IBDEML 20

Chapter 20

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“First, I’m not planning to escape yet.”

“Why…….”

“I don’t have money.”

If I escaped in this condition, dying of hunger would be faster than dying from something else.

“……Do you want to live?”

At the sudden question, I looked quietly at Arden.

Through the platinum blonde hair covering his eyes, I could see dull red pupils.

The color was cloudy like a dead fish’s eyes, but underneath it seemed to be fear of death.

“I want to live. That’s why you’re trying to escape too, right?”

“I just don’t want to get hit anymore.”

“Wait. Hit? Who hits you?”

“Over there.”

At my question, he only pointed the direction and did not answer.

Thanks to that, it was relatively easy to leave the forest and go down to the village.

“If you knew everything, why didn’t you escape?”

“That is……”

When I looked at Arden, who couldn’t continue speaking, he was very afraid while looking at the village.

As if something was there.

But no matter how I looked around, the village was only dark because the sun had set.

Feeling curious, I walked a little closer.

Arden suddenly breathed roughly and sat down on the ground.

“Arden……?”

I was surprised and slowly reached out my hand.

But he violently pushed my hand away.

Smack!

“Ah…….”

Startled by the sharp sound, Arden’s eyes widened and trembled.

I rubbed the aching back of my hand and sat facing him.

“It doesn’t hurt. It’s okay.”

It seemed I had to stay beside Arden until he calmed down.

I relaxed my mind and looked around again.

‘I can’t see the temple here. Do I need to go deeper inside?’

But whenever I leaned even slightly toward the inside of the village, Arden flinched.

‘……Is there something inside the village?’

It seemed he was afraid of stepping into the quiet village where no one walked.

‘So that’s why he couldn’t escape.’

Because he couldn’t go into that village.

The only way to escape the orphanage was through the village.

I guess I should go back today.

‘Finding the road to the village is enough for today.’

Next time, I should leave Arden behind.

‘……I guess I have to.’

No matter how pitiful he was, there was nothing I could do.

I had to return to my world as soon as possible.

“Arden, let’s go.”

I wiped the tears from his cheeks, which were already wet.

Arden grabbed my hand tightly and asked in a trembling voice.

“……You will leave me behind, right?”

“For now, I will take you with me.”

I pulled Arden up by the hand.

His hands were already covered in blood because he kept scratching and tearing his skin.

“If you feel anxious, why don’t you just curse instead? Don’t hurt yourself.”

“……”

“Don’t curse with your eyes.”

I quietly covered his eyes.

Then I pulled his hand and walked toward the infirmary instead of the dormitory.

“Are you going to steal something?”

“Do I look like a thief?”

“Not at all.”

Hmm, good at talking, aren’t you?

He is good at making people have nothing to say.

The infirmary door was fortunately open.

Since I had come here often because I was sick, it wasn’t hard to find ointment and bandages.

“Why are you doing this?”

Arden asked as if he truly didn’t understand, and I was speechless.

‘Normally, shouldn’t he guess that I’m trying to treat his hand?’

Judging by his reaction, it seemed he had never been treated by anyone even when injured.

“Your hand is scraped. It will leave a scar.”

“Scar……. Anyway, I am already hated.”

Arden’s small muttering voice was calm.

As if he was used to it.

While applying ointment carefully, I said,

“What do you mean hated? You are pretty.”

“Are you trying to flirt?”

“……You even know the word ‘flirt’? You’re smart.”

“I just know. Because that person said it every day.”

“To you?”

“Not to me. To another woman.”

Then Arden closed his mouth tightly.

He seemed to have many stories, but I didn’t force him to talk.

I put on the bandage and pulled him up by the hand.

“Don’t hurt yourself. It’s already hard enough to bear the wounds from others. If you do it too, it will be too painful.”

“……”

Arden looked at me strangely, but instead of answering, he lowered his head and just held my hand tightly.

The orphanage director was in a good mood today.

A noble family had contacted them, saying they wanted to buy a child for a large sum of money.

So today, the Viscount Phillips couple visited the Sunflower Orphanage.

“There are four students in Class 3, correct?”

“Yes, my lord.”

Since it was common for guests to visit to see children, the children just glanced and went back to their own work.

The director and the Phillips couple stood in front of Class 3.

Through the window, Lopez, Arden, and the twins sitting in the classroom could be seen.

The viscount stroked his bearded chin while quietly looking at the four children.

“That girl is also definitely Class 3?”

“Oh my, of course. But that child is a bit expensive.”

The director quickly spoke after realizing the viscount liked Lopez.

“Since she was in Class 1, she can do more than other children.”

It wasn’t entirely false.

Lopez was a smart child.

Even though this exam was a complete failure.

“A lowly orphan, but she’s pretty. She will become quite a beauty when she grows up.”

“May I have a conversation with her?”

“Of course! Lopez……”

“Director.”

At that moment, Megan appeared in front of them as if trying to interfere.

The director frowned and signaled Carrington behind him, who grabbed Megan.

“Let’s move elsewhere for a moment, Teacher Megan.”

“Wait……!”

When she refused to leave, Carrington warned her in a low voice.

“Even if you anger the director now, it won’t be good for the children.”

Megan glared fiercely, but Carrington forcibly dragged her away.

Watching Megan glaring at him until the end, Director Watson clicked his tongue inwardly.

‘I should cut her off.’

She thought she should bring Anna back.

Justice-pretending Megan was only a hindrance to Watson’s work.

‘I let her stay because the children like her, but she doesn’t even know her place.’

If she dares to interfere with my work, there is no reason to keep her here.

Watson hid his unpleasant expression and opened the door, waving at Lopez.

“Lopez, come out here.”

Lopez, who had been half asleep, went outside the classroom at Watson’s call.

“Hello? You are Lopez, right?”

The viscountess smiled gently while greeting her.

Contrary to her words, Lopez’s eyes turned cold when she saw the woman’s face shining with greed.

‘Look at this.’

The viscountess lightly tapped Lopez’s cheek and laughed.

“I think more education is needed. Your eyes are quite fierce.”

“If you leave her to me, I can make her very obedient.”

They were evaluating Lopez in front of her.

Klein, Chester, and Medina accidentally witnessed this.

Seeing Lopez sitting quietly as if she had given up everything, Klein and Chester frowned.

“Why do all adults who visit Class 3 look like that?”

“You shouldn’t judge people by appearance.”

Medina gently scolded them.

Klein stayed silent but still looked displeased.

“It’s rare to have a child like this come out of Class 3.”

“If she is too intelligent, it becomes troublesome.”

“No matter how smart, orphans’ minds are all about the same anyway.”

Angered by the director’s blatant belittling of her, Chester and Klein almost rushed out unconsciously.

But right before that, their eyes met Lopez’s.

She opened her eyes wide in surprise, then shook her head and gestured.

It meant: go your own way.

Even so, Klein and Chester did not move. They looked ready to rush forward at any moment.

Then Lopez looked at Medina this time.

It meant she wanted Medina to take the two men away from here.

Medina hesitated but eventually pulled the two of them away.

“……Let’s return to the classroom first.”

There was nothing they could do here.

At that moment, the Viscount Phillips tried to turn his head.

Lopez shouted loudly to stop his attention from shifting.

“That’s right! I am stupid!”

Her voice was loud enough to echo.

The director’s sharp eyes stuck to her.

“Lopez, be quiet.”

“Are you planning to adopt me?”

Lopez desperately tried to attract Viscount Phillips’ attention.

But Viscount Phillips turned his face away anyway.

“……!”

Meeting eyes with Medina, the Viscount Phillips froze for a moment.

Then his eyes shone as if he had found something precious.