Chapter 13
“If I had known this would happen, I would have saved some of my cookie for Amelia.”
“Huh?”
“Amelia always gives me the delicious things she has. So I wanted to give her something she likes too…”
Edwin rubbed a black pebble with the tip of his shoe. Thinking about the sweet taste of the chocolate cookie made his mouth water.
Amelia looked at Edwin and let out a small laugh.
‘If you’re going to act cool, at least hide your expression.’
Edwin was staring at the pebble so intently that it looked like he was about to drool. She didn’t even need to ask—she knew he was thinking about the chocolate cookie.
After looking at the cookie in her hand for a moment, Amelia made a decision.
“Edwin.”
“Yeah?”
“Let’s eat this together.”
“…Huh?”
Edwin’s already big eyes grew even bigger in surprise.
“But you said you didn’t want to eat it because it was too special…”
“Yeah, but I changed my mind.”
Amelia unwrapped the paper packaging.
“If I keep saving it, it’ll just go bad. So let’s eat it now.”
If something only brought disappointment the longer you held onto it, it was better to get rid of it quickly.
“But…”
“No buts. If I leave it, it’ll just spoil and we won’t be able to eat it.”
Rather than letting it go to waste, it was better to enjoy even a brief moment of sweetness.
“So let’s eat it now.”
Just as Amelia was about to break off a piece of the cookie and give it to Edwin—
“Neighhh!”
A loud horse’s cry came from nearby. The two children quickly turned their heads toward the noise.
A large carriage had stopped in front of the orphanage.
And soon, a familiar figure appeared—
“Amelia, Edwin! Have you been well?”
It was Lucella, holding a small child at her side.
The Bellomon Duke’s estate was in chaos from early morning.
All because of Lucian, who was pulling out clothes from the wardrobe.
“I want to go too!”
The moment I mentioned that I was planning to visit the Busnie Orphanage, Lucian immediately insisted on coming with me. He said he was worried I might collapse again.
“No, Lucian. Today, I’m going alone.”
“Why? Can’t I go with you?”
There wasn’t really a strict rule saying Lucian couldn’t come.
But he had a history.
A history of making all the other children cry.
‘I need to make a good impression on Edwin and Amelia, not risk Lucian causing trouble…’
I shook my head so hard it almost made a “whooshing” sound. I didn’t even want to imagine the possible disasters.
“Did you apologize to Viscount Czernin? I told you that you couldn’t come until you did.”
I placed my hands on my hips as I asked.
“I did.”
Surprisingly, Lucian nodded without hesitation, making my serious attitude feel a little unnecessary.
“I promised you, remember? To become someone who doesn’t hurt others. So I apologized while you were asleep.”
“Really…?”
“Yeah! So can I come now?”
Lucian’s bright eyes sparkled like a cat in boots.
Looking into those innocent eyes, I found it hard to refuse.
‘He has changed a lot since that day…’
The Lucian who used to cause chaos was gone.
He no longer threw punches at the servants for no reason, nor did he play pranks that made life difficult for others.
Of course, it was impossible for someone to change overnight. Sometimes, he still struggled to control his emotions. But even then, he managed to hold himself back—just like I had taught him, taking three deep breaths to calm down.
Everyone in the duke’s estate had been amazed by his transformation.
“Lucian, you’re incredible!”
The servants constantly praised him, encouraging his improvement.
“Of course! I promised my aunt!”
Whenever he heard praise, Lucian’s face would glow with pride. Encouraged, he even cleaned up his own messes and greeted the vassals politely.
It was practically a miracle.
“I have to keep my promise so my aunt won’t die.”
…Something felt a little off about that logic, but I decided to let it slide.
“Auntie, are you listening?”
Lucian grabbed my skirt and shook it, snapping me out of my thoughts.
“Yes, I’m listening.”
“You said if I apologized to Viscount Czernin, I could come with you.”
“I did say that.”
Apologizing just to get a reward wasn’t exactly the best lesson, but at least he was following my words and reflecting on his actions.
“So please take me with you! I’m really worried you’ll collapse again.”
“…”
“I need to protect you.”
“Lucian…”
My heart swelled with emotion.
He had grown so much after everything that had happened.
I felt guilty for making him worry so much.
“So can I go? I promise I’ll listen to everything you say. No lies!”
I hesitated.
Thinking about his past actions, bringing Lucian to the orphanage didn’t seem like a good idea.
‘But Lucian has changed.’
He wasn’t perfect, but at least he no longer caused harm to others.
More than anything, I was touched by his concern for me.
‘Maybe… he could even become friends with Edwin and Amelia.’
If they formed a bond now, maybe I could change Lucian’s fate. Maybe having friends would prevent him from becoming a villain.
Alright.
“Okay, let’s go together.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Hurry up and get dressed.”
“Yay!”
I hurried the maid along as Lucian got changed.
Before we left, I made him promise—if he bullied or made the orphanage kids cry, we’d return to the mansion immediately.
Lucian eagerly nodded. We even locked pinkies to seal the promise.
And that was how we ended up here, at Busnie Orphanage.
“This is my nephew, Lucian. He’s six years old.”
I quickly introduced him, noticing the curiosity in Edwin and Amelia’s eyes. I didn’t mention our noble status, in case it made them uncomfortable.
“He really wanted to come with me. Right, Lucian?”
I turned to Lucian, but what I saw made me freeze.
Normally, he would have waved enthusiastically, but instead, he was hiding behind me—like a wary kitten meeting strangers.
“Lucian?”
Lucian had to make a good impression. Even if he had to be a little shameless, he had to win them over.
That was how he would survive.
If he formed bonds with the main characters now, he’d have a better chance of avoiding death in the future.
‘So why is he acting like this?!’
I nudged his back slightly.
Lucian hesitantly let go of my dress and stepped forward.
But he didn’t say anything.
‘Wait… is he nervous?’
Looking closely, he wasn’t wary—he was tense.
‘It makes sense. Since I scolded him, this is his first time trying to make friends.’
Just as I was about to help break the ice, someone else spoke first.
“Hi, Lucian. I’m Amelia. I’m a year older than you.”
I was touched.
‘How can she be so kind?!’
In my memory, Amelia wasn’t the type to open up easily. Her kindness was usually reserved for her family and the orphanage kids.
Yet, despite Lucian obviously being a noble child, she was the first to extend a hand.
“Uh, hi, Amelia.”
Lucian glanced at me before cautiously shaking her hand.
He didn’t make any of his usual rude remarks, like “Why are you so short?”
He really had changed.
“I’m… five. My name is Edwin.”
Seeing Amelia take the lead, Edwin also gathered his courage to introduce himself.
For someone who usually stayed in the background, this was a huge step forward.
‘Wait, why are they being so nice? Do they actually like Lucian?’
I really hoped so.
As I watched nervously, something caught my eye.
“Amelia, is that…?”
“Ah…”
She quickly hid her hand behind her back.
But I had already seen it.
“That’s the chocolate cookie I gave you, isn’t it? Why haven’t you eaten it yet?”
“Well…”
“She said it was too precious to eat.”
Edwin answered in her place.
“There aren’t many chances to eat something so delicious here. So she wanted to save it.”
“Really?”
I frowned. How rare could a chocolate cookie be?
I looked at Amelia with pity.
“Edwin, you—!”
Embarrassed that her secret had been revealed, Amelia glared at Edwin, her face turning red.
Meanwhile, Edwin looked satisfied. He seemed happy at the thought of giving Amelia more delicious things.
‘Wait a second. Amelia was born a noble. She must have had plenty of good food before coming here.’
So why was she treating a single cookie like treasure?
‘That bastard of a director. Just how much did she starve them?!’
My moment of confusion quickly turned into fury. If the director had been in front of me, I might have punched her.
