Chapter 34
From a short distance away, Jack was silently listening to the children’s conversation.
His gaze fell downward.
There, lying on the floor, were the bags containing all the things Ciella had bought for the children throughout the day.
Jack’s eyes flickered strangely as he looked at them. His lips parted slightly.
“…I’m not going back.”
Jack’s voice quietly spread through the space, where only silence had lingered.
The children turned to look at him.
Raising his head, Jack met their eyes and this time spoke in a firmer, louder voice.
“I’ll protect you.”
At Jack’s resolute words, the children blinked in surprise, and the first to speak was Cloane, shouting loudly.
“That’s right! I’ll protect you too, so don’t worry!”
Then Ren responded, his voice tinged with laughter.
“But I’m the one who’s most worried about Cloane! He’s always thinking about climbing to the top of the jungle gym.”
“Th-That… I won’t do that anymore!”
“Alright. I’ll believe you.”
“Seems like you don’t really believe me?”
“Must be your imagination.”
Through Cloane and Ren’s light-hearted exchange, the atmosphere gradually loosened, and even Edi and Ren’s expressions brightened.
Jack, watching the children with a gentle smile, felt a quiet weight settle in his eyes.
What he had said was sincere.
If the world ever tried to return to how it was before, Jack would protect the children by any means necessary. Even if his own body were broken in the process.
Yet, there was one thing gnawing at him.
Why.
Jack’s gaze shifted toward the room Ciella had entered. His brown eyes swirled with complicated emotions.
Why, at that moment when he spoke, was the director included among those he wanted to protect?
It was his own thought, but he didn’t know the reason.
Following Clover inside, I let out a quiet exclamation.
There was a particularly eye-catching lavender dress.
“A dress that wasn’t here before,” I remarked.
Clover responded, her face tinged with a faint blush.
“Actually, I took a dress that a customer bought and reworked it into my own style.”
“Then why didn’t you display it and just leave it here?”
I thought it might be unfinished, but on closer inspection, that didn’t seem to be the case.
I asked, still a bit puzzled, and Clover hesitated for a moment before answering with a slight sigh.
“…Because I lack confidence.”
“Lack confidence?”
“Yes… it’s embarrassing to admit, but I ran a dress shop a long time ago, and it went under. It was all because my skills weren’t enough. So when I saw this fine fabric, I wanted to try making something, but I wasn’t confident, so I hid it here instead.”
She ended with a faint, bitter smile.
I examined the dress she had made in detail.
‘Isn’t this actually quite well done?’
I wasn’t a professional, but in my previous life, I had been responsible for the orphanage children’s clothing, so I had some eye for quality.
‘The finishing is neat, and the stitching is even.’
It was clear she had put a lot of care into it.
‘And the design…’
Although I hadn’t been in this body long and hadn’t seen many designs, it certainly didn’t feel inferior to the dresses Ciella had owned.
Noticing my scrutiny, Clover called me softly.
“There are other dresses on display…”
But she couldn’t finish the sentence. I made up my mind and looked back at her.
“I’ll take this one.”
“Huh? Are you sure? Without looking at the others…?”
Clover asked worriedly, but I shook my head and gazed at the lavender dress.
‘Ciella’s dress had been the height of extravagance…’
It had shone as if the fabric itself emitted light.
At the time, I had thought it was the fabric, but even though Clover’s dress used the same material, it didn’t feel flashy. In fact, it felt calm.
‘Maybe because the decorations are reduced?’
Though the sleeves and hem had frills, there were no extravagant ornaments or bows, letting the natural color of the fabric stand out.
‘So this is such a beautiful fabric.’
I felt a twinge of guilt for ever thinking it looked dull—the dress Clover had created was perfect for me.
Not overly revealing, not overly ornate.
“I don’t think any other dress would suit me better.”
The simple lavender would match the sunset-colored hair nicely.
Seeing my decision, Clover hesitated, her expression unreadable.
Not understanding it, I tilted my head, and she gave a slightly apologetic smile.
“It’s been so long since I sold a dress… I’m a little nervous.”
She added an awkward smile.
“Seems silly, right? Getting excited just from selling a dress…”
“Not silly at all. Your love for the clothes shows, and it makes me happy to buy them.”
“…Thank you.”
Clover smiled shyly at my words.
After checking the measurements, I went out to the lobby while she packed the dress.
I found the children gathered in one spot.
‘What are they doing there?’
It was in front of a piece of black fabric, and Ren couldn’t take his eyes off it.
Curious, I walked over to Jack, who was standing a little apart.
Sensing my approach, Jack looked at me.
“Why are they all gathered there?”
When I asked, Jack looked away from me and turned toward the children.
“They think the fabric is pretty.”
His eyes lowered.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen something so beautiful in my life.”
“Ah…”
His words carried so many meanings.
It wasn’t just that he couldn’t look away because it was pretty.
It was awe at seeing something so remarkable for the first time, wanting to take in as much as possible, as long as possible, not knowing when he might see it again.
“…You shouldn’t have to feel that way anymore.”
A sigh slipped out.
Jack looked at me.
I felt a little anger toward myself.
I hadn’t realized he would enjoy it and be so amazed.
Had I kept him so confined, in the name of protecting the children and for my own convenience?
As I gazed at the children with a complicated expression, Jack’s voice suddenly spoke.
“They’re all afraid everything will go back to the way it was before.”
“….”
His unexpected words made me widen my eyes.
Jack slowly lifted his gaze to meet mine.
I became curious.
What color are Jack’s real eyes?
The current appearance of Jack had been altered by a spell from his deceased mother to avoid being discovered by the Golden Emperor.
Ultimately, Jack died under the spell, and the book never described his true form.
Perhaps that’s why it’s always hard to know what Jack is thinking.
Because he hides his true self.
“What are we to the director?”
Jack asked.
He didn’t seem to be asking about my position or relationship purely.
It felt as if he wanted some kind of certainty.
What kind of existence are we to him? Would I ever abandon the children?
I had never seriously considered what the children meant to me.
I had awoken in another world overnight and knew the abuse they had suffered.
I pitied them and wanted to protect them.
Part of my motivation to care for them was to change the future that had death in store for me. But that was only the beginning.
Looking at the children before me, I wanted to make them happy after the abuse and harsh environments they had endured.
“I am…”
My throat tightened slightly.
What kind of existence am I to the children? More precisely, what kind of existence do I want to be?
The answer didn’t take long.
The presence I needed when I was at the orphanage. The presence that didn’t exist, making life hard.
“I’m your guardian.”
Someone responsible for protecting my children.
“I’ll protect you until the day you grow up and leave the orphanage. No matter what happens.”
As I spoke, determination settled within me. I wanted to be a guardian the children could rely on.
I looked at Jack with sincerity, and Jack, meeting my gaze, turned his head away.
A moment later, he responded in a small voice.
“Then… I’ll trust you. Please, protect them.”
Jack muttered this so endearingly that I couldn’t help but smile.
“Of course. I’ll protect them.”
Hearing my playful tone, Jack lowered his head further.
I wanted to ruffle his hair wildly, but I stopped, thinking he wouldn’t like it.
