#14. To Understand You

As the party progressed, more nobles approached Aidan and Karina to greet them. Perhaps due to the changing opinions about Aidan among the ministers recently, many showed goodwill.

Aidan maintained control of conversations even among them. Before they realized it, Aidan and Karina found themselves surrounded by numerous nobles.

“Speaking of which, I hear Duke Hewitt runs a charity organization for those in need?”

Aidan asked Duke Hewitt.

“It’s not something worth boasting about. It started by helping noble children who struggled to receive education due to financial difficulties, but as we proceeded, we noticed children in even more dire situations — those who struggled daily for survival. Children who lost parents to the plague, children who had to support themselves because their parents were bedridden with illness… I started it hoping these children could at least have regular meals. Fortunately, others offered to help, and it grew into an organization.”

Duke Hewitt spoke as if it were nothing special. With House Hewitt’s wealth and connections, it might truly have been a minor matter to him. However, Aidan didn’t think so.

“You say it’s easy, but it’s not at all. Simply turning one’s attention to others is something not everyone can do. Though it might have seemed like insignificant help to Duke Hewitt, for someone receiving that help, it might have been what pulled them back from thoughts of suicide.”

Speaking so seriously from the perspective of someone who received aid made the nobles look at Aidan with bewildered expressions.

“How does Your Highness understand their feelings so well…”

Someone voiced what everyone wondered. It made sense, as these words came from a prince who lived the most wealthy and luxurious life. He rarely left the palace, and there was even less chance he had experienced life at the bottom. It was puzzling to hear him speak about death with such understanding.

“Ah, actually, I heard it from Karina.”

Aidan smiled and shifted their attention to Karina.

Me? When? What?

Though Karina wanted to ask these questions, she swallowed her sigh and maintained her composure despite her confusion. This man clearly spoke from experiences in his original life. He had obviously forgotten for a moment that he was a prince, someone who couldn’t possibly know about poverty.

Though he quickly deflected to her with his excellent improvisation skills, even Karina didn’t truly understand the kind of poverty that made one consider death. Though she had helped her father’s charity work with her mother, Karina had never directly conversed with the recipients. The servants who accompanied them handled all direct interactions, while Karina only helped her mother calculate aid supplies and check what items they needed.

Still, with everyone’s attention focused on her due to Aidan’s words, she couldn’t tell the truth.

“Your Highness has shown more interest in the people’s lives than expected. Even from the little I’ve told him, he empathized with and worried about every detail.”

They had never even had such conversations. But her vague response seemed convincing enough as people nodded and moved on.

Having no talent for lying, she had worried, but it worked out well. As she turned her head in relief, her eyes met Aidan’s. She gave him a slight glare, meaning not to pull such stunts and dump them on her, but whether he understood or not, he just smirked as if she’d done well.

Dealing with this man, she felt she might not live out her natural lifespan—though for entirely different reasons than before. Especially when surrounded by so many nobles, she always had to stay alert about what bizarre things might come out of his mouth.

“Duke Hewitt, I have a proposal to make, if you would like to hear it.”

Aidan changed the topic.

“Please speak freely about anything.”

Duke Hewitt bowed slightly with a gentle smile. He looked truly happy today. The prince had attended House Hewitt’s party with his daughter, demonstrating their good relationship to everyone, and was proving himself more wise and sociable than anyone had worried. Nothing could make Duke Hewitt, who had always supported him, happier.

“I have something I’d like your charity organization to do. Of course, I intend to cover all the costs myself.”

At his mention of directly donating to the charity, the gathered nobles listened intently, wondering what he would say.

“There must be commoner children who have lost their parents. Though the palace is working on policies for them, even the best policies can’t reach everywhere. I want to take careful care of those children by building a house for them, where they can eat and receive education.”

Currently, the Griffith Empire had no ‘homes’ specifically for orphans. Though there were slums where such children gathered, no one managed them.

“If possible, within the capital.”

At these words, the nobles looked at each other and stirred. Aidan swallowed a bitter smile watching their reaction.

They must not like it. They couldn’t accept the idea of those children coexisting in their living space.

Though he understood their feelings, he pretended not to notice.

“We’re already having headaches with them constantly sneaking in to steal even after being driven out of the capital, and now to build a house for such children within the capital…”

One noble frowned and openly showed his displeasure. Aidan turned to look at him but neither criticized him nor showed any negative expression. He simply continued speaking calmly.

“Parentless and impoverished children keep entering the capital because they need to survive. Only in places where people gather can they find work or food.”

The nobles, who had only considered vagrant children as nuisances, exchanged dissatisfied glances with each other.

“If we first provide these children with a place to sleep, properly educate them, and give them proper work, the number of thieves will actually decrease. They don’t… want to steal because they want to.”

Silence fell at Aidan’s words. Karina watched him wordlessly.

‘Well, by your strict standards, you might think I’m a villain. But I didn’t choose that path willingly. I tried hard to live properly. I worked several times harder than others because I hated being labeled an orphan.’

Remembering his words made her feel as if a heavy stone had been placed on her heart.

You… must have been like that. Not out of malice, but having to steal just to survive. Were you pushed by unavoidable circumstances to become what one might call a ‘villain’?

“Rather, if proper control is maintained within a defined area, it might be better for long-term management.”

The muttering nobles looked at Karina when she spoke. She understood that ‘control’ wasn’t what Aidan wanted, but the word ‘control’ would appeal more to the nobles. After all, it was impossible for them to understand children living at rock bottom as Aidan did.

“If that’s the case, it might not be bad.”

“If sufficient food is provided, theft would decrease too.”

“And if they can’t wander around at night, we could feel safer walking around too.”

Indeed, one by one they nodded and agreed that Aidan’s idea seemed good. Though their reasons varied, what mattered was that they supported Aidan. Aidan turned to Karina and raised the corner of his mouth slightly. Then he gave a slight bow. It meant thank you.

For the nobles too, it was a win-win situation. Aidan had promised to take responsibility for all funding for the vagrant children, so the financial issue was resolved.

“I want to contribute as well.”

One of those standing in the back stepped forward.

“Though I can’t help much, I’ll assist too.”

“Our family will help as well.”

Suddenly, everyone offered to contribute either money or manpower to build the building. Though the first person’s intentions might have been pure, it became increasingly obvious that those who followed were trying to curry favor with Aidan.

Whatever their intentions, with so many promising donations, Aidan’s proposal would easily become reality.

“I think it will be a difficult task. Duke Hewitt, could you take charge of proceeding with this?”

Aidan asked Duke Hewitt again. Duke Hewitt bowed with a pleased smile, placing one hand in front of his stomach. He simultaneously showed his agreement to Aidan’s words and respect for him.

“May I ask just one thing?”

He straightened up and asked Aidan.

“Why are you entrusting this task to House Hewitt rather than proceeding directly under the palace’s name, Your Highness?”

Indeed, Aidan could have proceeded with the work directly. Doing so would have changed the people’s evaluation of him.

“Because I don’t want to needlessly provoke anyone. I want to support this with pure intentions, and I don’t want even this to be read as having political motives. If that happens, the children’s home might become tainted with unnecessary controversy before it’s even built, and in the worst case, the completion itself might become impossible.”

Hearing that answer, Duke Hewitt felt ashamed of his earlier thoughts. The other nobles, who had thought this good deed could be advantageous in the succession struggle if made public, also grew solemn.

Though the people might never see this side of Aidan, the nobles gathered there once again broke their prejudices about him.

A wise prince who truly cared for his people and didn’t seek to display his achievements.

The nobles were redefining Aidan’s image in their minds.

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