Chapter 6

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: Chapter 6

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Smart Amelia knew that the moment her identity came out, her personal safety would be at risk. So she never revealed that she was the daughter of the Agris Marquis. Because of that, the director and the staff all believed Amelia was a commoner.

However, there was an undeniable air of nobility about Amelia that she couldn't hide. The nobles who visited for adoptions had no way of missing it.

'The reason the director sat Amelia next to me must have been that.'

Pretty children had a much higher chance of being adopted than ugly ones. Especially a refined child like Amelia.

He must have figured that as a noble, I'd recognize her value and deliberately seated me beside her.

But if it was a child with criminal parents—no, a precocious one who boldly said it outright?

'Any desire to adopt would vanish in an instant.'

I let out a hollow chuckle as I watched Amelia munch away at her bread with impressive gusto.

No wonder she hadn't been visible despite her eye-catching looks. She'd been hiding until mealtime.

I already knew from the original story that she was clever, but Amelia seemed far more remarkable than I'd anticipated.

"Yeah?"

I smiled, masking my surprise.

The main reason I wasn't too flustered was that I knew her parents weren't criminals—and that Amelia herself had no desire to be adopted.

"Still, just because your parents are criminals doesn't mean you have to decide you'll end up the same way."

I knew what a kind, intelligent child she was. I knew she'd grow into a fine adult.

"You're you, aren't you?"

Of course, I couldn't let that show, so I wrapped it up with a bit of gentle advice.

"Instead of dwelling on that, eat up and grow big and strong."

Above all, it was heartbreaking to see such a young child tangled up in complicated thoughts like these.

For some reason, Amelia had frozen solid while staring at me, so I placed a piece of meat back on her spoon.

"Eat up. It'll get cold."

"......Okay."

Once I confirmed the meat disappear into her little mouth, I turned my attention to the other children nearby. I couldn't let my focus stay on just one.

I wiped crumbs from the face of a child who had them smeared on their mouth and mopped up spilled soup from the floor. Before I knew it, lunchtime was over.

The director, leaving cleanup to the staff, clapped his hands a few times to gather the children.

"Everyone, grab your blankets and pillows. It's naptime."

"Naptime?"

The children tilted their heads at the director's words. From their reactions, it seemed they'd never had anything like a naptime before.

"That's right. After a full belly, it's time to get some shut-eye."

I was just as puzzled.

There were older children here like Amelia, but also ones so young they could barely toddle around yet.

'Their food hasn't even digested yet. Is it really okay to sleep right after eating?'

Even grown adults weren't supposed to nap immediately after meals—it was bad for the body. Was it fine for children whose digestive systems weren't fully developed? I'd heard you had to make babies burp after feeding.

The doubts swirled in my mind, but I didn't have enough childcare knowledge to step in rashly. I'd never had a child of my own, and even with young Lucian, feeding and bedtime had always been the nanny's domain—I had no hands-on experience.

"Come on, lie down quick. You won't grow if you don't sleep."

Under the director's persistent urging, the children fetched their threadbare blankets and pillows—little more than rags—and spread them on the floor.

"Sweet dreams, my little ones."

The director planted a kiss on the forehead of the nearest child, then went to the window and drew the curtains. The room grew dim.

"Then, young lady, shall we finish our talk in my office?"

"Yes."

I followed the director, who was rubbing his hands together like a fly, to his office.

Creak, squeak.

The wooden door shut with an unpleasant noise. It was the one Lucella had smashed earlier, crudely jammed back into place.

"......"

The sound slowly pried open her heavy eyelids. Blink, blink—spring-green eyes like new leaves emerged.

Amelia rolled her bead-like eyes this way and that, confirmed the adults were gone, and promptly sat up.

"Where you going?"

The voice from over her shoulder made Amelia's hand freeze mid-motion as she threw off her blanket. She turned to see Edwin gently patting the chest of a much younger child.

"To the director's office."

"Then I'll come too."

"No."

Amelia firmly stopped Edwin as he started to rise.

"If you come along, we'll get caught. It's better if I go quietly by myself."

"......Tch."

"I'll steal a cookie from the kitchen on the way back, okay?"

Amelia expertly soothed the pouting Edwin and tiptoed carefully away.

'I wonder what child they're adopting this time.'

Anxiety made Amelia's heart pound as she headed for the director's office.

No one else mattered, but she absolutely could not be adopted. She had to meet her uncle.

'I hope it's not me.'

Her unusually sparkling looks and the innate nobility she exuded even at rest always put Amelia at the top of the adoption list.

Every time, she'd come up with some absurd reason to kill their interest.

'My father's a serial killer.'

Or,

'My mother's a famous thief.'

Strictly speaking, it wasn't entirely untrue.

Her father had sentenced numerous guilty serfs to death, and her mother had once been caught stealing her grandmother's jewels as a child.

Whenever she said things like that, people would shoot her looks of contempt.

'Parents who are criminals? No way! Amelia's just lying!'

Of course, the director would wave it off—he wanted to sell her for top dollar.

But his excuses only tarnished her reputation further.

'A child who can spout such monstrous lies without batting an eye... How chilling.'

No adult wanted a habitual liar.

After the nobles left, the director would scold her harshly for saying such things, but she didn't care.

Adults who picked children based on looks alone were the last thing she wanted.

'But that lady......'

Amelia recalled the red-haired woman who had suddenly appeared at the orphanage one day.

The one who hadn't even flinched at her claim of being the child of criminals.

'Still, just because your parents are criminals doesn't mean you have to decide you'll end up the same way. You're you, aren't you?'

She was the first adult who hadn't looked at her with contempt—and the first to say something like that.

And she didn't just fawn over the pretty children. Whether a face was ugly, or covered in skin conditions, she tried to care for every child without discrimination. The total opposite of every other adult who'd ever visited the orphanage.

'I can't decide she's a good person yet. She might just be putting on an act in front of the director.'

What was Lucella like when alone with the director? And which child was she planning to adopt?

With curiosity and anxiety churning inside her, Amelia stood by the window outside the director's office. She rose onto her tiptoes.

Soon, she caught sight of Lucella talking with the director.

"So, has any child caught your eye?"

"They were all cute as angels."

I spoke as I glanced around the director's office.

The building itself was old, so the office wasn't in great shape either. Still, compared to the children's rooms, it might as well have been a hotel.

A fluffy carpet covered the floor, and thick curtains perfectly blocked out the cold draft from outside—while the children shivered in rooms with shattered windows and loose doorframes.

The bookshelves displayed all sorts of awards, and the table was laden with fancy chocolates and cookies for entertaining guests.

'Edwin said he first tasted chocolate when he came to the ducal residence.'

The director must have munched on them whenever he got bored here.

His bulging belly and double chin said it all. He'd clearly funneled the embezzled funds straight into his gut.

Having no inkling of my thoughts, the director continued with his affable smile.

"They are, aren't they? But you can't adopt them all."

"As I said earlier, I'm not here for an adoption."

His smiling face cracked slightly as I downed my tea. He must have lamented missing out on a massive donation.

'Looks like he didn't hear a word I said.'

He probably thought it was just polite small talk—something I made up.

Clink.

Irritated, I set my teacup down with a sharp clatter.

He didn't seem to pick up on hints, so being direct was probably best.

Besides, there was no time to waste.

"You're aware that I'm currently under the protection of the Bellomon Ducal Family, right?"

"Of course. How could I not know?"

Bellomon Ducal Family. At the mention of the territory's lords, the director straightened up.

Time to make full use of their influence.

"My brother-in-law, His Excellency the Bellomon Duke, takes a great interest in children's welfare."

I deliberately emphasized that the duke was my brother-in-law.

"Ever since my nephew, young Lord Lucian Bellomon, was born, he's started paying attention to children around the same age."

I reminded him that my nephew was the Bellomon heir.

"As expected of His Excellency! Even amid his busy schedule, to care for the territory's children like this......"

As anticipated, the director became exceedingly deferential. He bowed repeatedly, craning his neck forward like a turtle.

But his smile didn't last long.

"That's why he's awfully curious. About how the orphanages in the territory are run... and whether the support funds are being used properly."