CH 29

To have the princess of the orphanage, who never speaks a word, come to him first when there’s no one around.

Theo decided to roll his eyes.

“Sorry, but I don’t like you. I prefer older girls.”

“Haha! I’m not planning to date my brother, I broke up with Gilbert three days ago.”

It was a well-known secret among the boys at the orphanage that most of them had a secret crush on Swan.

To think Gilbert was dumped three days ago, that was news.

I’ll have to tease him about it when I see him. With that thought, Theo waved his hand.

“If you’re here to convey Riley’s confession, consider it unheard. I’m not interested in her, either.”

“Lily said she’ll confess during tomorrow evening’s dinner time.”

“Damn it, I’ll have to run away. Thanks.”

“If you’re grateful, do me a favor.”

“… What?”

Only then did Theo turn to Swan. He saw Swan smiling brightly.

Because of that, while Theo hesitated, Swan got to the point.

“Someday, when I’m gone, Lillian will leave this orphanage. When that happens, there’s something I want you to do for her, Theo.”

It wasn’t a facial expression that belonged to someone who had come for idle chitchat.

In a different situation, one could think it was a joke, but even at a glance, it was a serious request.

Damn it. Theo’s face crumpled. No matter how much he denied it, he was sensitive to things like this.

“Why are you talking about dying? Stop bothering me and go away. Consider it unheard.”

“Well, then I’ll change the subject. Someday, Lillian will leave the orphanage. Is that okay? She really needs you, that’s why.”

Though he felt seriously uncomfortable, Theo couldn’t deny his inherently compassionate nature.

It was also true that he had a soft spot for people who lived their lives hearing the word “fierce” nailed into their ears.

Perhaps Swan also knew that fact.

Otherwise, Swan wouldn’t have come looking for Theo, who had hardly spoken a few words.

“When Lillian leaves and someone who knows Lillian comes to the orphanage, give this to that person.”

Swan handed over a small notebook.

The notebook was examined superficially, but Theo couldn’t read it. He was illiterate.

“And make sure to let them know about Lillian. How she’s been doing here. Got it?”

“… I Got it, but can you trust me with this? What if I leave before Lillian?”

“Then you can entrust it to someone else.”

“Why don’t you do it yourself?”

“Well…”

At those words, Swan blinked slowly and then burst into a wide smile.

“You never know.”

That happened in late summer, just a few months ago.

* * *

Did Swan know that he was going to die?

“I don’t know.”

Come to think of it, Swan’s health began to deteriorate around that time.

So, Theo thought that Swan might have had a premonition of her own death and prepared something in anticipation.

There was nothing left to guess about the departed person’s inner thoughts.

Above all, Swan was a child whose inner thoughts couldn’t be discerned.

‘Lillian, she must think Swan is some kind of angel.’

In Theo’s view, Swan wasn’t just an innocent child. Perhaps mischievous, if not malicious.

It was impossible for a child at Meriyfield Orphanage to be completely without blemishes, and someone who had nothing to cling to usually had some twisted aspect.

But Swan always smiled without a trace of blemish.

‘Well, whatever the case, it turned out as she said.’

Theo momentarily recalled Swan’s smile and absentmindedly scratched the back of his head.

Though he wasn’t the type to talk to himself, he found himself mumbling while looking in the direction the carriage had departed.

“I have done my part, Princess. If something goes wrong, don’t blame me.”

What remained now was the responsibility of those who would accept what Swan had left behind.

The image of the man who received Swan’s notebook popped into Theo’s mind.

As soon as he unfolded the first page, the man seemed to tremble. He lost his composure enough for even a child to notice.

‘What could have been written that shook him like that?’

Theo still didn’t know the content. The only characters he knew were “Theodore,” his own name.

However, he could surmise that something important must have been written inside.

The man who received the notebook had promised Theo a reward before leaving.

— What you handed me is something of great importance to me. I’ll give you an appropriate reward. Is there anything you desire?

-Will you really grant me anything I ask for?

― If it’s within my power.

Wealth, honor, status, anything is possible, the man said.

― In that case… please make all the kids here happy.

― … You ask for something difficult.

― Is it difficult?

― Think about it.

With those words, the dark-haired man left, and Theo didn’t trust his words.

If he truly had the intention to reward him, he would have made a proper promise before leaving.

“Well, even if he made a promise, I wouldn’t have believed it.”

Adults easily break promises. Hoping and waiting weren’t in line with Theo’s nature.

― Theo, if you stay here for ten more nights, Mom will come to take you. You have to be good, understood?

― Are you promising?

― Then, I promise.

A voice that he couldn’t remember his face now. Perhaps even at that time, he had a sense of the ending.

Why did he want to believe it even though he knew?

Suddenly, Lillian’s face came to mind.

‘I hope she’s doing well.’

If it was that composed face, it seemed like she could provide an answer to this question.

* * *

Meanwhile, at that moment, Lillian was in a state of emptiness.

“… Swan?”

The moment she first laid eyes on the boy, she almost pulled him into her arms.

She could believe that she was seeing things because she missed Swan so much.

Even now, Lillian still dreamed of the time when Swan was alive.

When she woke up from sleep, a voice would linger in her ears. If she immediately turned to look, she felt like Swan, who was sleeping with a serene breath under the thick covers as usual, would be there.

However, the sensation of the blanket touching her fingertips was soft, and the person beside her was not a young girl. Even if she spread her arms wide, she couldn’t fully embrace the adult man.

— Sleep more, baby.

In response to that gentle voice, Lillian snapped back to reality. She also realized the fact that she had to leave her longing behind in the blanket.

However, the moment Lillian confronted the longing that emerged from the blanket, she forgot how to suppress her emotions.

She simply missed and yearned for Swan.

Even though she knew you would never come back, even if I went crazy, I just wanted to close my eyes and go back to the memories when you were here…

But you won’t come back, and I have to live in reality.

“Are you okay? I must have startled you. You still seem dazed.”

Once again, reality hit with the voice of the gentle boy.

“I didn’t mean to startle you. I’m sorry.”

“Ah…”

Lillian blinked her eyes slowly, as if in slow motion.

When the boy in front of her didn’t smile, he no longer looked like Swan.

Upon regaining her senses and looking closely, his facial features were not similar.

Swan had chubby cheeks and a rounder facial structure, giving off a slightly cuter vibe. The boy in front of her was more beautiful than cute.

Furthermore, Swan had black hair, while this boy had hair that was close to silver.

Moreover, he was quite tall.

‘He looks similar in age to Theo.’

There were distinct signs of adolescence, indicating that he was probably around fourteen.

When examined closely, there was nothing resembling Swan.

But why did he look so similar when he smiled? It was confusing for no reason.

Amid her contemplation, the boy extended his hand.

“Here, grab my hand and come down.”

“… Who are you?”

However, Lillian didn’t take his hand. A guarded expression appeared belatedly.

No matter how much the boy resembled Swan, he wasn’t Swan. She had to be cautious.

“You’re not someone who came from the workshop.”

“But I did come on this carriage. Though, I didn’t come from the workshop.”

“Then how?”

“The owner of the workshop is from my family. I wanted to meet you, and when I heard they were going to the workshop as a Mender, I followed them.”

Lillian’s eyes widened at the boy’s words.

“You wanted to meet me?”

“Yeah. Everyone outside talks about you all the time. Didn’t you know?”

As the boy asked, he quickly hopped onto the empty seat next to Lillian. It was a seat spacious enough for two adults, so it was sufficient for the two children to sit. After settling into the seat next to Lillian, the boy flicked his hand and extended it toward her.

“I’m Damian Portier. And you?”

Damian’s voice was gentle and considerate. Just like Swan.