“Welcome, Duke, Princess."
Randall and Sylvia quickly burst into laughter as if they had never felt awkward. The woman slightly bowed her head to Randall and then greeted Sylvia.
“Nice to meet you. I am Sarah, the director of the Marybelle Orphanage, although I am lacking in many ways.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“The kids are washing laundry right now. Because our orphanage's operating policy is to teach children to be able to do things on their own. Then shall we go? I will guide you.”
Sarah was a very lively woman. She showed Randall and Sylvia around the Merybelle Orphanage. Wherever they went, the children each took on a different task and greeted them with bright smiles.
"Hello!"
“It’s been a while, Duke!”
“Wow! It’s the Duke!”
Not long after he began his inspection, Randall was surrounded by children running towards him saying they were happy to see him. She had so many children clinging to her that she couldn't even move her steps. Sylvia was uncomfortable with Randall's company, so she took advantage of the time he was distracted by the children to sneak away.
'I guess it's a little quiet over here.'
Since all the children had gathered towards Randall, the backyard, where the children had been hanging laundry a little while ago, seemed relatively quiet. Sylvia headed to the backyard to avoid the commotion. When she opened the door and went outside, she saw unusually warm sunlight and clear skies. A white quilt was hanging on the clothesline, gently swaying. Between them, a man with gray hair was playing ball with several children. The man and the children had smiles of excitement on their faces.
“Hey, hey, over there! Grab it!”
At that time, a ball kicked by a boy rolled to Sylvia’s feet. She bent down and picked up the ball.
"Princess?"
Auston, who was running to pick up the ball, let out a small gasp of breath and let out a questionable voice. His hazel eyes widened. Sylvia smiled as she handed him the ball.
“That’s surprising. You seemed like the type of person who wouldn’t be particularly close to children.”
"What does it mean?"
“Wow! It’s the Duke!”
Not long after he began his inspection, Randall was surrounded by children running towards him saying they were happy to see him. She had so many children clinging to her that she couldn't even move her steps. Sylvia was uncomfortable with Randall's company, so she took advantage of the time he was distracted by the children to sneak away.
'I guess it's a little quiet over here.'
Since all the children had gathered towards Randall, the backyard, where the children had been hanging laundry a little while ago, seemed relatively quiet. Sylvia headed to the backyard to avoid the commotion. When she opened the door and went outside, she saw unusually warm sunlight and clear skies. A white quilt was hanging on the clothesline, gently swaying. Between them, a man with gray hair was playing ball with several children. The man and the children had smiles of excitement on their faces.
“Hey, hey, over there! Grab it!”
At that time, a ball kicked by a boy rolled to Sylvia’s feet. She bent down and picked up the ball.
"Princess?"
Auston, who was running to pick up the ball, let out a small gasp of breath and let out a questionable voice. His hazel eyes widened. Sylvia smiled as she handed him the ball.
“That’s surprising. You seemed like the type of person who wouldn’t be particularly close to children.”
"What does it mean?"
“It means that you seemed to have an extremely wizardly personality.”
“That’s an insult!”
"No way."
Sylvia shrugged her shoulders naturally. Auston gave her a look of absurdity, then raised his voice and threw the ball to the children.
“I’m going to take a break, so you guys go play.”
The children hesitated and did not move even after catching the ball that Auston threw. Among them, a girl with a bold look took a step forward and spoke.
“Hey, can’t that person... be included too?”
“This is fun.”
“It’s really so much fun...”
The children were reluctant to approach Sylvia because of the strange aura they felt from her and instead glanced at her. Before Sylvia could respond, Auston waved his hand away.
“She is not the type of person to do something like this. Go quickly. I will look after you as a referee.”
“Hey.”
“I understand, bro.”
The children walked away with regret. Sylvia did not stop him, as she had tried to avoid moving her body unless necessary. The children soon forgot their regret and ran around with happy faces. Sylvia, who was watching the scene, was once again amazed.
“The children follow you well. As expected, it’s amazing.”
“What kind of person do I look like to you, Madam?”
“Do you think you would participate if I told you that I would give you 5 bronze for every successful attack in a ball game?”
"No matter how crazy I am about money, I'm not that heartless. Furthermore...”
Auston turned his head and looked at the children. The hazel eyes darkened. He muttered softly as if he was talking to himself.
“Because I have debt.”
Auston Dosler. He originally came from an orphanage in the western frontier. It was certainly his good fortune that he was able to enter an orphanage instead of starving on the streets. His misfortune was that it was not a peaceful and beautiful place like the Merybelle Orphanage.
"Brother, I miss Peter..."
"It will be before we leave yet. I'll go to the director and ask if I can at least say hello one more time."
Auston, who was young, went to the director's office late at night after hearing something his younger brother at the orphanage whined about. He wanted to ask if he could say goodbye to the child he had adopted that day. But just as he was reaching for the doorknob. He froze as he heard the faint conversation coming from inside the room.
"That's the 10 gold I promised. Count it."
"Oh my, it's been years since we started doing business. Is it really necessary to do that?"
"Who do you plan on sending next?"
"Oh, his name is Auston. He's a little older, but he's a smart kid."
"What we need is not a smart child. I need a healthy and strong child so that it would be no problem to put him to work right away."
The director, who was thought to be benevolent, was actually a criminal who sold children at high prices. Auston heard the conversation and had to put his hand over his mouth to keep from screaming. At the same time, he heard someone raising their body in the room. He left the orphanage without any further thought and ran away.
"I left the kids behind..."
Auston was tormented by guilt at the thought of leaving his younger siblings there. But he was young, weak, and lacking courage. The thought that he could do nothing if he went back and the thought that he could run away alone were constantly clashing. Auston wandered the streets in agony. After starving for several days, he finally lost consciousness and collapsed, and an old man passing by took him in.
"Will you come with me?"
The old man was a wandering wizard. He had once enjoyed some power as a wizard. Eventually, he became disillusioned with the world and hid the fact that he was a wizard, wandering from place to place. He took in Auston and soon realized that Auston had a talent for magic. The old man took Auston as his disciple and taught him what he knew, and Auston desperately learned. He instinctively realized that he needed this teaching to survive.
“That’s an insult!”
"No way."
Sylvia shrugged her shoulders naturally. Auston gave her a look of absurdity, then raised his voice and threw the ball to the children.
“I’m going to take a break, so you guys go play.”
The children hesitated and did not move even after catching the ball that Auston threw. Among them, a girl with a bold look took a step forward and spoke.
“Hey, can’t that person... be included too?”
“This is fun.”
“It’s really so much fun...”
The children were reluctant to approach Sylvia because of the strange aura they felt from her and instead glanced at her. Before Sylvia could respond, Auston waved his hand away.
“She is not the type of person to do something like this. Go quickly. I will look after you as a referee.”
“Hey.”
“I understand, bro.”
The children walked away with regret. Sylvia did not stop him, as she had tried to avoid moving her body unless necessary. The children soon forgot their regret and ran around with happy faces. Sylvia, who was watching the scene, was once again amazed.
“The children follow you well. As expected, it’s amazing.”
“What kind of person do I look like to you, Madam?”
“Do you think you would participate if I told you that I would give you 5 bronze for every successful attack in a ball game?”
"No matter how crazy I am about money, I'm not that heartless. Furthermore...”
Auston turned his head and looked at the children. The hazel eyes darkened. He muttered softly as if he was talking to himself.
“Because I have debt.”
Auston Dosler. He originally came from an orphanage in the western frontier. It was certainly his good fortune that he was able to enter an orphanage instead of starving on the streets. His misfortune was that it was not a peaceful and beautiful place like the Merybelle Orphanage.
"Brother, I miss Peter..."
"It will be before we leave yet. I'll go to the director and ask if I can at least say hello one more time."
Auston, who was young, went to the director's office late at night after hearing something his younger brother at the orphanage whined about. He wanted to ask if he could say goodbye to the child he had adopted that day. But just as he was reaching for the doorknob. He froze as he heard the faint conversation coming from inside the room.
"That's the 10 gold I promised. Count it."
"Oh my, it's been years since we started doing business. Is it really necessary to do that?"
"Who do you plan on sending next?"
"Oh, his name is Auston. He's a little older, but he's a smart kid."
"What we need is not a smart child. I need a healthy and strong child so that it would be no problem to put him to work right away."
The director, who was thought to be benevolent, was actually a criminal who sold children at high prices. Auston heard the conversation and had to put his hand over his mouth to keep from screaming. At the same time, he heard someone raising their body in the room. He left the orphanage without any further thought and ran away.
"I left the kids behind..."
Auston was tormented by guilt at the thought of leaving his younger siblings there. But he was young, weak, and lacking courage. The thought that he could do nothing if he went back and the thought that he could run away alone were constantly clashing. Auston wandered the streets in agony. After starving for several days, he finally lost consciousness and collapsed, and an old man passing by took him in.
"Will you come with me?"
The old man was a wandering wizard. He had once enjoyed some power as a wizard. Eventually, he became disillusioned with the world and hid the fact that he was a wizard, wandering from place to place. He took in Auston and soon realized that Auston had a talent for magic. The old man took Auston as his disciple and taught him what he knew, and Auston desperately learned. He instinctively realized that he needed this teaching to survive.
After a few years, Auston became a wizard with more skill than the old man, and the old man passed away peacefully. The first thing Auston did after his master's funeral was to turn the orphanage he had been in upside down. The Director was a little fatter than he remembered, and he trampled on the old director and asked fiercely.
"Where are the kids?"
"No, I don’t know! I don't know! It's already been a few years since I sold it, but I don't remember it all...! Ugh!"
When Auston realized that the director knew nothing, he handed him over to the guards and went out to find the children himself. Auston desperately pursued the whereabouts of the children who were in the same orphanage as him. In the end, he was able to build a grave for the children only after they all lost their lives.
"I will make sure something like this never happens to anyone again."
After Auston buried the children in the ground without using magic, he vowed to live his life as a penance to them. The first thing that came to mind to keep that vow was to build a proper orphanage. A 'good' orphanage with proper facilities and a director who would not treat the children rudely. To make that plan a reality, he had to raise money first.
"Are there any jobs?'
At that time, Auston was proud of his newly acquired abilities. Magic was a rare talent, and he believed that since he was born with such talent and even had good skills, he would quickly accumulate fame and money. However, the nobles were reluctant to easily acknowledge Auston, who suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
"The amount is less than the promised compensation..."
"Oh. You should be grateful that I hired you, even though your origins are unknown. If the other nobles hear that I hired you, they will look at you differently."
Since most wizards up until now were from noble families, many envied and despised him for having great talent despite his unknown origins. Auston was becoming more and more tired due to the nobles' frequent refusal to pay for his efforts. He even tried to visit the royal castle, but the people in the royal castle were more, not less than the nobles.
"Where are the kids?"
"No, I don’t know! I don't know! It's already been a few years since I sold it, but I don't remember it all...! Ugh!"
When Auston realized that the director knew nothing, he handed him over to the guards and went out to find the children himself. Auston desperately pursued the whereabouts of the children who were in the same orphanage as him. In the end, he was able to build a grave for the children only after they all lost their lives.
"I will make sure something like this never happens to anyone again."
After Auston buried the children in the ground without using magic, he vowed to live his life as a penance to them. The first thing that came to mind to keep that vow was to build a proper orphanage. A 'good' orphanage with proper facilities and a director who would not treat the children rudely. To make that plan a reality, he had to raise money first.
"Are there any jobs?'
At that time, Auston was proud of his newly acquired abilities. Magic was a rare talent, and he believed that since he was born with such talent and even had good skills, he would quickly accumulate fame and money. However, the nobles were reluctant to easily acknowledge Auston, who suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
"The amount is less than the promised compensation..."
"Oh. You should be grateful that I hired you, even though your origins are unknown. If the other nobles hear that I hired you, they will look at you differently."
Since most wizards up until now were from noble families, many envied and despised him for having great talent despite his unknown origins. Auston was becoming more and more tired due to the nobles' frequent refusal to pay for his efforts. He even tried to visit the royal castle, but the people in the royal castle were more, not less than the nobles.
Faced with the threat of a guard charging him with 5 gold just to pass through the entrance to the castle, Auston momentarily considered blowing down the castle gate, but he did not want to become a criminal like the director, so he turned around. By the time Auston finally felt disillusioned with humans. A low-ranking nobleman who had been watching him quietly approached him.
"You said you needed money, right? I can help."
Auston, with a tired mind from all the fighting, heard the grandiose business plan of a minor nobleman and was swept away by him, investing all his money in him. Naturally, nobles were fraudsters. Auston belatedly chased him down and punished him, but he was unable to get his money back. In the end, Auston became penniless and worked as a mercenary, wandering around battlefields that everyone avoided. Even though he could study and live leisurely in a luxurious environment, he came close to dying dozens of times every day.
"Will you come with me?"
The first person to treat him as an equal 'human' and take him in was Randall. He worked under Randall and collected money diligently, and with that money, he built several orphanages and took care of children like himself. The Marybelle Orphanage was also founded by Auston, so it was only natural that he would be comfortable with the people there.
"You said you needed money, right? I can help."
Auston, with a tired mind from all the fighting, heard the grandiose business plan of a minor nobleman and was swept away by him, investing all his money in him. Naturally, nobles were fraudsters. Auston belatedly chased him down and punished him, but he was unable to get his money back. In the end, Auston became penniless and worked as a mercenary, wandering around battlefields that everyone avoided. Even though he could study and live leisurely in a luxurious environment, he came close to dying dozens of times every day.
"Will you come with me?"
The first person to treat him as an equal 'human' and take him in was Randall. He worked under Randall and collected money diligently, and with that money, he built several orphanages and took care of children like himself. The Marybelle Orphanage was also founded by Auston, so it was only natural that he would be comfortable with the people there.
Meanwhile, Sylvia, who did not know about this situation, asked seriously.
“Debt? No way... You extorted money from those kids too?”
“...I shouldn't say anything. Please go in now. My lord is probably in the eastern room by now. It’s kids’ nap time.”
After leaving those words, Auston walked over to the children playing ball and spoke.
“You all go in now. It's reading time soon. Wake the kids up too.”
“But we didn’t sleep!”
“We played outside instead.”
“Ugh.”
While Auston was arguing with the kids, Sylvia hesitated and walked toward the east room he had told her about. She carefully opened the door and went inside, and she almost burst out laughing at the sight before her eyes.
“Phew.”
Sylvia covered her mouth with her hand just in time. It was understandable since Randall was sprawled on the floor, tangled with children who looked to be about five or six years old. Sylvia shook her head.
'How can that face be twenty-five? How can it look so out of place among those children?'
At the Belfort Castle, Sylvia always fell asleep first, so this was the first time she had seen his sleeping face properly. Randall was sleeping with a relaxed expression, no different from the children lying next to him. It was so comically peaceful. It was enough to calm her heart, which had been filled with discomfort, for a moment. Sylvia held her breath and walked over to Randall’s bedside, crouching down.
“Hmm.”
Randall's face was distorted in his sleep as if his eyes were dazzled by the sunlight shining down on his face. In response, Sylvia unconsciously stretched out her hand and shaded his eyes. She belatedly twitched her fingertips in surprise at her own actions, and Randall's distorted face softened.
“...”
As she stared blankly at the sight, her gaze slanted down and her lips quivered, Randall's eyelids fluttered and his dazed, light green eyes were revealed.
“...Sylvia?”
A voice that had sunken into sleep resonated softly through the air.
Sylvia quickly withdrew her hand and sat up before he could fully come to his senses.
“I came because I heard that the children’s reading time will be here soon.”
"Ah."
“Stop getting up. It seems like the kids are slowly waking up too.”
The children who were asleep next to Randall were rubbing their eyes one by one after hearing their conversation. Randall raised his upper body, his hair messy. Sylvia smiled at him and stroked his hair.
“After all, you're still a kid.”
“...What."
When the startled Randall froze like a stone statue, some of the children who came to their senses first tilted their heads and looked at Sylvia.
"Who are you?"
"Ah! I guess this is the teacher who will read the book today!”
“Please read the book!”
Since Sylvia had already escaped to the backyard, the children who did not know her began to chatter. Perhaps because they were younger than the children who had been playing ball, they did not fear Sylvia and gathered around her. Sylvia was taken aback for a moment but then smiled helplessly and opened her book.
“You can’t make noise instead.”
"Yes!"
The children quickly became immersed in the story Sylvia recited in a calm voice. Randall, who belatedly regained his senses, looked at her with some wonder.
'Isn't it... that you hate children?'
Unlike when she had said with a hardened face, “No children,” Sylvia now looked very peaceful. As soon as Randall recalled the sight of Sylvia smiling while stroking his hair, he felt his heart flutter again and clenched his fists.
"Anyway, shouldn’t we have no choice but to consistently express ourselves in that way? Stay with me and take care of me. Until the other person wants not only your body but also your heart."
Okay, why did he forget that? Didn't he know from the beginning that Sylvia's temperature and his temperature were not the same?
“Debt? No way... You extorted money from those kids too?”
“...I shouldn't say anything. Please go in now. My lord is probably in the eastern room by now. It’s kids’ nap time.”
After leaving those words, Auston walked over to the children playing ball and spoke.
“You all go in now. It's reading time soon. Wake the kids up too.”
“But we didn’t sleep!”
“We played outside instead.”
“Ugh.”
While Auston was arguing with the kids, Sylvia hesitated and walked toward the east room he had told her about. She carefully opened the door and went inside, and she almost burst out laughing at the sight before her eyes.
“Phew.”
Sylvia covered her mouth with her hand just in time. It was understandable since Randall was sprawled on the floor, tangled with children who looked to be about five or six years old. Sylvia shook her head.
'How can that face be twenty-five? How can it look so out of place among those children?'
At the Belfort Castle, Sylvia always fell asleep first, so this was the first time she had seen his sleeping face properly. Randall was sleeping with a relaxed expression, no different from the children lying next to him. It was so comically peaceful. It was enough to calm her heart, which had been filled with discomfort, for a moment. Sylvia held her breath and walked over to Randall’s bedside, crouching down.
“Hmm.”
Randall's face was distorted in his sleep as if his eyes were dazzled by the sunlight shining down on his face. In response, Sylvia unconsciously stretched out her hand and shaded his eyes. She belatedly twitched her fingertips in surprise at her own actions, and Randall's distorted face softened.
“...”
As she stared blankly at the sight, her gaze slanted down and her lips quivered, Randall's eyelids fluttered and his dazed, light green eyes were revealed.
“...Sylvia?”
A voice that had sunken into sleep resonated softly through the air.
Sylvia quickly withdrew her hand and sat up before he could fully come to his senses.
“I came because I heard that the children’s reading time will be here soon.”
"Ah."
“Stop getting up. It seems like the kids are slowly waking up too.”
The children who were asleep next to Randall were rubbing their eyes one by one after hearing their conversation. Randall raised his upper body, his hair messy. Sylvia smiled at him and stroked his hair.
“After all, you're still a kid.”
“...What."
When the startled Randall froze like a stone statue, some of the children who came to their senses first tilted their heads and looked at Sylvia.
"Who are you?"
"Ah! I guess this is the teacher who will read the book today!”
“Please read the book!”
Since Sylvia had already escaped to the backyard, the children who did not know her began to chatter. Perhaps because they were younger than the children who had been playing ball, they did not fear Sylvia and gathered around her. Sylvia was taken aback for a moment but then smiled helplessly and opened her book.
“You can’t make noise instead.”
"Yes!"
The children quickly became immersed in the story Sylvia recited in a calm voice. Randall, who belatedly regained his senses, looked at her with some wonder.
'Isn't it... that you hate children?'
Unlike when she had said with a hardened face, “No children,” Sylvia now looked very peaceful. As soon as Randall recalled the sight of Sylvia smiling while stroking his hair, he felt his heart flutter again and clenched his fists.
"Anyway, shouldn’t we have no choice but to consistently express ourselves in that way? Stay with me and take care of me. Until the other person wants not only your body but also your heart."
Okay, why did he forget that? Didn't he know from the beginning that Sylvia's temperature and his temperature were not the same?
What he should do now is not be heartbroken alone every time she pushes him away. With all his heart he was trying to make her temperature equal to his own.
'...Let's ask.'
With such a comfortable smile, why did the child say no? What do you think about daily, and what kind of life have you been living while I was gone?
Randall decided to show his courage to win someone's heart for the first time. Courage and not fearing failure.
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