Chapter 8

The principal, who had been carefully observing Ellie, soon finished his thoughts.

He thought that children in similar situations would naturally get along well.

After all, Damian was the property of a debt collector.

Since he would have to be returned, he had no intention of letting him fit in with the other children's mischief.

"Malen."

"Yes."

"It's noisy, so take those children away quickly."

"Understood."

"And exclude this child from work from now on."

The principal pointed at Damian.

"Excuse me...?"

"Exclude him. Treat the other children as usual."

Leaving those words, the principal left the kitchen.

The childcare teacher and the other children looked at Damian with slightly puzzled faces.

Ellie, who had wiped the stiff expression off her face as if nothing had happened, turned to Damian.

"Damian. You go inside for now."

"…And you?"

"I have to work here."

At that, Damian tightly shut his mouth, even gripping the hem of Ellie's clothes.

Although he was grateful for the trust Damian had shown over the past few days...

Ellie was a bit at a loss.

The reason the principal excluded Damian was likely because he was a child who couldn't be treated casually.

However, the other children had no way of knowing this.

To the children, this could appear as clear favoritism.

"Damian. I'll finish my work quickly and come to you. It won't take long."

"…"

Ellie's voice, trying to reassure him, was tinged with awkwardness.

'I don't want to be alone.'

But Damian was more afraid of being disliked by Ellie.

Damian slowly let go of Ellie's clothes.

"Th… Damian? Won't you come this way?"

The childcare teacher, who had been watching the two, left the kitchen with Damian.

"Are you going to get scolded?"

"It must be scary. If you get hit by that teacher, it really hurts…"

Fortunately or unfortunately, the children didn't seem to think Damian was being excluded.

Ellie let out a sigh of relief. Damian's dejected face lingered in her mind.

* * *

As soon as my work was done, I hurriedly went outside.

Damian was huddled in a corner of the dining room.

"Damian."

At my call, Damian's head snapped up.

The children, who found the new Damian intriguing, were looking at us with bright eyes.

Although they had been wary of him before, their curiosity was irresistible.

Damian slowly lowered his head. His tightly closed mouth seemed to reveal his discomfort.

"Let's eat together over there. Come this way."

At that, Damian's head snapped up again.

"…Over there?"

"Yep. Come on quickly. Today's menu is delicious."

Seemingly convinced by my persuasion, Damian nodded and approached.

"Hey?"

At that moment, Tommy, who was carrying dishes, pointed at Damian and shouted.

"Ellie's seat is mine!"

Tommy's voice was unusually loud, seemingly happy that the always watchful Carson was absent.

I casually patted Tommy's head.

"Please give up your seat for today, good Tommy. He's a new friend who just arrived."

"I don't want to…"

"A good man knows how to yield."

"Is that so?"

Tommy blinked, seemingly convinced by my words.

"Alright! I'll let you have it for today."

Tommy was a cute child who would quickly change his mind with a few gentle words.

Tommy proudly took his seat in front of me.

"Enjoy your meal, Damian. There's not much, but…"

"…You too."

We exchanged brief greetings and started eating.

However, Damian's eating didn't seem to be going well.

"Why, Damian? Do you have no appetite?"

"…Why did you do that earlier?"

Damian, who had been hesitating, asked hesitantly.

I immediately understood what Damian was asking.

'You mean why I lied to the principal.'

Damian was a child familiar with violence.

A child who didn't know how to lie.

A child who had to tell only the truth, who had learned resignation first.

I put down my spoon and looked at Damian.

"I told you before. Revenge must be done properly. If I had told the truth, we would have been punished together."

"…"

"Although I did lie, it's better than being a pushover."

"…"

"You shouldn't be swept up by the other party's moves. Even lying is okay."

Damian blinked blankly, as if he had never heard such words before.

"So, don't just take it, Damian. Got it?"

"…"

After thinking for a moment, Damian nodded.

"Good thinking."

His round head was so cute that I couldn't help but pat it again.

After a few days, I realized it. Damian was an incredibly kind and gentle child.

'To torment such a gentle child like this…'

I felt a surge of anger.

"Ah!"

A loud cry came from somewhere.

Looking in the direction of the sound, I saw Betty crying, holding a rabbit doll soaked in soup.

The rabbit doll was a birthday gift from Betty's deceased parents, and it seemed she had accidentally dropped it in the soup.

I jumped up from my seat.

"Damian, keep eating. I'll be right back."

Without waiting for Damian's response, I approached Betty.

"Big sister…"

As I approached, Betty looked at me with tears streaming down her face.

"It's okay. Let's clean it. Look, it's only wet on one side."

"But…"

"I'll wash it for you. So, stop crying."

Betty sniffled and nodded.

"I'll be right back. You all keep eating."

I left the dining room with Betty.

Damian watched Ellie and the small girl intently.

They talked for a moment and then left.

Damian, who had been staring at the empty door, turned his gaze to his bowl.

The children, who had been stirred by the brief commotion, glanced at Damian.

Ellie seemed unaware, but the children, especially the younger ones, liked her.

Ellie was more mature than her peers and never flinched in front of the Carson gang who bullied them.

That's why the children found Damian intriguing.

It seemed Ellie paid special attention to him.

The children's curiosity reached even Tommy, who was sitting in the front.

The child next to him nudged Tommy with his elbow, suggesting he talk to Damian.

'Got it. I'll just ask him.'

Tommy, answering with a glare, cleared his throat.

"Hey."

He called out to Damian in a slightly lower voice than usual.

However, Damian didn't take his eyes off the dishes, as if he hadn't heard.

"Hey!"

Only after calling out loudly did Damian lift his gaze.

"You didn't hear me when I called?"

Damian didn't answer, just staring at him as if asking what he wanted.

"Well, nothing… I just thought you and Ellie seemed to be getting along."

"…"

"Let's get along too."

Tommy extended his hand as he said this.

Damian stared at the outstretched hand.

'Is he shy?'

Tommy added awkwardly to break the tension.

"I'm also Ellie's friend."

"…Friend?"

Only then did Damian look at Tommy.

His blue eyes, partially hidden by his hair, sparkled at the mention of Ellie's name.

"Yep. I'm Ellie's best friend."

Tommy said brightly, excited by Damian's reaction.

Unfortunately, Tommy's words were enough to make Damian hesitate.

Damian turned his head sharply.

It was a clear rejection.

"…Huh?"

Tommy blinked, looking bewildered.

The atmosphere changed instantly.

Tommy, unable to find the right words, just opened and closed his mouth.

At that moment, Ellie and Betty entered the dining room.

Ellie, who had gently wiped Betty's eyes, returned to her seat.

"Damian. Are you eating well?"

"Yep."

At Ellie's question, Damian nodded, looking shy as if nothing had happened.

The fierce beast had disappeared, and a puppy wagging its tail appeared.

Ha. Tommy let out a hollow laugh.

"What's wrong, why are you like that?"

Ellie asked, seeing Tommy's hand frozen in mid-air and his bewildered expression.

"Uh? Oh, my hand just hurts a bit."

Tommy awkwardly smiled and turned his gaze away.