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CIBLN Chapter 2

CIBLN Chapter 2

Crash!

“Oh my, those kids…”

A loud commotion erupted upstairs, but to Emma, it sounded like a beautiful melody.

Perhaps among those noisy children was one clever enough to win over the Young Duke of Arcas.

“…It bothers me a little that I left out Rosalyn.”

Even if he took a liking to a child, he would change his mind after learning about her history of being returned.

By the time the noisy sounds of the children descending the stairs reached her ears, Emma was seated in the place of honor in the parlor, facing the Young Duke of Arcas.

“It sounds like the children are on their way.”

“Yes, I hope at least one of them suits Your Grace’s taste.”

A faint, unreadable smile appeared on the beautiful face of the Young Duke of Arcas.

“There certainly is.”

At his cryptic remark, Emma tilted her head slightly.

‘Certainly is…?’

‘Not here.’

Deon Arcas studied the line of children standing before him.

The child he’d been told about was nowhere in sight.

His attendant, Berta, quickly asked,

“Are these all the children?”

Emma licked her dry lips and forced an awkward smile.

“…Is there a problem? These are all the children in our orphanage.”

Even as she spoke, anxiety twisted in her gut.

She had expected him to immediately choose a child upon seeing them.

“All of them?”

He showed no enthusiasm.

In fact, it was unsettling.

“Director, was the amount I offered not sufficient?”

Deon Arcas, hands clasped in gloved fingers, rose from his seat.

“If you’re planning to negotiate with me, you’d do better to name your price upfront.”

“Wh-What are you saying? These truly are all the children.”

“That can’t be true.”

Deon let out a soft scoff.

He turned to Emma, his voice now cold.

Gone was the man with the sterling social reputation.

Emma suddenly realized it.

His gentlemanly image—was all a façade.

This was his true nature.

“I thought you were someone who could understand. Where is the child I’m looking for?”

Emma’s earlier anxiety hit the mark.

The child Deon Arcas was looking for was none other than Rosalyn.

***

Thud, thud, thud!

Hearing footsteps outside, Rosalyn, who had her head buried in her knees, slowly turned toward the door.

‘Is the guest already leaving?’

It hadn’t been long since the other children had gone downstairs.

Bang!

The door flung open, and Emma walked in.

She looked visibly angry.

“Rosalyn, you lucky brat! No time to explain—get out here right now!”

“Y-Yes, ma’am.”

Rosalyn hesitated for a moment, but quickly answered.

If she moved too slowly, it would only make Emma angrier.

And when Emma looked this upset, you couldn’t afford to give her a single excuse to lash out.

Emma, clearly in a hurry, began explaining without even turning around.

“Listen carefully, Rosalyn. A noble has expressed interest in adopting you today.”

“…M-Me?!”

“Yes, you.”

Emma continued her curt explanation.

“If you get returned again this time, I’ll never take you back. Got it?”

“…!”

“Anyway, the one who wants you is a noble.”

To nobles, the lives of commoners meant little.

Like ants.

If things went poorly, everyone in the orphanage could be killed just for having housed Rosalyn.

Emma bit her lip hard.

‘Even after hearing all that, if he still insists on taking her, there’s nothing I can do.’

Not only had she told him about Rosalyn being returned multiple times, but she’d also spilled a secret she had kept until now—that the child had been left at the orphanage with strict instructions never to send her anywhere else.

But Deon Arcas was unwavering.

“I see. But the child’s parents have never come back, have they…? Doesn’t that suggest they have no intention of raising her? Isn’t that why you kept sending her out for adoption?”

In the end, the only thing Emma could do was bring Rosalyn to him.

“If you don’t want us all dead, you’d better make sure you win his favor. Understand?”

“…Yes.”

Rosalyn’s timid voice leaked out quietly.

Before long, the two arrived in front of the parlor.

“Your Grace, we’re coming in.”

“Please, enter.”

Emma knocked and announced their arrival, and a pleasant voice responded.

When the door opened and Rosalyn met the eyes of the guest waiting inside, she was stunned.

‘That man is…’

“Rosalyn, what are you just standing there for? Greet him.”

“Ah, ah…! N-Nice to meet you. I’m Rosalyn!”

Still dazed, Rosalyn bowed hastily after staring at Deon Arcas for a moment.

She felt his eyes fix on her.

Nervously, she shut her eyes tightly.

How much time passed?

She heard the sound of fine shoes growing closer.

Peeking slightly through her lashes, she saw the tip of elegant shoes stop directly in front of her.

“Gasp…!”

Just as Rosalyn sharply inhaled—

“Up close, it’s truly flawless.”

“…?”

“Blonde hair and blue eyes.”

Deon Arcas smiled in satisfaction, seemingly pleased with Rosalyn’s face.

“I’ll take this child.”

Rosalyn couldn’t believe her ears.

…An adoption decision made in an instant.

This was the first time someone had chosen her without asking a single question.

“What are you doing? Say thank you.”

“T-Thank you very much.”

Clutching her skirt tightly, Rosalyn managed to stammer out her gratitude.

But her mind was a whirlwind of confusion.

Why would a great noble come all the way here to adopt?

Especially someone like her, with a history of being returned.

‘Did Emma lie?’

She feared Emma might have risked everything and told a lie just to get the donation.

If she were a bit older, she might’ve known that Emma didn’t have the guts—or the brains—for that.

But Rosalyn had no way of knowing that.

Her worries piled up like mountains.

Watching Rosalyn’s ever-changing expression, Deon turned to Emma.

“I’d like the adoption process to proceed as quickly as possible.”

“My name is Berta. Until the child’s adoption is complete, you’ll be in contact with me, Director.”

***

That night.

Rosalyn lay curled up under her blanket, pretending to be asleep.

“What? So she really got picked?”

“What does it matter? She’ll probably be returned soon anyway. Why would a noble adopt an orphan?”

“Then what’s she being taken for?”

Rosalyn, silently listening, perked up her ears.

“Probably to raise her and use her in a political marriage. Or maybe as a stand-in noble girl. They probably want to send someone where they don’t want to risk their own family. The Arcas family doesn’t have a daughter, right?”

At that moment, Rosalyn wanted to cover her ears.

The whispers only fed her fears.

That she was being adopted to be used again.

Most adoptive parents had conditions.

They wanted children under a certain age, smart for their age, or exceptionally good-looking.

But Deon Arcas hadn’t asked her a single question.

Looking back now, maybe he thought of her as something to be sold off later.

Rosalyn curled into a tighter ball and closed her eyes.

***

Meanwhile, at the Arcas Duchy.

The Young Duke’s study was still lit, even past midnight.

“No one seems to have noticed?”

“No, sir.”

After hearing Berta’s report, Deon Arcas chuckled softly.

“Of course not.”

Who would ever suspect that Deon had visited an orphanage to adopt a daughter?

Besides, Deon regularly participated in charity events for the underprivileged, even visiting in person.

No one would find this move particularly strange.

No one… except one.

The current Duke—Kaimon Arcas.

“Young Duke. It’s not too late. What about canceling the adoption?”

Berta asked with concern on her face.

“There must be another solution to the succession issue. Surely the Duke wasn’t serious when he said that…?”

Deon, quietly listening, let out a dry laugh.

It was a naively optimistic and self-rationalizing thought.

Berta still didn’t understand the kind of man Kaimon Arcas truly was.

A man cold enough to eliminate even his own grandson if necessary.

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Can I Be Loved Now?

Can I Be Loved Now?

이제 사랑받을 수 있을까요?
Score 9.99
Status: Ongoing Type: Author: Released: 2024 Native Language: Korean
The prettiest girl in the orphanage had many names: Luna, Ash, Camilla.....and so on. The adoptive parents gave her names, but she couldn't use those names for long. Every time they abandoned Rosalyn, the girl, as they pleased. So she decided not to touch her with kindness anymore........... "I'll adopt this child". Even the great noble, the Little Duke of Arcas, who couldn't refuse, chose Rosalyn. Still, she tried not to open her heart, but "Is this the child who made my daughter cry?" The Little Duke ruined the family of the child who had been bullying Rosalyn. She thought she had finally found her family. Until the Little Duke found out that she could see the future through her dreams, ".....If this fact becomes known, our family will not be able to avoid trouble either." In an instant, her 'family' was in danger. 'I am a child who is not welcome anywhere'. The work to protect Rosalyn ends up hurting Rosalyn.

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