jenny's bakery is cheap and very big."
The child swallowed, perhaps because she was really hungry.
She carefully clutched the 10 gillie she took out from her wallet then stood up. "This should be a secret between us. I'll buy you bread, so let's go."
Looking blankly, Lia stroked the girl's that seems to be in tears.
Lia went to Jenny's bakery as the child guided her. It's the opposite of where Claude had gone. The alley close to where the doctor passed by a while ago really smells of baking.
The child walking next to Lia trembles precariously. The child was on the verge of tears, and her face is a mess.
Her luxurious shoes and the child's dirty bare feet touch the pavement one after another.
Just before reaching the bakery, the child carefully grasped Lia's skirt.
"Sister, I'm not hungry anymore..."
YOU ARE READING
PBPGD
RandomHoshi was just 12 when she was taken away from her mother in the slums and forced to live as the son of an aristocratic family. But under the layers of secrets and lies, she never forgets. She continues to struggle to be her true self again, to re...
