Chapter 3

### Chapter 3 (3/218)

The face hidden under the robe gave the principal a shiver of unease.

"Bring her here."

"Y-Yes, yes?"

The principal, who had asked stupidly, made Aslan frown.

"Didn't I say I would bring her if you wanted?"

"Y-Yes, that's right."

"Good. It seems your ears aren't as deaf as I thought."

Only then did the principal regain his composure and quickly sent the child next to him up to the attic.

The child, who had been looking down from the attic window, quickly disappeared.

"Let's go home quickly."

Aslan's eyes, hidden under the robe, smiled tenderly as he looked at the attic where Erita was.

***

"Bring her here."

I was staring at the man in the robe when I heard the voice from afar and blinked in confusion.

I was staring blankly down when I saw a child running into the building and quickly fell away from the window.

"He said to bring you."

I pondered the man's words, but they didn't feel real at all.

Why did he say to bring me?

He clearly said it while looking directly at me.

...He didn't even turn his head away when he saw my hair.

This man was the first person who didn't frown at me after I fell into this world.

After thinking slowly, my heart started to beat with a faint hope.

Until now, everyone who saw me from the attic always frowned and turned away.

"I wish I had some decent clothes."

I felt particularly regretful today because all I had were old, shabby clothes.

Knock, knock.

I ran to the door at the sound I had been waiting for and opened it.

"The principal wants you to come."

"Okay, I know."

The path to the principal's office felt longer than usual as I followed the child with a frowning face.

"You're to come in alone."

When we arrived at the principal's office, the child who brought me left for his friends.

Before entering, I pulled my wrinkled skirt and shook my head to get rid of any dust from cleaning.

Knock, knock. I knocked on the door and said my name softly.

"Principal, it's me, Rita."

"Come in quickly."

Usually, I would hear a scolding, but today, perhaps because of the guest, only a gentle voice came through.

When I opened the door and entered, I saw the principal sitting on the sofa and a man sitting opposite him.

Not knowing the etiquette for nobles, I just bowed my head.

"Hello."

"Rita, come here and sit down quickly."

It was the first time my name was called by the principal since I opened my eyes.

The change in address in front of the noble guest was amusing.

I bit my lip and approached the sofa.

Standing in front of the low table, I looked at the men cautiously and met the eyes of the man with blue hair.

"Hello, little lady. I'm Fern."

The man with blue hair smiled and greeted me, making me jump in surprise.

"A, I'm Rita..."

His gentle, smiling eyes made him look quite handsome, and I stared at him for a moment without realizing it.

I came to my senses when I heard a low laugh from above.

Looking up, I saw the corner of the man's mouth, the only part visible under the robe, curved up.

Even though only his lower face was visible, I could tell he was quite handsome.

Then, a soft question fell from above.

"Miss, may I ask what you usually do?"

"Um, I usually prepare meals and clean... and in my free time, I just go up to the attic."

After hesitating for a moment, I glanced at the principal and answered the man who introduced himself as Fern.

I could have lied, but I didn't want to speak well of the principal.

"Do you prepare meals alone?"

Well, a few months ago, a child sometimes helped, but after that child was adopted, I've been preparing meals alone.

"...Yes."

"...You're made to prepare meals even though you're not enough."

The man in the robe muttered something, but I couldn't hear it clearly.

"Then, what about the other children...?"

"In the morning, they're sleeping, and in the afternoon and evening, they just play."

When I finished speaking, I turned my head to the principal and shuddered at his demon-like expression.

'After all, it's the truth.'

The principal's expression seemed to imply, "How dare you accuse me?"

Turning away from the principal's fierce face, I bowed deeply, and the man in the robe called my name softly.

"Rita."

"Yes?"

The way my name was called in a low, deep voice felt touching.

It was a name rarely called in the orphanage, so it felt ticklish.

As I fidgeted with my fingers, the man sitting on the sofa got up and knelt in front of me.

My pupils trembled in confusion.

The man, seeing my reaction, smiled and extended his large hand to me.

"Will you come with me?"

The hope I had since the moment I was called.

The wish I had been praying for every day, the family I had been longing for since I became a child again in this place.

I asked with a trembling voice.

"...Really?"

"Yes."

"I'm not pretty, not smart... and I have cursed, black hair."

"Rita, none of that matters. You are the most precious child to me."

The man's words were the warmest I had ever received in this place.

I took the large hand he extended,

"Rita, will you come with me?"

"...Yes."

I couldn't refuse.

***

On the other hand, the principal, who was watching Erita and the man, was flustered.

I couldn't believe he would really take that worthless child.

The principal's image was already tarnished by the child's blabbering, and now he was going to be adopted?

Why that child of all?

The principal suppressed his boiling anger and spoke in a gentle voice.

"Sir, Count?"

The man, who was looking warmly at Erita's tightly held hand, turned his head.

"Do you really intend to take that child...?"

"Why? Is there a problem?"

The man, who casually picked up the flustered Erita, replied indifferently.

Despite this, he gently patted Erita's back, which was quite affectionate.

The principal, ignoring the cold sweat running down his back, forced a business smile.

It wasn't bad to get rid of a troublemaker, but as a principal, he preferred other children to be adopted by noble families.

'Now that the one with good hands is gone, it's a bit regretful...'

The principal, hiding his wicked thoughts, continued with a chuckle.

"Still, isn't it a bit too quick a decision? There are many other pretty children..."

Erita shuddered at the sharp gaze directed at her.

"Shh, it's okay."

The man gently stroked Erita's hair and comforted her.

Seeing this, the principal, who had been biting his lip, spoke cautiously again.

"Count, don't do that. There's a particularly lovely child, and it's not too late to see her and decide."

Fern's brow furrowed at the principal's transparent intentions.

'There are so many people who can't read the room.'

Despite his gentle appearance, Fern's personality wasn't particularly good.

And he especially disliked people like the principal.

Fern smiled sweetly, recalling what his master had told him before coming to the orphanage today.

"Hehe, that's true. There are many other pretty children."

The principal's face brightened at Fern's agreement.

"But, sir."

"Yes?"

"Why is the little lady's clothes so shabby when the other children's clothes are new?"

The principal's smile disappeared at the subsequent question.

While it's true that people with black hair are ostracized, it's impossible for children in an orphanage cared for by the temple to be discriminated against.

"T-That's...! Our orphanage is in a difficult situation... We can't afford to buy new clothes for all the children."

However, the principal's attire and the furniture in the office were far from cheap.

The man let out a hollow laugh at the ridiculous excuse.

"Difficult situation..."

"R-Really! That's why the children can't even eat properly, how sad..."

The principal's act of feigning sadness and shedding tears would make anyone who didn't know the situation believe it.

"Is that so? You've been embezzling the temple's assistance and the donations from nobles, haven't you?"

The principal, who had been trying to relax at the silence of the count and Fern, stiffened at the words in his ear.

"You've been embezzling the temple's assistance and the donations from nobles to satisfy your own greed."

Fern, who had taken out a piece of paper from his pocket, tapped it and laughed deeply.

The paper listed all the assistance and donations the principal had embezzled.

"Fern, what's the punishment for such a case?"

The low, resonant voice made the principal's body tremble.

What, what is this...

"Hmm, since you've embezzled the temple's assistance and the donations for the children... "

Fern, who paused, glanced at the trembling principal.

"Well, at the very least, you'll lose your position as principal, have your assets seized, and be exiled."

"Such...!"

"Of course, that's the minimum."

The principal, who had heard Fern's words clearly, collapsed in his seat, his legs giving out.

"Is that so."

"A, even if you're a count, you can't do that...!"

The principal, who had been trying to say something futile, knew it was the end.

"Why are you doing this to me? I've done nothing wrong to you!"

The principal, contorting his face, shouted.

Of course, embezzlement is illegal, but it's usually overlooked.

What did I do to deserve this!

"Then, what did this child do wrong?"

The man, looking down at Erita in his arms, asked the principal.

The principal, glaring at Erita, answered in a fit of rage.

"Just for that girl...!"

Clang

In an instant, Fern drew his sword and pointed it at the principal's neck.

"Be careful with your words. You're addressing someone of a higher status."

The man, leaving the principal, who was gaping at the sharp blade, turned around.

"Fern."

The man, nodding to Fern, covered Erita's ears and left the office.

Fern, who had been watching his master's back, pressed the sword against the principal's neck and then withdrew it.

"Consider yourself lucky. If it weren't for the child, my master would have taken action."

"..."

"You'll have a better life in prison."

Fern, who had changed to a cold tone, muttered.

The principal, stunned by the curse-like words, was dragged out by the waiting knight as Fern nodded.

"Take him away."

"Aaaah! Let go! Let go...!"

Fern, with an indifferent look, gave the order, and the principal was dragged away.

"Take him away."

The screams from behind quickly faded.

***

I was carried out of the principal's office in the man's arms.

Feeling awkward in the warm embrace, I stiffened, and the man asked in a gentle voice.

"Do you have anything you want to bring?"

I thought for a moment but shook my head, remembering the things in the attic.

"I'll just go."

The attic only had old clothes and a worn-out blanket.

The man, pausing for a moment, continued walking.

"Let's go. You'll have everything you need at home, so it's fine."

The following words were incredibly affectionate.

"Home..."

I pondered the word that felt awkward.

Turning my head, I saw the monotonous orphanage building.

I have only one year of memories, but I had lived there for over six years.

If I were to call a place where I lived home, this place would have been my home.

But the contempt and mistreatment I received from the moment I opened my eyes were vivid in my body and mind.

It was a space so terrible that I couldn't call it home.

"Home..."

Finally, I had a place I could call home.

"Yes. We're going home."

The warm voice that settled in my ear made the tears I had been holding back silently overflow.