episode_0119

“Julie’s Adoption?”

The child who was moving firewood became interested.

“What? Julie is being adopted? To whom?”

The child who brought the tongs also gave in.

As the two people talked, children passing by also started to chatter with their eyes sparkling.

“I think the princess is taking you?”

“Huh? So now it’s Julie Bertain?”

“Where is Bertine?”

“The 5th Duke of the Empire. It’s the Princess’s family, you idiot.”

“You might not know… So now you are Princess Julie Bertain?”

“I’m jealous. Julie is a princess… .”

Like a drop of ink in water.

Julie’s comment, “Are you going to be a mother?” caused a huge stir in the orphanage.

“Congratulations, Julie!”

“Uh, yeah?”

“You can’t forget us when you become a princess!”

The children applauded as if Julie’s adoption was already confirmed.

“What is this?”

At that point, Anne, who had been working hard to carry the table, had no choice but to approach.

“Are you really trying to take Julie away… .”

The orphanage director, Craton, is also there.

“Oh, that’s… .”

Elin just blinked at the situation that unfolded in an instant.

I explained the situation step by step.

After hearing the entire explanation, Anne and Craton sighed.

“What, that was it? Julie could have misunderstood.”

“I was a little taken aback because I had never sent an adoption to a peacock before.”

Craton wiped the sweat that was running down his forehead.

Neither the duke nor the count ever adopted an orphan.

Even if I do, I will hide it thoroughly.

Even Craton was taken aback.

“Ugh, umm… I’m sorry. I spoke nonsense… … .”

Julie looked sullen.

Because I caused a fuss for no reason, I didn’t know what to do and just trembled.

“No. I said it confusingly.”

Ellen stroked Julie’s head.

Is it because it reminds me of Elin when I was young?

Even though it’s our first meeting, I feel affection for him.

“I guess I wasn’t going to be adopted.”

“Then that’s right. There’s no way the nobles would take us… .”

The children who were happy about being adopted by an orphanage family as if it were their own business were left in despair.

Oh, is this because of me?

Elin, who felt uncomfortable for no reason, looked at Luke.

“Teacher.”

“Even if you ask me to handle this situation, I don’t have the ability to do so.”

“That’s not it.”

Elin with a puffy face.

I glared at Luke, who was judging without even listening.

“I just wanted to ask you something.”

“What do you mean?”

Luke was overcome with anxiety.

It’s not that Elin asked right away, but it’s because she didn’t have any particularly good memories of when she first brought up luck.

“If there is something you are responsible for, will you take full responsibility for it?”

“Isn’t that right?”

“Yeah. I’m going to do that too.”

“But why is that… … No, even your majesty?”

Luke’s eyebrows furrowed in the middle.

Naturally, everyone’s gaze turned to Julie.

While shaking like a scared hamster.

I was entrusting my head to Ellen’s gentle hands.

“Your Highness. I’ll tell you in advance, Julie is five years younger than you.”

“I know that too. Why?”

“If you are thinking of adopting… .”

“That can’t be true.”

I guess so.

No matter what, there’s no way Elin would bring a child she’s seeing for the first time.

It seems like it was leaning.

“You can’t bring her in as a new maid.”

“Do I look like a child abuser?”

Elin’s stupid hairs became sharp.

Well, I was really abused growing up as a child.

This time Luke made a mistake.

“I’m sorry. I made a mistake.”

“Huh.”

Ellin let out a ‘huh’ sound as if she was upset.

Exactly.

I opened my inventory by snapping my fingers.

He rummages around inside and takes out a bundle of documents.

“What is that?”

“I’m looking at this month’s family budget.”

“Why all of a sudden…?”

“How much would it cost to buy an entire orphanage? ”

A flat tone, as if he had just gone to a bar in front of the house.

Because the content was not flat at all.

Luke too.

Ando.

Craton too.

And the kids, including Julie.

Everyone froze.

Flap, flap.

In the bustling yard, all that can be heard is the sound of papers being turned over.

Elin realized belatedly that she was the only one making noise.

I raised my head.

“Why is everyone like that?”

“Why… … is that so?”

Anne was the first to speak.

“What are you saying now? You’re buying the whole orphanage?”

“Yeah.”

“… Why?”

It was a thought that no one, including Anne, could understand.

It is an orphanage already operated under the religious order.

If you sponsored it, then why buy it?

“You have to go through the church once. It would be easier to apply if you brought them under Bertain.”

“… … ”

“You can think of it as running a small boarding school.”

Elin tapped her lips with her finger.

He closed the inventory again as if the estimate had been given.

“To put it simply, that’s it.”

His gaze turned to Julie, who had even forgotten to blink.

“She becomes everyone’s mother.”

* * * * *

Of course, that’s to be expected.

There is probably no group of children that mothers would rather have than an orphanage.

“There are many children who want to study. We need to bring in teachers from outside, build a few more buildings, and increase operating expenses significantly. We also need to give them a little bit of allowance every month… … .”

It is a radical declaration that is no different from salvation, blessing, or the descent of God.

“Wow, wooo!!”

“The princess is my mother…?”

“Not you, but our mother!”

The little children were thrilled by Ellen’s words that she would become a mother to all of them.

“External teacher…? This is a real boarding school, right?”

“Wow, ordinary orphans like us can go to school.”

“I thought only great people like my sister Anne could do it… .”

The children, who had grown up to a certain extent, looked at Elin with respectful eyes.

“It’s a hasty decision.”

“Luke is right. Why are we suddenly going to the orphanage… .”

“I think this might be something that needs to be discussed with the Bertain family… .”

Naturally, Luke, Anne, and Kraton tried to stop him.

“If you’re not careful, it might seem like you’re ignoring the Bertain Church.”

Luke expressed his concern.

It seems strange that the church would hand over the orphanage to Bertain, no matter how much money was given.

Wouldn’t they be seen as a worldly group that would sell orphanages to nobles if they could make money?

Even if that were true, it wouldn’t be possible to show it to the public.

The authority of the church to take ownership… … .

“You can just contact the saintess.”

“… … Yes?”

“Can’t you just get permission from the saint?”

There is no religious order that would dare to ignore the words of the saint and refuse to give up the orphanage.

As the next head of the Bertain family, Elin has had several conversations with Aurora.

You might actually get to take over the orphanage through some sort of deal with Aurora.

“Teacher, if you could extend the rental period just a little bit… .”

“Your Majesty?”

“Don’t worry, teacher. I’ll always be by your side.”

I don’t think that’s the problem.

First of all, I told you not to contact Aurora.

Anne was one step faster.

“Princess. I can’t be indebted to you any longer.”

“I do it because I like it.”

“No matter what… If you do this, how can I ever repay your kindness?”

“You can be my exclusive maid for the rest of your life.”

“That’s a given!”

“Et.”

Well, that was to be expected.

Ellen blinked.

“Then think of it as employee welfare.”

“Oh my… Your Majesty. Where on earth do you get welfare to this extent?”

Even those who have been loyal to the royal family their entire lives would not be granted this kind of help.

Anne, feeling very burdened, looked around at the children.

“You guys, I always told you. People should pay back what they receive. Do you think you can do it? If you receive this much from the princess, do you think you can pay it all back later?”

“Um… .”

“No… .”

The excited children suddenly calmed down.

Anne always stressed to her children not to live shamelessly.

The reason was that if an orphan were to receive it, they would be treated poorly for the rest of their lives.

“Everyone can work at Bertain.”

“What about the employees who are working now?”

“Um… .”

Here, even Elin couldn’t provide a solution.

Even if you try to use them later, Bertain already has too many servants.

“That’s right, Your Highness. You don’t have to go that far.”

Julie, who had been being stroked silently, grabbed Ellen’s hand tightly.

“… I was everyone’s mother. Thank you for being my mother.”

“I lost my mother twice.”

“Yeah. Parents are too much for us… .”

“No. Hey, if you say that, what do I become?”

Anne is embarrassed by the sight of the group digging the ground.

“Okay, just give up.”

Elin let out a small sigh.

He got up from his seat, waving his hands.

Because that appearance is extremely unnatural.

Luke also got up and followed suit.

“Where are you going?”

“Why?”

“You look a bit uneasy.”

“Are you trying to follow?”

“Yes.”

“Going to the bathroom.”

Luke sat down on the road.

Of course, I had no intention of following him to the bathroom.

How many times do I have to be a weirdo today?

I guess I should just do nothing.

“Where is the bathroom?”

“We will guide you right away.”

Craton exhaled the breath he had been holding.

I took Elin into the building.

A little later.

“Let’s finish preparing… .”

“Yeah, it’s meat party day.”

The children who had been fascinated by the dreamlike story that Ellen told accepted reality.

Isn’t it possible that there will be a future where we overcome class barriers and all come together to study?

They were trying to comfort each other, saying that even just imagining it was fun.

“Excuse me, is that really okay?”

“I have this much authority.”

“That… I think you decided to give up earlier.”

“Because it’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.”

“I wish the children’s situation would get better, but… … .”

Elin holding a bunch of documents.

Next to him, Kraton returned to the yard, bowing.

Luke sensed something was wrong and ran over immediately.

“What’s going on?”

“Ah, that’s… … .”

When Kraton hesitated to answer.

Ellen didn’t say anything.

Palak.

“Bought it. Orphanage.”

“… … Your Majesty.”

“I already bought it. I told the saintess. I can’t get a refund now.”

“Haa… … .”

Luke pressed his throbbing temples.

Is this because they all resemble Luke?

As time goes by, I become more and more unwilling to listen to you.

If you think you’re right, you do it secretly.

The real problem is that no matter how much Anne and Luke object,

The final decision-making authority lies with Elin, the superior.

It’s like someone who pretends to go to the bathroom while drinking and then pays the bill.

Elin secretly bought an orphanage.