Chapter 13
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Chapter 13
"If I'd known this would happen, I should have saved some instead of eating it all. I would have given it to Amelia."
"What?"
"Amelia always gives me anything delicious she has. So I wanted to give her something she'd like too..."
Edwin rubbed the black stone resembling a chocolate cookie with the tip of his shoe. As he recalled the sweet taste that had touched his tongue, saliva pooled in his mouth.
Amelia let out a soft laugh watching Edwin like that.
'If you're going to put on airs, at least hide your expression.'
Edwin, staring down at the black pebble, looked ready to drool at any moment. There was no need to ask. He was clearly thinking of the chocolate cookie.
Amelia, who had been staring at the cookie in her hand for a moment, soon hardened her expression as if she'd made a decision.
"Edwin."
"Hmm?"
"Let's eat this together."
"...What?"
At her sudden action, Edwin's already large eyes grew even wider.
"But you just said you couldn't eat it because you wanted to save it..."
"Yeah. I did, but I've changed my mind now."
Amelia tore open the paper wrapper.
"What's the point of saving it if it's just going to spoil? So let's eat it quickly."
If it was just a feeling of disappointment from holding onto it, it was better to get rid of it quickly.
"But..."
"No buts. If we leave it like this, it'll spoil anyway and we won't be able to eat it."
Rather than let it spoil and go to waste, it was better to hold onto even a fleeting moment of sweetness.
"So let's eat it quickly."
Just as I was about to break off a piece of cookie and put it in Edwin's mouth—
"Neigh!"
The sound of a horse's whinny came from nearby. At this, both children's heads turned toward the commotion.
A large carriage had stopped in front of the orphanage.
The person who soon appeared was...
"Amelia, Edwin. How have you been?"
It was Lucella, with a small child slung at her side.
* * *
The Bellomen Duchy was in an uproar from morning. It was because of Lucian pulling out all manner of clothes from the wardrobe.
"I want to go too!"
The moment Lucella announced that she would be visiting the Büsnie Orphanage today, Lucian immediately expressed his intention to come along. His reason was concern that I might collapse again.
"No, Lucian. I'm planning to go alone today."
"Why? Can't I go with you?"
In truth, there was nothing wrong with bringing Lucian along.
However, Lucian had a track record. A glorious track record of making all his peers cry.
'It's already hard enough trying to make a good impression on Edwin and Amelia. If Lucian causes trouble..."
I shook my head so vigorously it made a whooshing sound. I didn't want to think about it any further.
"Did you apologize to Count Chernin? I told you not to until I apologized first."
I asked with my hands planted firmly on my hips.
"I did."
But despite his attempt at solemnity, Lucian nodded readily.
"You promised me, remember? That you'd become someone who doesn't bother others. So I went and apologized while you were sleeping."
"Is that so...?"
"Yeah. So you'll take me with you, right?"
Lucian's eyes sparkled like a cat in boots as he looked up at me. Those clear, innocent eyes made it impossible to refuse.
'He really has changed since that day.'
The Lucian who once threw tantrums was gone. He no longer swung his fists wildly at the servants or played pranks that troubled others.
Of course, people don't transform overnight, and he still occasionally huffed when he couldn't contain his emotions—but even then, he managed to restrain himself well, practicing the three deep breaths I'd drilled into him countless times.
Everyone in the Duke's Mansion marveled at Lucian's transformation.
'Lucian, you're truly wonderful!'
The servants praised him endlessly for his reformation.
'Of course! I promised Aunt!'
Each time, Lucian's face would glow with pride. As the saying goes, praise makes even whales dance—and true to form, he'd clean up the mess he'd made in his room or greet the servants he passed with dignified courtesy. It was nothing short of miraculous.
'I have to keep my promise, or Aunt will die.'
Something about his reasoning seemed slightly off, but I decided not to dwell on it.
"Aunt, are you listening to me?"
Snapping out of my reverie, I felt Lucian tugging at my skirt hem insistently.
"Yes, I'm listening."
"You said if Aunt apologizes to Count Chernin, you'd take me out with you."
"That's right."
Apologizing in hopes of a reward wasn't ideal, but the fact that Lucian had listened to me and shown remorse held its own significance.
"So take me with you. I'm worried you might collapse again."
"..."
"I need to protect you so you don't fall."
"Lucian..."
My heart swelled. I was proud of how much Lucian had grown from just one difficult experience.
I felt sorry for having shown him such an unsettling side of myself.
"So can't I come along? I promise I'll listen to you really well. I'm not lying."
I hesitated. Considering his past behavior, bringing Lucian to the Orphanage would absolutely be a poor decision.
'But Lucian has changed.'
While I couldn't say he was perfectly obedient, at least he no longer caused harm to others.
'And more than that, his concern for me is endearing.'
I found myself thinking that perhaps Lucian could become friends with Edwin and Amelia now.
And if Lucian became friends with the children, perhaps I could prevent the future where he becomes a villain. After all, he would experience the emotion of friendship.
It was decided.
"Alright. Let's go together."
"Really?"
"Yes. Get dressed quickly."
"Yay!"
I urged the maid to hurry as Lucian changed into fresh clothes, impressing upon him the gravity of my warning.
If he bullied or made any of the orphanage children cry, he would return to the mansion immediately.
Lucian nodded earnestly in agreement, even linking his pinky finger with mine to seal the promise.
And so we came together to this place—the Büsnie Orphanage.
"This is my nephew, Lucian. He's six years old."
Noticing the faint curiosity in Edwin and Amelia's eyes, I hastily introduced Lucian without revealing his family name or status.
"He wanted to come along when I said I was visiting you, so I brought him. Right, Lucian?"
I glanced back at Lucian casually, only to find myself utterly bewildered.
Instead of waving cheerfully at them as he normally would, Lucian clung to my back like a wary kitten, trembling with caution.
"Lucian?"
Lucian had to make a good impression on these two children. I couldn't afford for him not to, no matter how undignified it seemed.
It was essential for Lucian's survival. If I could forge bonds between him and the protagonists from childhood, the likelihood of him escaping death's grasp would increase significantly.
'But why is he being so cautious now?'
The usually outgoing child was suddenly acting in ways completely unlike him—what was this nonsense? This wasn't the scene I had envisioned at all!
Flustered, I gave Lucian's back a gentle push.
Reluctantly, Lucian released my skirt and stepped forward before the two of them.
Yet he offered no greeting.
'Wait.'
Was he being cautious? Looking more carefully, Lucian appeared to be nervous.
'Well, he has reason to be. This is his first time making friends after being scolded by me.'
I was about to open my mouth to facilitate the three children's first meeting when Amelia spoke first.
"Hello, Lucian. I'm Amelia. I'm one year older than you."
I was moved watching Amelia extend her hand to Lucian first.
'How can she be so kind?'
From what I remembered, Amelia didn't easily open her heart to others. Her kindness was limited to family and those at the orphanage.
For her to extend her hand first to Lucian—someone who clearly wasn't part of the orphanage and was obviously a noble child—was completely unexpected.
"Oh, hello. Amelia."
Lucian hesitated, gauging my reaction before tentatively grasping Amelia's hand.
He refrained from his usual rudeness of asking why her height was so small despite being older than him. Lucian had definitely changed.
"I'm... five years old. My name is Edwin."
Once Amelia lowered her guard, Edwin haltingly opened his mouth as well. For someone as taciturn as Edwin, who was always tucked away in a corner, this was remarkable progress.
'Why have they all become so kind? Could it be they've taken a liking to Lucian?'
I desperately hoped that was the case.
With trembling anticipation, I observed the three children's first meeting, when something suddenly caught my eye.
"But Amelia, what's that in your hand...?"
"Ah..."
Amelia hastily hid her hand behind her back. But I recognized it immediately.
"That's the chocolate cookie I gave you, isn't it? Why haven't you eaten it yet?"
"Just..."
"She said she couldn't eat it because it felt too precious to waste."
It was Edwin who spoke up on behalf of the hesitant Amelia.
"Opportunities to eat such delicious food are rare here. That's probably why she treasured it so much."
"Is that so?"
If chocolate cookies were truly such a rarity, I could understand her reluctance to consume them. I gazed at Amelia with a expression brimming with sympathy.
"Edwin, you really...!"
Embarrassed at having her true feelings exposed, Amelia reproached Edwin, her face flushing crimson.
Meanwhile, Edwin's expression was nothing short of triumphant. The mere thought of being able to provide Amelia with more delicious food brought an involuntary smile to his face.
'But this is strange. Amelia is a noble, so she must have eaten plenty of delicious things before coming to the Orphanage.'
Yet here she was, unable to eat a single cookie because she couldn't bear to waste it?
'That bastard of an Orphanage Director. Just how much did he starve this child?'
My confusion quickly transformed into fury directed at the Orphanage Director. How severely must he have deprived her for this well-mannered girl to be so desperate to preserve a single cookie?
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org