-Chapter 7-
My voice trembled as I called out to the children.
But unlike usual, Rohen didn’t rush out with his usual wary glare, and Lariz didn’t peek from behind something to run into my arms.
“Where are you guys…?”
At least if they had come out to yell at me, I could’ve felt relieved. But today—there was only silence.
Forcing my heavy feet to move, I went to the corner where they always stayed.
And there, huddled together, were the twins—clothes torn even worse than before, their tiny bodies bruised and trembling.
“…Oh my god.”
My legs gave out, and I dropped to my knees in front of them.
“You two…”
Even through the ripped fabric, I could clearly see the marks of abuse.
“Unni… came.”
“…”
Lariz looked up at me weakly, forcing a tiny smile. Rohen said nothing, just stared at me with dull eyes.
“Ha… I hoped I was wrong. I wanted to be wrong. That damned… that—ugh.”
I couldn’t even finish the curse that burned in my throat.
How could anyone—any human—do this to children?
“It was her, wasn’t it? That woman… she did this to you?”
My voice shook, and before I could stop it, a tear slipped down my cheek.
“See, oppa? I told you she wasn’t bad. She’s crying for us.”
“…You’re… not her?”
“What?”
“…Guess not.”
“Of course I’m not her! I’d never hurt you.”
Wiping my tears quickly, I reached toward them—but Rohen flinched, curling up tighter.
“Don’t look,” he muttered.
“…I’m so sorry. This is all my fault.”
It really was. I had been too confident—too naive. I thought if I just fed them, kept them hidden, everything would turn out fine.
“I was too careless.”
“Not your fault, unni,” Lariz said softly.
“Yeah,” Rohen added in a low voice. “So don’t act like you’re the only one who’s hurting.”
Even his sharp words didn’t sting. What hurt was seeing them like this.
I clenched my fists until my nails dug into my palms.
“I can’t take this anymore.”
“Unni? Can’t take what?”
“I can’t stand knowing this could happen again. I should’ve stopped it. Maybe I should just burn this whole place down—then at least she’d never find you again.”
The thought came out before I could stop it.
But even if I did, where would they go? As terrible as the shed was, at least it kept out the rain.
“Don’t cry, unni. It’s okay. Look, see? It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
Lariz smiled brightly and rubbed her cheek against my shoulder.
“See? All better now.”
“…But just because it doesn’t hurt anymore doesn’t mean you’re okay,” I whispered.
At that, her little smile faltered.
“Really, I’m fine,” she said. “So call me ‘Lari’ again, okay? I like it when you say my name.”
“…Lari.”
That was it. That’s why they never fully trusted me. That’s why they were so broken inside.
No matter how many times I brought them food or clothes, it all meant nothing when the director came back and hurt them again.
Just like now.
Even though Lariz tried to smile through it, Rohen’s eyes were sharper than ever—full of mistrust and pain.
‘I can’t just stand by anymore.’
I looked at Lariz’s fragile smile, then nodded firmly.
“I’ve decided. I’m going to get you out of here.”
“Huh?”
If I did nothing, it would just keep happening. And when the twins’ real father—the Grand Duke—finally discovered this place, maybe he’d show mercy if I had already helped his children.
This wasn’t just kindness—it was strategy. That’s what I told myself.
“But not yet. If you leave now, she’ll catch you and lock you up again.”
“Then when?” Lariz asked eagerly.
“I have a day in mind. Until then, just stay put.”
“Okay!”
“She probably won’t come back soon anyway,” I said. “I’ll make sure of it. I’ll keep her happy for a while—just hang in there a few more days.”
“Okay, unni!”
Lariz nodded with determination.
“Don’t do anything stupid,” Rohen muttered.
I blinked. It was the first time he’d come this close to me.
“What?”
“Take care of yourself,” he said bluntly. “You’re not that different from us.”
“Maybe. But I can still help you. So I will.”
He didn’t answer, just frowned.
“And it’s noona, not ‘you.’”
“…Whatever.”
Even so, he didn’t turn away.
I gave them one last small smile before leaving.
Originally, I hadn’t planned to interfere with the novel’s story too much.
But now I had no choice.
‘For their sake… I’ll step in properly.’
Luckily, the timing was on my side.
Twice a year, saintesses from the capital visited the orphanage to inspect it. That day was coming soon.
It was the one day of the year the children got to bathe properly, wear clean clothes, and eat meat.
That was the day I’d been waiting for.
***
From that day on, the director’s mood was oddly good.
Still, whenever she came back from her “business trips,” she’d take out her frustration on us.
I made sure to visit her room during those times, volunteering for extra chores.
If anyone had to deal with her anger, better me than the others.
A few close calls, but nothing serious.
And, thankfully, the cruel plan she’d been preparing—to harm the children for sympathy donations—was delayed because of the saintess’s upcoming inspection.
The orphanage’s biggest event of the year.
When the day finally arrived, we all wore the nicest clothes locked away in storage—silk dresses and neat shirts we normally weren’t allowed to touch. We washed up, tied our hair with ribbons, and put on the new shoes saved for this day.
By 10 a.m., the holy carriage appeared.
The children waved and laughed, their faces full of rare joy.
From inside the carriage, the saintess smiled back and, once the horses stopped, stepped out gracefully.
“Have you all been well?”
“Yes, Saintess!” the children chorused.
“And have you been eating properly?”
“Yes!”
“No one’s gone hungry?”
“…No, ma’am!”
Their voices wavered slightly. The director was standing right behind the saintess, watching them with a sharp gaze that made them tremble.
“I see…” the saintess murmured. “Still, everyone looks a bit thin. Don’t you think so, Director Sandra?”
As she gently touched the children’s heads and smiled, her expression began to darken. Something felt off to her.
Finally, her gaze landed on me. She brushed my cheek and frowned.
“Especially Aisha. I remember you being one of the bright ones.”
The director forced a chuckle. “She’s just been skipping meals lately. You know how children are.”
“Is that so?” the saintess asked, clearly unconvinced.
I looked down sadly and gripped her sleeve.
“Saintess… Saintess!”
Before the director could stop me, I grabbed her hand tightly.
Normally, I never did things like this. The adults here liked me because I was calm, independent, and never begged for attention.
But today—I had to.
“Could you please come with me? Just for a moment!”
The director immediately stepped forward and clamped down on my wrist—hard.
Her nails dug into my skin.
“Aisha,” she said through clenched teeth, “the saintess is busy. Don’t make a scene.”
“I-I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to bother her…” I mumbled, lowering my head pitifully.
The saintess frowned. “Director, there’s no need to be so harsh.”
“But—”
“Aisha’s never done something like this before. If she’s asking so earnestly, I’d like to hear her out.”
“Then… you’ll come with me?” I asked, my eyes shining.
Saintess Melodia smiled kindly—the same woman I’d been praying would come today. She was known for her compassion, unlike the other visiting saintesses.
“Of course, Aisha. Do you have something to show me?”
“Yes!”
“Then let’s go. The others can check on the rest of the children.”
“Yes, Saintess Melodia.”
“Two paladins will accompany me,” she ordered.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Melodia, the senior saintess, gave quick instructions to everyone else before taking my hand and walking with me.
Meanwhile, the other saintesses began unloading supplies from the carriage.
“It’s strange,” Melodia said gently as we walked. “You’ve never acted like this before, Aisha.”
“Hehe, sorry. And thank you, Saintess.”
‘Twins,’ I thought silently, ‘you’d better know how much I’ve risked for this.’
Every careful step, every plan, every risk—I’d done it all for this moment.
Melodia smiled warmly at me. “No need to thank me.”
“Don’t trouble the saintess too much, Aisha,” the director muttered from behind us.
I ignored her.
Because if everything went as planned—
today would be the day everything changed.
