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Chapter – 03
Tall stature. Broad, wide shoulders.
A pale face with long eyelashes.
Eyes as clear as a lake, with blue pupils, and soft, wheat-colored hair.
His languidly open eyes exuded both ease and sharpness.
The man leisurely looked around, then grinned and opened his mouth.
“I’m Oliver.”
At the brief introduction, people began to buzz.
“He’s insane, insane.”
“Right? His face is crazy handsome. His voice is crazy too.”
“Did the Imperial Law maybe add a crime for being too handsome?”
“Then you’d get a reduced sentence, huh…?”
“You brat!”
I, too couldn’t take my eyes off him.
Thump-thump.
My small heart was racing relentlessly.
Not because the man was handsome… but for another reason.
‘He’s an undercover investigator.’
Thanks to squeezing my tiny brain tightly, I managed to remember his identity.
That man was definitely an undercover investigator sent by Pantheive.
‘I saw it in Saturday’s Gossip, so it’s certain.’
I stared at Mr. Oliver with sparkling eyes.
‘That person can make my plan a reality!’
My plan to go to a decent orphanage, that is.
‘An investigator of his level should have the authority to choose an orphanage.’
If I make a good impression and then subtly drop a hint…
That’s when it happened.
“Huh, Huhuh?! Why is that person here…!”
Ricky oppa, sitting next to me, shot up with a shout.
Everyone’s gaze turned toward oppa.
Of course, including Mr. Oliver’s, and even the guard’s eyes were on him.
“What is it, Ricky? Do you know him?”
At the guard’s puzzled question, oppa blinked rapidly.
“Well, that… I just feel so sorry that such a handsome guy is locked up in a place like this. Haha, ha.”
He scratched the back of his head awkwardly and sat down, prompting a flood of teasing jeers from all around.
“What, you surprised me.”
“Don’t overdo it, Ricky-.”
“Ooh, don’t show off!”
Oppa laughed, “Haha, sorry, sorry,” and waved his hand at everyone.
But I, sitting next to him, could see it.
‘His eyes are doing the hula dance.’
Did oppa also figure out Mr. Oliver’s identity?
That Mr. Oliver is an undercover investigator?
I narrowed my eyes and leaned in close to oppa.
“What? What’s wrong, kiddo?”
“Oppa, tell me the truth.”
“Wh-what…?”
“By any chance… are you an investigator or something? Or did you commit some crime or something?”
“What are you talking about! Where would you find someone as honest and pure as me!”
What? Judging by his jumpy reaction, it seems he really isn’t.
“If not, it’s fine. Let’s live honestly from now on too.”
So, was he really just surprised by his good looks?
Tilting my head, I straightened my posture, and my eyes met Mr. Oliver’s, who was staring this way.
Wow, he’s really handsome…
‘No, this isn’t the time for that.’
Good impression, smiling expression!
I quickly flashed a ‘hee-’ and smiled.
Instantly, Mr. Oliver’s eyebrow twitched slightly.
He stared at me intently, then slowly smiled back.
Gasp, he looks even more handsome when he smiles.
‘More importantly, this is a good sign, right?’
He smiled at me, after all.
Somehow, pleased with the not-so-bad first step, a dazed, goofy smile wouldn’ leave my face.
That evening.
I headed toward Mr. Oliver’s room.
It was to firmly hammer in a good impression.
‘To do that, I need to greet him properly!’
After all, greetings are the foundation of a good impression.
Hello, customer.
Nice to meet you, customer.
Standing tall in the hallway, I practiced the greeting a couple of times, then firmly clenched my little fists.
“O-kay, pew-fect.”
From now on, it’s the real deal.
However, the moment I arrived at Mr. Oliver’s door, I lost my resolve completely.
“Hey, move aside! Let me see his face too!”
“I want to greet him too, you know!”
“Me too, me too!”
The area in front of Mr. Oliver’s room was already bustling with people.
…No wonder. I thought it was quiet on the way here.
‘Seems everyone gathered here.’
*Sniff*
Oh well.
‘Strategic retreat it is.’
If I squeeze in there, I’ll end up seeing the Grim Reaper’s face before I even see Mr. Oliver’s.
But I couldn’t just give up like this.
‘Let’s change the plan a bit.’
My gaze turned toward the room next to Mr. Oliver’s.
Ricky oppa’s room.
“Good. Let’s do that there.”
My new operational base!
“Can I sleep in oppa’s room too?”
At my question, Jeanne unnie dropped the comb she was holding.
With a shocked expression, unnie grabbed both my hands tightly with her empty ones.
“Why, why? Did unnie do something wrong? Is that why you don’t like staying with unnie?”
“No! It’s not that!”
I frantically waved my hands.
Our kind unnie shouldn’t get hurt.
“It’s not that, I want to get closer to the new ahjussi…. The new ahjussi is next to Ricky oppa’s room, right?”
“Ah, I thought it was something else.”
Finally relieved, unnie smiled brightly and nodded.
“If that’s the case, then do as you please. Ricky, are you okay with it too?”
“Huh… Huh? What did you say?”
“This kid’s been spacing out since earlier… Meloni wants to sleep in your room. Is that okay?”
At Jeanne unnie’s words, Ricky oppa’s eyes widened.
Soon after, he nodded his head vigorously and replied.
“I’m fine with it! I’m so grateful! Sleep in oppa’s room. Or rather? Just stay. You can stay forever!”
“…No. That’s a bit much.”
I like Jeanne unnie more, you know.
That night.
I laid out a blanket in Ricky oppa’s room and lay down.
“Sleep well, kiddo.”
“Uh-huh. You too, oppa. And I’m not a kiddo.”
“Yeah, yeah, kiddo.”
This oppa, really…
‘Fine. I’ll be the bigger person and let it go.’
I let out a ‘hmph’ and lay down.
Not long after, oppa was the first to fall asleep.
Once asleep, oppa began to moan and whimper.
“Ugh, save me… please save me. I don’t know anything.”
What kind of dream is he having?
I let out a sympathetic sigh and patted his chest gently.
There, that’s a bit quieter.
‘Shall I get moving, then?’
I moved as stealthily as I could, minimizing any sound.
‘If I open the door, I might wake him….’
If the rusty door makes a noise while opening, oppa might wake up.
That would be troublesome.
He’s not the type to just let me wander around alone in the middle of the night.
What I chose was the small hole at the bottom of the door.
It was a hole for passing food, but I could just barely squeeze through it.
‘If it were just a little bigger, it would be impossible, but…’
Carefully, I put my head into the hole and wriggled my way out.
The empty hallway was dark and quiet.
Gulp.
‘It’s a bit scary…’
Why does the Brumcheoir ghost story Ricky oppa told me once come to mind?
“You know what, Meloni?”
“What?”
“Actually, a monster lives here in Brumcheoir?”
“…M-monsder?”
“Yeah. The monster of Brumcheoir catches and eats children who don’t go to sleep early-”
“Ricky. Stop teasing Meloni.”
“Hmph. Jeanne noona only hates Ricky. Hmph hmph.”
Of course, since it’s a story from Ricky oppa, I don’t particularly believe it, but.
‘Tch. Oppa just had to tell a scary story.’
Honestly, the original me would have scoffed at such a ghost story.
I wouldn’t have been scared of a dark, empty hallway either.
Having slept on the streets and experienced all sorts of things.
But the problem was this body.
‘Is it because the body is young?… My childish instincts keep resurfacing.’
The fact that I’ve started being picky with carrots again is proof of that.
Before the regression, I was far from picky; I even occasionally ate spoiled food…
…Not sure if that’s good or bad.
Groan.
‘Well, let’s move forward for now.’
Since I’m already out, I need to achieve my goal.
My destination was the area in front of Mr. Oliver’s room.
Of course, I had no intention of going in.
‘We shouldn’t violate his privacy.’
I just planned to observe the situation a bit.
I moved my legs, which were trembling with fear, with great effort.
Trying my best to be quiet, I peeked around in front of his room, but—
‘Th-this is probably enough. Let’s go back!’
You were brave, Meloni!
Having accomplished my goal, I quickly returned to Ricky oppa’s room.
Whew, huff.
‘I really shouldn’t wander around at night. It’s better for my heart.’
I got back down on all fours and stuck my legs into the hole.
Just as I had crawled in up to my shoulders…
“…Huh?”
Ah, it won’t move?
