Chapter 9

Kain, Dian, their mother Elise, and Irvalec were riding in a luxurious carriage adorned with the crest of the ducal family. Irvalec was trying to force a smile despite his obvious displeasure, all because Elise was there. The corners of his mouth were twitching.

"Il, you've been reading to Dian, and it's really helped with her studies. Thank you so much. Her tutor was very pleased too."

"That is no trouble at all... It must be due to Lady Dian's inherent abilities."

"Of course! Dian's talent is the foundation. And she's so cute!"

"...I'm just worried that Dian might become spoiled because Kain is so lenient with her..."

"Dian won't be spoiled! I'll eat my carrots properly!"

"That's right, Dian. You do eat your carrots, which a spoiled little lady wouldn't do. ...Mother, I'm just encouraging her to grow, not spoiling her."

Kain, sitting next to Dian, gently stroked her head and carefully adjusted her skirt, which had ridden up from her kicking feet, while replying with a doting expression. Inside the carriage, Kain and Dian were seated next to each other, as were Irvalec and Elise.

(No matter how you look at it, this seating arrangement is strange... Normally, it would be me and Kain, and Mother and Dian.)

While he could tolerate the eccentric Kain or the innocent and young Dian, the cold sweat on his back wouldn't stop at the thought of sitting next to the duchess, a noblewoman, while he was just a commoner and an orphan. Even though he was wearing Kain's clothes, he was afraid that touching the duchess's dress would be considered impolite.

"Il is so polite and well-mannered. Are all the children at the orphanage like that?"

"No... that's..."

"Mother, Irvalec is one of the older children at the orphanage."

"Oh, I see. It might be too difficult for the younger children."

Kain tried to support his mother, but he glanced at Irvalec, thinking it probably wasn't the case. Irvalec was likely special. After all, he was a target character in the game, one who could lead to the worst ending where everyone dies. He was supposed to have a background that would fill his heart with darkness by the time he became a young man, but the game didn't specify whether it was the temple, the orphanage, or some other villain behind it. Kain thought they would at least be able to meet the priest at the temple and the person in charge of the children at the orphanage today.

Eventually, the carriage arrived at the temple on the western edge of the city. Elise, along with the escorting knight, was led to an office in the back of the temple to explain the situation. When asked if she wanted to join the conversation, she declined, saying she wanted to see where Irvalec lived.

Walking down the corridor opposite the temple's office to the end, they found a wooden door leading to the orphanage. Beyond the door was a courtyard like a playground, surrounded by a C-shaped, two-story wooden building.

"There are so many little children."

Dian, wide-eyed, murmured this. In reality, there were more children older than the three-year-old Dian, but since she had rarely left the ducal family's estate and had never seen children other than Kain, this was her impression.

"...Everyone looks so dirty..."

"..."

Kain squatted down to meet Dian's eye level, looking at her, who was hiding behind him, a little frightened, and then at Irvalec, who was looking down and biting his lip.

"Dian, they look dirty because it's our fault."

"Because of Dian?"

"Because of us. Because of the nobles."

Irvalec's eyes widened at Kain's words, while Dian tilted her head in confusion.

"The reason we nobles can wear beautiful clothes and be rich is because the people in the town and the country share a little of the money they earn with us."

"Share with us?"

"Yes. They work hard and share a little of their money with the nobles instead of using it all for themselves."

"Because they shared their money with us, those children can't wear nice clothes?"

"No. Those children don't have fathers or mothers to buy them nice clothes."

"Oh..."

Dian, with her eyebrows furrowed, looked at the children in the orphanage, trying to understand what it meant to not have a father or mother.

"Nobles, in exchange for receiving money from everyone, must help solve the problems of the people in the town and the country."

"Buy clothes for children without fathers or mothers?"

"Yes. Help mediate when people are fighting, protect people from monsters, and help regions with food shortages by redistributing from regions with excess. It's the duty of nobles to do things that individuals find difficult to solve on their own."

Kain tried to explain in simple terms, but Dian looked confused, her gaze shifting between Kain and the orphans.

"What should Dian do?"

"First, try to become friends with them. If you play with them and become close, you'll understand what needs to be done."

Even if Dian didn't fully understand Kain's explanation, she felt that something needed to be done and asked Kain what she should do. Kain answered, encouraging her to treat them as equals.

Kain turned to Irvalec with a smile and said, "Come on, introduce us to everyone," patting his shoulder. Irvalec, looking down, whispered a small "Thank you."