<CHAPTER 23>
I Didn’t See Anything
Evelyn explained to her older brother how the situation had come to be.
Even so, Viathon seemed reluctant to believe her words.
Of all people, it had to be my brother who walked into the room.
Evelyn thought she couldn’t let him leave like this with his loose tongue.
“Hey, say something.”
When she gritted her teeth and glanced at her fiancé, Aksion opened his firmly sealed lips.
“Brother. I would like to keep this matter as secret as possible.”
“What……………?”
Viathon squinted one eye as if he had heard something he shouldn’t have.
Nevertheless, Aksion gently wrapped his arm around Evelyn’s shoulder and continued.
“People’s attention is still uncomfortable for us.”
Hey, is this really something to say so shyly?
Evelyn clicked her tongue at her fiancé’s shameless acting.
Aksion, who had been looking at her with newly affectionate eyes, added with a faint smile at the corners of his mouth.
“As you can see, Evelyn is also embarrassed.”
What? When did I?
Evelyn’s face crumpled abruptly as if she had heard nonsense.
She glared at the man as if to argue, but Aksion, unbothered, asked in a rather soft voice.
“Isn’t that right, Evelyn?”
As his red heterochromatic eyes shone brightly, seemingly hoping for cooperation, Evelyn reluctantly nodded.
“That seems to be the case.”
She was annoyed at having to play along with this ridiculous act, but getting through the current situation was the priority.
Moreover, her brother, who valued loyalty, would likely turn a blind eye to this situation.
She wanted to believe so.
“Brother, you’ll understand, right?”
Perhaps her desperation reached him, as Viathon cleared his throat and opened his mouth.
“Ahem, I didn’t see anything.”
Success!
He glanced at his younger sister and then added with a wink.
“Then have a good time.”
What good time, for crying out loud……………….
***
A toilette form bathed in warm sunlight.
Evelyn, dressed more neatly than usual, was checking her appearance in front of the dressing table.
Rarie, who had silently helped with the outing preparations, stood beside her master with her head tilted slightly.
“My Lady, where are you going?”
“I’m thinking of visiting the orphanage after a long time.”
When Evelyn softened her lips into a gentle smile, the maid let out a short sigh as if recalling something.
“Ah. The place you sponsor, correct?”
After learning that she had been reincarnated into a novel, Evelyn had consistently sponsored one orphanage.
Most nobles would choose areas in or near the capital, the center of news, to publicize their good deeds.
However, Evelyn chose a little-known orphanage on the outskirts of the capital.
Moreover, she didn’t stop at delivering sponsorship funds but consistently visited the orphanage to volunteer.
Now her memories were hazy, but she did so just as her birth parents had done long ago.
“Will you be alright? That place is so far and rugged.”
Rarie seemed unable to set aside her concern for her mistress, who willingly chose a difficult path.
Evelyn shrugged her shoulders slightly at the maid’s words and replied in a deliberately bright voice.
“I haven’t been able to visit for a while. I should go before I get busier.”
Of course, besides that, there was another reason she needed to visit the orphanage.
Holding the escort knight’s hand, Evelyn stepped down from the carriage and looked at the orphanage with a newly pleased expression.
Perhaps her wish for the children to grow up in a comfortable environment had been granted.
The orphanage was well-maintained to the point where it was hard to believe they had faced operational difficulties just a few years ago.
“My Lady, shall we unload the luggage?”
At Gideon’s question, Evelyn looked at the luggage carriage of the Inevassel household.
The luggage carriage was fully loaded with items the children could use.
She nodded once and replied.
“Yes, please.”
As the servants began unloading the luggage, the orphanage director approached with a benevolent smile.
“It’s been a while, my Lady.”
The director, who always gave a good impression, held Evelyn’s hand tightly and shared warmth.
“Have you been well? I wonder if I haven’t come too late.”
She apologized for not being able to visit the orphanage for a while due to her busy schedule.
Then the orphanage director firmly shook her head.
“Not at all. We are fortunate just to have you visit, my Lady.”
“I am grateful for your words.”
Evelyn showed a warm smile and took a walk with the director to talk for a while.
The clear late winter sunlight felt particularly warm.
“The children spent a warm winter thanks to the cold-weather supplies you sent last time.”
Evelyn sponsored cold-weather supplies to the orphanage every winter.
“It’s nothing special.”
“How can you say it’s not special? The orphanage operates because of people like you who care, my Lady.”
Evelyn nodded slightly at the director’s sincere expression of gratitude.
“If there’s anything else you need, please feel free to tell me anytime.”
Helping those in difficulty with her wealth was not a difficult thing for her.
“Thank you so much, my Lady.”
The director expressed gratitude again and shared recent news about the orphanage.
Then, as if recalling something, she lightly clapped her hands together.
“Oh, a new child was admitted a few days ago.”
At those words, Evelyn’s green pupils dilated for a moment before shrinking.
In the original story, Zekter enters the orphanage around this time.
The reason she sponsored an orphanage on the outskirts of the capital was to meet a boy.
Zekter was a thirteen-year-old boy who had manifested his mana early and was destined to catch the Emperor’s eye.
His potential was limitless—to the point where he would secure the position of the next Magic Tower Master through skill alone.
No matter how I think about it, he’s a talent too precious to remain in the Imperial family!
Evelyn was never fond of the setting where Zekter would pledge loyalty to the Emperor.
After all, he would end up playing with forbidden black magic at the hands of the Imperial family.
I heard the price of black magic is the domination of mind and emotion.
Recalling that even an extra like herself could fall into the abyss of tragedy, she felt uneasy.
Moreover, she couldn’t simply stand by and watch such outstanding talent side with the Emperor.
Therefore, Evelyn intended to directly intervene in the boy’s future.
“Could I possibly meet that child?”
From the back hill of the orphanage, the sound of children laughing and playing noisily could be heard.
According to the director, the newly admitted child had red hair and golden eyes.
Where could Zekter be?
As Evelyn was looking around for the red-haired boy.
“Huh? It’s Evelyn!”
“It’s really Evelyn!”
The children who spotted her sparkled with both eyes.
Then they ran over with bright smiles and embraced her tightly.
Evelyn hugged the children affectionately and asked with a sunny smile.
“Have you all been well?”
Then the children pouted their lips, unable to hide their disappointment.
“No, why did you come so late?”
“Yeah. We missed you.”
Evelyn had been unable to visit the orphanage for a while due to many matters she needed to handle.
Seeing the children looking sulky, her heart softened, and she burned with determination.
“Today I’ll play with you more fun than any other day!”
“Wow, exciting!”
The children jumped up and down in place with bright smiles.
Evelyn also showed a bright smile, but before spending time with them, there was something she needed to do.
Kneeling slightly, she asked in a soft and warm voice.
“By the way, I heard a new friend arrived recently.”
“You mean that red-haired guy?”
Fortunately, the children seemed to immediately recognize which boy Evelyn was looking for.
“Yes, do you know where that friend is?”
At that question, a girl pointed to a lush tree not far away.
“He’s with the handsome brother right now.”
“What? Handsome brother?”
Following the child’s finger, Evelyn’s green eyes trembled finely as she looked up at the tree.
The one with Zekter was none other than Kalid Lakeron.
