Chapter 17
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Chapter 17
* * *
"Welcome, Miss."
"Has anything happened while I've been away?"
"No. It's only been two days. And you've come with Lucian again today?"
"Yes. He threw such a fit about wanting to come along."
At the sound of their gentle conversation, Amelia's head turned. As always, Lucella stood beside Lucian, chatting warmly with Heidi.
"Amelia!"
Upon spotting Amelia, Lucian scampered toward her.
"Have you been well?"
"We just saw each other two days ago."
"Still."
Looking sheepish, Lucian scratched the bridge of his nose before immediately opening his bag and pulling out toys. The other children, including Amelia, fixed their gazes upon them.
"This is a tiger toy that transforms into a dragon. And this one is a knight-shaped block, and..."
The children's eyes sparkled at the endless stream of fascinating and wonderful toys.
"Lucian, can I play with this?"
"What?"
Lucian's eyes narrowed sharply as the other children surreptitiously reached for the toys.
'I brought these for Amelia, not for them.'
He absolutely despised others coveting his possessions. He was about to refuse when—
"That's fine, isn't it, Lucian?"
"Huh? What?"
Before he could even respond, Amelia had beaten him to it.
"Well..."
I don't want the others playing with them. I only want to let Amelia join in.
"Lucian, you're truly kind."
"Huh...?"
"Willingly lending your toys to your friends like that. You're really amazing."
"...Am I?"
His hesitation lasted only a moment. The instant Amelia smiled at him, the irritation that had touched Lucian vanished without a trace.
Lucian's shoulders straightened as he exclaimed.
"Amelia's right. I brought them so we could all play together anyway..."
"Wow, thank you, Lucian! You're really kind!"
The children rejoiced, each cradling a toy. Lucian, now brimming with satisfaction, cast a sidelong glance at Amelia.
To be able to show off in front of Amelia like this. And on top of that, to be called kind!
His mood was at its peak. At this moment, he felt he could give every toy in the Bellomen Mansion to the children.
Yet Amelia's reaction—the one that mattered most—was disappointing.
She simply stared at a music box with a lullaby playing, her expression unreadable.
"Amelia, do you like this music box?"
"Huh?"
Amelia's shoulders stiffened slightly. She seemed a bit flustered.
'So she wants it after all.'
Lucian held out the music box to Amelia.
"This is something our aunt gave me, and I treasure it, but I'm giving it to you specially since you seem to like it so much!"
He made sure to emphasize his generosity in hopes of winning her over.
"No, it's fine. It's your possession—I couldn't possibly take it."
Amelia pushed the music box back toward Lucian.
"I have plenty of other toys anyway. I don't play with this one much, so you can have it."
"...Are you really sure?"
"Of course!"
In the end, Amelia accepted the music box. To so readily take someone else's possession—it was unlike her.
Yet Amelia found herself unable to tear her eyes away from this music box.
Because the melody flowing from it was a song her mother used to sing.
'It's the lullaby Mother used to sing before bed.'
On nights so dark that even the moonlight seemed to sleep, when fear kept her from slumber, her mother would sit at her bedside and sing a lullaby, gently patting her chest with a tender touch.
Since arriving at the Orphanage, on nights when sleep eluded her, Amelia would recall the song her mother used to sing. Using that memory as a pillow, she could barely drift off.
Though she had pretended to be composed all this time, Amelia was ultimately just an ordinary seven-year-old child.
'I miss Mother.'
It wasn't just Mother she missed. She longed for her kind father and her gentle uncle as well.
Of course, she could never see them again now.
'No, wait. Uncle is still alive.'
As long as Uncle lived, and as long as I endured like this, we could meet again someday. Though I had no idea when that day might come.
'How can I see Uncle again?'
When I recalled his low voice calling me "my little one" and his rough yet gentle hands pulling at my cheeks, tears threatened to spill.
Amelia bit her lip hard to hold back the tears. But she couldn't escape the gaze of Lucian, who had been watching her intently all along.
"Amelia, are you crying?"
"I'm not."
"Then why does your expression look like that?"
"Just...dust got in my eyes."
As Amelia roughly wiped her eyes, a sudden thought made her lift her head abruptly.
"Lucian, your father is a really high-ranking nobleman, isn't he?"
Lucella had not revealed that Lucian was the heir to House of Bellomen. However, the perceptive Amelia could not have failed to notice that Lucian was the child of a high-ranking noble.
Otherwise, the Orphanage Director and staff would not have been replaced so quickly.
"Huh? Yeah."
Lucian nodded somewhat taken aback.
"Then Sister Lucella is also a high-ranking noble?"
"I'm not really sure about that..."
"No, Sister is more than enough."
The reason Amelia had been holding back all this time was that she had not found a trustworthy adult.
The adults who came to the Orphanage were all two-faced people.
But Lucella was different. Just as she had said, she was someone who always kept her promises.
That wasn't all. She drove out the villainous Orphanage Director and staff, brought delicious food and clean clothes, and even took the initiative in the tedious work of feeding and bathing the children.
Just days ago, she had even cut their hair with her own hands.
There was never a trace of falsehood in her face as she smiled while meeting the children's eyes. She was a kind, gentle, and trustworthy adult.
Even after countless disappointments, she was the kind of person who made them hope again.
"Lucella is someone you can trust."
"Our aunt always keeps her promises, so... where are you going?"
Amelia dashed out, clutching the music box in her arms, toward where Lucella was.
* * *
I looked around the Orphanage, searching for Edwin.
'If I make Edwin Lucian's playmate attendant, I can naturally bring him into the Duke's Mansion.'
The Duke would discover Edwin on his visits, and he'd be startled by how much Edwin resembled him. After that, he'd ask about Edwin's mother.
If Edwin became Lucian's playmate attendant, I could resolve matters quickly.
Of course, the most important thing was Edwin's own wishes.
When it came down to it, being a playmate attendant meant catering to a noble child's whims. For children who hadn't yet keenly felt the wall of social status, their pride might be hurt.
'It would be better to invite him to our home simply as a friend rather than as a playmate attendant.'
I'd hear some complaints from someone like Sir Gillian, but if Lucian wanted it, he wouldn't object. And if Amelia was involved, it was a proposal Lucian would accept unconditionally.
'But where on earth is Edwin?'
Edwin was nowhere to be found in the Playroom or in the newly refurbished Bedroom.
'The child couldn't have suddenly disappeared. Did he go to the bathroom?'
I should meet Heidi first. I had things to discuss regarding the children's adoption anyway.
Just as I was heading toward the staff room with that thought—
"Sister!"
A familiar voice called from behind my shoulder. It was Amelia.
"Lucella!"
In the hands of Amelia, who came running toward me breathlessly, was the dolphin music box I had bought for Lucian.
"What is it?"
She was searching for me in such a hurry. Had something gone wrong?
I looked at Amelia with concern.
"I have something to tell you."
Amelia, looking at me, seemed somehow resolute.
"It's a favor I'd like to ask without others knowing. Would that be alright?"
"What kind of grand favor are you about to ask?"
"That is..."
Instead of answering, Amelia hugged the music box tightly to her chest. From her reaction, it seemed like something she couldn't easily say.
"Well then, shall we go to the Director's Office? It should be empty there."
"...Yes."
I led Amelia to the Director's Office and locked the door firmly so no one else could eavesdrop.
I seated Amelia across from me and took out chocolate cookies, placing them on the table.
"This must be an incredibly important and delicate favor, isn't it?"
"How did you... know?"
"Amelia, you're always so careful about everything. The fact that you called me here like this means it must be something very important."
Amelia simply gazed down at the music box resting on her lap. The way she hadn't even touched her beloved chocolate cookies told me she was quite nervous.
"So, what is it that our Amelia wants to tell me?"
"Sister, you don't lie, do you? And you don't bother other people either."
"That's right. Why would I seem mean-spirited?"
"You don't."
"Then what you've seen must be the truth."
I deliberately spoke in a playful tone to ease the child's tension.
Amelia stared at me for a moment, then opened her mouth as if she'd made a decision.
"I'm not an orphan."
"...What?"
"My parents have passed away, but I still have an uncle. My uncle treated me like his own daughter."
Amelia had kept her identity completely hidden until her uncle came looking for her. Yet now she was revealing this secret to me?
"Please find my uncle. He must be looking for me. So..."
Amelia spoke in a way unlike herself, her words tumbling out in disarray. I gently grasped the child's trembling hand, which quivered with excitement and anxiety.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org