A strange feeling came over me.
In other words… something just felt off.
I stared blankly at the Duke. His black hair, tousled and swaying in the wind, sharp eyes, neat features, and large build.
Like the harmonized melody of a piano, the space I stood in now seemed to match perfectly with Duke Crayman. It felt like I was looking at a beautifully painted picture.
If I let my guard down even a little, I might fall completely for those looks.
But the strange feeling I had wasn’t because of that.
“He said I’m his benefactor?”
Who was Duke Crayman again? The man who turned the tide of a hopeless battlefield, took thousands of heads, and was now the undeniable strongest in the Lux Empire—even the emperor couldn’t easily meddle with him.
And now, that man was standing in front of me, calling me his benefactor.
For some reason, my shoulders straightened with pride.
‘Get a grip. Why are you getting proud over this?’
I quickly scolded myself.
I had nearly lost myself for a moment, enchanted by his words and forgetting the situation I was in.
‘Still… it didn’t sound like a lie.’
His tone when he said he came to see his benefactor first was a bit odd, but it was clear he had come to deliver some kind of message.
And I had a hunch about what it might be.
I stared at him without saying a word. After a moment, the Duke opened his lips.
“I will keep my promise. Thanks to you, I safely opened up the sea route. But is sponsoring this orphanage really all you want? Don’t get me wrong—I’m not belittling the value of support. I mean, if there’s more you want, speak up. I’ll grant it.”
His tone was serious. I blinked at the unexpected offer. Then I mulled over his words.
Something more I want…
Before long, I opened my mouth.
“…There is one thing.”
“What is it?”
He asked, and I lifted my head to meet his eyes before answering.
“Please don’t call me ‘Young Lady.’”
“…Hm?”
He looked unusually flustered. Watching him display so many different expressions today, I added,
“Please call me Siela.”
“You’re asking me to use your name?”
“If that’s uncomfortable, you can use my surname, Fayrunt.”
I smiled gently as I said this, but the Duke still looked puzzled.
It made sense. Among nobles, using one’s name implied deep familiarity.
So to ask him suddenly to call me by my name must have caught him off guard.
‘But I really can’t get used to being called Young Lady.’
I had never been called anything like “princess” in my life, let alone “Young Lady.” The title felt foreign and awkward.
Every time I heard it, my shoulders would twitch, and my expression would stiffen.
If that awkwardness continued, the Duke would surely grow suspicious of me. I wanted to avoid that at all costs.
Still, I didn’t want to be addressed as baroness or dame either, so in the end, I settled on the simplest choice: Siela.
That was all there was to it. Though now, I wondered if the Duke might misunderstand, since he didn’t know my reasoning.
Just as I was about to add that he could use my last name instead—
“Siela.”
“Oh…”
He suddenly called me by name, catching me completely off guard.
For a moment, it felt like my heart had dropped.
How should I put it… it was the first time someone had called me by my name since I came into this body, not just “Director.”
And maybe it was also because his voice was so gentle.
He furrowed his brow slightly and murmured,
“It feels strange… I’ve never addressed a woman by name before.”
“Ah, no. It was very natural.”
So natural, in fact, I was momentarily stunned.
I left the rest of the sentence unsaid. He looked at me, then smiled faintly.
“I see. Then I’ll practice saying it more naturally.”
“No, there’s no need to practice…”
Duke Crayman had a way of taking the strangest things very seriously. But oddly enough, I didn’t dislike it.
It meant he was taking my seemingly silly request sincerely.
His effort to fulfill it perfectly even seemed… a little cute.
‘I’m losing it. Did I just think the Duke of the battlefield is cute?’
Anyone hearing that would probably clutch their neck in shock.
“So, is there nothing else? You can say anything, Siela.”
Siela.
My name, rolling gently at the end of his sentence, scattered like grains of sand in the wind.
Each time he said it, it tickled somewhere deep inside me.
I was about to shake my head and say no, but suddenly paused.
Something had popped into my mind.
“Then…”
I could feel his attention focusing on my lips.
I absentmindedly rubbed the now-cold teacup in my hand and murmured,
“If someday, a child from our orphanage is in danger… would Your Grace protect them?”
Because I knew the future from the book, I couldn’t help but be afraid.
The future of this orphanage, as I knew it, was devastating. I would try my best to prevent that from happening. But I might not always have the strength to do it alone.
And if Duke Crayman was by my side, maybe I could make it through.
Perhaps it was shameless to ask.
He had already fulfilled his duties through financial support. And now I was asking him to protect the children too.
But he was the only one I could think of to rely on in case of emergency, so I said it—even if it was shameless.
He stared at me in silence for a moment before answering.
“Very well. I swear on my name, Siela, I will protect your children.”
“Thank yo—”
“But then, who will protect you?”
“Huh?”
Caught off guard by the unexpected question, I made a dumb sound.
Who would protect me? What was he even saying?
As I stared blankly, unable to grasp his meaning, he let out a deep sigh and met my gaze again.
“You really don’t realize it, do you? Ever since you approached me at the ducal estate, your conditions have always been about the children. Even now, you’re asking me to protect them, but you’re not thinking at all about your own safety.”
“Well, the kids are weaker than me…”
“That doesn’t matter. What matters is how much care you give to yourself. From what I can see, Siela, you tend to be far too harsh on yourself. Is that just how orphanage directors are?”
“That’s…”
I was speechless.
In both this life and my previous one, I had never once thought about that.
My safety? My own care?
There was no such thing. I was too busy keeping this orphanage afloat to have time for myself.
Even in my confusion, the Duke continued speaking.
“If such a situation arises, I will protect both the children and you, Siela. You are my benefactor. So if that time comes, you must take my hand.”
“…”
His voice was firm and unwavering. Hearing his words stirred something indescribable inside me.
To hear someone say they would protect me… I couldn’t bring myself to respond right away.
After a moment of hesitation, I finally spoke.
“I don’t understand why Your Grace is being so considerate of me.”
“You are included in my sponsorship.”
“…”
“Sponsorship comes with responsibility, does it not? Besides, earlier I told the imperial messenger that I wouldn’t accept support from anyone but House Crayman, didn’t I? I intend to take responsibility for those words.”
His reply came with not a trace of hesitation—only sincerity.
I looked at Duke Crayman with new eyes.
In “The Unfading Scar,” Crayman was simply a powerful figure who helped make Clauon emperor.
Sure, he played a significant role, but he was ultimately a side character.
So I hadn’t thought much of him when reading the book. I just vaguely liked him because he was on the male lead’s side.
But now… I realized he was far more upright and responsible than I’d imagined. So much so that I wondered if I could even afford to get close to him.
But still…
Men like this should never be made enemies. I should get as close as possible, while I can.
Though…
Why do I keep feeling weird since earlier?
Ever since he said those words, something strange had been stirring inside me.
A feeling I had never experienced before.
What was this emotion? Would I keep feeling this way whenever I was with him?
I was starting to lose control of my emotions.
Well, not that we’ll see each other often anyway.
In the end, he was just a sponsor. His home, the Crayman Duchy, was far from this orphanage. Unless something major happened, we wouldn’t meet again.
Strangely, that thought brought a sense of regret—but I tried to ignore it.
I didn’t want to burden him unnecessarily.
Instead, I smiled brightly at Duke Crayman. He gazed back at me.
“Alright. Then I’ll be counting on you too, Your Grace.”
“…Alright.”
He replied. A strange atmosphere lingered in the air.
I blinked, then gathered myself.
Back to the usual me.
“Now then, shall we properly discuss the sponsorship details?”
* * *
By the time our conversation ended, the sun had set, and night had fallen.
Though the talk was longer than expected, most of it was hopeful for me.
The sponsorship was to begin on the 14th of every month—starting tomorrow. The Duke would send a set amount to the bank, and I could withdraw it.
Clothes, food, and other necessities would be delivered from time to time.
It sounded simple, but since this was my first time making a sponsorship contract, we fumbled a bit.
In any case… at least until the children could become independent, I wouldn’t need to worry about money anymore.
Just knowing that lifted a heavy burden from my shoulders.
“Safe travels.”
I called out in a cheerful voice as Duke Crayman got into the carriage.
He paused mid-step, turned to me, and said in a low voice:
“The green tea was delicious. Will I get to enjoy it again sometime, Siela?”
I blinked at his question, then smiled brightly.
“I’ll send some tea bags to the duchy. I’ll include instructions, so you can enjoy it anytime you wish.”
“…How thoughtful.”
Though I said it with care, he looked a little displeased.
Before I could figure out why, he stepped into the carriage, and it departed from the orphanage.
I watched until it completely disappeared before turning back toward the building.
The place was quiet—probably because the kids were asleep. In the kitchen, the dishes had already been washed.
…I said I’d do them.
A pang of guilt hit me. I hadn’t spent much time with the children today.
But what could I do? I hadn’t expected the day to be so hectic.
Seeing there was nothing left to do, I started to walk off, but stopped.
Then I returned and began boiling hot water—to brew some coffee.
“Ugh, bitter.”
There were no instant mixes here. Only 100% pure coffee beans. I couldn’t handle the bitterness.
I dumped in a ton of sugar, then took my cup outside and sat on the bench.
I just wanted to enjoy the night air for a bit.
“The night sky is beautiful.”
Leaning back against the bench, sipping coffee, I looked up.
With no pollution here, the sky was breathtaking.
A sky overflowing with stars, and a large silver moon shining in the center. The clear, cloudless heavens made my heart feel clear as well.
Then suddenly, I remembered what the Duke had said earlier.
“I’ll protect you too.”
