✯ Chapter 7 ✯
“An impurity among clean things. I hated being dirty even before I understood what those words meant.”
Hannah quietly held her breath and listened to Ian’s story.
“I wanted to become clean. I kept washing myself over and over because I didn’t want to be dirty. But eventually, I realized the dirt they talked about wasn’t on my hands, feet, or face.”
Ian was the abandoned child of the Imperial Family. Born from the womb of a lowly courtesan, he was considered the shame of the Imperial Palace.
He definitely existed, yet it was as if he didn’t.
He was the ghost of the Imperial Palace.
That was who Ian was.
“Sometimes I thought… if I drained all the blood from my body, would they finally call me clean?”
“Ian…”
“I know. I know it’s useless. But even after realizing that, this obsession never went away.”
For the first time, Ian was telling someone the story he had never shared with anyone before.
Hannah slowly raised her hand to comfort him, but then stopped.
Would her touch really be enough to comfort him?
“Actually… I don’t hate you, Teacher.”
“…I know.”
I know you like me very much too.
“I hope… you won’t hate me.”
“I don’t.”
“Even if I’m dirty… I hope you still won’t hate me.”
“You’re not dirty, Ian.”
Hannah gently placed her hand on top of Ian’s pure white glove.
“You’ll never be dirty. And you’ll never be someone I hate.”
Hannah looked straight into Ian’s eyes with complete sincerity.
“You’re the most precious person in the world.”
It was a cruel thing for anyone to be unable to love themselves.
“Teacher will make sure you believe that.”
More precious than anyone.
More cherished than anyone.
Ian lowered his head, and shining tears fell onto the floor.
Hannah bit her lip to hold back her own tears.
How could such a gentle and wounded soul become a villain?
“All of us love you.”
The porridge had already gone cold, yet Ian still couldn’t lift his head.
Even when Hannah’s hand rested gently on his trembling shoulder…
Ian no longer stiffened at her touch.
✯✯ Chapter 2 ✯✯
Hannah’s cold had not completely gone away, so she was still lying in bed today.
You could call it a few days of sick leave.
“Hmm hmm~”
While reading a child-rearing book from this world, she placed thin slices of cucumber on her face one by one.
After having a fever, her skin had become noticeably dry.
The cucumbers from the orphanage’s vegetable garden were full of moisture and stuck to her face surprisingly well.
Turning over on the bed, Hannah focused on the book.
“Hmm. So children might act badly on purpose because they want attention.”
She carefully underlined the helpful parts and studied with great interest.
Knock. Knock.
As soon as she heard the knock, Hannah quickly hid the book under the blanket and lay down properly.
She pulled the blanket up to her chest before speaking.
“Come in.”
She deliberately spoke with a weak voice.
The children would never knock like that.
They would burst through the door first and only then shout,
“Teacher! We’re here!”
By that time, they would already be running all over the room.
“I heard you caught a cold.”
“Priest Chaison?”
It was Chaison.
His face clearly said,
“I gave you support so the children wouldn’t get sick, and instead you’re the one lying here with a cold?”
“Well… it’s only a mild cold. I’ll recover soon.”
“…I see.”
There was a bundle of medicinal herbs in Chaison’s hand.
“Could that… be medicine for me?”
“Yes. If you boil it properly and drink it, you’ll recover quickly.”
Chaison placed the bundle on the table.
Hannah couldn’t help disliking even such a small gesture.
“By the way… what’s on your face?”
Ah.
Only then did Hannah remember the cucumber slices that had become so comfortable she had forgotten they were there.
“Ah… um… it’s a home remedy for reducing the heat in my face.”
Chaison looked at her with complete disbelief.
Hannah felt wronged.
It really did cool her face.
And after taking them off, she could eat the cucumbers and stay hydrated.
It was killing two birds with one stone.
“Would you like some? I sliced plenty.”
Because her face was smaller than expected, she hadn’t needed many cucumbers.
Hannah held out the bowl containing the leftovers.
Chaison immediately took a step back.
In fact, even after entering her room, he had stayed near the door instead of coming closer to the table.
He’s extremely careful about his own health.
Hannah almost admired how thorough he was.
“No, thank you.”
His firm refusal made Hannah pout.
It’s not like I really wanted to share anyway.
“The Central Temple will be sending inspectors next week.”
“Inspectors?”
“They’ll be evaluating the facilities under their jurisdiction.”
In other words…
They wanted the orphanage cleaned up nicely and the children looking neat before the inspection.
“I understand.”
That wasn’t difficult.
As long as the children wore clean clothes, they naturally looked bright and lovely.
Lately, they had been eating nutritious food every day, making them healthier and more energetic.
“Then I hope you recover quickly.”
“Thank you.”
After Hannah’s lifeless reply, Chaison left the room.
Crunch.
She picked up a large slice of cucumber from the bowl and bit into it.
“I wonder what the priests from the Central Temple are like. Are they rotten people like everyone here?”
Honestly…
After meeting the priests at this temple, she didn’t have high expectations.
Birds of a feather flock together.
They were probably all the same.
“Hmm? Oh, lunch break is almost over.”
Feeling much better, Hannah jumped out of bed.
Since the children had been eating the temple’s meals while she was sick…
She wanted to at least prepare some snacks for them.
Just as expected…
The children were returning to the orphanage after lunch.
When Hannah waved from a distance, Masha was the first to notice her and ran over.
“Teacher! Are you all better?”
Masha looked so happy to see her that he quietly searched for another chance to hug her.
“Hmm… I’m almost better, but there might still be germs left, so don’t come too close.”
When Hannah stopped him, Masha puffed out his little cheeks.
“But what are you throwing away?”
While waiting for the children, Hannah had opened the medicine bundle and thrown it into the trash.
“Oh… it’s just… spoiled.”
The medicine Chaison had brought never reached Hannah’s mouth.
It went straight into the trash.
There was no way she was going to drink something given to her by that creepy priest.
Besides…
Who said medicine could cure a cold anyway?
Hannah popped another slice of cucumber into her mouth and waved at Ian and Jeremy.
“My adorable little ones seem to have gotten thinner while I was gone.”
Of course…
That wasn’t true at all.
“Didn’t you miss me?”
Actually, the children had been visiting her room every single day.
“No… I don’t think we should stay inside.”
“How about we all go out?”
“Outside?”
“Yes! Let’s go to the market. We’ve gone there together before.”
To be honest…
After lying in bed for several days, Hannah was feeling restless.
She was using the children as an excuse to satisfy her own desire to go outside.
“Sounds great!”
“Right?”
Masha happily bounced on his feet.
“Will you buy us something tasty? The honey bread they sell at the market is delicious.”
“Oh, of course I will.”
“I need a new pair of gloves.”
“But there are plenty of gloves in the storage room—”
“Teacher! Then I want a new doll too!”
As the children suddenly surrounded her with requests…
Hannah began wondering how much money she still had.
“Alright!”
“Today’s my recovery celebration!”
“Let’s buy everything!”
She proudly declared it.
The children beamed with huge smiles.
“Eight honey breads, please.”
“Why are you buying eight?”
“Wouldn’t one each be too little?”
As soon as they reached the market, Hannah led the children to a street stall selling honey bread.
The smell of freshly baked bread filled the air.
“Wow! They’re huge!”
The honey breads weren’t small at all.
Each one was about the size of the children’s faces, similar to a large hotteok.
“Be careful. They’re hot.”
“Ahhh! Hot!”
The moment Hannah warned the children…
The hot honey filling burst inside her own mouth first.
“Blow on it.”
“Blow.”
“Fuuu…”
Watching Hannah…
The children carefully cooled their honey bread with both hands.
If sacrificing myself can save the children’s mouths…
Then it’s worth it.
She wiped away the tiny tears in her eyes.
“So… where should we go first?”
“The doll shop! The doll shop!”
Masha’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
“Alright. Let’s go there first.”
The group happily walked toward the toy shop while eating their sweet honey bread.
As Hannah enjoyed hers…
She suddenly met the eyes of a man standing inside a dark, narrow alley where the sunlight barely reached.
What’s that?
Why is he staring at us?
She immediately lowered her gaze.
“Teacher.”
Jeremy called her while chewing his bread.
“Jeremy, keep your eyes down. Why don’t you look at the ground instead?”
She had noticed Jeremy looking toward the same man.
So she gently patted his head and encouraged him to keep looking down.
“Hey.”
“That man is calling us.”
Unfortunately…
Just as they were about to pass the alley, a rough voice stopped them.
Gulp.
Hannah slowly turned toward the alley.
“M-Me?”
“Yeah. You.”
If she had been alone…
She would have run away immediately.
There were two rough-looking men standing inside the alley.
One of them was calmly wiping a knife with a towel.
Oh my goodness… Dear Lord… Please help me…
But she couldn’t run away.
The children were with her.
“…Wait here, everyone.”
There wasn’t a single guard or patrol officer nearby.
Hardly anyone was even passing by.
“Okay!”
“Nom nom.”
“Teacher?”
Masha and Jeremy didn’t seem worried at all.
Ian quietly called out to her.
Hannah forced herself to smile calmly.
“Teacher is just going to have a talk with some adults.”
“If… if Teacher suddenly screams…”
“You see that building with the red roof over there?”
“The butcher shop?”
“Yes.”
“Run to that man.”
“He’s the strongest person around here.”
“…”
Ian looked at her as if she couldn’t possibly be serious.
“Well then…”
Trying her best to hide her fear…
Hannah slowly walked into the alley.
At the same time…
She silently counted how much money she still had in her pocket.
We only just bought the honey bread…!
