Chapter 11 Part 2

Yet, at the same time, I couldn’t stop the laughter bubbling up from deep within me. The vulgar satisfaction Daisy Queenie must have felt when handing this over as payment made me sick, but now that it was back in my hands, I could let that slide. She would never have imagined this outcome—that this gift carried a meaning she didn’t understand, and that it would eventually tighten the noose around her own neck.”

“Garnet, have Dorothy arrested.”

“Yes!”

“She’ll need to be locked in the underground prison… Ah, my mother will take care of it once I inform her.”

Garnet nodded with a resolute expression. I held two pairs of earrings in my hands—identical in color but subtly different in their craftsmanship.

Years ago, when I saved a failing jewelry business, my idea had been to create a bouquet of gemstones. Using gold to craft the stems and calyxes, we embedded intricately cut gemstones into the flower-shaped settings. It was a time-intensive process to make even one bouquet.

This was partly because a single bouquet required a significant number of gemstones, which made the cutting process lengthy. Additionally, the calyx and gemstone had to be worked on simultaneously to ensure the gem’s cut wasn’t damaged during assembly.

What had started as a playful suggestion—to distribute the gemstones among customers and later host a commemorative party to assemble the bouquet—had turned into a real endeavor. The bouquet became a spectacle for the party attendees, satisfying their expectations while also showcasing the Knight trading company’s flagship product.

Surprisingly, the idea garnered overwhelming support, and my father, the final decision-maker, even personally arranged for the jewelers to make it happen.

“Also, let my father know I have something to discuss with him. Joining him for lunch today would be ideal.”

It seemed I needed to revise a portion of my plans. An opportunity to strike back at Daisy Queenie had presented itself, and I intended to seize it fully.”

“Is everything ready, Garnet?”

“Yes, but unfortunately, we’ll have to save the milk for next time. The daytime market has closed, so I couldn’t get any more.”

It was already 5 p.m. It was too late to gather everything I wanted from the market. It was disappointing, but if we delayed any longer, we wouldn’t make it on time.

“Even if we leave now, we’ll arrive just in time for dinner. Let’s let it go for now.”

“Understood! At least we didn’t leave completely empty-handed.”

The carriage, loaded with supplies, began its journey toward Tornado. Garnet and I sat facing each other, gazing out at the passing scenery. The view, moving by at a slow and peaceful pace, stood in stark contrast to the turmoil within me.

Ten was scheduled to visit Tornado tomorrow. It was the only day his schedule allowed for it. Originally, I would have accompanied him, but… I had drawn a line between us just last week. After refusing him so decisively, there was no way I could muster the courage to face him again. Truthfully, if not for my father’s request, I wouldn’t have gone today either.

“The sun’s setting. It’ll be dark soon.”

“…You’re right. It’s a good thing we brought the knights as escorts. It would be dangerous to travel in the dark.”

Though we chatted casually, my mind was preoccupied with other thoughts. The guilt that had weighed heavily on me over the past few days only grew stronger as we neared Tornado. I adjusted the hem of my lightly dressed gown and forced a smile onto my face.

“Welcome, my lady.”

The first to greet me as I stepped off the carriage was Layla. Her graceful face, betraying little sign of having raised a grown son like Ten, was lit with warmth and delight. As soon as I descended, I reached out to clasp her hands.

“It’s cold at night; how long have you been waiting out here? Your hands are freezing.”

“I was worried you might lose your way. The older I get, the more I find myself fretting over everything.”

Her kind smile radiates warmth. Together, we laughed softly and began to carry the supplies inside. Our shadows stretched long across the courtyard, painted by the light of the setting sun.

Scattered around the yard were toys left behind by the children at play. My gaze wandered fondly over the courtyard and the sandbox tucked neatly to one side. Layla, noticing where my attention had drifted, spoke with a chuckle in her voice.

“The children have been practicing building sandcastles lately. They seem to have so much fun they lose all track of time.”

A surge of pride bubbled up within me. It felt like a small victory to see the joy the sandbox brought to the children. Transporting that fine sand all the way from the coastal city to here, at the cost of hundreds of gold, suddenly felt entirely worth it.

The sandbox was a relatively recent addition. The children often came back injured from playing on the mountain every day, so the playground had been created as a solution. To be precise, it had started as just ‘a space to play in the yard,’ as Tora suggested, and I had developed it into a full playground.

Based on my own memories, I had only managed to recreate simple equipment like seesaws, monkey bars, and swings, but the fine white sand from the beach had made the space look far more impressive.

“If there’s anything else you need, don’t hesitate to let me know, Layla.”

“I’d like to say everything’s already perfect, but the children grow so fast that I can’t make any guarantees.”

Layla’s face was filled with affection as she looked at Tornado. In the beginning, she had found it difficult to interact with me, but now she often made these kinds of lighthearted jokes. Time had built a strong foundation of trust between us.

They had come to understand that my decision to establish the orphanage wasn’t merely a whim, and I, in turn, deeply respected the care they put into looking after the children. It was why I never addressed them informally; maintaining a relationship of sponsorship rather than that of employer and employee felt like the right way to honor them.

“Ro, big sis! You’re here!”

“It’s not you’re here! It’s you’ve arrived! Eryr, you’re so dumb!”

“Sheesh, it’s not like everyone knows that. Tera, you’re mean!”

Eryr and Tera began bickering again, their small figures bouncing with energy. Finding their antics adorable, I patted both of their heads. Children truly are a source of joy.

Tornado currently housed seven children. The eldest was twelve-year-old Vero, followed by Tera, who was eleven. Ten-year-old Eryr and Laen were the same age, while Laen’s younger brother, Daien, was eight, as was Fraze. The youngest, Sion, was six. Over the past year, since the orphanage began operating properly, six of the seven children—excluding Vero—had joined Tornado.

Vero, who had been at Tornado since birth, naturally took on the role of older sister to the group. It was Vero who broke down the walls of the more guarded children and introduced them to Tornado as their home. Perhaps because of this, the younger children were always by her side. Bella had once confided in me that the children dreaded the times when Vero had to leave to study.

Tera, Eryr, Fraze, and Sion had been found begging in the market by Garnet and Mari, who brought them to Tornado. At first, their mistrust of adults was so intense that everyone at Tornado had to tread carefully, almost holding their breath, to avoid frightening them. We were all so wary of saying or doing anything that might drive them back to the streets.

During that time, Garnet and I also stayed at Tornado, dedicating ourselves to soothing the children. It wasn’t until a week later that they finally reached out their hands to us. The joy and emotion I felt in that moment remain unforgettable. Mari, Tora, and Garnet, with their soft hearts, couldn’t hold back their tears, and as I watched them, I struggled to keep my own tears at bay. That, of course, is a secret only I know.

“The last ones to arrive at Tornado, the sisters Laen and Daien, had a different story compared to the other children. The two had been caught by a human trafficking ring in a foreign country and brought into Rohan, where they were nearly sold as Clovers. Bella managed to rescue them, and they ended up here. That was about six months ago, wasn’t it? Perhaps because they had each other as family, the sisters adapted far more quickly than expected. It was truly fortunate.

“Ah, Ro, big sis!”

“Vero, it’s been a while.”

“When did you get here? Was I late because of my studies?”

Vero, just finished with her lessons, came dashing over and threw herself into my arms. Her bright, cheerful face was as endearing as always. Her chubby, rosy cheeks glowed softly. Unable to resist, I gently poked her plump cheek with my finger.

“Welcome, Lady Knight.”

“Did you have a lot to carry? We didn’t realize and failed to greet you properly.”

Bella and the knights, who had been chatting in the kitchen, approached us. My load wasn’t particularly heavy, so I assured them it wasn’t an issue. But before I could stop them, the knights had already lightened my burden, taking the bags from my hands.

“We’ll fetch the rest of the items. You must be tired from your journey, so please rest.”

“I’ll help you, sirs. There are a lot of small items this time, so it might be a bit tedious for you.”

“Not at all, my lady. If we can’t handle tasks like this properly, the captain will surely reprimand us. Please, rest easy. The two of us can manage just fine.”