I Need Sponsorship

“Yes!”

I was overcome with a new feeling.

* * *

After leaving the toy store, me and the children headed to the bookstore. For children who are afraid of unfamiliar adults, we entered a small bookstore with no customers instead of a large one.

“Welcome.”

“Since there are no customers anyway, feel free to browse as much as you want.”

“Thank you.”

After advising the children not to make noise, I also began to choose a book.

‘It’s fascinating. Even though it’s the first time I’ve seen these characters, they feel familiar.’

(T/l: she is talking about the letters of the words written in the book.)

The Curly handwriting resembling Arabic was interpreted in my head. As someone, who couldn’t speak English properly, let alone a foreign language, it seemed strange to me that I could still read and write the imperial language.

“Oh, this book… … .”

While browsing, I came across a book about herbs and flowers. Without realizing it, I reached out and started flipping through the pages.

‘If I know more about the herbs here, it might be helpful when making tea bags in the future…’

There might be herbs that match Duke Crayman’s taste. Among them. After diligently flipping through the pages, I suddenly came to my senses.

“… … What am I doing?”

I sighed and put the book back. Is this the time for me to leisurely research tea bags? I have a banquet the day after tomorrow and I have to think about the distant future. but… … . my gaze kept drifting in that direction. The face of Duke Crayman, who kept saying he liked the scent of tea bags, kept floating before my eyes.

“Ugh… … .”

Finally, I made up my mind and picked up the book that I had inserted back earlier.

“Just… not just for the duke, but because I’m also interested… I might discover good herbs for the children…”


No one asked, but I kept the book in my arms while muttering to myself. After looking around a few more places, I checked if the children were choosing their books well and if by any chance they were causing trouble.

‘Well, they are choosing well and behaving. That’s a relief.’

My biggest concern, Chloran, was still holding Ren’s hand tightly and blushing. Eddy was reading a fairy tale book to Roddy. It was a heartwarming sight. With a satisfied smile on my face, I nodded, and suddenly noticed that there was a vacant spot among them.

I looked around and found Jake. Soon after, I found Jake. He was standing inside a windowless area where no light could reach, reading a book. Unlike the somewhat noisy surroundings, the place where Jake was seemed so quiet and dark. Jake’s nondescript skin vanished into the darkness, making his presence fade away.

I silently approached Jake while observing him. Until then, he hadn’t noticed that I was approaching. I stopped three steps away and silently watched over Jake.

I didn’t want to disturb his reading. But then, the title of the book he was reading caught my eye. It was titled “History of the Imperial Aristocracy and Central Nobility.”

It was just an ordinary history book, Was it because the person reading that ordinary history book happened to be Jake that it felt different? It was difficult to approach him straightforwardly. Jake’s gaze while reading was low and calm. Even the turning of the pages was meticulously neat. However, for some reason, that sight felt precarious to me. As if it could collapse at any moment.


Hesitantly, I took two more steps toward Jake. Jake still didn’t notice my presence. He still hadn’t noticed my presence. He was still fully focused on the book.

“… … Do you like the book?”

“ah.”

And only after I spoke up did Jake realize that I had come and quickly closed the book. I looked at the closed book and then looked at Jake again. His pupils flickered, then he lowered his head.

“No, I was just curious and skimmed through it.”

“If you like it, I’ll buy it for you.”

Upon hearing that, Jake stared at me for a moment. His brown eyes held a more favorable light towards me than before, but he didn’t completely open up. After a moment of eye contact, Jake shook his head.

“It’s not that interesting. You don’t have to buy it for me.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes.”

Jake firmly nodded and put the book back on the shelf before heading towards where the children had gathered. And on behalf of the small-sized Roddy, he started choosing a fairy tale book for Roddy to read. It was the usual everyday sight of Jake.

I read the momentary hesitation he showed me. As I shifted my gaze, I took out the book he had put back and unfolded the pages with traces of his touch.



[Empire Year 753. Prince loman Heser staged a rebellion and the Heser royal family was annihilated. He then proclaimed himself as prince loman and ushered in a new era of the empire.



However, the nobles in the capital doubted the legitimacy of his ascension to the throne through unlawful means. To establish his legitimacy and strengthen the empire against external threats, Emperor Ioman Price formed a marital alliance with Lady Iris Leedna, who held the imperial succession rights

And that year, Emperor Ioman saw his offspring from Empress Iris.

He is Crown Prince Sade Prisra, the first prince.]



The following content was a record from the current central nobles. The history of the recent dynasty ended here. I closed the book and let out a quiet sigh.

‘It matches the contents of the book.’

Exactly 14 years ago, the rebellion occurred when the second prince came of age. It led to the downfall of the Heser royal family. Except for the Baron a distant collateral known to the public, there were no surviving bloodlines of the Heser family. They all perished at the hands of the former second prince, who later became the emperor. …According to external knowledge, that is. It is known publicly that there were no children between the former emperor and empress, but in reality, there was one hidden child between them. The empress, in order to protect her child,she cast a magic spell to change his appearance and sent him to a region without any connection.

I turned my head and noticed Jake among the gathered children, reading a book. Jake Purite, a child who doesn’t exist in the future of the book. He is the last surviving member of the fallen royal family that no one knows about. In the original story, Jake is taken to the palace due to Sierra’s discovery of his true identity and loses his life there. Upon realizing that the emperor plans to kill her to silence her, Sierra sells the orphanage and flees to a distant province. Overnight, the eldest brother who was their protector and the children who lost their homes scatter when confronted by soldiers. At that time, Chloran was eleven years old, exactly one year from now.

‘But there’s no way Jake will be taken to the imperial palace now.’

Of course, there will be no death and no scattering of the children. My purpose was simple and clear. Raising children well and making them independent safely. That included Jake, of course. So, I chose Duke Crayman as my sponsor, just in case. In case the emperor learns Jake’s identity and tries to threaten him, I hope that he will be a protective shield.

“…Ah.”

I took a deep breath. Suddenly, I became curious. What thoughts might Jake have had while reading this book? Did he dream of revenge? Or…

‘Let’s not think too deeply.’