Chapter 4
“Hello!”
Selena entered the bakery with a bright, energetic greeting.
“W-welcome…”
The owner’s kind smile faltered mid-sentence. His face clearly showed displeasure at seeing her.
The children from the Trice Orphanage had often come with insufficient money to buy bread, after all.
“I’m here on Director Sunsen’s errand!”
Selena announced clearly. Yet the baker’s reaction remained cold. He didn’t even respond, turning his head away.
Normally, a child would be intimidated by an adult’s cold demeanor, but Selena was no ordinary child.
“I’ve endured so many scrimped meals in my past life. This is nothing.”
“I’d like a cookie set and two loaves of bread, please.”
She placed two silver coins on the counter. Seeing her tiptoe to reach, the baker’s lips twitched.
Trying to maintain composure, the baker said with a stern face:
“I can only give you one loaf of bread.”
“W-what? Why?”
“You don’t have enough money. To buy two, you’d need five more coins.”
“But… Director Sunsen said this would be enough to buy everything…”
Selena furrowed her brows and looked up at him with teary eyes.
Despite her pleading gaze, the baker remained firm. He deliberately avoided her eyes, clearing his throat. His crossed arms spoke plainly: “No matter how you look at it, it’s useless.”
“Tch, this isn’t working. In romance novels, a young heroine inhabiting a child’s body could get anything with her cuteness.”
Reality, however, was harsh.
If she couldn’t buy two loaves, she’d go hungry today. Knowing this, Selena still didn’t press the baker any further.
“Alright, then just one loaf, please!”
Selena smiled brightly. Seeing that, the baker’s eyes wavered.
He hesitated, placing the cookie set and one loaf into a bag. Debating whether to add the second loaf, he finally closed his eyes and handed the bag over.
“Thank you! Goodbye!”
She waved cheerfully, deliberately overdoing it.
The baker seemed pangs of conscience—he looked like he might have added another loaf if she had asked just a little more. But Selena didn’t look back and left the bakery.
“Good. Now I have the supplies I need.”
Selena didn’t head straight back to the orphanage; she glanced around.
“It’s about time for Mrs. Candy to arrive…”
Mrs. Candy.
One of the nobles who frequently visited the Trice Orphanage. Selena didn’t know her exact name. Each time she came, she carried a jar of candy to share with the children, so they called her “Mrs. Candy.”
[“I saw Mrs. Candy while running an errand earlier.”]
[“Really? Where?”]
[“At the bakery up ahead.”]
According to children who went on errands for Director Sunsen, she always stopped by the bakery to buy candy before visiting the orphanage.
Selena waited for her.
After wandering around for a while, a large carriage stopped in front of the bakery. Mrs. Candy stepped inside. Seeing this, Selena immediately put her plan into action.
Across from the bakery, a child and their mother were sitting, begging. The mother’s skin was red and blotchy due to a skin disease, and she had lost her voice from the illness.
Because of this, they had to survive by begging on the streets.
Selena occasionally approached them on her walks.
At that moment, Mrs. Candy exited the bakery.
“Here, take this.”
Selena knelt and held out the cookies and bread. The child’s eyes lit up at seeing the expensive cookies they had never tasted.
“Wow! Cookies!”
The child eagerly took the cookie.
The mother’s lips moved, letting out soft, inarticulate sounds.
Selena was wearing the Trice Orphanage uniform. The mother surely realized she was from the orphanage, making it understandable that she couldn’t fully accept Selena’s kindness.
Waving off the mother’s gestures, Selena smiled gently.
“It’s okay.”
The mother tried to return the cookies and bread, but Selena refused and stood up. She glanced sideways.
From in front of the bakery, Mrs. Candy was watching the entire scene.
“Nice!”
Selena silently cheered. Everything had gone according to plan.
Returning to the orphanage empty-handed, Director Sunsen was already speaking with the visiting nobles. Hearing the insincere laughter, Selena made a face of disgust.
Knock—knock—
She knocked and entered.
The director’s expression, ready to greet her with a bright smile, instantly turned cold.
“Were you expecting another noble and disappointed that it’s me?”
Normally, she would have scolded and punished her for being late. But with nobles present, she couldn’t lose her composure.
“Why are you so late, Selena? We were worried.”
The director’s tone was artificially polite.
“Worried? Please.”
“I’m sorry…”
Selena pressed her hands together politely, fidgeting them and doing her best to look pitiful.
“Selena, where are the cookies I sent you to buy?”
Seeing that Selena held nothing, the director asked. Her mouth smiled, but her eyes burned as if ready to strike.
The lively reception room fell silent.
“Well….”
“……”
Selena rolled her eyes around, acting as if she were pondering. She opened her mouth, closed it, hesitated, and then finally closed her eyes tightly and shouted:
“I’m sorry! I ate the cookies because I wanted to!”
Director Sunsen’s face contorted with anger. Even knowing the nobles were present, she couldn’t hide her frustration.
“Does that make any sense?”
Selena flinched at the harsh tone.
This was no act.
Her body reacted instinctively from past punishments the director had given under the guise of “discipline.”
“Ha… fine. Alright. Since we have guests, let’s discuss this later.”
The director’s fists shook, her voice barely calming.
“Not yet…”
Click.
The door opened, and the awaited person entered.
“Miss Sophie Elenion, excuse me, may I interrupt briefly?”
Mrs. Candy spoke politely. Director Sunsen, who had been glaring at Selena, instantly reverted to a smiling, hospitable expression.
“Of course, Mrs. McHern. Please, speak freely.”
“Thank you.”
Mrs. McHern smiled kindly at Selena.
Selena had anticipated this from the start. It had all been planned.
But she feigned ignorance perfectly, blinking innocently.
“Ladies, on my way here, I witnessed a truly touching scene.”
The nobles’ attention focused on Mrs. McHern.
“This child shared the cookies and bread she had just bought with a poor mother and her child. I have never seen such a beautiful sight in my life.”
Mrs. McHern recalled the scene with a blissful expression, then looked at Selena warmly and asked:
“Child, why did you give them the cookies and bread?”
“Mrs. McHern, you’re amazing!”
Selena had expected at most to be praised as a good child, but now she was being asked a question as well.
She wanted to cheer out loud, but controlled her expression. Slowly, she spoke:
“I thought they might be hungry… I knew I shouldn’t, but… I’m sorry…”
A single tear.
She wouldn’t sob audibly—just act as pitiable as possible.
Selena trembled slightly, letting a small tear fall, bowing her head, which touched the nobles’ hearts.
“It’s alright. I’m not scolding you. You did the right thing.”
Mrs. McHern patted her gently.
“Time for the closing line.”
“But then… hic… the ladies couldn’t have their dessert… and my friends couldn’t eat…”
“It’s okay. Don’t worry. I’ve already prepared meals for your friends and dessert for the ladies.”
“Really?”
“Of course. Good deeds deserve a reward.”
Selena wiped her still-wet eyes.
“Thank you! I’ll do many good deeds from now on!”
A poor child from the orphanage helped others even less fortunate than herself.
The heartwarming story spread immediately.
“Good heavens, that happened?”
“How could a child be so kind? Which orphanage is she from?”
The nobles’ interest was piqued.
“Director, we will increase our donations.”
The funds flowing in exceeded anything in the past—all thanks to Selena.
Every time nobles visited, Selena acted as a polite, well-behaved child. Her knowledge of noble-themed romance novels from her past life helped her portray a “lovable child.”
Polite and mature, but not overly so. Occasionally showing a childlike side to adjust pace, she melted the nobles’ hearts, who donated generously.
As a result, the Trice Orphanage became as wealthy as any top-tier orphanage.
The director received enough donations to indulge her selfish desires, and the orphanage environment improved significantly.
They now had a comfortably livable environment. Next…
“Hey, you’re small, so eat lots of vegetables. I’ll give you my carrot.”
“…”
“Oh, mine too.”
“I’ll give mine to Riotis too.”
What should she do with these kids piling carrots on the boy’s tray?
