“I’m fine with that.”

“I’ll go along too.”

“Sounds good.”

Everyone except Damian answered quickly. Damian heaved a deep sigh and then agreed, letting Limpe take the lead.

The place we arrived at was an unexpected location.

“Big brother!”

“Sister!”

The place we arrived at following Limpe was an orphanage in the slums. He was a man full of surprises.

As soon as we entered, children clung to our legs.

“Children, you shouldn’t cling like that.”

A woman who looked like the children’s caretaker gently admonished them.

“…This will indeed be a joyful memory.”

“Ugh. Work again!”

Damian barely managed to squeeze out some words, while Dawson cried out.

“Pretty big sister!”

As I was trying to detach a cute child from my skirt, Limpe laughed and urged us to come in quickly.

When I narrowed my eyes at him, he said things like, “Haha. It’s a joyous thing to do meaningful work with friends.”

Sion picked up the child clinging to my skirt and held them in his arms as I struggled.

“Mister, I want that necklace.”

“Ah.”

The child reached out their small, chubby hand towards Sion’s slave necklace, tugging at it.

Sion looked troubled, his hand twitching.

“Sion, hand them over to me.”

“Yes.”

Seeing this, I stretched out my arms to him, and Sion obediently handed the child over.

And so, except for Sion, we each carried a child and entered the building.

“The interior is remarkably clean. There’s even a playground.”

Demian quietly exclaimed.

Unlike the shabby exterior, the inside was clean, and the children’s beds and furniture all looked as if they had been purchased recently.

“It’s all thanks to Mr. Limpe’s support. We started in a shack at first, but because he visits so often and sponsors us, the children are living comfortably. Now, please come this way and play with the children.”

The lady finished her explanation and went into the kitchen to prepare the meal, and we all gave Limpe a surprised look.

“Hahaha. Why are you all looking at me like that? Oof. Here, go play up there.”

Limpe put down the child he was holding, and the child bowed politely and scurried off to where his friends were. It was an adorable sight.

“It’s unexpected. I never thought Limpe would do such a good deed.”

“Indeed. I had no idea Viscount Delman possessed such a compassionate side.”

Limpe grinned at our compliments.

“These children have been my source of strength. I’m delighted to share this moment with friends I can truly be myself around.”

“Big sister, are you a princess?”

“I’m happy you think so. But no, while this sister might be pretty, I’m not a princess. Now, let’s get you down as well.”

As I set the child down, they tugged at my arm—no, at all of us—insisting we play tag together. Swept up in their enthusiasm, we embraced our inner children and joined the game.

“Oh? Uncle Dawson! Hurry up!”

“……Uncle?”

“Quick! You’re about to be caught!”

“Eek…… Waaah, this is too much…… Waaah!”

“Excuse me.”

“Waaah!”

“……Sigh.”

The game of tag proved chaotic for the out-of-practice adults. Dawson struggled on one side, while Sion flailed about on the other.

“What on earth are they doing?”

“Demian, perhaps you should focus on freeing yourself from the children before critiquing others?”

Demian himself was no better off, with five children clinging to his arms and legs.

“You’re hardly one to talk, miss…”

“Hmm.”

My own dress was in shambles from the children’s enthusiastic grasping.

The only person in a decent state here was the experienced Limpe.

“……Hahaha.”

“Pfft-“

“Well, it’s not so bad.”

After a brief pause, we caught sight of each other’s disheveled states and burst into uncontrollable laughter.

How strange that such an exhausting activity could bring about such joy.

As Demian and I laughed, the children approached us with tilted heads. We all ran away, pretending to be distracted, without anyone taking the lead.

Just as the children were about to catch us, the lady who had been cooking emerged from the kitchen.

“It’s mealtime now, oh my! What’s going on here? I suppose the children are excited since it’s been a while since we had visitors. Children! Didn’t I tell you not to cling to people like that?”

Startled by our disheveled state, she approached to admonish the children, her tone deliberately stern.

“Aww……”

“It’s alright. They’re just being kids. Now then, it’s time to eat. Shall we all go have dinner?”

“Yes!”

We could only leave after ensuring the children were well-fed and settled.

Amid choruses of “Bye, big sister!” and “Come back soon, big brother!”, we stepped outside to find night had already fallen.

Though our bodies were weary and our clothes worse for wear, our hearts were inexplicably warmed by the experience.

“Thank you, Limpe. It was really meaningful. So much so that I want to come again.”

“I’m the one who should be thankful, Lora. Thanks to you, my thoughts have become clearer.”

“I don’t know what you’re thinking about, but I hope it leads to a good decision.”

It’s probably about his family.

I didn’t ask further and just smiled, and he too smiled back at me, his eyes crinkling.

“I enjoyed it too.”

“The children were cute.”

Dawson and Demian, now seeing Limpe differently from before, greeted him first. Limpe smiled and reciprocated.

“I’ll write to you.”

“I’ll write too.”

And so we parted ways with smiles.

It felt real that the day of departure was fast approaching.

***

After meeting Limpe and returning, I started preparing in earnest for my departure.

It was now fully winter in December, with less than a week left until the new year.

“Can you assign a few more maids to me? I think I should start packing soon.”

“Understood. I’ll send up three more.”

Demian’s voice trembled at the mention of preparations to leave, but I didn’t say anything.

Words of comfort from someone who’s leaving would only feel hypocritical.

“Thank you. Oh, Demian. Where’s the nearest place to send letters from here?”

Instead, I posed another necessary question.

“Well, there’s a merchant association in the bustling area. However, having someone from the Count’s household send it would be the quickest option.”

“I need to go and send it myself. It’s confidential.”

Demian froze at my response, halting his actions.

“I wonder what you’re scheming this time……”

“It’s something like that. Knowing might put you at risk. Will you tell me the location?”

“No. I’m already swamped with end-of-year tasks. Extremely busy.”

“Oh? Has your affection waned so quickly?”

“Of course not. Anyway, I’ll send the maids to your room to help with packing.”

“Huh?”

Demian hastily retreated, visibly shaken as if avoiding involvement, and I watched his departing figure with a mix of amusement and disapproval.