CHAPTER 10
“It’s okay. What about you, Dana? Are you hurt anywhere? You must have been really scared.”
Ria, her face clearly exhausted, gently cupped Diana’s cheeks. Diana rubbed her face against Ria’s hand like a baby kitten.
The members of the Duke’s household watching the scene forgot the seriousness of the situation and stared in shock.
‘The young lady, who is usually so picky, is being that obedient!’
Only Ria, unaware of their thoughts, tilted her head at their reactions. Then her eyes met the Duke’s expressionless gaze.
At that moment, the Duke spoke in an unexpectedly gentle voice.
“Diana, come here now. It’s time to go home.”
At his words, Diana bounced excitedly, and the Duke lifted her with one arm.
“I was going to scold you, but since you didn’t cry and endured bravely, I’ll let it go this once. But you’ll listen from now on, won’t you?”
“Hmm.”
Diana rolled her eyes and pretended not to hear, then smiled cutely.
Even with greasy hair and dirt all over her face, she looked adorable.
“A crow might call you big sister. No one would recognize you.”
Though he had recognized her at a glance, the Duke teased her on purpose. The knights joined in.
“Indeed.”
“If you return like this, even Her Grace and the young masters might be shocked.”
Not realizing she was being teased, Diana puffed her cheeks.
The Duke laughed and lightly squeezed her nose.
The knights smiled too.
After days of exhausting search, it felt like all their fatigue had vanished.
Ria watched blankly. Then her eyes met the Duke’s again.
Her heart dropped, like a child caught doing something wrong.
The warmth in his eyes when he looked at Diana was gone. Now his gaze toward Ria was cold and unreadable, as if she were an object.
It made her feel as if her secrets had been exposed.
Fortunately, the Duke simply turned back to Diana.
“If we go straight home like this, you’ll be teased for life. I can’t allow that. We’ll stop at an inn first. Prepare the carriage.”
It was finally time to part from Diana.
Ria lowered her eyes, feeling an unexpected pang of sadness.
Then—
“Daddy, what about Unni?”
“…If she wishes, she may come with us.”
Ria’s head snapped up in shock.
The Duke narrowed his eyes.
“If you’re worried about that boy, don’t be. Once he wakes up, he’ll be sent to another orphanage with the others.”
Ria realized her mistake.
“Would you like to come with us?”
“It’s not me—Jack should go!”
“Hmm?”
“Jack was hurt protecting Dana.”
The Duke’s expression did not change.
In her previous life, when Jack was rescued from the attic with Diana, the Duke had taken him to the ducal house without hesitation.
Surely he would do so again.
After a moment, the Duke spoke.
“Very well. When the boy wakes, we’ll discuss it. But what about you? Do you not wish to come?”
“I… I…”
The adults around her looked at her with pity, thinking she was too young to understand.
But Ria knew.
Following the Duke was far better than staying at an orphanage.
‘Normally, someone of my status couldn’t even enter an ordinary noble household. If I could work at the Elard estate…’
It was an unbelievable opportunity for an orphan.
Yet she hesitated.
She had only thought about staying with the other children.
“Unni, aren’t you coming?”
Diana looked at her like an abandoned puppy.
Tears threatened to fall.
Ria finally nodded.
‘First calm Diana. Then make sure Jack’s place is restored.’
Her own future could wait.
***
While the Duke gave orders about the orphanage, I waited with Diana beside the carriage.
After devouring the bread and soup given by the knights, sleepiness overwhelmed me.
A knight approached.
He knelt on one knee and bowed deeply.
“My lady, thank you for being safe. And child, I wish to thank you for caring for her.”
His eyes were sincere.
“I will accept my punishment for failing to guard her properly.”
Then he split the gemstone decoration on his sword cleanly in half.
My eyes widened.
“Please accept this keepsake left by my father. Even if I lose my title, I will protect the young lady with my life—”
Bang.
The Duke struck the back of his head.
“Fool.”
“Your Grace…”
“You are the only one foolish enough to use your parent’s keepsake as proof of your failure.”
The Duke told him to worry about his punishment instead.
I was certain.
Taeiz Seidian.
The knight with the split gemstone.
Jack’s future adoptive father.
The future vice-captain of the Lexion Knights.
Many had speculated wildly about that split gem.
To think this was the truth.
Then—
“The carriage is ready.”
Diana grabbed my hand tightly.
She looked worried I might change my mind.
We had only known each other a few days, yet she clung to me more desperately than to her own family.
“Do I… ride this carriage too?”
It looked far too luxurious.
“You’re small enough. Just get in.”
At the Duke’s calm voice, I found myself climbing inside.
The seat was soft. It even smelled nice.
Compared to my filthy clothes and hair, I felt out of place.
The carriage began to move.
Through the window, I saw the orphanage growing distant.
The children lined up and boarded other carriages.
‘In my previous life, I watched Jack leave from among those children.’
Now I was inside the departing carriage.
The future had changed.
Perhaps I could live differently too.
I fidgeted nervously.
Diana had fallen asleep in the Duke’s arms.
Our eyes met.
“What is your name? Your age?”
“R-Ria. I don’t have a surname. I’m eight…”
Of course I didn’t have a surname.
Why did I add that?
My face felt hot.
Then the Duke asked quietly,
“Did you know Diana’s identity? And who I am?”
My eyes widened.
‘Is he suspicious?’
His gaze felt piercing.
***
The Duke found Ria strange.
At first glance, she was utterly unremarkable.
Filthy clothes. Pale face.
If she had been standing among the other children, he would have overlooked her.
But when she clung to him, begging to be saved, he had frozen.
Then she presented him with decisive evidence.
No ordinary orphan could have identified or stolen such documents.
Now he looked at her properly.
Her body was painfully thin beneath loose clothes.
Her face was bruised and pale.
Her short brown hair was rough and uneven.
Nothing like Diana’s soft, rosy cheeks.
Perhaps sensing his gaze, the child lowered her head.
“I could tell Dana was someone important.”
Watching her avoid his eyes made him strangely irritated.
And for some reason, his chest felt tight.
