Chapter 5 – Part 7

‘But things are different now.’

Eliana’s steps were light as she walked. She almost felt like humming a tune.

She arrived at the street lined with outdoor cafés. Nobles dressed in lavish outfits immediately caught her eye. They were the main attraction wherever they went, drawing attention whether they wanted it. Then, a man’s shout pierced the air.

“Hey! Move out of the way! You’re in the way!”

The man swung his arm violently as if shooing away an insect. The force of the motion knocked a poorly dressed boy, who had been begging, off his feet. The boy stumbled, and the well-dressed man shouted again and shoved him, feeling the boy hadn’t moved quickly enough.

“Ugh.”

The boy fell to the ground, banging his knee hard. He bit his lip but dared not silently stand up to the noble, enduring the mistreatment. Anger surged within Eliana as she witnessed the senseless bullying, mainly because…

‘He looks familiar.’

Eliana studied the boy’s face closely. Curly brown hair, black eyes… she definitely knew him.

“Hey, you!”

Eliana called out loudly as she strode over to them.

“My lady!“ Mila hurried after her, alarmed by Eliana’s sudden action.

“Are you calling me?”

The man looked back.

“Why did you knock down an innocent child and just walk away? You should at least apologize.”

Eliana confronted the man.

“What?”

The nobleman with a mustache glanced between the boy lying on the ground and Eliana’s face. Their appearances alone suggested they had nothing to do with each other.

“You’re the daughter of Count Leiberte, aren’t you?”

The man muttered to himself.

‘The one who was reportedly so insolent that she got her engagement to Crown Prince Cedric called off…’

The man recalled the rumor and let out a snort of disbelief.

“Why are you laughing? Apologize.“

“Why should I care if I knock down some beggar? Just go on your way.”

“But it does matter to me. I know this child.“

“You know this child?“

“Yes.”

Eliana nodded.

“How could someone like you, a noble, know a beggar like that? You must be taking out your anger after your broken engagement. If you don’t want more rumors to spread, mind your business and leave.“

“This boy is from the Ayla Orphanage, under the protection of the Temple. His name is Tim Hobrune.”

“…!”

The man flinched for a moment.

‘The Ayla Orphanage, isn’t that affiliated with the Temple?’

It was run by a priestess from the Temple. The man was currently trying to establish connections with the Temple.

‘If he’s not just some random beggar, this could cause trouble later.’

The boy was just as surprised by Eliana’s words. He was seeing her for the first time today.

‘How does she know me?’

At the same time, he felt grateful that she was standing up for him and demanding an apology from the man.

“Is that true?”

The man asked the boy, who was bleeding from his knee. The boy usually hid the fact that he lived at the orphanage while begging. He had his reasons for doing so. But now, worried that the noblewoman who stood up for him might get into trouble, he nodded.

“Yes…“

“Apologize. You should be ashamed of treating a child like this.“

‘Who’s the one who should really be ashamed? The whole world criticizes her, and she’s wasting time worrying about a beggar?’

The man scoffed inwardly, but he reluctantly muttered, thinking she might be acting irrationally due to the pain of her broken engagement.

“Sorry. Is that good enough?”

With that, the man dusted off his clothes and walked away.

“What a strange woman.“

“…Are you okay?”

Eliana ignored the man’s words and bent before the fallen child.

“You’re bleeding a lot.”

Eliana took a silk handkerchief from Mila and offered it to him.

“How could I possibly use something so expensive…?”

The boy shook his head, recognizing the luxurious handkerchief at a glance. He was used to wiping away blood with his hands. That’s how he’d always done it. But Eliana gently placed the handkerchief over the boy’s scraped knee herself.

“Actually… I don’t live at the orphanage, My Lady. I said that earlier because I didn’t want to cause you trouble…”

The boy was lying. Eliana already knew why. Begging was forbidden for those living at the orphanage. Ayla, the head of the orphanage and a former priestess, had banned it to protect the children from mistreatment outside.

But there were children like Tim who secretly begged, driven by the desire to help support the struggling orphanage. Even in the years that followed, Tim would always run around trying to assist the orphanage.

‘No one had to ask him to do it. He’s just that kind-hearted, but it’s to his detriment.’

The words Ayla had once said to her, back when she was Empress, came vividly to her mind.

“You don’t have to lie. I’m not going to scold you. I just recognized you and wanted to say hello.“

“How do you know me?”

Tim asked, seemingly giving up on making further excuses.

“I saw you once when I visited the orphanage.”

Eliana replied briefly.

“I’m actually on my way to meet with Headmistress Ayla. Why don’t you come with me?“

“… You’re going to the orphanage?“

“I won’t ask why you were in town.”

She had planned this visit since she set out. After selling the imperial jewels, she intended to donate all the money except for what she needed for the information guild. She had already chosen where the donation would go. Back when she was Empress, she had learned which places were operated with integrity.

Eliana escorted Tim back to the orphanage. It was as rundown as she remembered.

“I came by today to make a donation, Headmistress.”

When Eliana expressed her intentions to Headmistress Ayla, she was both grateful and astonished.

“Thank you so much, Lady Leiberte. But I must say, I’m shocked.”

Ayla was surprised for two reasons: first, because of the size of the donation, and second, because Eliana was so well-informed about the orphanage’s situation. The Leiberte family had never made a personal visit to the orphanage before, which made it all the more unexpected.

“Thank you, my lady. You must have many other concerns.“

“You don’t need to say that. I came because I wanted to. Please use it for the children.”

With that, Eliana stood up. Tim was standing by the door as she stepped out of the headmistress’s office.

“See you again, Tim.”

Eliana smiled as she walked away. Tim couldn’t take his eyes off her as she moved, her presence strikingly out of place against the shabby backdrop of the orphanage. To Tim, she appeared confident and breathtakingly beautiful.

Eliana’s next stop after the orphanage was a charitable hospital.

“Please use this money to ensure an adequate supply of essential medicines. It would be disastrous to be without them in an emergency.”

Eliana handed over a large sum of money. She had spent the day freely giving away the money she had raised from selling the valuables she received from the palace. It was far more valuable than keeping them as jewels.

“Before we head home, let’s take a break. You’ve all worked hard, so you must be tired.”

Eliana ordered delicious desserts for Mila and Russell, who had accompanied her all day. True to his large frame, Russell quickly devoured the food. Just watching him eat made Eliana feel content.

“The aroma is lovely.”

As she sipped her tea, the air was suddenly filled with the cheerful laughter of young noblewomen.

“Oh my, who do we have here? It’s Eliana!”

~Continue to Volume 2~

TL NOTE: A more advanced chapter of this story is already up on the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories.