Chapter 31
When I returned to the orphanage, it was just dinner time.
My back had been aching all the while I was preparing the meal. Every time I glanced back, Jack stared at me with an innocent expression, but whenever I resumed cooking, his piercing gaze seemed to jab at me repeatedly.
It seemed he resented me for coming home late, contrary to the promise that I would return soon.
It wasn’t any other child—it was Jack—and because of that, I didn’t know how to respond.
In the end, I simply apologized, and Jack said, “What are you talking about?” before storming out of the dining hall. He looked sulky, but at least when he returned, he didn’t cast any resentful glances.
While the children were having dinner, I went into the director’s office.
I immediately picked up the blue envelope that lay on the desk. My throat tightened with unnecessary tension.
On the front of the envelope was written only: [To Baron Ciela Feyrunt].
I slowly turned the envelope over and let out a sigh. The clearly embossed royal crest seemed to jab at me.
I slit the opening with a letter opener. As I did, I recalled what the duke had said:
“It was supposed to be a banquet, wasn’t it?”
A banquet. I had thought it was a place completely unrelated to me from the moment I entered Ciela’s body until my death.
I never imagined I’d attend a banquet like this. And not just any banquet, a royal one.
I opened the envelope and pulled out the letter. The texture of the high-quality paper felt luxurious in my hands. My admiration was brief, as I quickly read the writing.
[Empire Year 767, October 15. In commemoration of the nation’s founding day, a banquet will be held. All individuals holding noble titles within the Lux Empire are expected to attend without exception.]
The letter could be read as an invitation, though it felt more like a summons. The seal at the bottom confirmed that it was indeed sent by the royal family.
After reading the contents, I examined the front and back again, but there were no additional notes.
I sighed and placed the letter back on the desk, then sank into the chair, lost in thought.
“When they say ‘all nobles within the Lux Empire,’ does that include fallen nobles too?”
Most likely, yes. That would explain why I received the letter.
But perhaps it was just my imagination, yet it felt as if the emperor had singled me out personally.
“Nothing like this was in the book to begin with.”
Of course, given the setting, there were countless mentions of banquets and parties, but even when recalling the entire content of the book, there wasn’t a single banquet that fallen nobles could attend.
A shadow fell over my face as I muttered softly:
“Maybe I should just sell the barony…”
Even fallen nobles still wanted the semblance of a noble title. All debts had been repaid, so if handled properly, there was a chance of revival. If sold to a wealthy commoner, it could fetch a good price.
“But if I do that, the <Ciela Orphanage> might be handed over too.”
The Ciela Orphanage technically belonged to the Feyrunt barony, so recklessly transferring the title could also put the orphanage at risk.
Even if that weren’t a concern, the noble title could serve as a protective shield for me and the children in certain circumstances.
“And even if I sell the title, it would only be temporary. I can’t avoid the emperor’s eyes.”
Given the emperor’s current suspicions of me, selling the barony would only raise further doubts.
“I’ll attend the banquet.”
I made up my mind. It would be better to confront the situation directly than to cower in fear. Perhaps if the emperor saw I was ordinary, his suspicions would ease.
And there was a place I wanted to visit. Ever since I heard about the royal founding anniversary banquet, a certain location came to mind.
Perhaps I could find a helpful ally there.
Having decided, I stood and flung open the wardrobe. Only a week remained until the banquet, so I had to hurry and prepare.
However, upon looking inside the wardrobe, my expression stiffened.
“…I don’t have anything to wear to the banquet.”
That’s right. Since I had sold all of Ciela’s previous clothes, there were no dresses suitable for a banquet left in the wardrobe.
A few modest dresses remained, but they were everyday wear—completely inappropriate for a formal event.
I let out a deep sigh as I looked at the empty wardrobe.
“First things first…”
I needed to find a dress to wear.
The next day, I hurried to prepare for going out. With only a week left until the banquet, there was much to do.
After waking early to prepare the children’s breakfast, I was about to head out when I felt someone tugging at me from behind.
It was Cloan pulling on my clothes. I looked at him, puzzled.
“Cloan? What’s wrong?”
“Are you going out alone again?”
“Huh?”
Cloan’s words were confusing at first, and his cheeks puffed up with displeasure. I glanced at Jack, silently asking what was happening, but he ignored me.
I couldn’t hide my confusion as Cloan tugged on my clothes again.
“You always go out alone, leaving us behind.”
Then I realized what Cloan had been upset about. He was frustrated at me going out alone all this time.
I tried to soothe him.
“Sorry. Next time, we can all go out together.”
I spoke gently, but Cloan’s resentful expression didn’t ease.
Cloan, who normally couldn’t hide his feelings and would pout easily, usually calmed down after a few words from me—but this time it was tricky. Just then, Jack spoke.
“It’s not just Cloan. All the children want to go out.”
I turned my head at that. Len, Edie, and Rody were watching me carefully.
Judging by their silence, it seemed Jack was telling the truth—they all wanted to go out.
“How long has it been since the children went outside?”
I pondered but couldn’t estimate precisely. Since I entered Ciela’s body, the children hadn’t left the orphanage even once, except when Len had a high fever. And even then, it was nighttime, so they couldn’t really experience the outside.
“At least a month, then.”
I suppose I’d feel frustrated too if I were them. No matter how well-equipped the playground or yard was, there was a big difference between being inside and outside the walls.
I looked at Cloan and the children. Since entering Ciela’s body, the children had often been hostile toward me, but they rarely made direct requests—at most, they had asked for a little extra snack.
For them to ask me directly like this showed how much they truly wanted it.
While I was thinking, the children watched me silently, barely breathing.
After a while, I nodded.
“Alright. Then today, we’ll all go to the market together.”
“Really?”
Cloan’s eyes widened at my words, clearly not expecting me to agree. His reaction was cute, and I ruffled his black hair with a smile.
Though Cloan usually disliked being treated like a child, at that moment, he just looked at me with sparkling eyes.
I nodded again.
“Yes, really. But you mustn’t wander off on your own while we’re out.”
“Of course!”
Cloan exclaimed confidently and dashed toward where Len was.
Len patted Cloan’s hair, and Edie and Rody’s eyes shone brightly.
Watching the children proudly, I placed my hands on my hips and spoke firmly.
“Before we go, you haven’t finished breakfast yet, right? You must eat first.”
“…You’re not leaving us behind while we eat, are you?”
Cloan gave me a suspicious look. I thought we had built some trust, but apparently, he still doubted me.
I nodded reassuringly.
“Of course not. I’ll wait until you finish, so eat slowly. Don’t rush—you’ll get an upset stomach.”
“Hmph, such a nag!”
Cloan exclaimed and quickly ran to the table. The other children followed suit, sitting down to eat.
I hoped they wouldn’t eat too quickly.
Feeling someone’s gaze, I turned and saw Jack looking at me with his brown eyes, as if he wanted to say something. I smiled faintly and crouched slightly to meet his height.
Jack’s eyes widened a little, and I reached out, gently ruffling his brown hair.
“Let’s buy several books you can read at the market today. We should also get some pens you can use for studying, right?”
Jack flinched slightly at my words.
He was calm and deep-thinking, but also cautious, carefully weighing every word he said.
Though only fourteen, he had to act like an adult.
It was hard to see him unable to speak freely, and it weighed heavily on my mind.
Jack wasn’t the only concern. He didn’t exist in the planned future.
He tried to act like an adult, but in the end, he couldn’t truly become one.
“But I won’t leave him like that.”
I stood and addressed Jack.
“When we go to the market, we’ll be walking a lot, so you must eat plenty. Even if it’s tiring, I won’t make exceptions, understand?”
I spoke playfully, and Jack gave me a peculiar glance before turning away.
“…Yes.”
After confirming Jack had entered the dining room, I sighed and returned to the director’s office.
It seemed I would need to take more money with me.
