🏰 The Kingdom of Edelia

The Kingdom of Edelia, a land embracing golden wheat fields and blue rivers.

🍞 Morning in the capital, Lowen, began with the scent of baking bread. People headed to work clutching warm loaves, and talk of newly opened bakeries filled the squares.

👑 A country where a skilled baker could even place their bread on the royal table.

In a small alley there, lived a woman who dreamed of becoming the kingdom's best baker. ✨

🌼 Elina's Wheat Flower Bakery

Deep inside Apricot Tree Alley, a small wooden sign carved with wheat ears and flowers.

This was the Wheat Flower Bakery, run by the commoner baker Elina Brin.

🥐 Elina handled dough from the crack of dawn every day. Soft milk bread and savory butter bread. One bite left a subtle sweetness and a rich aroma lingering in the mouth.

“It's freshly baked. Would you like to try some?” 💛

Her face was always filled with anticipation as she handed over the bread. Whenever someone smiled and said it was delicious, she could briefly forget the fatigue accumulated since dawn.

🔔 Yet, the bell above the small shop's door rarely rang.

🌹 Roselia's Maison Rose

🌹 Roselia's Maison Rose

At Maison Rose in White Rose Square, customers lined up from the morning.

👑 This was the shop where Roselia de Bellrose, daughter of Count Bellrose, made bread herself. Top-grade flour and butter, sophisticated skill, and the prestige of a noble family. There were plenty of reasons for people to visit.

Roselia took it for granted that her bread received the highest praise.

🫖 When she heard that a commoner baker in an alley also dreamed of being the best in the kingdom, she gave a light laugh.

“The kingdom's best baker? Shouldn't she start by getting customers into her shop first?”

People passing by the Wheat Flower Bakery opened the doors of Maison Rose again today.

🥀 Leftover Bread

People carrying Maison Rose bread bags passed by the window.

Elina, who had looked up every time footsteps drew near, lowered her gaze again. The breads she had baked with care since morning remained neatly on the display stand.

💭 ‘Again today... so much left over.’

🪙 Only a few coins lay on the counter. After setting aside the cost for tomorrow's ingredients, there was almost nothing left for herself.

Elina took a small bite of the milk bread. It was soft and savory. It was a taste she was confident in, crafted with effort since dawn.

‘It's good. I really made it delicious...’

For some, there was bread precious enough to wait in line for, while her bread waited for a master all day long.

Elina bit her lip hard.

‘If only they would try it just once.’

‘I want to hear it too... that they want to eat it again next time.’ 💧

🌅 Back Before the Dough

🌅 Back Before the Dough

The next morning, Elina tied her apron once more.

Yesterday's upset hadn't vanished overnight. She worried that customers would be few again today, and looking toward the square made her feel envious.

Still, as she placed her hands on the dough, the bread she wanted to make came to mind.

💭 ‘I want to make bread that people think of tomorrow after just one bite.’

Elina slowly rolled the dough. The texture against her palms was familiar, and seeing the surface flatten evenly calmed her scattered mind.

‘Someday, I'll make people come all the way to this alley just to eat my bread.’

✨ She imagined customers standing in front of her small shop. She saw herself hearing their compliments and confidently telling them to come back tomorrow.

A small smile spread across Elina's lips.

‘I will definitely succeed.’

‘I will become the best baker in the kingdom.’ 🍞💛