The Secret Code of Monsters.

Chapter 14: Sweet Cake Lady with Green Eyes

Before going to the station, Enid took Roland to the workhouse to say goodbye.

They were received by Director Abner and James Jones.

The female worker looked very haggard, but when she saw Roland, she still smiled happily.

This ill-fated child was finally blessed by God.

"Yes, yes, you are right! We can only take a small part of the credit for raising this little... little gentleman like Roland..."

The fat director pinched his fingers to make a long, narrow slit, just like his eyes. "The rest all comes from his status. You know, the children of nobles are still nobles no matter where they go; the sons of criminals, no matter how you teach them, will always want to steal something."

With his protruding belly, he welcomed the person into the mysterious office and pulled out the chair respectfully.

Roland had never seen him like this before.

"Would you like some wine, or a hot cup of tea?"

Enid didn't show as much expression when facing other people.

She glanced at Abner indifferently, without even taking off her gloves, and waved them in front of the man in an extremely rude manner, "We don't have time to stay here for too long, Mr. Abner, so let's forget about the formalities."

"Yes, yes! Of course! You are His agent. It is wrong to delay you for even a little bit of these hypocritical and ridiculous troubles..."

Enid: "I brought Roland here to meet James Jones and say goodbye to his friends. Director Abner, if you are not busy--"

"No! All I do all day is take care of the children, comfort the crying women, help the men and teach them how to do their work beautifully and quickly, and then go home and lie in bed thinking about how to make the people in the poorhouse more diligent and hardworking - I'm not busy at all! Ma'am! I'm not at all -"

Roland could sense that Enid was becoming increasingly impatient.

She simply stood up and gestured "please" to the fat director who was still stuck in his chair.

I'm too lazy to say anything more.

So Abner 'escorted' them all the way to Yam's room.

Along the way, he used his creaking leather shoes to "sweep the floor": any dirt that blocked Enid and Roland's way, or pliers and wooden sticks that fell on the ground, were swept far away by Abner, who was full of energy.

He is like a loyal dog who is fat but extremely agile.

When they reached their destination, Mr. Loyal Dog was ready to leave with a smile on his face.

But Roland stopped him.

"Mr. Abner." He let Enid go in first and stayed at the door. "I want to ask you a favor."

The director was no longer arrogant as usual, and his tone was definitely friendly.

"Of course! No matter where you go, you are my child. Roland, tell me, what can I do for you?" He patted his chest and made a promise.

Roland tapped his cane and moved closer to Abner.

Closer profile.

The sound was as light as the wind passing through the corridor.

"I heard that my father put a five-sovereign in the letter he sent me, and you only gave me half a crown. Is that true, Mr. Abner?"

Abner nearly jumped up.

He looked through the crack in the door in horror, shrank his neck and waved his hands: "There aren't that many at all! Roland! You are framing me!"

"Indeed." Roland nodded, stepped back slightly, and said hesitantly: "...Maybe I should ask Ms. Enid, maybe she can tell--"

Abner grabbed him and quickly interrupted: "Five pounds! Five pounds is five pounds! No problem!"

Roland curled his lips, slowly took the coin he handed over, and rubbed it in his hand.

And suddenly he said:

"This money is for Ms. Enid. She bought a lot of things for me today. I want to repay her in some way..."

Before Roland could finish his words, the coin in his hand was quickly snatched away.

Replaced with another one.

It was heavy, and the back seemed to be carved with a curtain-like pattern.

"Oh, thank you for your generosity, Mr. Abner."

Roland turned and went into the house, leaving Mr. Loyal Dog barking alone outside the door.

Inside the house, James Jones was bowing and thanking Enid: she had heard that old Collins from that family was a madman who set fire to the house and almost took her little Roland away with him.

If it weren't for this executive officer who happened to pass by and saved Roland...

"This is what we should do, Mrs. Jones." Enid's eyes kept moving between Yam and Roland, "Thank you for taking care of him for so many years. It's hard to live in this place with eye disease. Excuse me, where is your husband?"

Yam lowered his eyes.

"I see. Then the church will take Roland away. His uncle is in London. I think he should be able to raise the child well."

Yam was happy for Roland.

In the eyes of the female workers, going anywhere is better than staying here.

Not to mention the bustling center.

"You are a man now, Roland. You must understand the situation." While Enid turned around to look around the room, Yam pulled Roland into his arms and whispered in his ear: "The executive officer of the Holy Cross Church is very powerful, do you know that?"

Roland said nothing, took out the coin he had just earned from his pocket and put it into Yam's hand.

Yam glanced at it, a little surprised, and wanted to refuse, but Roland smiled and shook his head.

The female worker couldn't say anything.

She hugged Roland, her throat tight and she choked a little.

Roland hugged Yam tightly, then let her go.

After this farewell, I don’t know how long it will take before we meet again.

"Thank you for your care over the years, Mrs. Yam Jones."

"Remember to write to me, little one."

"I will."

The amber in his eyes stared at the words that flickered like candlelight.

"Yam Jones in tears"

…………

……

When we arrived at the carriage parking area, a small incident occurred.

The mayor, with a smile on his face, had been waiting here long ago with his men.

Enid asked Roland to stay where he was, and she and the priests went over to talk to them not far away.

Just then, a small stone hit Roland's heel.

A familiar style.

Then he heard a familiar voice.

"Pretty face, hey! Over here——"

Roland knew who it was.

He silently observed the priest not far away, moved his feet slightly, bypassed the carriage, and stuck to the blue brick wall along the street - Rose was waiting at the corner.

She probably had work again today, and her cream-colored skirt and tiered ruffled collar made her look as interesting as a doll stuck in a pastry.

Roland suppressed his laughter and glanced at her playful curly hair and her green eyes that were flashing with cunning light.

She was also looking at Roland.

"You are really..."

The woman didn't know where to start praising him, and after a long while of "really" speaking, she finally uttered a word stiffly:

"So handsome."

Roland couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.

She was so angry that she said, "Don't be so stupid! These are words used by the upper class!"

"Angry and Evil Thoughts Cake"
-
There is no such thing as a normal description.

"It's spread all over town!"

As he was thinking, the girl in front of him began her endless barrage of words, "Your father is old and confused, almost half crazy, and he actually set the house on fire! Hey, how did you survive?"

Seeing her being curious while trying to control her active body to maintain balance, Roland felt like laughing again.

"They said you were rescued by a passing enforcer... I guess those were the Black Crows?"

"Enid, the person who saved me is called Enid." Roland tapped his cane.

"Oh, you really look like a big shot now. You look very impressive."

Rose covered her mouth and chuckled, turning left and right, shaking her skirt, "Old Collins must have left a lot of inheritance, right?"

Roland guessed what she meant and sighed softly, "Not a penny left. Miss, I have no money, only this set of clothes. Besides, do you still need some money from me?"

"Hey, who do you take me for?"

The short curly-haired woman raised her voice.

She tapped her feet, and her skirt swam up and down like a jellyfish. She then produced a few coins from somewhere and pressed them into Roland's hands.

"I never attack my friends!"

"Are we friends now?" Roland tilted his head and blinked.

As soon as he finished saying this, he 'saw' the cake in front of him urging it to fly again.

So, he had to collect the money and hold out his hand: "Then we have to get to know each other again: Roland, Roland Collins. Roland Collins going to London."

"…We will go there sooner or later. This place is too small to do much business."

The woman muttered a few words, her green eyes as lively as a little fox that would run away if she couldn't keep her eye on it.

"Who did you learn this etiquette from? It's too 'fashionable'..."

She looked into Roland's beautiful but empty eyes, sighed slightly, and shook his hand politely.
"Well, I'm Rose, you pretty little egg who learned bad etiquette from who knows where."

"Lillian Rose Vansittart."

(End of this chapter)