Chapter 17

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: Chapter 17

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"You're here, Miss."

"Nothing eventful in the meantime?"

"No. It's only been two days, after all. You brought Young Master Lucian with you again today?"

"Yeah. He threw such a tantrum about wanting to come along."

The voices chatting amiably made Amelia turn her head. As always, Lucella was standing there with Lucian tucked against her side, conversing with Heidi.

"Amelia!"

Lucian spotted Amelia and came scampering over to her.

"Have you been well?"

"We just saw each other two days ago."

"Still."

Lucian scratched the bridge of his nose sheepishly before promptly opening his bag and pulling out a toy. At once, the eyes of Amelia and the other children fixed on it.

"This one's a tiger that transforms into a dragon. And this is a knight-shaped block set..."

The children’s eyes sparkled at the endless stream of wondrous, cool toys.

"Lucian, can I play with this one?"

"Huh?"

Lucian's gaze sharpened at the kids slyly reaching for the toys.

'I brought these for Amelia, not for them.'

He absolutely hated it when others eyed his things. Just as Lucian opened his mouth to refuse...

"It's okay, right, Lucian?"

"Uh, huh?"

Before he could get a word out, Amelia beat him to it.

"Well..."

He didn't want the other kids playing with them. He only wanted to share with Amelia.

"Lucian, you're so kind."

"Huh...?"

"Lending your toys to the other kids like that. You're really awesome."

"...Yeah?"

His hesitation lasted only a moment. The instant Amelia smiled at him, all the irritation that had been bubbling up vanished without a trace.

Lucian's shoulders puffed up as he declared,

"Amelia's right. I brought them to play together..."

"Wooow, thanks, Lucian! You're the best!"

The children hugged their new toys close, beaming with joy. Lucian, feeling immensely proud, sneaked a glance at Amelia.

Showing off in front of Amelia. And even getting called kind on top of it!

He was on top of the world. In this mood, he could've given away every toy back at the mansion.

But Amelia's reaction—the most important one—was lackluster.

She simply stared at the music box playing a lullaby, her expression unreadable.

"Amelia, do you like this music box?"

"Huh?"

Amelia flinched, her shoulders stiffening. She seemed a bit flustered.

'She must want it.'

Lucian held the music box out to her.

"My aunt got this for me, so it's my favorite, but I'll give it to you special since you seem to like it!"

He didn't forget to play it up for her benefit.

"No, it's okay. It's yours—I can't take it."

Amelia pushed the music box back toward him.

"I have tons of other toys. I don't play with this one much anyway, so you take it."

"...Really? You sure?"

"Of course!"

In the end, Amelia accepted the music box. Taking someone else's belonging so readily—it wasn't like her at all.

But she couldn't tear her eyes away from it.

Because it was playing the song her mother used to sing.

'It's the lullaby Mom sang before bed.'

On nights when the moon slept and the darkness scared her awake, her mother would sit by her bedside, singing her to sleep. Gently patting her chest.

After coming to the orphanage, on especially sleepless nights, Amelia would recall that song. She'd use the memory as her pillow and finally drift off.

She'd been acting so mature all this time, but in the end, Amelia was just a normal seven-year-old.

'I miss Mom.'

It wasn't just her mom. She missed her kind father and gentle uncle too.

Even though she could never see them again.

'No. Uncle's still alive.'

As long as her uncle was out there, and as long as she kept enduring like this, they'd reunite someday. She didn't know when, but...

'How can I see Uncle again?'

Remembering his low voice calling her "our little one" and the rough but tender hands pinching her cheeks made tears well up.

Amelia bit her lip hard to hold them back. But she couldn't escape Lucian's watchful gaze.

"Amelia, are you crying?"

"No."

"Then why's your face like that?"

"Just... something got in my eye."

Amelia rubbed at her eyes roughly, then suddenly lifted her head as an idea struck her.

"Lucian, your dad's a super high-ranking noble, right?"

Lucella hadn't revealed that Lucian was the Bellomon heir. But sharp Amelia had surely figured out he was the son of some elite noble.

Otherwise, the director and staff wouldn't have been replaced so swiftly.

"Huh? Uh, yeah."

Lucian nodded, caught off guard.

"Then Lucella's high-ranking nobility too?"

"Not sure about that..."

"No, she's more than enough."

The reason Amelia had held back until now was that she couldn't find a single adult she could trust.

The grown-ups who came to the orphanage were all two-faced.

But Lucella was different. Just as she said, she kept her promises without fail.

And more than that—she'd driven out the director and staff who were no better than villains, brought delicious food and clean clothes, and even taken the lead on feeding and bathing the kids.

She'd even cut their hair herself just a few days ago.

There was no falsehood in her face when she smiled at the children. She was kind, gentle, and trustworthy.

Even after countless disappointments, she made hope bloom again.

"Lucella's someone we can rely on."

"My aunt always keeps her promises... Hey, where are you going?"

I glanced around the orphanage interior. I was looking for Edwin.

'If I make Edwin Lucian's play servant, I can naturally bring him into the ducal residence.'

The duke would spot him eventually, do a double-take at how much he resembled him, and ask about his mother.

If Edwin became Lucian's play servant, things would resolve quickly.

Of course, Edwin's own wishes came first.

Being a play servant meant catering to a noble child's whims. Kids who didn't grasp class barriers might find it humiliating.

'Better to invite him over as a friend rather than a play servant.'

Sir Jillian might grumble, but if Lucian wanted it, he'd hold his tongue. With Amelia involved, Lucian would agree in a heartbeat.

'But where the heck is Edwin?'

He wasn't in the playroom or the newly renovated bedrooms.

'He couldn't have vanished. Maybe he's in the bathroom?'

I should talk to Heidi first anyway. There were adoption matters to discuss.

Just as I decided to head to the staff room...

"Sis!"

A familiar voice called from behind. It was Amelia.

"Lucella!"

Amelia came rushing up, panting, clutching the dolphin music box I'd bought for Lucian.

"What's wrong?"

Her seeking me out so urgently—had something bad happened?

I looked at her with concern.

"I have something to say."

Amelia stared back, looking strangely resolute.

"A request I want to make privately, if that's okay?"

"What on earth is this big request?"

"It's..."

Instead of answering, Amelia hugged the music box tight. Her reaction suggested it wasn't easy to say.

"Hmm, shall we go to the director's office? It should be empty."

"...Okay."

I led Amelia to the director's office and locked the door firmly to ensure no one overheard.

I sat her across from me and set some chocolate cookies on the table.

"Sounds like a really important and delicate request."

"How... did you know?"

"You're always so careful, Amelia. For you to pull me aside like this, it must be huge."

Amelia just stared down at the music box in her lap. She hadn't even touched the cookies she loved so much—she must be really tense.

"So, what does our Amelia want to tell me?"

"You don't lie, right? And you don't bully people."

"Nope. Why, do I seem mean?"

"No."

"Then trust your eyes."

I spoke in an exaggeratedly playful tone to ease her nerves.

Amelia gazed at me steadily, then seemed to steel herself and spoke.

"I'm not an orphan."

"...Huh?"

"My parents passed away, but I still have an uncle. He treated me like his own daughter."

Amelia had kept her identity hidden tightly until her uncle came for her. And now she was revealing it to me?

"Please find my uncle for me. He's surely looking for me. So..."

Amelia stumbled over her words uncharacteristically. I gently took her trembling hands, quivering with excitement and nerves.