Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Wyndert placed a cute sandwich on my plate.

I held it and took a bite while watching the two try to liven the atmosphere.

‘They’re cute.’

It was cute to see Wyndert, who grasped my hand gently, and Deleign, who was fidgeting, trying tearfully.

Though, I’m not sure what they were trying to talk about.

We shared desserts and played house.

I then made up my mind to make them feel comfortable.

“Brothers, do you have something to say?”

“Huh, uh, was it obvious?”

Deleign, who was bad at hiding his feelings, stuttered in surprise.

He was so embarrassed that he accidentally struck the table and almost spilled a glass of juice.

“What is it?”

I was curious about Deleign’s behavior.

“To be honest, I was curious if you really wanted to be our sister…”

“I’m still thinking about that. Is the grand duke pressuring you?”

The grand duke knew what I was worried about, yet he let me think about it myself.

He wanted me to be his daughter, but he didn’t have any intention of blackmailing me or adopting me forcefully.

The grand duke didn’t force me. I was allowed to choose my own decision.

“Absolutely not! Dad said it’s not right to decide if you were forced.”

“But we really want you to live with us!”

Wyndert said while Deleign exclaimed excitedly.

“Brothers, I want to continue living here in the grand duchy.”

“Then what are you worried about?”

Yes. I want to know why I’m still hesitating about this.

I don’t think I had such worries two weeks ago.

I’m worried about my survival right now, but is it possible for me to have a big heart and worry about others?

As I was pondering, I was inclined to say that the grand duke had the heart to adopt me.

“That…my background may affect his reputation badly.”

Surprisingly, what I was most worried about was my impact on the grand duke’s image.

The moment I noticed this, I realized that I liked them more than I thought.

‘I…I’m worried about the safety of these people as much as I’m worried about my own safety.’

I looked at Wyndert and Deleign with shaking eyes.

I don’t think I can manage in the grand duchy if I’m alone.

An orphaned lady raised in the slums. It wasn’t impossible to become a hot topic called ‘The Orphan Lady’.

Besides, the empress was also a problem.

Right now, the empress doesn’t want to fight against the grand duke. The grand duke is as powerful as his notoriety.

He would not actively attack the city immediately, but if he adopts me, that attitude would change.

“Affect? Reputation? Don’t think about such useless things.“

Wyndert said unhappily. Then we left the cabin.

“Why are we suddenly leaving, Brother?”

“Let’s go to the orphanage.”

Surprised by the sudden words, I was dragged while not knowing what to say.

“Let’s go. Since Brother wants us to go, there must be a reason.”

Deleign whispered next to me.

Why are we suddenly going to the orphanage…? I couldn’t guess why.

I could only blink as I followed them.

***

I had no idea that I was going to go to the orphanage.

To be honest, I have not intentionally dismissed my thoughts about the orphanage after I had been with the director.

‘This is the first time I’m going to the orphanage after the director was caught by the grand duke.‘

The directors I’ve been with have always brainwashed me that leaving won’t work well for us.

We can’t make money and we won’t have sponsors, so everyone’s going to starve.

By saying that, it prevented us from running away from the orphanage or from reporting their corruption to other adults.

‘Is everyone okay?’

I got out of the carriage while feeling a bit uncomfortable.

“Oh?”

The sight before my eyes was something I had never seen before.

“Where is this?”

“It’s the orphanage, of course.”

The Grass Leaf Orphanage was located in the corner of the slums.

It was a place that had a dull, gray exterior with cracked walls and a dead tree that had only had eerie branches on each side.

But the building in front of me was completely different.

It did not get any bigger.

However, the warm red bricks and pretty arched doors gave a completely different feeling than before.

The small yard with pretty winter flowers hanging on the wall and green trees of all seasons was also pretty.

The kids were running around in the yard.

‘I’m such a fool.’

I thought the orphanage would have gotten worse because I was brainwashed by the directors.

Unconsciously, I have thought that it would be harder for the orphanage children if the director disappeared.

I knew that they were bad people.

“Oh? It’s Shu!“

Sophie, running around with a small doll in one hand, found me first.

Sophie called me and began to run.

“Sophie! Marie! Eileen!”

I was reluctant earlier, but now I’m glad to see the kids soon.

The kids found me and ran to me, saying, “Wow!”

‘Why are they so happy to see me?’

When they got near, they hesitated as if they were scared of Wyndert and Deleign.

“Now, Shushu. Would you like to talk to them? We will watch from the carriage.”

Wyndert pushed my back gently.

I bit my lip for a moment before nodding. I approached the children.

“How are you?”

“Wow, Shu became a pwincess!” (Wow, Shu became a princess!)

The young Sophie broke the stiff atmosphere and admired me.

Well, I was pretty even when I was in the orphanage. That’s why I looked a lot better now that I’m all dressed-up and adorned like this.

The kids were all looking at me with visibly shocked faces.

‘Maybe they hate that I’m like this now?’

The children’s clothes have also changed.

They weren’t high-end clothing that nobles like me wear, but everyone received new clothes with cute designs.

It was winter, so the coat, gloves, and shawl they wore looked very warm.

“Really, really! Shuelina, you’re really great!”

“Shuelina, thank you! I love it here!”

“I heard it‘s all thanks to you. Congratulations on being adopted by the grand duke!”

They were silent for a moment, then each of them started chatting with me.

They talked about how I’m now wearing pretty clothes, how my cheeks were plump, and that my pronunciation improved and matched that of a nobleman’s.

Each one was about praising me.

Some children complimented the orphanage.

They were very cute as they chatter, but I couldn’t figure out what they were talking about.

“Oh, then I can’t just cawl you Shu anymowe? Do I have to cawl you Wady Shu now?”

(Oh, then I can’t just call you Shu anymore? Do I have to call you Lady Shu now?)

Sophie, whose expression suddenly turned dark after hearing the word ‘grand duke’ asked.

“Wouldn‘t it be okay for now? But let’s call her lady later.”

Martha whispered to Sophie.

While listening to the children, it seems they thought I’ve been adopted by the grand duke already.

“What are you guys talking about?”

How did these kids know about my adoption offer?

“Huh? We already know everything! Trying to keep it secret even after doing good things.“

“Seriously, Shuelina is still nice!”

The children’s words made me more confused.

I wondered how they knew about adoption, and suddenly it was a good thing…

Still, it didn’t seem like a bad situation. They’re just complimenting me because we’re close.

“There’s a rumor circulating the adults in the market, saying that the orphanage has changed thanks to you.”

“You said you were the one who hurt the director? That’s amazing!”

“You’re so nice and smart, so it’s good that the grand duke knows. You deserve it!”

“Even if you become a noble lady, don‘t forget us!”

The children shouted again.

Since the grand duke’s family always had a bad image, it has been a long time since a large number of people made noise about him.

It seems that everyone thought that thanks to the changes in the orphanage, I was adopted as a lady of the grand ducal family.

‘If a child was raised to become the lady, they would be jealous…’

I was naive. I had no idea why the children were wearing such expressions.

I was touched by everyone’s praises that I couldn’t tell them the truth.

Instead of telling them that I haven’t accepted the adoption offer yet, I just kept my mouth shut.

I can’t just say that when they looked so happy. That would be horrible.

‘The adoption story spread. There must be a spy in the estate.‘

There must be someone who shared my schedule with the empress.

I looked at the children, thinking I should be alert.

The children were all excited and explained how the orphanage had changed.

“We all got a bunch of new clothes.”

“We also have meat and fresh vegetables during mealtime!”

“We have eggs too! And the bed is fluffy and warm!”

“We have toys, too! Diwecto also weads childwen’s books to us!” (We have toys, too! Diwecto also reads children’s books to us!)

I’m glad everyone’s doing well.

There were times I worried about being the only one living comfortably.

My well-being is the most important to me, like common people, but I wasn’t such a cold-blooded person that didn’t care about the people around me.

I smiled in relief when I saw the new director checking on the children through the window.

The new director was wearing a gray dress similar to the children’s design.

The settlement was not included to prevent children from getting in the way. She had her hair in a bun.

‘She had a warm expression.’

Her attentiveness to check on the children in the playground was good.

“How is Telin…?”

“Shuelina, you’re curious even though she hated you so much?”

“No, I’m asking because I haven’t seen her since earlier.”

The children frowned at my question and shook their heads.

“She was locked in a closet. She became very sick and had a problem with her body. The director couldn’t afford to call a doctor!”

“Oh my gosh!”

It was a story similar to when Shuelina was locked in the original.

Even then, she was seriously injured and sick, but the director did not call a doctor.

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I thought it was just because she hated Shuelina, but it was actually because the director did not want to spend money on others but herself.

“Since there was something wrong with her body, the director sent her to another orphanage far from here. It’s like driving her out.”

“You didn’t know but when she dies, the children in the orphanage will go to check. That’s why the director was so angry and didn’t want her to die here.”

The children’s faces darkened. I sighed at the heavy talk.

Neither Telin nor I had good feelings for each other…but still, I wanted her to be in a good place where she would not get beaten.