INS Chapter 53

Chapter 53

I couldn’t help but be surprised.

What on earth did they talk about that left him so full of conviction?

Though flustered, I soon nodded. More than the relief of saving money, it reassured me to see that I’d found a teacher who genuinely wanted to teach Jack.

“Then let’s begin lessons starting tomorrow.”

“Please do.”

When the conversation ended, I came out to see them off. Leonard was the first to board the carriage, and just as Duke Creyman was about to follow, he paused and turned back to me.

He looked at me quietly before parting his lips.

“Then I’ll see you again, Siela.”

“Ah, yes…”

With a faint smile, he greeted me, and the carriage carrying him left.

I stood dazed, watching it roll away, and recalled his parting words.

See you again…

It was just an ordinary farewell, yet something about that promise of next time left me with an odd feeling.

Smiling faintly, I went back inside the orphanage. I wanted to share the good news with Jack as quickly as possible.

Inside the moving carriage, Leonard was lost in thought, recalling the conversation he had with Jack.

— “Do you know about the ‘Evolution of the Moon’ theory?”

From the start, he hadn’t intended to teach Jack. His plan was to pose a high-level question the boy couldn’t answer and thereby strip him of any claim to learning.

But Jack had answered with ease.

— “It’s a philosophy put forward by Eirene, who likened the waxing and waning of the moon to human evolution. The theory holds that humans originally evolved from monsters and, like the moon that eventually wanes, will one day return to being monsters. It was the first evolutionary theory in history, but was soon buried by the Perfectionists, who argued that humans were flawless from beginning to end.”

— “…You know it well. Then do you also know how that buried theory was rediscovered?”

— “It was found in ancient documents and brought back to light.”

At that moment, Leonard was honestly shocked.

Just as Jack had said, the “Evolution of the Moon” was a theory forgotten in antiquity and only recently resurfaced. Few scholars knew much about it, and it was far too difficult for a mere fourteen-year-old to understand.

Could this really be coincidence?

Even when Leonard tossed out questions that would stump university graduates, Jack answered without much trouble each time.

In the end, Leonard had no choice but to acknowledge it.

This child is a genius.

Far too gifted to be left wasting away in an orphanage. I must be the one to teach him!

For the first time in years, the flames of passion for education roared within him.

Casting a sidelong glance at Duke Creyman seated opposite him, Leonard spoke quietly.

“That orphanage director.”

The Duke flinched slightly at the word “director.”

I knew it.

Having long observed the power struggles within the ducal house, Leonard’s sense of reading people was razor sharp.

“She seems like a very good person.”

“…Is that so.”

“Yes. The dining hall was clean, with a sweet fragrance in the air. The facilities were spotless, and above all, the children looked healthy. It was clear they’d been raised in a good environment.”

“That’s true.”

At Leonard’s words, a faint smile touched the Duke’s lips, as if remembering her.

Watching him fondly, Leonard added one more comment.

“She seems like a fine woman. I hope things go well between you.”

But at that moment, the Duke’s expression hardened. Startled by the sudden shift, Leonard worried he’d made a grave mistake.

But he did seem fond of her…

He wondered if his attempt at friendliness had instead turned into a blemish.

Then the Duke spoke, and Leonard realized this wasn’t about fondness at all.

“Am I not a ‘monster’?”

“…”

“Those words are an insult to her. In her presence, don’t ever speak that way. …It would only upset her.”

Though he said it flatly and turned his head aside, to Leonard it looked as though the Duke was sinking into shadow.

The epithet “monster” had clung to him since childhood, and it wasn’t just a metaphor.

He was cursed. That curse had made him into a monster and kept him apart from the rest of humanity.

I’ve blundered…

With his careless remark, he’d added another wound to a man already scarred.

Knowing even an apology would only sting, Leonard turned silently toward the window, watching the scenery flash by.

And then the thought came unbidden—

Is the Duke’s curse truly unbreakable?

Could it be that one day, someone would appear like a miracle, free him from it, and restore his humanity, just as the “Evolution of the Moon” theory had been rediscovered?

It was a vague hope.

As promised, lessons began the next day. During that time, I paced nervously in front of the stairs.

At last, Leonard and Jack came down after the lesson.

“Did you finish your class?” I asked as I approached. Leonard nodded with a satisfied look.

“He did far better than I expected. Ah, Jack, you may go on ahead.”

“Yes. I’ll see you next time, Teacher.”

At Leonard’s gesture, Jack bowed and went back to his room.

Together, Leonard and I walked toward the main gate.

“He’s an extraordinarily clever child. With the right teaching, he’ll surely grow into someone remarkable.”

Leonard’s face was bright with excitement. I smiled softly at him.

When we reached the carriage, I said, “He’s a boy thirsty for knowledge. Please continue to guide him well.”

“Of course. It’s my conviction to take full responsibility for any student I accept.”

“Thank you. Please take care.”

“Then, I’ll see you in two days.”

After watching the carriage depart, I turned back.

Now, maybe I should inspect the orphanage a bit.

Finding that drawing yesterday had made me reflect.

Even if I had been focused on management until now, perhaps I’d been neglecting to truly look around the orphanage.

It’s different to entrust things to Hoyeon versus checking with my own eyes.

And then, there was the festival to think about. Count Simor’s masquerade ball was also on my mind, but more than that…

This will be the children’s very first festival.

In the original story, this was about the time Chloan and Ren, unable to endure the director’s abuse, had run away.

They had gone out both to escape and to see the festival, but were eventually caught and dragged back to the orphanage.

That would never happen now. Since we would all experience the festival together, I wanted to make it especially memorable.

I needed to give it more thought.

As I slowly walked around the orphanage, the sound of children’s laughter came from behind me.

At first, I thought the drawings were only inside, but I soon found more scrawled on the outer wall—likely Chloan’s handiwork.

In every picture, five children appeared, and in their midst there was always a woman with sunset-colored hair.

Looking at them, I drifted into reflection.

It’s already been over two months since I came into this body.

At first, the future had seemed bleak and overwhelming, but somehow time had flowed on.

Will I really be able to keep going?

Could I avoid the dangers I knew were coming and raise the children safely?

It doesn’t seem impossible.

In the past, just thinking about it would have given me a headache, but now it was different.

There were people around me who helped—Hoyeon, and also…

That man.

I couldn’t define exactly what these feelings were, but whenever I thought of him, my heart felt at ease.

He really is a good person.

Since he made the children happy, I hoped he too could find happiness.

A monster, huh…

Suddenly, I recalled what he had once said at the palace:

— “A ‘monster’ can’t live among people.”

I knew he was called that…

But when he described himself that way, my chest had ached unbearably.

Was that just referring to the “Reaper of the Battlefield”?

I wasn’t sure. Truthfully, I realized I didn’t know much about him at all.

If he had been the protagonist, then maybe I would have learned more…

I quickly shook my head. No matter what, it wasn’t right to wish for the story’s hero to change.

The true protagonists of Unfading Scar were Chloan and Ren.

Let’s think this through again. Maybe something will come to me.

I turned toward the director’s office, thinking it best to sort my thoughts on paper.

As I neared the playground, the children’s laughter grew louder.

One of them spotted me and jumped up.

“Siela!”

“Seid?”

So the unfamiliar child I had noticed was actually Seid in disguise.