Chapter 77

Chapter 77

***

A month later.

The Valois family stood in front of the freshly decorated orphanage.

“Excuse me, mother.”

Saying so, Liliana carefully grabbed the hem of Anriche’s skirt before continuing her words.

“I am really going to sponsor an orphanage in my name…?”

“Well, of course.”

At that cool answer, the light green pupils trembled relentlessly. Seeing that, Anriche tilted her head and asked.

“Why, don’t you like it?”

“No! It’s not that I don’t like it…!”

Shaking her head violently, Liliana opened her mouth with a timid voice.

“…Still, I think it’s too much for me.”

Anriche set up a new foundation in Liliana and Elliott’s name and arranged for the foundation to support the orphanage. In the process, the name of the orphanage was also changed.

‘Aberyt Orphanage.’

It was the new name of the Londini Orphanage.

Still restless, Liliana added, “At least the name of the orphanage could be taken from the Duchy of Valois…”

“Liliana, why do you care so much?”

Just then, Elliot poked his head out and interrupted the conversation.

“Mom, me, and even my dad said everything was fine. Right, Dad?”

“Of course.”

At his son’s question, Alexei nodded casually.

At that, Liliana squinted at the orphanage. The orphanage now looked like a brand new building. The old parts were completely repaired, new furniture was put in, and the paint was new.

‘…Because Londini Orphanage is now Liliana’s orphanage.’

The gentle voice of her mother was good to her ears.

However…

‘Do I really deserve this orphanage?’

She had already received a great favor that she would never be able to repay in her lifetime, though she continued to receive something. Even though her mother told her not to worry about it, still—

Just when Liliana was in deep trouble.

“Liliana!”

At the sound of someone calling her, she suddenly raised her head.

At the same time, her eyes widened.

“Uh, huh…?”

It must be so, since the students were rushing in from far away. The children circled Liliana. The girl who called Liliana for the first time scratched her cheek with a slightly embarrassed expression.

“Oh, should I call you Lady Aberyt now?”

“It’s not like that, Evie!”

Liliana was terrified.

Evie.

During her orphanage days, she became friends with Liliana. Without the help of Evie, who was like an older sister, she probably wouldn’t have been able to survive in the orphanage.

Evie smiled softly.

“Thank you so much, Liliana.”

‘…Huh?’

To Liliana, blinking her eyes, Evie uttered in a gentle voice, “The Duchess of Valois told me, thanks to you, the orphanage will not disappear.”

“…Evie.”

“Instead, she asked me to stay close with you in the future.”

After saying so, she reached out to Liliana suddenly, “So, let’s continue to take care of each other in the future.”

Liliana, who looked down at the extended hand with a heartbroken face, grabbed the hand.

“Yes. Me, too!”

Meanwhile, Elliot, watching Liliana from afar, pouted his mouth.

“Tsk, Liliana is my fiancée…”

“Gee, are you sad that Liliana seems to be getting along with the other children?”

“Absolutely.”

To Anriche’s mischievous question, Elliot answered bluntly.

“Though Liliana can’t be alone with me for the rest of her life.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. So, I don’t want to interfere with Liliana’s friendship with her other friends.”

At that, Elliot shrugged her shoulders, but contrary to his grown-up answer, he couldn’t take his eyes off Liliana at all.

Such a son was both cute and quirky, so Anriche smiled faintly.

Just then, Alexei opened her mouth.

“Somehow, it feels like both of them have grown up.”

“I feel the same way.”

The couple looked at the two children with affectionate eyes. The warm afternoon sun was beating them down like a blessing.

6. Engagement Ceremony

Alexei had been in a very burdensome situation lately. It must have been because there was a gaze that followed him tenaciously.

The main character of that gaze…

‘…Why the hell is the wife like that?’

It was Anriche.

It had been three days since he received her enthusiastic gaze. At first, he tried to let it go, but now, he was too concerned.

Eventually, he couldn’t stand it and turned to Anriche.

“Wife.”

“Aahh!”

Anriche, who had been staring at her husband with a piercing gaze, took a couple of steps back in surprise.

Alexei narrowed her brow and asked her a question.

“Do you have anything to say?”

“Because you’ve been staring at me for the past few days.”

“Aha…”

At his question, she scratched her cheek with a bewildered expression. Did she look too tenaciously…?

“…Actually, I have something to tell you.”

Yes?

“What is it?”

“Why don’t we have an engagement ceremony for Liliana and Elliot?”

“…Engagement ceremony?”

At the unexpected suggestion, Alexei’s eyes widened. Meanwhile, Anriche opened her mouth right away.

“Yes. I think the reason Liliana was recently ignored at the academy was because she wasn’t properly positioned.”

“But, Liliana is Elliot’s fiance anyway, isn’t she?”

He then persisted in his question in a bewildered voice, “Even on paper, everything is organized?”

“Of course, on paper, yes.”

Anriche shook her head lightly and spoke.

“However, the ceremony to show others is surprisingly important.”

“Ceremony… you mean?”

“Yes. The academy incident, as expected, is because they underestimated how much we care for Liliana.”

Then, she clenched her fists and added.

“The more we express our affection for Liliana, the more that child will be recognized.”

“Well, if that’s the case.”

Alexei nodded his head because her words do have some truth. At his permission, Anriche smiled broadly.

“Don’t worry too much, I’ll take care of everything!”

Her violet eyes gleamed with enthusiasm.

“I won’t bother the Duke…!”

“No, it doesn’t matter.”

Huh…?

In response to the completely unexpected answer, Anriche blinked her eyes unknowingly. Alexei, who had been talking for a moment, opened his mouth carefully.

“Aren’t we a couple?”

“…Yes?”

“So, if you need any help, feel free to tell me.” He said before smiling faintly and adding a word to her.

“Don’t overdo it by yourself.”

“….”

Anriche looked at him blankly.

It must be so, his face facing her with a faint smile on his lips…

‘…He’s so handsome, isn’t he?’

Anriche swallowed a gulp. He really was… He was beautiful enough for her to have given birth to a son as cute as Elliot.

‘And, such a man is my husband…!’

Meanwhile, at her sudden silence, Alexei tilted his head.

“—fe”

“…..”

“Wife?”

Gasp!

Anriche, who had come to her senses, showed a bashful smile as she replied.

“Oh, yes. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Alexei’s smile widened a little.

Just then, the butler found him from afar, “Oh, Master. Were you here?”

“What’s going on?”

“What do you mean what’s going on? You have a pile of paperwork to process.”

The butler, who was crying, looked at Alexei.

“….”

Why was the butler doing this now? It had been a long time since he had a proper conversation with his wife…

With that thought, a deep wrinkle crept into Alexei’s forehead.

“Then, I think I will have to go to my office.”

“Yes, thank you.”

She then smiled and saw him off.

‘Hmm, come to think of it…’

Anriche, looking at the back of her husband, who was moving away, tilted her head slightly. It seemed that Alexei’s attitude had become strangely kinder than before.

…Is it just her feelings?

***

Alexei, who had been walking in stride, suddenly stopped and opened his mouth.

“Butler.”

“Yes, yes?”

The butler became a little stiff without realizing it. It must be so because his voice calling for him was so bloody.

“You will learn to be more aware in the future, understood?”

“…Yes?”

The butler looked blankly at Alexei. Meanwhile, he grinded his teeth and nailed to him again.

“Do you understand?”

“I, I see…”

Even though he didn’t know why the Master was suddenly like that, that sad blue gaze was so frightening. At that, the butler hurriedly nodded his head.

Only then did Alexei turn around with a sullen face.

‘…Why, why is he like that?’

No matter how much the butler thought about it, he was just working hard for tomorrow…?

The butler’s anguish deepened.

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