“You’re beautiful too.”

“…What?”

Other than my mom, no one had ever called me beautiful before.

I couldn’t help but feel my cheeks heat up.

Half from the guilt of being caught staring, and half from the flustered thrill of being called beautiful, my face grew warm.

Avoiding Lucian’s gaze, I quickly looked down and mumbled, “Thank you….”

When I lowered my eyes, I noticed the herbal paste covering my wound.

But Lucian, who had picked up a bandage, paused for a long moment without moving.

‘What is it?’

Curious, I lifted my head slightly, only to meet Lucian’s gaze once again.

“Why… are you looking at me like that?”

I hadn’t expected to return the same question he’d asked me earlier.

Lucian, who had been silent for a moment, suddenly asked,

“Are you going to forgive that boy?”

“What?”

“Benjamin. It looked like he set a trap to make you fall into that pit.”

Didn’t he?

Lucian tilted his head slightly as he added the low question.

As expected. Even though he hadn’t seen it directly, he must have figured it all out.

A mix of a sigh and a laugh escaped me at the thought.

“Well, it’s not like what he said was wrong.”

“……”

“I haven’t told him everything about my situation, so… It’s only natural that I seem like an outsider to him.”

And while I have memories of my past life, he’s still just a child.

Even though it makes me angry, I can understand why he acted that way.

Lucian, who had been silent for a while, suddenly let out a small chuckle and resumed moving his hands.

“Now that I think about it…”

“Now that you think about what?”

“You’re not as similar as I thought you’d be.”

“Similar to what?”

“Nothing.”

Lucian gave a faint smile.

That smile implicitly conveyed that he wouldn’t say anything more, so I simply kept my mouth shut.

It seemed like he had something to say, but since I hadn’t told him everything either, I let it go.

If it were something important, he would’ve told me. For some reason, I felt that way.

After that, silence fell between us.

The bandage began wrapping over the herbal paste on my wound, layer by layer.

When Lucian finally cut the bandage and tied it neatly, as if on cue, there was a knock at the door.

“Um…”

The one who timidly opened the door and stepped inside was Benjamin.

Benjamin entered with a hesitant expression, but as soon as he spotted Lucian, he froze in place.

His face showed a hint of awkwardness.

‘Did he think I’d be alone by now?’

I could easily read the expression on Benjamin’s face.

Apparently, Lucian noticed it too, as he began gathering the bloodied cotton swabs and empty herbal bowls before standing up.

“I’ll go clean this up.”

“Oh, thank you for treating me.”

“No need to mention it. By the way, Ella…”

Lucian, who had risen from his seat, suddenly leaned down and brought his lips close to my ear.

The faint sensation of his breath tickling my ear made goosebumps rise on my arms.

His quiet murmur seeped into my ear along with his breath.

“I’ll be nearby, so if that boy tries to do anything to you, scream. The Duke sent me here for that reason.”

“…Got it. Thank you.”

I barely managed to suppress the groan that almost escaped me and replied with a smile.

Lucian faintly smiled back and left the infirmary.

Click.

The sound of the door closing was followed by the fading sound of his footsteps.

But since he said he’d stay nearby, he’d probably return soon.

“What’s going on?”

I turned my head and spoke to Benjamin, who was still awkwardly standing near the door.

His startled reaction was plain to see.

‘Anyone would think I’d just insulted him.’

Even after that, Benjamin hesitated for a long time, his lips moving as if to speak but no words coming out.

Still, I decided to wait patiently, wanting to hear what he had to say.

After a long wait, Benjamin finally mumbled in a small voice.

“I didn’t really mean to leave you there.”

But his voice was so soft that I, sitting at the far end of the infirmary by the window, couldn’t hear it.

I frowned slightly and asked again.

“What?”

“…I said, I just wanted to scare you a little!”

Perhaps thinking my question was meant to embarrass him, Benjamin raised his voice in frustration.

Of course, he immediately looked regretful.

Raising his voice seemed to have loosened his tongue, as he began mumbling excuses while looking dejected.

“There’s a rope ladder next to that pit. I use it sometimes to avoid the teachers. I was only going to ask why you were here and then pull you out, but… I got upset when you said those things and…”

Benjamin trailed off, then let out a deep sigh, as if the ground might swallow him up.

He raised a hand and roughly tousled his hair.

His face, unusually serious for a child, became calm as he added,

“I’m sorry.”

“……”

“I went too far. I’m really sorry.”

I quietly stared at Benjamin for a moment.

His expression was composed, and his gaze was steady.

It was the demeanor of someone who genuinely acknowledged their mistake.

‘Hmm.’

Lowering my gaze slightly, I saw the bandages wrapped around my palm.

The wound I got because of him still stung, but…

‘Wounds heal, after all.’

And besides, Mom once said something similar.

[Libby, feeling genuinely sorry for someone is much harder than you think.]

One late afternoon, when Mom had burned a letter sent by Marquis Diarmuid along with some supplies, she said those words while brushing my hair.

Humming a tune as she brushed my curls, Mom’s face suddenly grew somber.

Through the mirror, I saw her lower her gaze and mutter to herself.

[There are people who go their whole lives without ever feeling sorry for anyone.]

She was probably talking about Marquis Diarmuid.

I didn’t know what was written in that letter, but I could guess, so I didn’t say anything.

After all, whatever the Marquis had to say, it was either nonsense or more nonsense.

In any case, the point was that Benjamin was now humbling himself and sincerely apologizing to me.

Feeling slightly deflated, I let out a faint sigh and replied.

“I’ll accept your apology. What you said wasn’t entirely wrong, after all.”

But that didn’t mean Benjamin’s actions were justified.

I fixed my gaze on him and added firmly,

“But don’t ever try to intimidate someone with force just because you’re angry. That’s a really bad thing to do.”

“…Okay.”

Benjamin lowered his head and answered.

Seeing him like that, I felt a strange sense of emptiness grow stronger.

‘Well, I guess he’s had his own struggles here too.’

No matter how much this place claimed to take in children with nowhere else to go, it was still just an orphanage.

It couldn’t be a permanent haven for anyone.

“And someone’s coming to get me soon. I’m only here for a short while to avoid someone.”

“Oh…”

“So don’t worry about me. But you have to keep it a secret from everyone else.”

“Okay, I will.”

Benjamin nodded vigorously, looking more relieved than before.

“And come here for a second.”

“Huh?”

“Just come here.”

When I waved him over, Benjamin tilted his head in confusion.

When I glared at him, urging him, he hesitantly approached, still looking wary.

“…This close?”

“Closer.”

“Then, this much…”

“Geez, you’re so timid.”

“Who’s timid?!”

Benjamin shouted, his face turning red.

I couldn’t help but wonder how someone so proud had managed to apologize.

In any case, I coaxed him closer, like trying to lure a cautious wild bird.

Sure, I could’ve gone to him instead, but…

Since I was the one being apologized to, it felt oddly like a loss of pride to do so.

Still, since he came over, I decided to let it go.

Rustle—

I sighed, reached into my pocket, and pulled something out to hand to him.

“Here, take this.”

“What is it?”

“I wasn’t going to give it to you, but since you apologized, you can have it. It’s chocolate.”

I’d originally planned to give it to him in a better mood, but who could’ve predicted things would turn out like this?

Despite all the twists and turns, the chocolate I had brought ended up in Benjamin’s hands.

Feeling pleased that I had achieved my goal, I smiled.

“My first impression probably wasn’t great, but let’s get along while I’m here. My real name is Laviela. Can I call you Benjamin?”

For a moment, Benjamin’s face went blank.

He stared at me, looking dazed, for so long that I tilted my head in confusion.

“Y-yeah. Call me whatever you want.”

Benjamin finally stammered, avoiding my gaze.

Was it the sunlight? His ears looked a little red. Well, it was probably just my imagination.

“By the way, earlier, I heard the kids calling you Benji.”

“They can call me whatever they want. Benji’s just a nickname. By the way, is your hand okay?”

“It really hurts. Feels like it could fall off any second.”

“What?!”

“Just kidding.”

I shrugged, and Benjamin shook his head in exasperation.

“…Don’t joke like that if you’re going to keep such a straight face. I almost had a heart attack.”

“What kind of face was I making?”

“Anyway, your wound… can I take a look at it?”

“…? Sure.”

But Lucian had wrapped the bandage so thoroughly that I doubted he’d see anything.

Feeling a bit puzzled, I held out my hand to Benjamin.

His face instantly turned serious.

He gently held my hand with both of his, as if handling something fragile.

It was like he was examining a delicate glass ornament that could shatter with the slightest pressure.

“…It must’ve hurt a lot.”

Benjamin murmured softly and let out a small sigh.

The warmth of his breath brushing over the bandage felt oddly unsettling.

Just as I was thinking it might be time to pull my hand away, Benjamin suddenly lowered his head and pressed his lips to the bandaged back of my hand.