TCL 23

Chapter 23

Before, I only saw the director’s stingy side, so of course I thought it was all about money.

But thinking back, after the orphanage fire, when he quit as director, I feel like he looked at me—sitting there in a daze after losing my friends—with pitying eyes.

But that’s not what matters right now!

“Y-You mean… he’s coming soon?”

“I told him it would be better after the Duke’s visit, but… I guess the time’s almost here.”

The director glanced at the wall clock, and I quickly turned to the window.

The Duke of Valent’s carriage was already standing right beside the wall.

Then the sound of galloping hooves in the distance…?!

“I-I’ll just go to my room for a moment—!”

“Yes. You should show yourself in the most presentable way possible.”

The director nodded, thinking I was going to freshen up again.

‘Now I really have to run!’

I recalled the escape route I had planned and pulled out the small bag I had hidden deep in my dresser.

Inside were several hair accessories Leon had sent in reply to my letter about my hair being singed and shortened by the fire.

‘Leon, sorry. If I really need money, I’ll use this…!’

Clutching the bag, I hurried into the hallway, almost colliding with another child.

“R-Rose?!”

“Ah, Edin! Perfect timing.”

“Where are you going?”

“Hmm.”

I slung the bag over my shoulder and declared,

“I’m going to carve my own destiny.”

“Carve?”

A difficult word for a child, perhaps.

“I mean I’ll decide where I go!”

“Ohhh.”

Edin’s eyes sparkled again, as if deeply impressed.

I was glad to run into him. There were things I needed to tell him and ask him to do.

First, the request.

“Tell the director that I went to visit another sponsor’s house. And if I don’t return by evening, tell him to check the orphanage’s office cabinet.”

I had already left a letter in case this situation happened, so he would know I had left on my own.

‘Count von Torto will make a wasted trip, but who cares.’

Of course, the director would have to handle the aftermath… but since this orphanage was sponsored by high-ranking nobles, Count von Torto couldn’t do much.

‘Good thing I listed the names of nobles who donate a lot in the letter.’

The director would send letters to secure further sponsorship. It was meant to help maintain the orphanage, but now it also served as a way to apologize for leaving the cleanup work to him.

“Also, tell the other kids I’m sorry I couldn’t say a proper goodbye.”

I had already hinted to them that, with adoption rumors spreading, I could leave anytime.

‘Everyone will eventually leave the orphanage, but it’d be lonely if a friend disappeared suddenly.’

I wanted to give them a chance to prepare emotionally.

“And Edin.”

“Hmm?”

“I have something for you.”

If Edin hadn’t opened the storeroom door for me, could I have left in one piece?

I dug into my bag and took out a small, roughly wrapped item.

A gift for my lifesaver.

“Here. Take it.”

“What is it?”

“A handkerchief.”

I couldn’t get anything expensive as an orphan, so I dyed leftover fabric using a method I had developed and made a handkerchief myself.

It wasn’t as good as a high-end item, but for a child, I thought it was well-made.

And, in its way, it was something important for a lady.

“And—”

“You’ll become a great knight someday.”

This was also a gift meant for fine knights.

“Well, goodbye!”

“You’re leaving?”

“If everything goes well, I’ll write you a letter.”

Hearing that it wasn’t a permanent goodbye, Edin relaxed and nodded eagerly.

“Okay! I’ll wait!”

I ran out of the orphanage, hearing the little fairies Edin cared for wailing behind me.

The Duke of Valent ascended the hill behind the orphanage alone.

If his only purpose was visiting the orphanage, he might have delayed a day or two due to other matters, but he had work to do here.

“This is the highest point around here.”

The unobstructed view and the wind tousled his black hair.

Though no one else was around, he continued speaking as if to someone.

“How does it look? Can you see the village well?”

He then took something from his chest: a pendant with the names of fallen comrades.

It belonged to those whose hometown was in this area.

So they could see the peaceful country after the war, he tied the pendant to the largest tree firmly.

This was something he wanted to do himself—not as a duke or knight commander, but as a comrade.

“Rest in peace.”

After paying his respects to his old comrades, he returned, only to find another carriage waiting at the orphanage.

He gave it a brief glance and headed to his own carriage.

“Shall we go, Master?”

An elderly retired knight, who had offered to drive the carriage while laying down his sword, had been touring the inside of the orphanage wall.

He turned at the duke’s voice and smiled slightly, as if something amusing had happened while the duke was away.

“What happened?”

The knight shook his head and got into the driver’s seat. He couldn’t speak due to war injuries.

Though his body worked fine for daily life, he had side effects.

‘I don’t know what he’s thinking.’

Even the Duke of Valent, who was always with him, couldn’t read his mind. He took words at face value and couldn’t interpret hidden meanings or expressions, making communication difficult.

The duke boarded the carriage, still puzzled, and it departed promptly.

“….”

Something felt off.

It wasn’t that the space was bigger after unloading luggage.

I sensed a small presence, like a bird or a rabbit, hiding quietly under the seat.

Thud.

Even when I tapped the floor lightly with my foot, it didn’t move—deliberately ignoring me.

‘This is…’

A human presence.

If someone could hide their presence this well—

“An assassin.”

└[Thinking: Is this an assassin?]

…Did I get caught?

Seeing Count von Torto’s carriage approaching, I hurriedly boarded this carriage.

I briefly made eye contact with the driver grandfather, but he calmly looked elsewhere.

I thought I had successfully hidden, but—

‘As expected of the Royal Knight Commander…’

Couldn’t fool his intuition.

I should have learned stealth back at Count von Torto’s house—or at least asked the comment fairies about the Wally assassin!

└[No one can find Wally.]
└[If Wally’s alone, someone would find him though.]

He was probably just good at hiding in a crowd.

I couldn’t exactly pop out with a “Ta-da! I’m hiding!” so I crouched under the seat.

“Ugh!”

Suddenly, someone grabbed me by the nape and pulled me out.

Dangling in his hand, I locked eyes with the duke.

‘Scary…’

At the orphanage, I had safely guided him with a smile, but now it was a one-on-one standoff.

I instinctively lowered my gaze, and noticed—

‘Why is the other hand on the scabbard?!’

Could the rumors that he’d cut down anyone who crossed him be true?

I frantically waved my hands to show I was harmless.

“I-I’m not an assassin! I even guided you at the orphanage…”

What kind of crazy person would send a five-year-old assassin to the Royal Knight Commander!

Flailing in midair was about all I could do.

He placed me on the opposite seat and examined me carefully.

“What’s in your bag?”

He opened it to check for dangerous items, but it was just full of colorful hair accessories.

“Hmm…”

“I’m not an assassin…”

“Then why did you sneak in?”

Time for a direct approach.

I took a deep breath and boldly declared:

“I want you! To be my guardian!”

└[Usually a father appears to take the kid, but Rose does everything here ㅠㅠ]
└[Is this a parenting story? Feels like survival from the start.]
└[If they send her back, this father abandons her.]
└[I like the knight father.]
└[Me too ㅠ that scene was heartwarming.]
└[Also, black hair.]

That scene from earlier—he suspected me of being an assassin?

Sweating, I watched him, and he seemed to be thinking something else, narrowing his eyes and observing me.

“Fist…?”

“Huh?”

└[FYI, a few chapters ago, the duke said it’d only take one punch to mess with the heroine.]
└[Now he says the same punch was considered trouble. LOL.]