Chapter 11
Are these people here to offer support or to go hunting?
As the saying goes, “where there’s money, people who want it gather.” Since the state started supporting child care facilities, a lot of greedy folks seemed to be running orphanages.
I wouldn’t complain if they at least ran them properly…
‘Maybe those creepy orphanage horror stories the comment fairies talk about started in places like this.’
Looking at it this way, our own stingy director actually seemed better in comparison.
Sure, she was petty and always watching us, but she didn’t outright abuse the kids.
└ [Even giving you the cold shoulder counts as abuse ㅠㅠㅠ]
└ [They’re all equally bad]
‘Hmm… okay, not terrible, but definitely not a good person either.’
I couldn’t bear to watch the childish power struggle among these gold-digging “orphanage directors,” so I turned my head. Better to just admire the garden.
That’s when I made eye contact with a noblewoman dressed in a gorgeous gown. She seemed curious that a child was here and stared at me.
When I greeted her with a smile, she widened her eyes and returned the smile as she walked over.
“How adorable. Where are you from?”
“Hello! I live over there in Zelten. I heard there were amazing people in the capital today, so I came to visit!”
“Ufufu. Did you enjoy your visit to the capital?”
“Yes! There are so many buildings, so many people, and this garden is so beautiful. And… you too, ma’am. Before you spoke to me, I thought you were a fairy of the garden.”
I twisted my body bashfully, pretending to be shy.
The noblewoman giggled behind her gloved hand at my charming words.
Seizing the opportunity, our stingy director quickly joined our conversation.
“She’s one of the children in our care. She kept begging to come after hearing our sponsor talk about this event, so I brought her along to show her.”
“Oh ho… Come to think of it, His Majesty is quite invested in nurturing future talent. I didn’t realize there were many orphanages in the capital, so you must have your hands full.”
Since our director was the first to strike up a conversation with a noble, the other directors behind us looked visibly annoyed.
“Damn it. She brought a child to win favor…!”
“Why didn’t I think of that?”
“We have smart kids in our orphanage too…”
Our director shot them a victorious smile and moved on.
I greeted everyone who made eye contact and smiled sweetly at anyone who showed interest, while our director donned her nicest face and promoted the orphanage. I felt like a walking billboard.
└ [And this is where the prince sees Rose and falls for her at first sight, right?]
The royals wouldn’t show up this far out.
Sure, there were nobles who weren’t the stars of today’s title ceremony and were just waiting for it to end, but not the main event people.
As I wandered around busily, I somehow ended up deeper inside, where more nobles had gathered. I started recognizing familiar faces.
‘Someone from a family close to Duke Clarke should be nearby.’
└ [What is this, Where’s Waldo? How’s she gonna find someone in this crowd]
└ [LOL imagine Leon’s dad as Waldo in red stripes]
‘Who’s Waldo?’
Maybe someone good at hiding. Like an assassin?
Anyway, I didn’t plan to find Duke Clarke without a strategy.
‘It’s actually easier to find someone when nobles are gathered together.’
They tend to cluster with people of similar leanings.
Since Duke Clarke is staying neutral right now, I just need to find the group of nobles who aren’t aligned with either the imperial faction or the noble faction.
As I scanned the passing faces, our director located Count Matteo, our orphanage’s main sponsor.
It looked like it had been arranged in advance—when we arrived, the count’s secretary was waiting.
“The Count is currently speaking with some other guests. You’ll need to wait a bit.”
“Of course! We’re more than happy to wait.”
Our director sat me on a bench in the corridor, then launched into a detailed speech beside the secretary—about how much she respected Count Matteo, how she honored his intentions, and how grateful she was for his donations, explaining how she ran the orphanage with his support. She begged him to pass all of it on to the Count.
Meanwhile, I reopened my eyes wide and scanned the faces of those walking by.
Everyone looked about ten years younger than I remembered, so I had to stay sharp not to miss anything.
‘The guy in front of that table is Viscount Gilbert. The one holding a glass is Countess Brandon. That’s Baron Alex…’
└ [All these names sound so familiar somehow]
I thought this empire was new to me, so where had I heard them?
I ignored the comment fairies and kept scanning the crowd.
‘That’s Viscount Patrick—wait, no, maybe he was still a Baron at this point. That’s the daughter of Marquis Nayette, and that’s… wait!’
The daughter of Marquis Nayette?!
I snapped my head back to where I’d just looked. I replayed the memory I’d recalled recently.
—“Does Duke Clarke have no interest in marriage? I heard he turned down a meeting with Marquis Nayette’s daughter not long ago.”
—“Oh dear. She must’ve been heartbroken. I bet she worked up a lot of courage.”
…That Marquis Nayette’s daughter!
There were rumors she had never married well past the usual age because she had loved Duke Clarke for a long time.
‘Could it have started around this time?’
Her face looked far younger than I remembered, with a faint blush on her cheeks.
It was the unmistakable face of someone about to meet their long-time crush.
└ [Girl, that man already has a kid!]
She probably didn’t know that, but still!
‘Wait. I can’t lose her now!’
I quickly chased after her. Behind me, the director shouted, “I told you not to wander off—where do you think you’re going?!”
If she saw me leave, then that’s actually good.
‘She saw where I went, so she can follow or not—up to her.’
I’d have to return to the orphanage eventually, and it was better to get scolded than wander around looking for each other.
It was way better than disappearing without a trace and then getting caught.
The love-struck young lady charged straight ahead, and I sprinted after her at full speed.
‘Found her!’
At the end of her path stood a man with the same red hair as Leon.
“Your Grace, I—oh!”
She stopped as her heel hit something hard.
At her feet lay… Leon’s necklace, the one I had thrown.
‘Sorry, Leon. Sorry, Your Grace!’
It wouldn’t break easily, since it was made of sturdy material, but I had fallen behind because my legs were so short. I had no choice.
Almost missing Marquis Nayette’s daughter, I’d resorted to a classic trick—a “lady’s technique.”
The technique of dropping a handkerchief to make a man pick it up. In this case, I’d thrown the necklace instead of dropping it, and fallen over, but still—same spirit.
“Child, is this yours?”
She seemed more curious about the necklace under her shoe than about the peasant girl who fell. She picked it up.
That’s when Duke Clarke’s eyebrow twitched. Was it because of my commotion… or because he recognized the necklace?
‘Please. Recognize it!’
Still lying on the ground, I sent him a pleading gaze. The director came running and pulled me up by the arm.
“Ahaha. So sorry. Our child is a little… Come on, let’s go apologize to the Count!”
“W-Wait, Director. The necklace—”
She pressed my head down in a forced bow and started dragging me away.
‘The necklace is still in her hand!’
If Duke Clarke didn’t recognize it, then I had to at least return it to Leon. It was his mother’s keepsake!
“The necklace—please return the necklace…!”
“What are you talking about! I never gave you a necklace. You probably picked it up off the ground. Just toss it!”
She seemed afraid I’d offend a noble and ruin the orphanage’s chances of support.
I looked up at Duke Clarke with desperate eyes.
“Your Grace, that necklace…!”
“Wait.”
