GAVAF 17

Chapter 17

Early in the morning, I set out with Vera. Sitting in the carriage rushing toward our destination, I sank into thought.

“I wonder if he’s doing well.”

He was such a resilient child—he would survive just fine anywhere.

The carriage ran for quite a while, eventually leaving the capital of the Empire. Unlike the smooth, well-paved streets of the capital, the ground here was full of small stones and dirt. The carriage slowed, the ride grew bumpy, but I didn’t mind.

After some time, a large mansion came into view outside the window.

“Is that it…?”

“Yes, we’ve arrived. Shall we get ready?”

“Please.”

Just before reaching our destination, I put on a hat to hide my conspicuous hair and added a vest over my plain clothes. Vera had also changed into comfortable garments instead of a maid’s uniform and tied her hair up high for better movement.

“We’ve arrived.”

As the coachman stopped the carriage, I stretched deeply.

“Let’s go.”

With help from an escort knight, I stepped down and stretched lightly before heading toward the mansion.

Children were shouting and running around the garden. Hearing those little voices for the first time in a while lifted my spirits.

As we entered the mansion, the director, Bernan, came out to greet us.

“Welcome, my lady.”

“Please speak comfortably. I’m just an ordinary person here to volunteer.”

“Then I shall call you Lady Harna.”

“Thank you, Bernan. By the way, where is Deon…?”

When I asked about Deon—the reason I’d come—he smiled.

“He is inside. This way, please.”

Inside the building were several rooms where the children stayed.

After walking a bit, Bernan knocked on one of the doors, then stepped aside so I could open it. I thanked him with a nod and carefully pushed the door open.

“Director Bernan! Hannah sat for a whole hour reading today— Huh? Harna-noona!”

Deon’s eyes widened the moment he saw me, and he sprinted toward me like a nimble squirrel, throwing himself into my arms. Holding him—he seemed to have grown a bit—I asked,

“Have you been well?”

“Yes! Everyone here treats me so well, and I can eat as much food as I want without anyone getting mad! And I’m so grateful Hannah can now finish a whole bowl of soup even though she couldn’t eat well before.”

I gently patted the excited boy’s head.

“I’m truly glad.”

“It’s all thanks to you and Haren-hyung. Really, thank you so much.”

He slipped out of my arms and bowed deeply. I looked at him fondly.

“That’s enough thank-yous. I told you, didn’t I? Nothing’s free. When you grow up, you’ll have to work for me for the rest of your life.”

“Yes! When I’m an adult, Hannah and I will work hard for you!”

“Good. Grow up quickly.”

After taking in his healthier figure, I approached Hannah, who was half-lying on the bed watching me.

“Have you been well?”

“Yes. Thanks to the medicine the doctor prescribed, I sleep well and eat well.”

“That’s wonderful.”

I smiled as I lightly stroked her cheek—her hair was braided neatly into two plaits, likely by a staff member.

Seeing how the children brightened at my touch made me happy as well.

Deon and Hannah had been moved to the Setrint Orphanage after receiving treatment and being recognized by Haren. I could have let them stay at the Marquisate of Juren, but I wanted them to grow among other children with proper guidance.

For a long while, I listened and responded to Deon and Hannah as they told me about their lives here.

Their cheeks were flushed red with excitement, looking like cute apples; the urge to nibble them was almost unbearable.

“Hannah, keep taking your medicine and eating well so you can recover quickly. And Deon, it’s good to care for Hannah, but also play with your friends and study hard. Promise me, okay?”

I held out both pinky fingers.

Remembering the day we first met—the “slave contract” pinky promise—Deon eagerly linked his finger with mine, and Hannah followed her brother.

Smiling, I gently swung our linked pinkies and even pressed my thumbs over theirs like an official seal. Then I stroked each of their cheeks. Blushing yet not pulling away, Deon leaned subtly into the touch, while Hannah closed her eyes like a satisfied kitten. I spent quite some time with them before saying I’d see them later and stepping outside with Vera.

“I didn’t know you were so fond of children, my lady.”

“Ah… maybe they just feel a little dear to me.”

Her words brought back memories of my past—my parents and younger brother, all lost in a car accident. I had been about the same age as Deon.

‘I was so young back then.’

Despite fighting often with my loving parents and doting on my little brother, his loss had devastated me. I had cried every day.

Fortunately, I had some recognition as a child actress, and with my parents’ insurance and inheritance, I never struggled financially. But a child with a lot of money becomes easy prey for adults.

Relatives I had never met appeared suddenly, insisting they would take me in.

To the pitiful, constantly crying child I was, they reached out with feigned gentleness and false promises to “protect” me. But my father’s friend—the president of my agency—shielded me, becoming my guardian against those who only wanted my money.

Had he not existed, I might never have become a successful actress. I could have been stripped of my wealth, abused, and left to survive like Deon.

Under the care of an adult who truly loved and protected me, I grew up—and grew up fast. I became a top actress in Korea.

“I’m remembering a lot of the past.”

“I see…”

She probably thought Harna pitied the children because she herself lost her mother at birth.

‘President… I miss you.’

I could imagine how devastated he must have been after my death. Just thinking of it made my heart ache.

But I took a deep breath and smiled brightly, as if nothing were wrong.

“Shall we get going? We have a lot to do today. Ready?”

“Of course. Leave it to me!”

Ever since she told me she would follow me, I hadn’t acted like a villainess around Vera. She was the first person in this world to open her heart to me—I wanted her to see the real me.

And Vera never doubted my change. The person she chose to follow was Harna inhabited by Yoon Seung-a.

‘President, I’m doing well.’

I have a new family who cherishes me, and someone who chooses to stand beside me. So now… I’m okay.

Pushing the past aside, I grinned mischievously and took Vera’s hand. She blinked in surprise, then smiled and held my hand back.

Cardin, exhausted from endless work, had dozed off inside his carriage. He had always been busy, but the recent trouble caused by Harna had taken up even more of his time.

When the carriage came to a stop, Cardin opened his eyes and gazed outside.

“We have arrived at the Setrint Orphanage.”

“I see.”

He stepped out.

Setrint Orphanage was something Cardin had personally founded—his own project to give shelter to children who had nowhere to go.

Now that it had stabilized, he silently watched the children playing outside.

The bright smiles and carefree laughter drew the faintest hint of a smile to his lips.

Today, he planned to meet with Bernan to discuss new arrivals and job placements for the children who had become adults. No matter how busy he was, Cardin managed the orphanage matters personally. Massaging his stiff neck, he was about to enter—

Then he froze.

“Who is that?”

Two women were hanging bed sheets on a long clothesline.

‘Damn it—!’

He tried to avert his gaze, but it was too late.

Even with a hat covering her orange hair and wearing shabby clothes, her beauty could not be hidden—it was Harna Juren.

She was smiling warmly as she chatted with a maid, her eyes curved with joy.

And just like that, Cardin’s face also relaxed into a bright smile.

“To think I would see my lovely goddess here!”

His amethyst eyes, once dull from fatigue, sparkled brightly as if revived.

Believing this meeting to be fate, he quickly changed course and strode toward her.

“Alright, laundry’s done! Shall we unload the supplies we brought?”

“Yes!”

Despite the heavy labor—cleaning, washing dishes, doing laundry—Vera showed no sign of exhaustion. I made a mental note to give her a hefty bonus as we headed toward the marquisate’s carriage.

Or rather, we tried to.

Until a large figure suddenly blocked my way.

“Harna.”

My body flinched instinctively. That voice should not be here.

“To meet you like this…”

Cardin appeared with sparkling eyes and a broad smile. I barely restrained myself from hiding behind Vera.

“Your Grace… what brings you here?”

“Would you believe me if I said fate led me to you?”

Absolutely not. Fate leads you to May Porco, not me.

I laughed awkwardly and stepped back, widening the distance. He might grab my hand again—better be careful.

“I’m here to volunteer. I still have work to do, so if you’ll excuse me…”

“You amaze me in so many ways, beloved goddess. Bestow upon me the honor of assisting yo—”

“Of course! Let’s go.”

Before he could kneel and kiss my hand—yes, he was actually kneeling—I cut him off quickly. Getting caught like this was bad enough; I was not going to receive a hand-kiss out in the open.

I forced a smile and headed toward the carriage.

Cardin, who looked like a giant puppy denied a treat because he couldn’t kiss my hand, trudged behind me.

“Actually, we brought a lot of supplies, so we did need help. I’m glad you’re willing to assist.”

“If it is for my goddess, I will do anything.”

Anything, huh?

A devilish smile spread across my lips.

I pointed at the biggest, heaviest crate inside the carriage.

“Could you carry this into the building?”

“Gladly.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ll be right back. I don’t wish to leave you alone for long.”

His intense stare pressured me into simply nodding without making eye contact.

Cardin lifted the enormous crate effortlessly and walked off quickly.

“Actually… I’ve been wanting to ask….”
“Nope—don’t ask! I don’t know either.”

I immediately cut off Vera’s cautious question.

Because honestly—I had no idea either.