Chapter 67
Good Things Are Meant to Be Shared
“Then I’ll be off.”
“Yes, take care and have a safe trip.”
Once again today, Borens was seeing Ellea off as she headed to the orphanage. Before leaving, she glanced around and cautiously asked,
“And Marie?”
“I gave her another task and had Jane stay by her side.”
“Thank you for looking after that. Just keep a close watch on her, just in case.”
Borens, already aware of what Ellea had told her about Marie, reassured her with a look that said she needn’t worry.
She was angry that a spy might be hiding in the palace she managed, but more than that, she felt ashamed in front of Ellea.
Yet instead of scolding her, Ellea had given a special order: keep an eye on Marie so she couldn’t tail or pry into her movements—especially on days like today, when she left the palace.
From what Ellea overheard between Shainel and Heisven, they had been quite curious about her outings.
She didn’t really mind if she was found out, but she also had no intention of willingly revealing her purpose.
“Then, I’ll be off.”
“Don’t worry about anything here and enjoy your time in peace.”
Trusting Borens, Ellea climbed into the carriage and left the Imperial Palace. The carriage followed a now familiar road, soon arriving at its destination.
Carrying a bundle as always, Ellea noticed a familiar figure standing at the entrance. Smiling, she called out to him.
“Why are you looking around like that? Did you do something wrong, Chellen?”
Startled at being addressed, Chellen hurried over from where he had been lingering nearby. Just as Ellea had said, his face was full of awkwardness.
“What’s going on? You suddenly sent me only an address and told me to come here….”
“Well, at least you didn’t get lost and found your way. Anyway, hold this for me.”
Handing him her things, Ellea breezed past the dumbfounded Chellen and walked toward the orphanage.
Flustered, he ended up holding her bundle and hurriedly followed after her.
“Wait, what is this? You didn’t even tell me what this is about before calling me here.”
A few days earlier, Chellen had received a letter from Ellea. It contained nothing but a time and place, and to this moment he still had no idea why.
“You know you don’t have the right to complain, don’t you? Like I said before, it’s time you repaid the debt you owe me.”
At the mention of his debt, Chellen had no words. He had been the one to say he would repay her after all.
But more than anything, he wanted to know why she had brought him to this unknown place.
Sensing his thoughts, Ellea pointed toward the nameplate at the entrance.
“This is what I’m asking of you.”
“An orphanage?”
“That’s right.”
As she walked in naturally, Chellen followed, looking around curiously. Then he remembered what she had once asked him.
“So that’s why you asked me if I had a lot of money?”
“Exactly. And just so you know, you can’t take that back. This is the orphanage I’ve been sponsoring.”
“You sponsor it?”
“Yes. Ever since I came to Lubane. But I thought it would be better if there was also support from a noble who lives here.”
Chellen was beginning to guess what her request might be.
“So you want me to sponsor this place too?”
“Correct. As expected, you catch on quickly.”
“Isn’t it enough if you do it alone?”
“It could be, but this is Lubane. It’s not ideal for someone from Zevenica to come and go here too often.”
Chellen quickly agreed. If Ellea’s visits caused any unnecessary stir, that would surely become a problem.
While they talked, they reached the building.
When they knocked, Karin came running to open the door, perhaps remembering Ellea’s last visit. Thankfully, no mishap occurred this time.
“Hello, Karin. Have you been well?”
“Yes. Oh? And this gentleman is…?”
Karin welcomed Ellea warmly, but then hesitated upon noticing the unfamiliar man. He wasn’t the one who had come with her last time, so she looked uncertain.
“He’s a friend of mine. I have something to discuss with the director.”
“Ah, hello.”
“Yes.”
Chellen returned her awkward greeting and stepped inside, glancing around the interior.
Before long, excited voices rang out—the children had heard Ellea was here and came rushing over.
“Big Sis Elle, you came!”
“Yes, how have you been?”
“Good! But who did you come with today?”
Though they greeted Ellea first, their eyes quickly turned to Chellen.
Overwhelmed as the children crowded around him, he couldn’t hide his discomfort.
“He’s a close friend of mine. His name is Chellen.”
“Chellen? Is he your friend, Sis Elle?”
“Well, yes.”
At the word “friend,” the children brightened, bombarding him with questions.
Meanwhile, Chellen, unused to being around children at all, had no idea how to handle them.
“Is the director inside?”
“Yes.”
Pulling him along as if rescuing him, Ellea led him away. But not before reminding the children,
“We’ll be back after meeting the director, so wait just a little.”
Just before entering the office, she turned to him.
“It would be best if you sponsor, but I won’t force you. Listen to what the director says and make your choice carefully. Whatever you decide, I’ll respect it.”
At first, Ellea had planned to press Chellen into helping. But after thinking it through, she realized she couldn’t force such a thing on him—especially when it involved the children’s future.
For sponsorship to last, his own will and heart mattered most. Even if she wasn’t around someday, support should continue.
“…Got it.”
Understanding her intention, Chellen nodded. Then they knocked and entered.
Lemil welcomed Ellea warmly.
“Ellea, you’re here.”
“Have you been well?”
“Thanks to you. And I see you’re not alone today.”
“Not alone today?”
Spotting Chellen behind her, Lemil greeted him with the same warmth.
The three sat together to talk.
“So this must be the person you mentioned last time.”
“Yes, that’s right. But I haven’t explained anything yet. I wanted it to be his choice.”
“That’s wise. It should always be handled carefully.”
Since Ellea had said she would introduce someone who might sponsor them, Lemil immediately realized Chellen was the one.
“Ellea must have told you. I’m Lemil, the director.”
“I’m Chellen.”
“Please, ask me anything you’re curious about.”
Ellea had only said he was a noble; Chellen, sensing her intent, kept quiet about being Duke Kaicher.
Likewise, no one here seemed to know Ellea was a princess.
“What exactly does sponsorship mean?”
For this moment, Chellen spoke not as an individual, but as someone responsible for a household. He couldn’t take such a matter lightly, even if Ellea had introduced it.
“Primarily, it means financial support. That helps cover the children’s basic needs.”
“And Ellea?”
“Ellea not only provides that, but also comes regularly to spend time with the children. She helps with the orphanage’s work whenever she can. We’re always grateful for her presence.”
The more Lemil explained, the more Chellen understood Ellea’s earlier words—why she wanted it to be his decision. It was just like her to be so considerate.
Then Ellea spoke earnestly.
“So Chellen, if you decide to sponsor, it would be a huge help. I sponsor not just for their present, but for their future. I want to give them opportunities to learn, so they can have choices in life. So even if you take time to decide—”
“I’ll sponsor.”
Before she even finished, Chellen agreed without hesitation. Ellea blinked in surprise.
“You could think about it more first—”
“What’s there to think about? If I can help, of course I should. Especially since this is the place you support.”
“Thank you. That will be a great help.”
Lemil’s gratitude was sincere.
Ellea quietly excused herself, leaving the two to discuss details. Only after they had settled everything did Chellen and Lemil rise from their seats.
“If you need help in the future, please don’t hesitate to tell me.”
“And I also look forward to working with you.”
Outside, Ellea and the children were nowhere to be seen. Instead, laughter rang out.
They were playing tag, with Ellea running hard to catch the children.
Chellen couldn’t take his eyes off her. This radiant smile wasn’t that of a princess, but of someone simply named Ellea.
Beside him, Lemil spoke softly.
“I can’t thank Ellea enough. She gives the children so much love. In truth, more than money, that’s what they need most. They feel her sincerity and follow her wholeheartedly.”
Chellen didn’t reply, but that was exactly why he had decided so quickly.
From the moment he stepped inside, he hadn’t seen even a trace of gloom in the children. Even with him, a stranger, they had approached without hesitation. It was clear they were growing up surrounded by love.
And another reason: their pasts mirrored his own—left alone at such a young age.
A time like this isn’t so bad once in a while.
A question then arose in his mind.
“How did Ellea come to sponsor this place?”
“Actually, someone else sponsored before her. She came at that person’s request, when they could no longer visit.”
“Who was that person?”
A princess of Zevenica wouldn’t have known anyone in Lubane….
His curiosity sharpened. From what he gathered, this must have been almost right after she arrived.
“I was told it was someone from the palace, but they’ve since left the capital. I don’t know the details myself.”
Who could that be…?
But his thoughts didn’t get far. The children, mid-game, suddenly rushed toward him in a pack—led by Ellea.
She thought it best for Chellen to get closer to them quickly.
“You heard his name earlier, right? He’ll play with you too.”
“Really? Yay!”
Ignoring Chellen’s look of disbelief—when did I say that?—Ellea grinned.
“Shall we ask him to play with us?”
Without giving him a chance to object, she pulled him into their circle. Before long, he was surrounded and dragged off by the children.
“Ellea, you—!”
“Play lots with them for me. It won’t be easy.”
“You little—”
But the children weren’t letting her slip away either.
“No, you have to play too! It’s been a while since you came.”
“Well, I—”
“Come on, let’s all play together. Don’t sneak off alone. Right?”
“Yes!” the children chorused.
Chellen, swept up with them, ended up playing alongside her anyway.
From a little distance, Remil watched the peaceful scene with a warm smile.
