Chapter 08
A woman with purple hair and sharp black eyes — Aurora — walked up to Bella with her arms crossed.
“Ah, hello, Miss Aurora,” Bella said, breathing hard but still trying to keep her posture straight.
‘Ugh… what is she going to nag me about this time?’
Aurora was the niece of the director of the Piroche Orphanage.
Her mother had died early, and her father remarried a baron’s daughter — then left Aurora at the orphanage.
The problem was that Aurora acted like she was some noble lady.
She copied noble manners, dressed up, and behaved as if she were a princess abandoned by fate.
And the biggest victim of her “princess act” was Bella.
***
“Anyway, Miss Dust,” Aurora said mockingly. “Didn’t I tell you not to wear those shabby, country-looking clothes? They hurt my eyes.”
Of course. Another daily criticism.
Aurora always found Bella’s clothes “tacky” or “too loud.”
But Bella had a reason for wearing what she did today.
She thought back to that morning.
***
“What… what is all this!?”
Her house — no, her mansion — had suddenly become a five-story palace.
Even stranger, the entire third floor was just a huge wardrobe room filled with dresses — dozens, no, hundreds of them — the kind that only nobles could afford.
Her old clothes were found in what looked like a junk room.
She was running late, so she just grabbed something from the top of the pile — a bright pink dress.
There was no time to worry about Aurora’s judgmental fashion sense.
***
“I-I’m sorry,” Bella said, bowing her head — though she didn’t mean it at all.
It was just the fastest way to escape Aurora’s bullying.
But Aurora twitched her nose, clearly dissatisfied.
“Hmph. Just saying sorry isn’t enough, Miss Dust.”
“Eh?” Bella blinked, nervous.
‘She’s in a bad mood today…’
Usually, when Bella apologized, Aurora would smugly let it go.
But not today. Today, she seemed to want more.
Maybe it was because Bella was the woman who had married Aurora’s old crush.
Bella bit her lip.
“I’m sorry. My clothes… they’re just not organized yet.”
“Oh really? With so few clothes, how could your house be messy enough that you couldn’t find one nice thing to wear?” Aurora said sweetly. Then, turning her head, she added, “Right, honey?”
Honey?
That one word made Bella’s whole body freeze.
A man appeared from behind the gate pillar — Michael.
Warm cocoa-colored hair, gentle light-brown eyes.
“Mr. Michael…?”
“Ah, hello, Miss Bella,” Michael said awkwardly, scratching his temple.
“Did you hear? We’re getting married,” Aurora said suddenly.
“Oh… yes.”
Now even Aurora was speaking politely, showing off.
Bella could only stare with cold, hurt eyes as Aurora rubbed her face affectionately against Michael’s shoulder.
It felt like watching a nightmare.
It wasn’t even a long crush — just about seven years, since Bella started working at the orphanage. Still, it hurt.
***
“Wait, what? The director wants to see me?” Bella asked.
That was rare.
Usually, when Director Ida called her, it was either:
1. To set Bella up with her younger brother, or
2. To cut her salary.
And both of those things had already happened this month.
“Ugh, honestly~ some people really don’t know their place,” Aurora said snidely before walking away with Michael.
***
Later, in the director’s office
Knock, knock.
Bella opened the door hesitantly.
The room smelled of cigarettes.
When Ida saw her, her face immediately twisted in displeasure.
“You… called for me, Director?” Bella asked timidly.
Her small hands trembled.
Despite everything, Ida had always treated Bella relatively kindly — except for her constant matchmaking attempts with her brother.
But today, the mood was different. The air felt heavy.
“Miss Bella,” Ida said seriously. “Please, sit down.”
Bella nervously sat on the edge of the sofa. It was the first time she’d ever actually sat on it instead of just dusting it.
“I’ve always thought of you like family,” Ida began.
“Oh… that’s touching, Director,” Bella replied stiffly, unsure what was coming.
Ida continued, voice colder now:
“But I’m really disappointed in you, Bella.”
“Wh–what?” Bella’s eyes widened.
“You don’t know what I’m talking about?”
“Um…”
‘What could I have done to disappoint her?’
She always followed the rules, accepted pay cuts, and worked hard.
Then suddenly, a thought struck her.
Ah! Maybe I forgot the plant fertilizer!
“Director, did I… maybe forget to feed the plants?” she asked hopefully.
Ida just sighed heavily.
“No, Bella. That’s not it.”
“Then what is it?” Bella’s confusion deepened.
Ida pointed toward a cabinet.
Inside was a blue beaded vase.
“You don’t recognize that?”
“The… vase?”
“You know it’s not just a vase, right?”
“Oh, of course! It’s a very pretty vase!” Bella said awkwardly.
Another deep sigh. Ida rubbed her forehead, clearly losing patience.
“On the day the other teachers went shopping, you were the only one who stayed at Piroche, right?”
“Yes…”
“Miss Aurora told me so. You were here, alone.”
That was true. Bella had stayed behind that day because she’d been hurt by the other teachers’ gossip.
“Yes, I was here alone,” Bella admitted, though she hadn’t done anything wrong.
Ida’s eyes narrowed.
“Bella… all the donation money is gone.”
“What!?” Bella gasped.
“The donation money? You mean… the Crown Prince’s donation?”
“Yes.”
“Oh my god.”
Earlier that year, the Crown Prince of Atlanta had donated a large sum of money to Piroche — likely for political reasons.
Ida had secretly used some of it for her own benefit, lost half, and stored the rest away.
Bella had overheard this by accident once, while watering the office plants.
That was why Ida had always treated Bella kindly — to keep her quiet.
But now—
“You mean… someone stole it?” Bella asked, horrified.
“That’s right.”
“Oh no… who would do such a thing?”
“Bella.”
Suddenly, Ida was right in front of her, her cold gaze piercing.
“Director… don’t tell me—”
Bella’s voice trembled.
‘No way… she’s not saying what I think, right?’
But her hope shattered instantly.
