C116
The girl's name is Liena.
The period she spent at the orphanage wasn't very long, but she was my best friend.
I was worried that she didn't mix with the other kids and was almost alone, so I kept talking to her, and we quickly became closer.
One day, Teacher Ángela called me aside and told me to be kind to Liena because she was a girl who suffered.
After getting to know each other to some extent, Liena confessed that she had been adopted once in a previous orphanage but was abandoned shortly after.
"They say I'm quiet and don't know what I think. That I have no childish charm."
Her face looked very sad when she said that, so I decided to be kinder to Liena from then on.
Occasionally, we spent time climbing the mountain behind us to avoid the resentful looks of the director.
We filled our stomachs by picking and eating raspberries scattered on the mountain and chatted until sunset.
Then, one day, an expressionless knight dressed in luxurious clothes arrived at the orphanage.
"Oh my God, he came to this rundown place! Welcome, Duke Cassius!"
The director, who always scolded the children harshly, bowed and introduced the orphanage to the lord.
"I heard the story. Are you going to adopt a child? Oh God, how can such grace be given to orphans? After all, Cassius is a true noble..."
"Who is the girl closest to my wife?"
"Yes?"
"Unfortunately, I didn't hear the name. My wife didn't tell me that I might have unnecessary prejudices. Maybe I'll like another child more."
"Oh, of course."
"Don't you know? Who is that girl?"
"Well, I don't know. I think she treated all the children well."
"I guess it was because of my wife's personality."
"Now that I think about it, there's a girl among the children who looks quite similar to the duchess..."
At that moment, I approached the two people.
The director opened his eyes as if telling me to go away, but whatever happens, there was something I wanted to say to the knight.
The knight looked at me with perplexed eyes.
"You?"
"I wish the duchess rests in peace, Duke. Duchess Cassius was a really nice person."
"...yes. She was too good for me. I still can't believe she's gone."
The duke, who had remained expressionless the whole time, suddenly seemed extremely lonely.
However, he soon regained composure and asked various questions about life in the orphanage.
I wanted to expose the director's corruption, but I barely held back.
It wasn't something I could decide on my own.
At first, I wanted to tell everything to Duchess Cassius, but I couldn't because there were children warning me not to trust nobles directly.
On the outside, the duchess didn't seem like a hypocritical person, but there were so many similar nobles that I couldn't simply step forward.
If by any chance, the director wasn't punished properly, it would be the children who would end up taking responsibility.
Duke Cassius also exchanged words with the other children.
Only Liena, who got scared and hid when she heard the evil Duke was coming, couldn't meet him.
After a while, Duke Cassius returned to my side and asked me.
"Is it you? The girl closest to my wife."
I was surprised. Indeed, I was thinking it might be me, but I wasn't sure because I had never heard it from the Duchess.
"What can I say, I felt similar to when I was talking to Cheryl. I think both of you would get along because you have something in common."
Ángela, aware of the director's location, came out hesitantly and nodded at the duke's words.
"She's right. I thought it might be Ethel too."
The director, with a frowning face, said as if he couldn't help it, that it seemed the Duchess talked to me often.
Duke Cassius asked my name and extended a large hand.
"Ethel, wouldn't you like to be my daughter? If you resemble Cheryl, you'll definitely get along with our family."
Although I was young, I didn't understand the meaning of those words.
Living as an orphan and suddenly becoming the princess of Cassius was an incredible stroke of luck that would never be seen again in life.
However, I opened my mouth while looking at the duke's face and hands.
"I'm sorry. I can't be the duke's daughter."
The faces of everyone present filled with astonishment. The duke also seemed somewhat surprised.
"Don't you like me?"
"It's not like that."
"Then why?"
"Because my mom will come to get me!"
"Your mom?"
Before the duke's doubts, the director replied.
"Well, she's a girl who was abandoned in front of an orphanage when she was three, and her mother said she would come to pick her up when her situation improved."
"I didn't know."
"That said, there are countless parents who never return, but that's naive. Obviously..."
These were words that I found difficult to ignore.
"My mom is not that kind of person! I'm sure she'll come to get me!"
"How dare you shout! You don't even remember very well...
Stop.
Duke Cassius stopped the director with just one word and then looked at me.
But can't you reconsider? I'm willing to send you when your mother returns.
The duke's face was filled with sadness as he made an unconventional proposal.
When Cheryl died, there was no smile in our house. Before I knew it, I couldn't even talk to my children. But if you come to us, maybe...
Duke, I'm not the duchess.
...!
I may resemble the duchess, but I can't replace her.
Oh, no, I didn't mean that...
I'm sorry if I misunderstood. In reality, I tried to think of Ángela as my mother. But the more I did that, the more I wanted to cry. Mrs. Ángela is a good person, but she's not a mother.
The duke remained silent for a long time after hearing what I said. Then he lowered his head.
Yes. I might have been trying to fill the empty place of that person with you under the pretext of following my wife's wishes. The huge void left in our family doesn't show signs of ever being filled...
His voice overflowed with sadness, so I awkwardly tried to console him.
Hey, cheer up. The duchess described the duke as someone who can overcome any difficulty. Although he's very sad now...
Thank you. Thanks to you, I realized.
Yes?
Actually, I was hoping for a savior to miraculously appear and save us from our pain. But miracles don't usually happen.
For some reason, Duke Cassius seemed more relaxed.
The pain of our family is something we have to overcome on our own. I guess I should go back and talk to my children. Be more proactive.
Yes! Your children are probably waiting for that too!
The duke smiled, probably thinking that my response was amusing, and reached out his hand to me again.
Won't you come to Cassius? I'm not saying I'm going to adopt you. I want to sponsor you.
Me?
You're a very mature and intelligent girl. I think your talent will flourish even more if you go to the academy with the support of Cassius.
It was a dream story. The academy was a place only attended by the children of nobles or commoners, those from wealthy families, or those with exceptional talent.
Well, of course, I would like that! but...
The Duke, noticing my gaze directed at the other children, declared.
If there are other students who show talent besides you, I plan to sponsor them. That talent doesn't necessarily have to be academic. The world needs diverse talents.
Seeing the faces of the children light up, I expressed my sincerest gratitude to Duke Cassius.
Duke Cassius told me that he would go to Cassius after packing and would like to let me meet his two sons.
Convinced that the duke was a good person, I decided that I would definitely persuade the children and tell them about the director's misdeeds.
Now that the duke was my official sponsor, there would be many opportunities to see him alone without the director.
And that night, Liena entered my field of vision while secretly looking for the children.
Oh, Liena. Speaking of the director...
Why did you do that?
What?
Why did you refuse when the duke offered to adopt you?
That's because my mom will come.
You're a fool. Do you really think the person who abandoned you will come back for you?
I believe she will.
... good for you. That you can trust your biological parents.
Liena, who looked at me with complicated eyes, turned her back on me. She only left a comment.
If I were you, I would never have made that decision.
-----------------------
What did you say?
Terence's eyes opened after hearing Ethel's message from the imperial knight.
Because Viscountess Lucibiu had to take care of another matter suddenly...
I understand, go.
It's not that he misheard, he just asked because he didn't want to believe it.
Terence sighed and looked around the room that Ethel used as an office.
Incidentally, it was in the annex where Ethel currently lived.
Since work ended early, he passed by the annex to accompany Ethel to her palace, but an imperial knight came and informed him of unfortunate news.
He couldn't help but feel disappointed because Ethel had urgent matters to attend to on a day when he had free time.
Unfortunately, Terence was groping the desk that Ethel used every day when a letter fell into his hand.
He swore he didn't intend to take a look at Ethel's letter.
However, a few words written on the open paper caught his attention.
The Soro Kingdom, relocation, expected arrival date, train and ship passage...
Terence checked the contents of the letter, fascinated.
[—I want to leave the empire.]
He remembered what Ethel said a few months ago.
He hastily went out into the hallway and stopped the imperial knight who was about to leave after completing his mission.
Wait a moment! Don't you know what that urgent matter is?
I'm sorry, but I only know that... Oh, come to think of it, it seems she went to the central train station.
The letter fell from Terence's hand.
