Chapter 10

Diana, trying to befriend the children at the orphanage, ran over but immediately fell, getting her dress covered in sand. Cain, suppressing the urge to rush over and pick her up, watched as the orphanage children ran to her aid.

Worried and helped up by the orphanage children, Diana, with a shy smile, thanked them and, holding the hand that lifted her, ran to the middle of the yard with them.

"You're gripping my hand so hard it's turning white."

"Trying to hold back from helping you when you fell almost made me sick. Can you not talk to me for a bit?"

"...You're in bad shape."

The first game Diana learned from the orphans was called "stone flicking." They drew a circle on the ground with a stick and threw stones they had collected into it. The next person to throw a stone had to flick the previous person's stone out of the circle. If they succeeded, they won; if not, they lost. It was a game similar to marbles or Beyblade. The children said they picked up strong-looking stones when they went to look for food in the forest. No matter how many times Cain asked, he couldn't understand their criteria for what made a stone "strong."

"A guest like you can use my stone!" a boy said, handing Diana a black, shiny stone. Cain then flicked the boy's stone out with great force, and they all got excited.

While playing simple games like tag and a competition to see who could throw their shoes the farthest, their mother Elise appeared at the gate, signaling it was time to go home.

"Well, we're going to the fields to get ingredients for dinner."

"Come play again soon."

"Bye-bye!"

Diana said her goodbyes to the children she had become close to and ran to her mother Elise.

"Oh, you two are covered in dust and sand. You'll need to take a bath as soon as we get home."

"Mother, I want to collect stones!"

"Stones? Aren't the ones in the garden enough?"

"The strong stones are by the river!"

"Strong stones?"

"Diana, let's collect stones another time. It gets dark by the river, and you won't be able to tell the strong ones from the weak ones."

"Another time? You promise, big brother?"

Held by both hands by Elise and Cain, Diana, half-dangling, enthusiastically talked about the strong stones.

Cain was genuinely impressed by the Duchess Elise, who, without scolding her sons who were covered in dust and sand from playing with the orphans, held their hands and listened to them.

In the game, no information about Diana and Cain's parents was provided. They were only set as the daughter and son of the head duke, with not even a silhouette shown.

That's why Cain didn't realize he had been reborn into the world of a girls' game until his sister was born and named Diana.

"Cain...-sama, Elise-sama."

Irvaleeno ran up from behind. Stopping in front of the carriage, he was breathing heavily. They had just parted ways in the orphanage yard a moment ago.

"Thank you for treating my injuries and letting me stay for a while. I'm sorry for not saying thank you earlier."

He bowed deeply.

"Hehe. It's wonderful that you can express gratitude. At first, I thought what to do with Cain bringing you back on his own. But Diana enjoyed reading books, and Cain made a new friend and seemed to have fun. I also want to express my gratitude. Thank you, Irvaleeno."

Mother Elise conveyed her thanks with words without bowing. Cain looked up at her, understanding it was a line she drew as a noble.

"See you, Irvaleeno. Bye-bye."

With that, Elise, escorted by the guard knights, got into the carriage. Next, Diana was lifted and placed in the carriage by a knight, and Cain got in on his own. Looking out the window, Irvaleeno was still bowing until they were out of sight.

The sky visible from the carriage window turned indigo, and white smoke began to rise from the chimneys of the houses they passed.

"Cain"

Looking out the window, Cain turned his gaze back when called by his mother. On her lap, the exhausted Diana was sleeping soundly.

"The children at the orphanage are sent to live-in jobs when they turn seven."

"Is that so..."

So, Irvaleeno must be the oldest. At seven, which would be first grade in his previous life, starting to work is quite a tough life. It would be good if they could get a proper allowance and learn a skill, but not all children might end up in such places.

"Mother really took a liking to Irvaleeno. She asked the priest and the orphanage director to reserve Irvaleeno, who will be sent to work next year."

"Really!?"

(Nice, Mom!)

"Actually, we should consult with Father when he returns from the territory... but don't you think we can win 3 to 1, Cain?"

"Of course. Diana and I both like Irvaleeno. We'll ask Father together."

"Hehehe."

Cain made a fist in his mind. He had been thinking of various ways to persuade his parents to keep Irvaleeno close, but with his mother on their side, it was almost a done deal.

"Also, the orphanage director said, 'It's about a year's margin,' so we can take Irvaleeno as soon as Father gives permission."

"Really!?"

Is that... really okay? There aren't any laws or rules about sending children to work at seven, are there? Cain looked at Elise with a puzzled face, and she smiled.

"Perhaps the meals at the orphanage will become a bit more luxurious from tomorrow? The broken window frame at the temple might also be fixed."

"...Is that... really okay?"

Elise said they had made a deal with a donation. Cain frowned, wondering if it was human trafficking and if there would be any trouble if it was found out.

"Making donations to the temple and the orphanage is a virtue and a good deed for nobles. There's nothing wrong with it, Cain."

Cain felt a cold sweat on his back, realizing that the head duchess was not just a gentle and kind mother.