08 Silly

The gardens always manage to surprise me each time I venture in. This time, following behind this 'kid' I found, I came to a completely different part of the gardens.

Even though I arrived here a few months ago, I had only managed to explore the front half of the gardens. The other part was hidden behind a wall with a huge gate in the middle.

It wasn't wrong to say that I was intrigued by what lay behind the wall, but since I had no pass to enter, I hadn't bothered about it until now.

I could have stolen a pass from one of the staff, but after establishing a bad reputation by breaking windows and trying to escape, I found out there was a guard assigned to me at all times, undisclosed and hidden from plain sight.

How did I find out about a supposedly non-existent guard?

Well, it's me we're talking about here, and I did see him once before, talking to the older brother. I'm guessing that was the time the older brother had assigned him to me.

If I had heard correctly, his name—or probably his codename—was Ryder. How befitting his name was for his job, being the messenger to tell all my dirty deeds to the older brother.

Too bad I had gotten mellow these past few weeks, just wandering between the gardens and my room. I assumed it might be a bit boring for him having to babysit me. But since he got big bucks from selling off a young girl's information to an adult man, he's getting off easy. I know how it sounds, but you get my context.

"Do you have your pass with you?"

"My pass?"

"Yes, you'll need it to pass through the gates."

"I lost mine while playing in the gardens."

I lied, of course. 😗

"Oh, well, no worries. I can get you another one. Wait here."

The 'kid' went to the guard post situated right before the gate. To tell you the truth, I was a bit worried when the 'kid' turned around and pointed at me. The guard inside had gotten up from his chair to see me, which made me nervous.

Did he recognize me?

Then again, even if he did, what could he do? The other side of the gardens was still considered within the compound, so it wasn't technically escaping. The worst he could do was rat me out, not that I cared.

So by the time the 'kid' returned, all my anxiety left me, and my facade was calm and composed.

"Come on, let's go."

"Let's get something straight here. You're going to bring me to a place with more bread, right?"

"More bread? You're not sick of it yet? Didn't you finish an entire loaf?"

"It depends on the type of bread. Now, if it's whole wheat, I might need to eat that last. I get easily full just with a few slices. Oat's not my favorite, and if you have milk toast, you hit the jackpot!"

"I've never seen anyone so obsessed with bread before." The 'kid' laughed at me again.

That left me stunned for a moment. I was never a subject of laughter before. Why was talking about bread so funny? What's wrong with bread? Was it silly to him?

"What's so funny?" I asked, my brow furrowing.

"Nothing, it's just... your enthusiasm for bread is kind of refreshing," Felix said, still chuckling.

I narrowed my eyes at him, unsure whether to be offended or amused. "Well, bread is a big deal to me."

"I can see that," he replied, still grinning. "Come on, let's get you that bread."

We walked through the gate and into the hidden part of the garden. It was even more lush and vibrant than the front half, with exotic flowers and towering trees. The air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers, and the sound of birds singing added to the tranquil atmosphere.

Felix led me to a small cottage nestled in the heart of the garden. "This is where the gardeners take their breaks. They usually have snacks and stuff here."

He opened the door, and sure enough, there was a table laden with various types of bread, cheeses, and fruits. My eyes widened at the sight.

"Help yourself," Felix said, gesturing to the spread.

I grabbed a piece of milk toast and took a bite, savoring the creamy, sweet flavor. "This is perfect."

Felix watched me with amusement. "You really do love bread, don't you?"

"More than you know," I replied between bites.

For the first time in a long while, I felt a genuine smile spread across my face. Maybe this place wasn't entirely hopeless after all. And maybe, just maybe, I had found a small ally in the unlikeliest of places.