TCBVF 137

TCBVF

Posted by Thorne, Released on August 25, 2026

Chapter: 137

“Eh?”

I had spoken in such a tiny voice, but somehow the Duke had heard my grumbling.

Startled, I quickly waved my hands.

“It’s nothing.”

“Hmm, that doesn’t look like a ‘nothing’ expression to me.”

The Duke looked down at me with concern.

“Your eyebrows are drooping.”

“Ah…”

My face grew warm, and I fumbled with my words.

“T-That is… I mean…”

“Mean what?”

There was no way to escape the Duke’s persistent gaze.

Lowering my head, I finally whispered,

“…It just feels a little sad… parting like this.”

“…”

The Duke was silent for a moment.

Then—

“Only with words?”

His playful voice brushed against my ear.

“Uh…”

Flustered, I looked up at him.

In the faint glow of the gas lamps, his sea-blue eyes gazed at me—overflowing with affection.

It was the kind of gaze one might give the most precious being in the world.

It felt as if I had fallen deep into the ocean.

I couldn’t look away.

My chest pounded uncontrollably.

And then—

We’re lovers, aren’t we?

A nameless impulse surged up inside me.

So then…

Wouldn’t this much be okay?!

I shut my eyes tightly and rose on tiptoe.

The distance between us vanished in an instant.

And then—

Touch.

My lips brushed against his cheek.

Like a bird’s peck, it was a light kiss.

“…”

Silence followed.

I slowly opened my eyes.

The Duke was frozen in place, staring at me as if spellbound.

Not knowing how to take that silence, my eyes darted nervously.

‘W-What should I do?’

Still, he didn’t seem angry… or displeased.

“B-Because I felt sad parting with you, so I… that is…”

My babbling grew more awkward, and in the end, I chose escape.

“Ah, g-good night!”

Bang!

I shut the gate and slipped inside.

Amy stared at me with wide rabbit eyes.

“My lady?”

“It’s nothing… go on with your work.”

I waved her away quickly, then slumped to the floor.

“Haa…”

My heart pounded wildly.

‘Wow, I actually did something that bold?!’

I covered my face with both hands.

But the heat in my cheeks refused to fade.

Meanwhile—

Dietrich stood staring blankly at the closed gate.

The scene replayed in his mind again and again.

Touch.

Her small, warm lips brushing his cheek before retreating.

Her slender figure slipping from his arms like a little bird.

And those pink eyes glancing back shyly, unable to hide her embarrassment.

“Good night…?”

Dietrich repeated the words Laritte had left behind.

His long, elegant fingers brushed the spot on his cheek where her lips had touched.

Then—

“Haah, really…”

He let out a deep sigh.

How could she stir my heart like this… and then simply tell me good night?

His handsome face was already flushed red.

Chapter 10. Shallow but Fatal

And so the seasons passed—late spring arrived.

The Claudius Dukedom finally kept the promise they had declared.

They truly established a new childcare foundation.

Its name was “Children of Claudius.”

The slogan: “Caring for children’s present, offering opportunities for their future.”

That slogan had come from Laritte’s suggestion.

Instead of just feeding and clothing the children, what if we helped them through education so they could have real jobs?”

At that proposal, Dietrich’s eyes gleamed with interest.

“You mean to guide them toward careers?”

“Yes. Right now, it’s less about matching them with real work and more like sending them out carelessly.”

In this era, children were not fully protected as “children.” They were often treated more like small adults.

Not completely equal to grown-ups, but still expected to earn their keep.

The higher one’s social class, the weaker this notion was. The lower, the stronger.

Noble children were carefully protected and given rich, high-quality education.

But children of poor families were different.

As soon as they were old enough to understand adults’ words, they were pushed into workplaces.

If even families treated children that way, what about the countless orphans cared for in childcare homes?

Most orphanages didn’t even teach reading. They just provided basic survival until the children turned fifteen—then sent them out.

A few kind teachers kept them until adulthood, but such cases were rare.

Even the High Temple’s orphanages, considered the most humane, did the same.

So one could only imagine how poor the conditions were at the countless smaller ones.

“Children usually leave the orphanages around fifteen or sixteen, right?”

Laritte spoke carefully.

“So I was thinking, what if we raise the leaving age to eighteen—the Empire’s age of majority?”

“…It’s a compassionate idea, but we can’t ignore the budget problem.”

Dietrich’s reply was cautious.

And it was natural—no matter how capable he was, he couldn’t shoulder all the orphans alone.

Laritte, soon to be the next Baroness Ansie, understood his difficulty.

So she offered an alternative.

“That’s where vocational training comes in.”

“Vocational training?”

“Yes. From the moment they enter the orphanage, we provide various job training. That way, they can choose stable work suited to their talents.”

At her words, Dietrich’s blue eyes glimmered again—clear proof of interest.

Laritte’s voice grew more passionate.

“And when they reach fifteen or sixteen, the usual age for work, we can connect them in advance to jobs that match their skills. Even temporary contracts would be fine.”

In truth, with her memories of a past life, Laritte wanted to extend the protection period much longer. She firmly believed minors should be protected by adults.

But she couldn’t cling only to her past life.

Ideals and reality were always separated. Their job was to narrow that gap as best as possible.

From her past experience, she remembered that even fifteen-year-olds could work part-time with a guardian’s consent.

That’s why—

“From those contract jobs, part of their wages can be saved for resettlement funds, and part can cover their living costs in the orphanage.”

Dietrich mulled it over, then nodded.

“If that works, then keeping them in the orphanage two or three more years won’t be such a burden.”

A satisfied expression came to his face.

“It would also set us apart from the foundations run by the High Temple.”

“You think it could work?”

“Of course. I think it’s an excellent plan.”

At his approving words, Laritte’s cheeks flushed without her realizing it.