Chapter 55.5: The Reactions

  At the same day, after the Ray carry Ivaline up to his room.

  Town stirred.

  At the Dye Shop — Corvix

  Corvix heard it while counting.

  Coins clicked softly against the wooden table. Clean numbers. Honest work.

  “…and they say the Brave carried her,” an employee whispered from behind the fabric rack.

  “Princess carry. Straight into the inn.”

  “Upstairs.”

  The counting stopped.

  Corvix slowly lifted his head.

  “…Say that again.”

  The employee swallowed. “…The Brave. Ray E. Shine. He carried the girl. Ivaline. Ordered a kid’s meal. Then took her to his room to teach her.”

  Silence.

  Corvix closed his ledger.

  Very carefully.

  He leaned back in his chair and folded his arms.

  “…Hah.”

  A laugh escaped him—short, sharp, humorless.

  “So that’s how it is.”

  He stared at the wall, imagining it.

  The dress.

  The hair he had personally ordered cleaned.

  The way she walked straighter now.

  “…I knew she’d attract attention,” he muttered.

  Then, quieter—

  “But I didn’t expect that idiot hero.”

  One of the employees dared to ask, “S–Sir Corvix… should we—?”

  “No.”

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  The word was final.

  “No noise. No confrontation. Not yet.”

  His fingers tapped the table.

  “If he’s sincere, he’ll behave. If he’s not…”

  A thin, dangerous smile appeared.

  “…then I’ll remind him whose investment she is.”

  He stood.

  “And double her escort after work. Quietly.”

  Tsundere papa energy, fully activated.

  Ivaline never notices.

  But, Corvix dye shop is actually have many - many dark secrets.

  And right now, that secrets decided to move for her.

  At Tomas’s Bakery — the One She Saved

  Tomas nearly dropped his tray.

  “…He did what?”

  The customer nodded enthusiastically. “Everyone’s talking about it! The Brave himself!”

  Tomas felt his chest tighten.

  He remembered the small girl standing between him and a knife.

  The way she never asked for thanks.

  The way she bowed awkwardly when he offered bread.

  “…That child,” Tomas said slowly, “is braver than most adults I know.”

  His hands clenched.

  “But she’s still a child.”

  He wiped the counter harder than necessary.

  “…If that man hurts her reputation, even by accident…”

  He exhaled sharply.

  “No. He saved her too. I’ll trust him.”

  A pause.

  “…But I’ll keep watching.”

  That night, Tomas baked extra bread.

  Just in case she came by tomorrow.

  At Edwyn’s Bakery — Her Employer

  Edwyn heard it from three directions at once.

  “…lolicon—”

  “…Brave—”

  “…Ivaline—”

  He slammed a loaf onto the table.

  “ENOUGH.”

  The shop went quiet.

  “…Anyone who calls that girl filthy names,” Edwyn growled, “can take their business elsewhere.”

  A customer tried to protest. “But—”

  “She kneads dough with blistered hands,” Edwyn snapped.

  “She works harder than anyone here.

  “She’s never stolen, never lied, never complained.”

  He crossed his arms.

  “And that Brave? I don’t know his intentions. But I do know this—”

  His eyes hardened.

  “If he so much as makes her cry, I’ll make sure he never eats bread in this town again.”

  The customers went silent.

  Edwyn turned back to the oven.

  “…Idiot heroes,” he muttered.

  At the Gate — Brannic and Edric

  Brannic stood with his arms crossed.

  Edric stood beside him, butcher knife not in hand—for once.

  “…So,” Brannic said slowly, tail flicking, “you heard it too.”

  Edric nodded. “I heard enough.”

  Silence stretched.

  “…He didn’t look like he was doing anything wrong,” Brannic said reluctantly.

  Edric scowled. “Doesn’t matter. Optics are bad.”

  “…He ordered her food.”

  “…Good.”

  “…He asked the inn for a kid’s meal.”

  “…Good.”

  “…And he stayed focused on her the whole time.”

  Edric paused.

  “…That’s… actually good.”

  They exchanged a look.

  “…Still,” Brannic said, tail stiffening, “if he steps out of line—”

  “I’ll cut him,” Edric said calmly.

  “…I’ll arrest you,” Brannic replied.

  “…Fair.”

  Another pause.

  “…We watch him,” Brannic concluded.

  Edric nodded.

  “Closely.”

  Both men stared toward the inn.

  Not hostile.

  Not trusting.

  Protective.

  Far away, upstairs in the inn, Ray was busy explaining distance, intent, and why you never lock your shoulders.

  Completely unaware that half the town had quietly decided—

  The girl named Ivaline

  was no longer alone.

  And the Brave?

  He was now under surveillance.