Chapter 17
“You’ve arrived, Young Lady.”
“Has anything happened while I was away?”
“No, it’s only been two days. You brought Lucian with you again today?”
“Yeah, he insisted on coming with me.”
Hearing the conversation, Amelia turned her head. As always, Lucella was chatting with Heidi, with Lucian sticking close to her side.
“Amelia!”
Lucian spotted Amelia and ran toward her.
“Have you been well?”
“We just saw each other two days ago.”
“Still…”
Lucian scratched his nose, feeling a little shy, and immediately opened his bag to take out his toys. The children’s eyes, including Amelia’s, were instantly drawn to them.
“This one is a tiger toy that transforms into a dragon. And this is a knight-shaped building block…”
The children’s eyes sparkled at the endless stream of amazing toys.
“Lucian, can I play with this one?”
“What?”
Lucian’s eyes narrowed as some children reached out for the toys.
‘I brought these for Amelia, not for them.’
He hated when others touched his things. Just as he was about to refuse—
“You don’t mind sharing, right, Lucian?”
“Huh?”
Before he could say anything, Amelia spoke first.
“Well…”
He didn’t like the idea of others playing with his toys. He only wanted to share them with Amelia.
“Lucian, you’re so kind.”
“Huh…?”
“You’re even lending your toys to other kids. That’s really cool.”
“…Really?”
His hesitation lasted only a moment. As soon as Amelia smiled at him, his irritation disappeared.
Puffing up his chest, Lucian declared, “Amelia is right! I brought them so we could all play together…”
“Wow, thanks, Lucian! You’re so nice!”
The children happily hugged their new toys. Feeling proud, Lucian stole a glance at Amelia.
He got to show off in front of her and was even praised for being kind!
He felt amazing. At this moment, he thought he could give away all the toys in his mansion.
But then he noticed Amelia’s expression. Unlike the other children, she wasn’t excited. She just stared at a music box, lost in thought.
“Amelia, do you like that music box?”
“Huh?”
She flinched, looking surprised.
‘She must want it.’
Lucian handed her the music box.
“My aunt bought this for me, and I really treasure it, but I’ll give it to you since you seem to like it!”
He made sure to emphasize his generosity.
“No, it’s fine. It’s yours—I can’t take it.”
Amelia pushed the music box back toward him.
“I have plenty of toys. And I don’t play with this one often, so you can have it.”
“…Are you sure?”
“Of course!”
Finally, Amelia accepted the music box. It was unusual for her to take someone else’s belongings.
But she couldn’t take her eyes off it.
Because the melody playing was the lullaby her mother used to sing to her.
‘Mom used to sing this to me before bed.’
On nights when she was too scared to sleep, her mother would sit by her bed, singing softly while gently patting her chest.
Since coming to the orphanage, Amelia often thought about that lullaby on sleepless nights. Those memories were the only thing that helped her fall asleep.
She had tried to act mature, but deep down, she was just a seven-year-old child.
‘I miss Mom.’
Not just her mother. She missed her kind father and her gentle uncle too.
Even though she couldn’t see them anymore.
‘No, my uncle is still alive.’
As long as her uncle was alive, and as long as she held on, she could see him again someday.
She just didn’t know when.
‘How can I find him again?’
Thinking of his deep voice calling her “little one” and the rough but gentle hands that used to tug at her cheeks, she felt tears welling up.
She bit her lip to hold them back, but she couldn’t hide from Lucian’s watchful eyes.
“Amelia, are you crying?”
“I’m not.”
“Then why do you look like that?”
“It’s just… some dust got in my eyes.”
Wiping her eyes roughly, Amelia suddenly had a thought and looked up.
“Lucian, your father is a very high-ranking noble, right?”
Lucella had never told Amelia that Lucian was the heir to the Bellomon Duchy. But Amelia was smart—she could tell he was from a powerful noble family.
Otherwise, the orphanage wouldn’t have changed directors and staff so quickly.
“Huh? Uh… yeah.”
Lucian nodded uncertainly.
“Then is Lucella also a high-ranking noble?”
“I’m not really sure…”
“It doesn’t matter. She’s enough.”
Amelia had been holding back because she hadn’t found an adult she could trust.
The adults who visited the orphanage were all two-faced.
But Lucella was different.
She kept her promises. She got rid of the cruel director and staff, brought them good food and clean clothes, and even took care of the children herself.
Just a few days ago, she had even cut their hair with her own hands.
There was no malice or disgust in her warm smiles when she looked at the children.
Lucella was kind, caring, and trustworthy.
No matter how many times Amelia had been disappointed before, Lucella made her believe again.
“Lucella is someone I can trust.”
“My aunt always keeps her promises… Wait, where are you going?”
Amelia, holding the music box close, suddenly ran off—toward Lucella.
I looked around the orphanage, searching for Edwin.
“If I make Edwin Lucian’s playmate, I can bring him to the Duke’s estate naturally.”
The Duke would eventually notice Edwin and be shocked by how much he resembled him. Then he would start asking about Edwin’s mother.
If Edwin had become Lucian’s playmate, everything could move faster.
Of course, Edwin’s opinion was the most important thing.
Being a noble child’s playmate meant having to please them, which could hurt his pride.
“Maybe it’s better to just invite him as a friend.”
Gillian might complain, but as long as Lucian wanted it, he wouldn’t say much. Especially if Amelia was involved—Lucian would agree without hesitation.
“But where is Edwin?”
He wasn’t in the playroom or the newly renovated bedrooms.
“He wouldn’t just disappear… Maybe he went to the bathroom?”
I decided to find Heidi first since I also needed to talk about the adoption plans.
Just as I made up my mind and headed toward the staff room—
“Lucella!”
I heard a familiar voice from behind.
It was Amelia.
“Lucella Sister!”
Amelia came running toward me, clutching the dolphin music box I had bought for Lucian.
“What’s wrong?”
She was looking for me in such a hurry—did something bad happen? I gazed at her with concern.
“I have something to ask you.”
There was a determined look in Amelia’s eyes.
“It’s a request I want to make in secret. Is that okay?”
“What kind of serious request is this?”
Instead of answering, Amelia hugged the music box tightly. It seemed like something difficult for her to say.
“Hmm, then should we go to the director’s office? It should be empty.”
“…Okay.”
I took Amelia to the director’s office and locked the door to ensure no one could listen in.
After seating her across from me, I placed some chocolate cookies on the table.
“This must be something really important and secret, huh?”
“How… did you know?”
“Because you’re always careful about everything. If you’re calling me like this, it must be something very serious.”
Amelia just stared down at the music box on her lap. She wasn’t even touching the cookies she liked so much—she was really nervous.
“So, what do you want to tell me?”
“Sister, you don’t lie, right? And you don’t hurt people?”
“Of course not. Do I seem mean to you?”
“No.”
“Then what you believe about me is probably true.”
I spoke in a playful tone, hoping to ease her tension.
Amelia stared at me for a moment before finally making up her mind.
“I’m not an orphan.”
“…What?”
“My parents passed away, but I still have an uncle. He treated me like his own daughter.”
She had kept this secret all along, waiting for her uncle to find her. But now, she was telling me?
“Please find my uncle. He must be looking for me. So….”
Amelia, who was usually calm and composed, was stumbling over her words.
I gently held her trembling hands.
