TCL 11

Chapter 11

Are these people here for sponsorship, or are they here for hunting?

When there’s money to be had, people who want money gather. Since the state supports childcare facilities, it seemed like many greedy people were running orphanages.

As long as they manage things properly, I wouldn’t complain…

“Maybe the creepy orphanage rumors that the comment fairies talk about were born in places like this.”

Looking at it this way, even our stingy director doesn’t seem so bad. Sure, she’s petty and gives you the side-eye, but she doesn’t mistreat the kids terribly.

└ “Even giving the side-eye is abuse, sob.”
└ “It’s all just the same.”

“Hmm… then I guess they’re not terrible, but not exactly good people either.”

Gold-hunting… no, orphanage directors’ petty power struggles were too much to watch, so I turned my head. Better to just check out the garden.

Then, I locked eyes with a well-dressed lady in a gown. She seemed curious about why a child was here and stared at me intently.

When I greeted her with a cheeky smile, she widened her eyes, smiled in return, and approached.

“You’re adorable. Where are you from?”

“Hello! I live in Gelton over there. I came to visit today because I heard there were amazing people here!”

“Uhuhu. Did you enjoy exploring Gelton?”

“Yes. There are so many buildings, so many people, and this garden is beautiful too. And… you, ma’am. Before you spoke to me, I thought you were a garden fairy.”

I twisted my body shyly.

The lady covered her mouth with her elegantly gloved hand and laughed at my words.

Meanwhile, the miserly director, who had been arguing with the other directors, seized the opportunity to join our conversation.

“This child is under the care of our orphanage. She heard from our sponsor that there were interesting people here and begged to come, so we brought her along to show her.”

“Oh… I see. I hear His Majesty is very interested in nurturing future talents. I didn’t realize there were so few orphanages here, so it must be quite a task.”

As our director opened the conversation with the noble, the other directors behind her looked frustrated.

“Damn it. Bringing a child to win favor…!”
“Why didn’t I think of that?”
“Our orphanage has smart kids too…”

Our director smiled victoriously at them and moved on.

I greeted everyone I passed and observed those who showed interest. Whenever someone approached, the director, with a friendly smile, promoted the orphanage. I felt like a human billboard.

└ “And this is where the prince falls for Rose at first sight, right?”

Members of the royal family didn’t come this far out. Only nobles who weren’t today’s main guests would be waiting until the title conferment ceremony ended.

While I wandered distractedly, I entered the inner area where many nobles had gathered, and I began to recognize familiar faces.

“There should be someone close to Duke Clark around here.”

└ “Not ‘Where’s Waldo,’ how do you find someone here?”
└ “Haha, Waldo is red too, so I imagine Leon’s dad as Waldo.”

“Who’s Waldo?”

Someone good at hiding? Like an assassin?

Anyway, I had no intention of searching for Duke Clark without a plan.

“It’s easier to find your target when nobles gather.”

Nobles usually stick with others of similar temperament. Since Duke Clark is currently neutral, I just need to see where the non-aligned nobles cluster.

While I scanned the faces of passersby, the director found our orphanage’s greatest sponsor, Count Mateo.

It seemed they had pre-arranged it, as the count’s secretary was waiting when they arrived at a spot.

“Count is speaking with others at the moment, so you’ll have to wait.”
“Yes, of course. We can wait as long as necessary.”

The director sat me on a bench in the corridor and began explaining in excruciating detail to the secretary how much she admired Count Mateo, respected his wishes, and how the orphanage operates thanks to his generous donations. She asked the secretary to convey everything to the count.

Meanwhile, I kept my eyes peeled, scrutinizing the faces of people passing by.

Everyone looked at least ten years younger than I remembered, so I had to focus or I might miss them.

“That’s Viscount Gilbert at the table, that’s Lady Brandon holding a glass, that’s Baron Alex…”

└ “These names sound familiar.”

I had never met these nobles in person before, so I ignored the comment fairies and followed the faces with my eyes.

“That’s Marquis Patrick—no, was he a baron then? That’s the young lady of Marquess Nayett, and that… wait!”

Marquess Nayett’s daughter?!

I snapped my gaze back to her and recalled a memory I had recently thought of:

• “Does Duke Clark have no interest in marriage? I heard he recently refused to meet the young lady of Marquess Nayett.”

• “Oh dear, she must have been heartbroken. She mustered a lot of courage.”

…That’s the young lady of Marquess Nayett!

There had been rumors that she remained unmarried past the usual age because she had long adored Duke Clark.

“Could this be from that time?”

Her face looked much younger than I remembered, with a faint blush on her cheeks. Anyone could see she was heading to see someone she secretly liked.

└ “But that man already has a child.”

Maybe she didn’t know… anyway!

“Ah, wait! Don’t disappear!”

I hurriedly followed her. I could hear the director shouting, “I told you not to stray off the path! Where are you going?”

If the director saw me moving, that would be reassuring.

“She knows where I’m going, so she can follow or not!”

It was better to get scolded for sneaking off in front of her than to wander around separately and risk getting lost.

The love-struck girl moved straight ahead, and I sprinted to catch up.

“Got you!”

At the end of the path the young lady of Marquess Nayett was walking, there stood a man with red hair, just like Leon.

“Duke, there you are… oh!”

The young lady of Marquess Nayett stopped suddenly when her foot stepped on something hard.

It was… the necklace I had thrown for Leon.

“Sorry, Leon. Excuse me, Duke!”

It wouldn’t break easily since it was solid, but I had no choice; I fell behind trying to catch up with my short legs.

The method I chose to not lose sight of the young lady was… the “Lady’s Technique.”

The handkerchief drop trick. You intentionally drop a handkerchief in front of someone you like so they pick it up.

In my case, the target was a noblewoman, I didn’t drop it but threw it, and she lost balance and fell. Small difference.

“Hey, is this yours?”

The young lady of Marquess Nayett seemed more concerned about the necklace under her foot than the peasant child who had fallen, so she picked it up.

At that moment, Duke Clark’s eyebrows twitched—was it because of the commotion, or because he recognized the necklace in her hand?

“Please, recognize it!”

I gave a desperate look while still on the ground, when the director came up, grabbed my arm, and helped me stand.

“Ah, ahaha, sorry. Our child is being rude… let’s quickly apologize and go to the count!”

“Wait, director, the necklace…”

The director pressed my head down to make me apologize, then tried to pull me along.

“The necklace is still in the young lady’s hand!”

If Duke Clark didn’t recognize it, I’d at least need to return it to Leon. It was a memento from Leon’s mother.

“The necklace, you need to give the necklace back…!”

“What are you talking about? I never bought a necklace like that. Didn’t you pick it up off the street? Just throw it away.”

The director seemed afraid that if I annoyed a noble, the orphanage would suffer.

I looked at Duke Clark desperately and pleaded.

“Duke, that necklace…!”

“Wait a moment.”