Chapter 22
For a moment, it felt like my heart dropped.
Somehow, it felt like, for the first time since I came into this body, he had called not the director, but the real me. The suddenness of it left me speechless. The sweetness of his voice only added to it.
He furrowed his brow slightly and muttered.
“It’s my first time calling a woman’s name… it feels rather awkward.”
“N-no, it was very natural.”
So natural, in fact, that I was taken aback for a moment, wondering what on earth was happening.
I didn’t add those words aloud. He looked at me, a faint smile on his lips, and replied.
“Is that so. Still, I should practice more, so I can call you even more naturally.”
“Oh no, there’s no need to go as far as practice…”
The Duke of Creyman always seemed overly serious about such trivial matters. But I didn’t find it unpleasant at all.
It meant he had taken what might have sounded like a silly request from me with complete sincerity.
His effort to fulfill it perfectly was… just a little bit endearing.
‘I’ve lost my mind, really.’
To think that the Duke of Creyman, of all people, was cute. If anyone overheard me, they’d probably clutch their neck in shock.
“Is there nothing else? You may tell me anything you like, Ciela.”
Ciela.
Hearing my name, the sound of it seemed to scatter like sand, shapeless and fleeting.
Every time he said it, it tickled somewhere inside me.
I was about to shake my head, insisting there was nothing else, when suddenly, something occurred to me.
“Then…”
I could feel his eyes fixed on my lips.
I toyed with the now completely cooled teacup and murmured.
“If, in the future, one of our orphanage children were ever to be in danger… would Your Grace protect that child?”
Because I knew the book’s future, I couldn’t help but live in constant anxiety.
The future I knew for this orphanage was far too tragic. I would do everything to prevent it, but there would surely be times when I could not manage alone.
And in those times, I thought, if I had the Duke of Creyman’s strength, we might survive it somehow.
Perhaps it was shameless of me to ask.
He had already fulfilled all his obligations as a patron. And here I was, going so far as to ask him to protect the children too.
But in case of the worst, there was no one else I could turn to for help but him. And so, setting aside my shame, I asked.
The Duke of Creyman gazed at me silently for a while. Then he answered.
“Very well. On my name, Ciela—I will protect your children.”
“Thank y—”
“But then… who will protect you?”
“…Pardon?”
His unexpected question made me blurt out a foolish sound.
Who would protect me? What was that supposed to mean?
Seeing that I didn’t understand, he let out a deep sigh, then met my eyes and spoke.
“You don’t seem to realize, but ever since you first requested my support, your conditions have been solely about the children. Even now, you ask me to protect them, while giving no thought at all to your own safety.”
“That’s only because the children are weaker than I am…”
“Weakness has nothing to do with it. What matters is one’s own sense of worth. From what I see, Ciela, you have a tendency to be far too harsh on yourself. Is that how all orphanage directors are?”
“That’s…”
I was at a loss for words.
In both my past life and this one, I had never once thought about such things.
My safety? My own sense of worth?
I had no such thing. I barely had time to think of myself when feeding the orphanage alone was already a struggle.
But his words pressed on.
“If such a situation comes, I will save both the children and you, Ciela. You are my benefactor. So if that day comes, you must take my hand.”
“….”
His tone was firm, resolute. Hearing it filled me with an indescribable emotion.
That he would protect me. I couldn’t bring myself to respond right away.
After wavering for a moment, I parted my lips.
“I don’t understand why Your Grace takes such care of me.”
“My patronage includes you as well.”
“….”
“Patronage carries responsibility, does it not? And earlier, you declared to the imperial envoy that you would accept no other patron but House Creyman. I am merely taking responsibility for those words.”
The answer came without a shred of hesitation, filled only with sincerity.
I looked at Creyman anew.
In The Indelible Scar, the Duke of Creyman existed only to make Clorane emperor.
Yes, his influence throughout the story was significant, but in the end, he was still a supporting character.
So when I read the book, I never paid him much attention. At most, I had a favorable impression of him for being on the male lead’s side.
But… he was a man far more upright and responsible than I had thought. So much so, I wondered if I had any right to involve him at all.
But still.
The more upright a man is, the less you want him as an enemy. Better to grow as close as possible.
And yet…
‘Something feels strange.’
Ever since he said he would protect me, a peculiar feeling kept stirring inside me.
A feeling I had never experienced before.
What was it? Would I keep feeling this way whenever I was with him?
It was becoming hard to control my emotions.
Well, it’s not like we’ll be seeing much of each other anyway.
After all, he was only a patron, and his place was far away at the Duke’s estate, not here at <Ciela Orphanage>. Unless something unusual happened, we had no reason to meet again.
Thinking that way left me with a strange pang of regret—but I ignored it.
I didn’t want to burden him unnecessarily.
So instead, I gave him a bright smile. He stared straight at me.
“Alright. Then I’ll be in your care as well, Your Grace.”
“…Very well.”
He answered, and for a moment, an odd atmosphere lingered.
I blinked slowly.
Then, regaining my composure before emotions could sway me further, I spoke again.
“Now, shall we finally talk about the sponsorship in earnest?”
We talked, and before I knew it, night had fallen.
The conversation lasted longer than expected, but for the most part, it was full of hopeful outcomes for me.
First, the sponsorship funds would be deposited on the 14th of every month—meaning from tomorrow, the Duke of Creyman would send a set amount to the bank, and I would withdraw it. Material support, like clothes or food for the children, would be sent occasionally.
Though it sounded simple, since this was my first time dealing with formal patronage, both he and I fumbled a little.
Still, at least for the foreseeable future—or rather, until the children could stand on their own—I wouldn’t have to worry about money.
That fact alone made me feel almost giddy.
“Please take care on your way back.”
I spoke lightly as I watched the Duke climb into his carriage.
He paused halfway in, turned back to me, and said in a low voice.
“The green tea was delicious. May I be treated to it again, Ciela?”
His words made me blink. Then I smiled brightly.
“I’ll send a few tea bags to your estate. Along with the instructions, so you can enjoy it whenever you like.”
“…How thoughtful of you.”
I had meant it as a kindness, but the Duke of Creyman looked faintly displeased.
Before I could figure out why, he was already in the carriage, and soon it departed from the orphanage.
I stood watching until it disappeared completely, then trudged back inside.
The place was quiet—the children must have been asleep. In the kitchen, the dishes had already been washed.
“…I said I’d do it.”
Guilt pricked me for neglecting the children so much today.
But what could I have done? I hadn’t known the day would turn out so hectic.
Seeing that there was nothing left to do, I turned to leave, then stopped.
Instead, I put the kettle back on, deciding to make coffee.
“Ugh, so bitter.”
There was no instant mix here—only pure coffee beans, and the bitterness was overwhelming.
I dumped in spoonfuls of sugar, carried the cup outside, and sat on the bench. I only meant to enjoy the night air for a short while.
“The night sky… it’s beautiful.”
Leaning back, I sipped my coffee and gazed upward.
The sky here, untouched by pollution, was dazzlingly beautiful.
A sea of stars spilling across the heavens, the great silver moon at its center. With not a cloud in sight, the clear sky made my heart feel just as clear.
Then suddenly, his words came back to me.
“I’ll protect you too.”
