As I opened my eyes, I saw a shabby attic ceiling.

“…Today was the start.”

I got up quietly, took off my only pajamas, and changed into a rag-like dress.

Pajamas were the only clothes I had left that weren’t torn apart. And the rest were made up of clumsy sewing skills.

I quickly left the attic and went into the kitchen before the director came screaming.

“Oh, I’m tired already…”

I’m used to going to bed late and waking up early, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t tired.

I hurriedly took out a large pot and put all the vegetables I had yesterday.

The soup was the only thing that I could cook with these limited ingredients.

On the other hand… I’m just a nine-year-old child, but the director seems to think I’m already 19 years old.

Taking turns preparing meals, that was then, but from some point on, I was in charge of it.

It was exactly what the other kids put me to, and the director pretended not to see anything regarding it.

‘Heh. Does he think I’m better off doing what other kids do than eating? Do I have to think of it positively…?’

Well, I simply tried to rationalize and chew those negative thoughts inside.

The good news was that I know how to cook to some extent.

As I peered into the boiling pot, I tried to close my eyes.

“…”

At that moment, there was a small rumbling sound from my stomach.

But even though the soup was being cooked right in front of me, I couldn’t be the first to eat.

Because what was given to me was all that was left after taking the share of the other kids.

The evil director was my rice bowl.

It was a very unhappy setting, no one takes care of me unlike the other kids.

One time when I was so hungry, I got caught trying to eat a piece of bread first, then I faced the director who turned into a beast.

“It was up to me anyway.”

However, I never want to receive a nagging bomb with a shrill voice under the guise of the director’s discipline.

‘I’m not going to eat because it’s disrespectful?’

After a while, the children started coming down one by one with a loud noise.

The way the children sat, rubbing their sleepy eyes, was starkly different from my situation.

And even when the children and the director started eating, I couldn’t sit down and eat with them.

After I showed my portion of the plate to the director, only then I was able to eat.

My meal didn’t take that long to finish because it was only a small amount in the first place.

“When you’re done, go ahead and clean up.”

I shrugged at the harsh words of the director.

If I don’t obey, he would glare at me again and scold me.

After quietly leaving the dining room, I took out a broom and started cleaning.

The orphanage, which wasn’t very spacious, always became dirty, even if I cleaned it every day.

Cleaning should be done with the other kids, but I’m the only one actually doing the job, cleaning the place with all I could.

It was only me.

The others were mopping it up and making it twice as dirty by walking on it.

“Cough, cough… It’s dirty.”

When I swept away the dust in the corner, I coughed on my own.

The cleaning was familiar enough to be worn out. I’ve had enough of it in my previous life.

“I could work as a cleaner when I grow up.” I muttered to myself.

A year ago, when I woke up from this child’s body, how absurd it was.

I thought I was killed in a car accident, but now I’m an eight-year-old girl.

Now, I’m a year older, currently nine years old, but the fact that I’m still a child, it hasn’t changed anyway.

That’s the same as when I was a child.

“Ayla was lovely.”

It was the Helsion Empire. After hearing the name of this place I found out that it was from the novel I was reading in my previous life.

Fortunately, I remembered clearly the year the original began.

Imperial year 1220. The male lead’s birthday was also December 20th, whether it was the writer’s intention or whatever.

Anyway, it was just 10 years before the original began.

I’m an extra who didn’t even appear in the novel. I took a deep breath and continued cleaning.

“Hey, black hair!”

Then a ringing voice called me.

Oh, here we go again. “Yes, why?”

I pressed down my annoyance and answered mildly.

It would have been a mess if I ignored their call or talked back.

Lily, whom the butler adores, was also an orphan.

“The director was calling you.”

“..Why?”

“Don’t ask me? Maybe It’s because you don’t clean properly. And don’t talk to me!”

Lily, who shot with a vicious expression, ran away.

Who always talks to me first? I don’t want to talk to you either.

There were no words to compare with her audacious manners.

“Tell me what’s going on…”

With the broom I was holding on one side of the wall, I washed my hands in cold water and headed to the director’s office.

Knock, knock~

“Director, it’s Rita.”

There was no answer beyond the closed wooden door.

“Well, sir, I’m the black haired kid…”

I knocked on the door again, saying that I have black hair, not my name, because I hate being called by my name.

Then, I heard rough footsteps and the door burst open.

“You! I told you! you didn’t have a name!”

That’s right.

The director’s face, when he opened the door, was distorted like an ugly beast.

Even if my hair was black it doesn’t mean I harm people.

Of course such complaints were only swallowed up.

“I’m sorry.” I gently bowed my head and said.

The director nodded his head telling me to come in, it seems he’s not angry anymore.

He would normally have yelled right away, but what the heck?

“You, go to the market and get me today’s ingredients.”

Cancel everything I said that he was getting better! I tried to evaluate the expression on his face which was about to crumple again.

“Well, today’s Lily’s day to…”

“I told you not to argue with me! Lily needs to get her new clothes tailored today, so you should go! You have nothing to do anyway.”

I tried to rebut it carefully, but all I got back was yelling. I couldn’t believe there’s nothing I could do with my situation.

He was so terrifying and arrogant.

‘I am the busiest person in the orphanage, I’m in charge of cleaning and dining.’

How was it that they are so similar?

Whether from my past life’s orphanage or here, the vicious orphanage director seemed to be everywhere.

Because there’s no such place to be called good with empty words.

“…Yes, I got it.”

“Then get out!”

I bit my lip, bowed my head, and left the director’s office. I’m the one who brought the ingredients the day before and yesterday.

My arm hurt from carrying heavy vegetables for two consecutive days.

Then the resentment came, but I didn’t have the courage to go back to the director’s office and say that I didn’t want to go.

In an orphanage where a child like me couldn’t escape, if I go against the director’s decisions, I would only be locked up in a warehouse.

So, it wasn’t that I hadn’t tried to run away from this place.

Although it’s a child’s body, my mind wasn’t that of a child, so I thought that I could somehow make a living.

So, when I woke up and realized where this place was, I tried to escape while everyone was asleep.

But things didn’t work out as well as I thought, and the escape attempt was unsuccessful.

I tried, I really did…

But I was caught by a villager coming down from the mountain and was brought back to the orphanage.

Not to mention, I was locked up in a narrow, dark warehouse for a week.

After that, I gave up running away. I knew I’d be persecuted wherever I went.

At least until I’m old enough to take care of myself.

✿

After putting on my shabby robe, I grabbed a basket and left the orphanage.

When I squinted and looked up at the sky, the sun was blazing above my head.

I felt a little better doing this when I was depressed.

“The director said he’s going out with Lily today, so I could take it slow.”

Normally, I ran back and forth because of the director who would get angry if I didn’t go back quickly, but today there’s no need for that.

Thanks to it, I walked a little leisurely.

The shoes I am wearing now are about one foot smaller than mine, so if I walk for a long time, I often get blisters.

If I walk fast, my feet hurt.

“Come on!”

“We sell fresh fish!”

As I entered the market, loud voices rang everywhere.

“…If possible, I wish I could have an ordinary child with a normal family.”

It’s like all other novels. Why couldn’t I get out of being an orphan?

Looking at these things, it seems to be true that people have different fates.

“Oh, my! Look over there. It’s cursed black hair!”

Although the setting wasn’t described in detail in the original, there was a myth that black-haired people are descendants of demons.

People easily rejected and despised others based only on myths that weren’t known whether they were true or not.

So every time I went out, I used a ragged robe to cover my head, but the villagers who already knew me didn’t care.

“Hey! Do you want to stop doing business in the morning? Don’t look at things like that.”

“Why are you coming out and making a fuss?”

Until earlier I was walking slowly, and then I hurried as I heard their words.

Even though I covered my hair, they couldn’t stop criticizing me.

It was sad that I couldn’t even afford to enjoy my time alone.

It was a moment ago that I felt a little better because of the nice weather.

Arriving at the store in the alley, I carefully called the owner.

“Well, uncle, I’m here to get ingredients again.”

Fortunately, Uncle Philip greeted me with a smile.

“Rita, are you here again today?”

“Yes, the director said he was going to buy new clothes with Lily.”

“I see. I think I’ll just have to get you your own clothes rather than Lily… Now, at least eat this. I’ll take care of you in a minute.”

“Thank you…”

I carefully received the plums the uncle had brought out.

By the way, wasn’t this my first time eating this?

Fruits like plums are so popular in orphanages but I haven’t even tasted it.

I took a bite of the smooth, pretty plum, and the sweet and sour juice came out.

“…So delicious!”

“Haha! Wasn’t it? I’ve got it from my wife to give it to you when you come.”

“Aunt Meghan?”

Oh, she’s so very generous to offer me the prettiest one.

Those words warmed my heart.

Not everyone in the village liked me, but Uncle Philip and Aunt Meghan were really nice to me.

Erita liked those feelings, even if it was sympathy.

“Now, today’s potatoes, onions, and meat

“Thank you, Uncle Philip. Please tell Aunt Meghan I’m thankful.”

“I’m sorry that this was the only thing that I could do for you.”

At the words of the man while stroking my hair, I almost shed tears like a child.

Perhaps it’s because I pretended to be a child in order not to appear strange. My emotions trembled easily.

Although I’m older than what I look like, I still feel like a child in front of my uncle everytime.

“No. I’m still thankful enough.” Erita said I’m a calm voice.

“Wouldn’t it be heavy to carry alone?”

I smiled and shook my head at his friendly words.

“It’s okay. You have to take care of your business, too.”

“Hey, if you want to eat plums again next time, sneak up on me. I’ll definitely leave one for sure.”

“Okay, Thank you Uncle Philip… I’ll go ahead.”

Holding back the tears that were about to leak out, I quickly left the alley.

The basket full of heavy vegetables weighed on the soft shoulders, but time had passed already, so I couldn’t be late.

‘If I go back late, the kids would definitely report me to the director.’

Erita ran fast in a hurry and didn’t notice anyone walking in front of her.

“Ahh!”

As my small body bumped into the stone-like, hard legs of someone, I fell on my butt.

At the impact, the basket I was holding fell on the floor, and a few round potatoes and onions slipped out.

The robe that was covering my face finally moved, but my heart was pounding thinking of the potatoes that were rolling farther away.

“Oh, no!”

If any of them were missing, the director would starve me instead.

“I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.”

I bowed down to the person I bumped into and apologized over and over again, and picked up the scattered potatoes and onions.

“…Eight, nine.”

One potato was missing.

As I looked around, with an almost crying face, a potato appeared in front of my eyes.

“Here it is.”

A low voice clung to my ear.

A sigh of relief burst out when I saw the potato in his huge hand.

“Thank you!”

He was much taller and bigger than me, and as his robes wrapped around him tightly, I couldn’t see the face of the person who picked up and handed me the potato.

Then I just took the potatoes and put them in the basket and thanked him for the last time.

‘Thanks to him, the director won’t have a reason to starve me.’

And just as I was leaving, the man suddenly blocked my path.

“Could I ask you something for a moment?”

“…Yes?”

I would be scolded if I’m late, but the man also helped me pick up the potatoes.

late, but I still picked up potatoes.

“May I ask where you live?”

To that question, I hesitated, and answered him in a small voice.

“I’m staying at the Lysen orphanage over there.”

My finger pointed at the direction of the orphanage. The man’s eyes turned to where I pointed at.

“Then could I leave now? I’ll be scolded if I don’t go quickly.”

When I spoke impatiently, the man hurriedly spoke again.

“Then, please answer this one question.”

“Yes.”

“Could you tell me your name?”

The orphanage called me black-hair, but I had a name too.

“It’s Erita. I don’t have a last name.”

“…Ah, that’s right.”

The man who heard my name muttered, but now I was in a hurry and said that I would leave.

“I’ll go now. Thank you for picking up the potatoes.”

“…Yes. Goodbye.”

Then the man said nothing for a moment, and then greeted me in a calm voice.

At that moment, my heart was relieved and I quickly started running towards the orphanage.

“See you soon… My daughter.”

In the end, I didn’t listen to what the man muttered behind, as I was furiously running towards the orphanage.

✿

The man, who had been looking at the direction Erita had left, only left after the figure of the child had disappeared.

“Kyle.”

A knight in the same robe behind him appeared at his call.

“Yes, Grand Duke.”

“I’m going to the Lysen Orphanage tomorrow. I won’t reveal my identity, so prepare yourself.”

“Yes, sir!”

In response to Kyle’s answer, the man called the Grand Duke smiled, still staring at the direction where the child had run.

‘Black hair that has been passed down from generations, and the pretty purple eyes that look just like my deceased wife.’

The child resembled my wife very much.

Besides, the mana lurking in the child’s heart was very familiar.

A mana that no one else could have. The familiar magic I felt a year ago.

It took me a year to find out exactly where it was because it was only a small wave, but I finally found it.

“Erita, that’s right.”

“…”

“My lost daughter.”

“I would obey the command of the Lord.”

At that, Kyle bowed his head in obedience and disappeared.

The man’s eyes sank as he stared at the Lysen Orphanage, who was left alone.

The clothes that Erita was wearing, the worn-out shoes, were worse than the rags she was wearing.

And a heavy basket that was difficult for a child to lift alone.

The girl’s sharply bruised hand was seen clearly in front of him.

She was a child who had to be raised more precious than anyone else.

“My beloved daughter, Erita.”

A beautiful and eerie smile appeared on Aslan’s face, staring in the direction Erita had disappeared.

“I’ll pick you up in a minute.”

So just wait a little bit, my daughter…

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...****************...

It was already an hour later than usual when I arrived at the orphanage.

As I turned back unnoticed and took a deep breath.

Fortunately, the director and Lily’s outdoor shoes were not there yet.

“Oh, that’s a relief.”

Then I carefully closed the door and went into the kitchen without making a single sound of footsteps.

‘It’s time for the kids to play, so no one would think that I was late.’

From the basket I placed the vegetables on the table, took the meat out and put it in cold water.

In this generation without refrigerators, magic stones play a similar role, and there would be no such luxury goods in an orphanage.

Before, when I cooked for the first time in the orphanage, the meat went bad and I got scolded.

As a result, I wasn’t allowed to eat dinner since the director said I ruined an expensive piece of meat, so I was kicked out and had to spend the night outside.

I’m so upset and sad.

I went up and cried, but I couldn’t even complain because I was an orphan and no parents would defend or comfort me in the end.

I’ll get out of here as soon as I become an adult.

“…Heh, I’ll have to cook some stew.”

There was meat, but it was in a limited supply, so making a stew was the only option.

Fortunately, I have experience, so cooking wasn’t too difficult.

Due to the nature of this fantasy world, I didn’t even think about food going bad being a child in an orphanage with a poor standard cooking facility.

First, I washed the vegetables I had gathered. After cutting all the onions, I also cut the meat into small pieces.

‘Because the director told me to cut it into as small pieces as possible.’

The orphanage has more than ten children, so I had to cut the meat to at least twenty pieces so all of us could eat.

After putting all the ingredients in, as I saw the smoke from simmering, it looked mouth-watering.

“Meat in two weeks!!”

The stew, which was red from some leftover tomatoes, smelled amazing.

‘Please, no one should have seen me late!’

It was unfair to have to pay attention to this kind of thing, but I refused to listen to the director’s glare and his cracking voice.

Then, it became noisy outside the kitchen.

“Director, you’re here!”

“Wow! New clothes!”

As I hurried out to the door, I saw the director and Lily in their brand new clothes.

“Was the dinner ready?”

“…Yes, I’m almost done.”

Fortunately, he didn’t question me for being late. After all, I already finished preparing dinner.

“Who’s the visitor tomorrow?”

“The director said he was a great person. I’m looking forward to it!”

The children teased each other with brooms and mops in their hands.

It was because the director told us to wipe the floor and make it shiny enough because an important person was coming tomorrow.

‘I’ll have to stay in the attic all day tomorrow.’

For the other children it was good news, because someone important was visiting the orphanage tomorrow, but it wasn’t for me.

‘I just wish I could get older soon.’

It was then.

“You’re not happy, aren’t you?”

Lily approached me while I was mopping with a sigh.

She must have come to me to show off her new clothes again.

“There’s no reason for me to be happy.”

Swallowing my annoyance inwardly, I answered.

Lily snorted at my answer and was busy saying what she had to say.

“Tomorrow, a nobleman will visit. The director said he would definitely come and pick me up. But…”

“But?”

“No one’s going to adopt a black hair like you, so you’re going to live here forever.”

Unsurprisingly, I bit my lip at those cruel words.

I know she’s just immature and a little mean, but what does she even know for saying such words?

My body stiffened hearing her evil words.

“What should I do? I feel sorry for you. So at least clean up properly. You know, if I become a noble lady, I’ll give you a penny.”

Lilly’s menacing laugh stuck in my ear as I walked blankly.

The most miserable thing was that I couldn’t deny Lily’s sarcastic remarks that I would live here for the rest of my life.

I made countless promises to leave when I became an adult, but I don’t know if that’s really possible.

Because I wasn’t sure either if I’d be welcome anywhere.

✿

“Sniff…”

Inside my thin blanket, I cried quietly trying to suppress my own helpless situation.

If they caught me crying, they would only make fun of me.

I’ve been an orphan for years, but this feeling of loneliness that suddenly hit me was immeasurable.

I couldn’t sleep…

‘I’m going to have a mom and a dad, too!’

‘Really?’

‘Yes! They said they’d pick me up soon, they patted my head and gave me a pretty pencil case;’

‘Wow! You’re so lucky!’

That loneliness grew stronger every time one of my orphanage’s friends left, holding the hand of their new parents.

When I was a kid, I was so sad that I didn’t have a mom or a dad.

My eyes were swollen but I still wept bitterly.

One day, I fell asleep with an excited heart when the director told me that I would finally have parents.

But my excitement was shattered by the words of the couple who came to meet me.

‘Oh, the kid was a little different from what I saw in the painting.’

‘Somehow, she looks a little… gloomy, I don’t think it’s going to work for us.’

The director said it was because I was ugly. There’s no one who would love a child like me.

As a child, I lost hope.

“…Sometimes, I just wanted to die.”

But the life I was given, for a second chance, was an orphan.

It was like a curse that you couldn’t have a family for the rest of my life.

“Ugh…”

If there was really a God,

If there was really a God that exists who sent me here…

I don’t want to be alone anymore… I’ve longed for such a thing.

✿

“Guys, Wash up and get ready!”

“Yes!”

“Lily! Come quickly. Wear these shoes on and the dress I bought yesterday, and the braids… this would be great!”

The day at the orphanage, which started early in the morning, was quite different from usual.

The director moved busily and checked every child.

‘Probably because of the nobleman who said would come today.’

The other children took out the prettiest clothes they had and wore them.

Maybe it’s because of the expectations that they might be adopted.

The orphanage was far from the capital, because there were few nobles who would want to adopt.

“We’re almost there! Come to the director’s office first, if you all finished preparing!”

“Me! Me!!”

“I’m done, too!”

Lily, who was so busy yesterday, was also dressed up in a fresh yellow dress and light green shoes.

I looked down at my clothes.

Rough ragged cloth, old dress full of dirt.

It couldn’t even be compared with Lily’s gorgeous dress, but it didn’t matter.

‘What about me? Director, am I going to wear this?’

‘What? Huh! You’re talking nonsense. Who would take a kid with black hair like you? Don’t get caught roaming around and hide in the attic when the guests come.’

There were a few people who visited the orphanage planning to adopt for a year, but each time I had to hide like I was trapped in an attic.

It hasn’t changed today either. I closed the attic door and hid inside.

“…It’s not fair.”

The fact that black hair was cursed, and that I had black hair.

It was all full of injustice.

They say a person won’t get disappointed if they don’t have any expectations.

However, under any circumstances, ‘just in case’, I still have high expectations.

So I always sat in front of the window for hours when the guests came.

Just in case someone sees me…

‘…Because I was expecting that person to become my family.’

“Oh, it’s a carriage.”

Even though I was repeatedly disappointed, a glimmer of hope remained.

My eyes turned to the carriage heading for the orphanage from afar, beyond the window.

“Guys! There’s a carriage coming! Let’s go out!”

“I couldn’t sleep last night because I was so excited.”

“Me too! I really hope it’s me this time.”

The voice of the director, who was very busy, was heard, and then the voices of the other children full of excitement were heard under the window.

It was the only time when the attic window was visible from the main entrance of the orphanage.

“Wow, it’s a carriage!”

“Wow! Much bigger than Theo’s carriage last time!”

The carriage, which stole the eyes of the children, caught my eyes as well.

The carriage pulled by four horses was the largest and most gorgeous carriage I had ever seen since I came here.

“That’s the saddle carriage you see in the novels…”

Blurting out excited remarks as much as usual, I understood the director’s reaction.

Well, I don’t know if he’s a noble with a high rank enough to ride such a gorgeous carriage, but he seems wealthy.

If such an aristocratic family adopts a child from the Lysen Orphanage, the corner of the director’s mouth would rise as high as the clouds without realizing it.

“Whoa! Wow!!”

The carriage, which was approaching slowly, stopped.

While the horseman soothed the horses, the carriage door opened.

“What kind of nobleman was he?”

“I wish he was a prince!”

“Me too!”

There was a faint sound of children chatting with each other.

What kind of person was he?

I also wondered who was riding that carriage.

It could be a character from the ‘Lovely Isla’!

The fact that I would be able to see someone so close from the original novel for the first time, my calm heart began to pound again.

Staring at the open carriage door without time to blink.

✿

A blue-haired man came out of the open carriage door.

He was about to walk out of the carriage door, but he stayed inside the carriage for a while.

He went inside again and muttered something.

The man who had finished talking to the person inside smiled and greeted the director.

“It’s Fern, who visited yesterday. Hey, the count was inside.”

“Hmm.., even if it wasn’t him, I’d still wait for him with the children. Wasn’t that right, kids?”

“Yes!”

Fern smiled as he looked at the children. But they didn’t know he was looking for someone else.

“The kids are lively.”

“Yeah. All of our kids are very lively and intelligent.”

“Hmm. Are these all the kids in the orphanage?”

Fern’s voice was a little bit tense. But out of sympathy, Fern hoped that the director would have answered honestly.

“Yes, these are all the kids.” But without any hesitation, the director answered.

Then Fern turned his gaze to the carriage.

Surely my master must have heard this answer. (Fern)

As if he could read his thoughts, a tall man wearing a robe appeared in the carriage.

“Count.”

The director’s eyes glowed with delight at the response of Fern, who bowed his head.

‘Count!’

Even by the smell of the four-wheeled carriage, you can obviously tell that the owner is really rich.

That’s nice, Count!

At this moment, it’s only a matter of time before the Lysen orphanage becomes famous!

“I’ll ask you again. Was this all the children in the orphanage?”

Drunk with future glory, the director lightly answered the question that the Count repeated again without much thought.

He thought of one darked haired kid currently in the attic, but he ignored it

“Yes! How could I lie to the Count? Really, these are all the kids here in the orphanage.”

“I see.”

The director, who didn’t see the man’s twitching lips, was about to turn around with a fake smile.

“Then let’s go inside now…”

“So who’s that kid in the attic?”

The man looked exactly where the attic was, but the director’s face changed to contemplation.

“Oh, that’s…!”

‘Why does that trash stand out?’

Maybe she was accidentally seen by Count, but if I let him know that she was a cursed child, then Count would also ignore her.

The director’s head turned quickly.

“That kid had cursed black hair. Please, Count, you shouldn’t see her.”

“Do you want her, Count?”

“Maybe It’s because of the old woman who might be the Earl. But if you still want her, I’ll send her here right away.”

The director’s eyes trembled.

The man grinned at the director’s words, pretending to be calm.

“Cursed black hair…”

Wasn’t that a very familiar word?

“What’s that kid’s name?”

“Was it Erita?”

Yes, Erita, that’s right.

Aslan whispered so languidly that no one could hear it, seeing her dainty daughter’s bewildered appearance as she hid and gazed at him like a criminal.

“Your Father’s here now, Erita.”

You could come home now…

...****************...

...  ...

Although my face was hidden in the robe, the director trembled at the frightening feeling.

“Bring her?” (Director)

“Yes” (Aslan)

Aslan glanced at the director’s stupid question with an annoyed expression.

“What about your promise that you would bring whatever I asked?” (Aslan)

“Ah, y-yes.” (Director)

“Yes. Fortunately, I’m not deaf.”

Only then, the director, who came to his senses quickly sent the kid next to him from the attic.

Then the kid, who was in the attic looking down from the window, suddenly disappeared.

Aslan’s eyes, hidden inside the robe, turned tenderly towards the attic where Erita was.

“Let’s go home now.”

✿

“Bring her.”

Erita stared at the man in the robe and blinked stupidly at the words she heard from afar.

He looked down blankly and saw me running into the building and fell from the window behind him.

“…I told you to bring her.”

I pondered on the man’s words, but I couldn’t believe it.

Why did he ask to bring me?

The man stared at me from the attic. He didn’t turn his head and look at me properly.

He was the first person who didn’t frown after seeing my head in my whole life.

When I finished thinking slowly, my heart began to pound with weak expectations.

All those who rarely saw me looking down on the attic they only frowned and turned their heads.

“I wish I had a little more decent clothes.”

It was especially regrettable today that all were old and shabby clothes.

Knock, knock~

Erita hurriedly opened the door as she heard the knock.

“The director wants you to his office.”

“Yes, I got it.”

The walk to the director’s office felt long, as I followed the frowning child behind, it’s unusual.

“Go inside alone.”

When we arrived in front of the director’s office, the kid who took me there, left me immediately and went to where his friends were.

Before I entered, I tugged on my wrinkled skirt and brushed off my hair, wondering if it might have gotten dusty while cleaning.

Sigh~ I took a deep breath and knocked on the door and whispered my name.

“Director, it’s Rita.”

“Come on in.”

Normally, I would have heard a scolding, but today I only heard a friendly voice because we had guests.

When I opened the door and walked in, I saw the director sitting on the sofa and the men on the opposite side.

I didn’t know how to properly greet a nobleman, so I just bowed my head and greeted him.

“Hello.”

“Rita, come here and sit down.”

My name was called by the director for the first time ever since I got here.

‘It was just funny that my name was suddenly changed in front of a noble guest.’

I bit my lips and walked towards the sofa.

As I stood in front of the low table and watched the men carefully, my eyes met the blue-haired man.

“Hello, little girl. My name’s Fern.”

I turned my head in surprise, and a man with blue hair greeted me with a smile.

“Ah, well, I’m Rita…”

I looked at him blankly for a moment without realizing that he was a very handsome man with his languid curved eyebrows.

I came to my senses because of the low laughter that came over my head.

As I peeked up, the tail of the man’s lips was raised a bit from under the robe.

I could only see the lower part, but I could guess that the man’s face was quite aesthetic.

“Lady, may I ask what you usually do?”

“Uh, I usually prepare meals and clean, and I just go up to the attic during my free time.”

I hesitated for a moment when asked by the man who introduced himself as Fern, but I glanced at the director first and answered.

I could have told a lie, but I didn’t want to take the director’s side by saying it in a good way.

“Do you prepare the meals all by yourself?”

“…Yes.”

Well, a few months ago, there was another kid who sometimes helped me, and I’ve been preparing alone ever since he was adopted.

The man in the robe whispered something at my words, but I didn’t hear it exactly.

“Then what about the other children?”

“They sleep in the morning, and at lunch and dinner, they just play.”

After I finished talking, I turned my head towards the director and shuddered as I saw his face.

“It’s true anyway.’

The director’s expression was like how dare you frame me? It seemed to imply that.

I bowed my head, turning away from the harsh director’s face, and the man in the robe gently called out my name.

“Rita.”

“Yes?”

My name, which the man called in a low voice, felt somewhat strange.

It was a name that was rarely called in the orphanage, so I felt something tickling in my chest.

When I answered while fiddling with my fingers, the man sitting on the sofa stood up and sat in front of me with one knee.

My eyes trembled with embarrassment.

And when he smiled at me again, he held out his large hand towards me.

“Would you come with me?”

Perhaps the excitement I had from the moment my name was called. My wish, which I had prayed to God every day, for a very long time.

The existence of a family that I’ve longed for since I found out that I’ve become a child again here.

Then I asked in a trembling voice.

“Really?” (Erita)

“Yes.” (Aslan)

“I’m not pretty, I’m not smart, I’m cursed, I have black hair. Do you still want to adopt me even though I told you all that?”

“Rita, it doesn’t matter. Because you are the most lovely child in the world to me.”

The man’s words were the warmest I have ever heard here.

Then the man held out his hand again and said,

“Rita, would you come home with me?”

“…Yes!”

Erita couldn’t say no.

✿

On the other hand, the director stood in confusion as he watched the scene, looking alternately at Erita and the man…

‘What? Are you sure you want to take her? I didn’t think you’d want to adopt that kid.’ (Director)

‘Why? Why of all the kids in the orphanage did you have to pick her? Why’s that kid?’

The director pressed the boiling anger inside and spoke in a soft voice.

“Um, Count?”

The man who looked down warmly at Erita’s hand, which he was holding tightly, turned his head at the director’s words.

“Are you really planning on taking that child with you?”

“Why? Was there a problem?”

The man casually answered back, holding Erita’s small body.

‘Ugh!’ The director screamed embarrassedly.

Even in the midst of this, the man patted the surprised Erita on the back very affectionately.

The director, who tried to ignore the cold sweat flowing behind his back, smiled for his business.

It wasn’t bad to get rid of the troublesome child, but it was more the director’s wish for other children to be adopted by a noble family.

‘It’s a bit sad when someone with good skills disappears…’

The director, who hid his evil intentions, continued with a smile.

But I was wondering if it was too soon for him to decide. There are many other pretty kids.

At the sharp gaze looking at the director, Erita shook her body.

“Shhh, it’s okay.”

The man gently stroked Erita’s head and comforted her.

The director, who bit his lips at the sight in front of him, carefully spoke his words out again.

“Don’t do that, Count, I have an exceptionally lovely child, you could see her first, or at once then you may decide, it won’t be too late.”

Fern slightly frowned at the director’s obvious words.

‘There are a lot of stupid people out there who don’t know how to read the atmosphere.’

It’s because he’s overshadowed by his soft appearance, but in fact, Fern’s personality wasn’t that good.

And especially to the kinds of people like the director, Fern disliked it.

Recalling what he had heard from his master before coming to the orphanage today, Fern smiled kindly.

“Haha! Yes. There were many other pretty kids, too. ”

The director’s face lit up when he saw Fern who agreed with him.

“But, sir.”

“Yes?”

“The other children’s clothes are new… Why was this little girl’s clothes so ragged?”

However, the smile disappeared from the director’s face when Fern laughed at his words.

Although people with black hair were rejected, it was unacceptable for the children of the orphanage cared for by the charity to be discriminated against.

“Well, that’s…! Our orphanage was in a difficult situation right now… We couldn’t afford to buy new clothes for all of our children.”

To say that, from the director’s outfit, to the furniture in the director’s office,

Nothing was cheap.

The man laughed at such a rude remark.

“Difficult…?”

“It-it’s true! That’s why it’s so sad that we couldn’t even feed our children properly…”

Someone might believe it’s true if they didn’t know the situation and saw him weeping in tears while pretending to be sad and pitiful.

“I bet, you’re going to steal all the donations and feed the kids properly.”

The director, who tried to fool them, hardened at the words of the Count and Fern that stuck to his ears.

“It was said that it was not enough to embezzle the subsidy from the charity, so they stole the donations from the nobles to satisfy their greed.”

Fern, who lugged out the paper from his arms, laughed heavily.

On the paper, the subsidies and donations that the director had stolen were written down.

“Fern, what’s the punishment in this case?”

The director’s body trembled hearing the man’s low voice.

“What’s this?” (Director)

“Hmm, the charity’s subsidies and donations for children were stolen…”

Fern paused for a moment, and glanced at the trembling director.

“Well, at least it would be about deportation after the deprivation of the director’s qualifications and the confiscation of property.”

“Tha-that…!”

“Of course, at the very least.”

At Fern’s words, which he clearly heard, the director, who had lost strength in his legs, sat down in his seat.

“That’s what they said…”

“As you say so.”

“Ah, no matter how many, Count, you couldn’t do that to me…!”

Although he shouted useless words, the director knew that this was the end.

“Why are you doing this to me?! I didn’t do anything wrong to the Count!”

The director shouted, you could see the fear on his face…

Of course, embezzlement was against the law, but it was normal to overlook this much.

‘What the hell did I do wrong to deserve this?!’ (Director)

At those words, he looked at Erita as if glaring at her.

“So what did this kid do wrong to you?”

The man looked down at Erita in his arms and asked the director.

The director replied with a smirk.

“Because of this little girl?!”

At that moment, Fern pulled up a sword in the blink of an eye and aimed it at the director’s neck.

The man turned his back on the director, who was muttering in front of the bright blue blade.

“Fern”

Fern, who had turned into a cold bloody soldier, moved to the Count’s call.

When he left the room, leaving the director blanked by the same curse, nodded to the knight who was waiting, and the director, whose arms were tied up, was quickly dragged out.

“Take it away.”

“Argh! Let go of me!”

Ordering with an indifferent look, Fern headed towards the man’s side.

The scream from behind quickly disappeared

✿

Erita left the director’s office carried in the man’s arms.

“Do you happen to have anything to bring?”

The man asked in a friendly voice as he felt her body stiffened in his arms.

I thought about it for a while, but the things in the attic came to my mind and shook my head.

“I just want to leave this place.”

There were only old clothes and worn-out blankets in the attic anyway.

At my answer, the man paused for a moment, then moved on again.

“It’s all right. Everything you need will be there when we get home.”

The words that followed were quite sweet.

“Home…”

I pondered on the word the man said that felt awkward.

As I turned my head slightly, I saw an old orphanage building.

I remember it for a year, but originally I lived there for more than six years.

If I were to simply say home, this would have been my home.

However, the contempt and bullying I had received from the moment I opened my eyes was clear in my body and mind.

It was such a terrifying place that I couldn’t even call it a home.

“A home…”

I finally have a place to call home.

“Yes. We’re going home.”

At the warmth of the voice that had settled in my ear, the tears I had been holding back burst out silently.

...****************...