Chapter 3
“My hand isn’t dirty. So, where’s your house?”
The boy stayed silent for a long time. Since I had already decided to be kind, I chose to wait patiently.
After a while, he finally spoke.
“O-over t-there. My house.”
I looked toward the place he pointed at.
It stood at the very end of the shopping alley. A poorly maintained two-story house that looked like it might collapse at any moment.
A sign hung on the gate: Elpis Orphanage.
‘Does he live at an orphanage?’
In this era, orphanages were usually one of two extremes. Either the director abused the children while pocketing government support, or they were genuinely good people who cared for them properly.
‘If he’s wandering outside on a rainy day, maybe he’s being mistreated?’
Even if I was fated to die, I wasn’t trash who would ignore child abuse.
“I’ll walk you there. Let’s go home.”
Instead of answering, the boy gripped my hand tightly. Even though he had been out in the rain, his hand wasn’t cold. It felt a little warm.
‘It’s warm.’
It suddenly hit me.
It had been a long time since I had felt another person’s warmth like this—since my family left.
I entered Elpis Orphanage with the boy.
A woman who looked to be in her forties, with tightly curled brown hair and an obviously talkative face, rushed out.
“Oh my goodness, sweetheart!”
“…”
“You went out again? Honestly, what am I going to do with you? You’re not hurt, are you?”
The boy subtly hid behind my back.
I stated the facts flatly.
“He was at a shop up ahead. He said he lives here, so I brought him.”
While the director chattered out her thanks, I quietly looked around the orphanage.
A few thin logs crackled weakly in the old fireplace.
That explained why it felt a little cold inside.
‘This place must be very poor.’
I glanced at the staff member who was leading the boy toward the bath.
‘Only one employee. They’re severely understaffed.’
As I assessed the situation calmly, the director led me to her office. She served me warm hot chocolate and continued talking without pause.
She said the boy was about ten years old. For some unknown reason, he wandered outside whenever it rained, so they often had to go looking for him.
“I see.”
I cut her off lightly. I didn’t need to know more.
Once you learn someone’s story, you start feeling something for them. Then you want a better relationship with them. You want to stay with them longer.
And that makes you want to live longer.
‘I decided not to cling to life.’
Fortunately, it didn’t seem like the boy was being abused. That was enough for me.
“But I was very surprised that he held your hand. That child absolutely never holds—”
Perhaps because I wanted to stop her endless chatter, the words slipped out impulsively.
“I’m not interested in knowing more. I was just thinking of making a donation.”
Her eyes widened.
I knew this must sound suspicious. I was wearing a robe that hid most of my face.
To avoid revealing my identity, I was even using a voice-altering spell, so my real voice wouldn’t be clear to her.
“I’ll provide the money. You feed and clothe that child and send him out into the world.”
“…”
“That’s all I want. It’s not dirty money, so don’t worry. I can provide documentation if needed.”
The director hesitated before speaking.
“You must have your own circumstances.”
“…”
“When you raise children, you can see certain things. I won’t pry.”
Since I said nothing, she continued carefully.
“And if you’re willing to sponsor us, I’m deeply grateful. We are in desperate need of funds.”
I nodded.
“But don’t trust people too easily. I’ll send someone skilled in accounting to handle the sponsorship in my place. I hope we never see each other again.”
Without revealing the name of the Vuitri family, I would simply dispatch annual auditors and review the accounting books.
That would be the end of our connection.
Ignoring the director’s farewell glance, I stepped outside.
The rain had completely stopped, and sunlight shone again.
At the entrance, I spotted the boy in the yellow raincoat once more. It seemed he had changed back into it while the staff weren’t paying attention.
“Take care. And don’t go outside when it rains.”
I hadn’t expected a reply. But unexpectedly, he answered.
“…If I take care…will you come again?”
“No. I won’t. Just live well on your own.”
He didn’t say anything after that.
I turned and walked slowly away.
‘Somehow… I feel good.’
I had done an unexpected good deed. Not that it would change the world or anything.
But as I felt my steps grow lighter, I realized something.
I had found a goal for this life.
‘Yes. From now on, I’ll do good deeds.’
I’ll do things that make people smile. I’ve never lived for others before.
In this life, I’ll leave behind a good path.
And then I’ll die beautifully.
Suddenly, I thought of my mother.
She was the kind of person who shared bread with the needy and offered a hand to those who fell.
“Sienna, my daughter. When you help others, you’ll feel happy too.”
“I don’t get it. Why would helping someone else make me happy?”
Only now did I understand what she meant.
“This is actually pretty fun.”
For the first time in a long while, I smiled brightly.
One day later, at Elpis Orphanage—
The director, Jenny, widened her eyes in shock.
When the elegant girl in the gray robe had said she would sponsor them, Jenny had expected an ordinary donation.
But…
“W-what in the world is all this…?”
…The gifts were piled up like mountains.
“With this much, we could even rebuild the old building.”
Jenny watched, deeply moved, as a white carrier pigeon delivered a letter and funds, and as managers sent by the girl began cleaning and organizing Elpis Orphanage one by one.
The donor’s identity remained unknown, but Jenny did not doubt her for a moment. She had seen many kinds of people while running the orphanage. She felt certain the robed girl was not someone who would lie.
“With this money, we can even make nutritious snacks for the children…”
“Teacher! We got new pajamas!”
Seeing pajamas that fit each child perfectly, Jenny smiled warmly.
For the girl, this may have been a simple act of kindness.
But for the children here, it was a miracle.
“Hey, kids. Aren’t you curious what our sponsor might be like?”
“Yes!”
“If they sent this many gifts, maybe it’s His Majesty the Emperor!”
“Wooooah!”
As the children shouted in unison, one boy suddenly spoke.
“G-good…”
All eyes turned toward the boy in the yellow raincoat.
It was rare for him to speak out loud at the orphanage.
He never held anyone’s hand and only spoke when absolutely necessary.
But this time was different.
His cheeks flushed red as he murmured softly.
“A g-good p-person…”
Jenny, who had always watched him with affection, smiled brightly.
“Of course they are! I’m so curious who they might be.”
“But… when will they come again?”
Jenny was caught off guard by the unexpected question but soon smiled playfully.
“Well… if you finish all your soup?”
“…”
“It’s soup from our sponsor. So eat a lot.”
“But… it wasn’t just for me…”
There was a faint sense of possessiveness in his voice.
Jenny chuckled softly.
“Still, you’re the one who brought them here. They’ll probably care about you the most.”
After hearing that, the boy nodded firmly.
Then he scooped up a large spoonful of soup and shoved it eagerly into his mouth.
With determination. With effort.
“Shall we send a thank-you letter to our sponsor? We can send it through the bird.”
Jenny smiled as she looked at the white bird the sponsor had sent along.
The boy nodded.
His expression was unusually serious—like he had made an important decision.
