Ch#106
Come to our family?
Ibi couldn't understand what those words meant for a moment.
“Here, to the Duke Kailun family? Me?”
“Yes. Arcel mentioned before that you haven't decided exactly where to go after graduating Yeongjae Academy... Is there somewhere you want to go? Do you have a separate dream?”
At the duchess's question, Ibi shook her head firmly.
The palace tour where she had caused a commotion by getting trapped in the portrait room had continued afterward as well.
Through it, she had encountered not only the numerous institutions within the palace but also jobs she could never have imagined in Elam City with the orphanage.
Perhaps because she had seen so many all at once.
Ibi still didn't know among all those jobs what she was good at or what she wanted to do.
'But...'
No matter what job she ended up doing, there was one condition she wanted.
'I want to earn a lot of money.'
Of the money she earned while working, she wanted to save only what was necessary and send the rest to the Director.
The Director wouldn't like it, but she would send it anyway.
Then the remaining children could eat as many potatoes and corn as they wanted.
'I have to.'
How happy she had been when she realized she learned letters faster than the other children, or could do math quicker.
'I can help my other friends.'
Being praised as smart had made her happy.
“Getting 1st place in this exam too! Our proud Ibi!”
The Director had been so proud, puffing out her chest and boasting that their orphanage had a genius.
But just feeling good wasn't helpful.
Ibi wanted to earn a lot of money with her abilities.
'And I have to find Mom and Dad too...'
Sometimes posters seeking people would go up in the village.
They sought families or relatives separated during the war, promising a large reward to anyone who provided information on their whereabouts.
'So I need to save the reward money given to those who provide information too.'
Once she found Mom and Dad, from then on she would send everything to the orphanage.
'And other places too...'
Before coming to Yeongjae Academy, there had been no other places she wanted to spend money on besides those two.
But after coming, one more place had been added.
Ibi thought of the items in her bag.
The Mana Stone given by His Majesty the Emperor, the Squirrel Doll, the hat, ribbon, and shoes from Airin...
Moreover, today on the way here, Arcel had already promised to give her 100 notebooks, plus a map, snacks, and a hair ribbon.
'Ruska said he'd give me lots of delicious things too if he comes to visit.'
She just followed everyone around, yet they all gave her so many gifts.
That fact made her happy but also weighed on her heart.
'I want to give gifts too!'
If she bought something in the capital, she might get an extra one, but she still had to pay money!
'So I want to earn money quickly.'
But now the duchess was telling her to come to the Duke Kailun family.
Ibi asked the duchess in a small voice.
“Does the duke family pay as much as the palace?”
“...Huh?”
At the completely unexpected question, the duchess was flustered.
Then Ibi hurriedly said.
“I'm still learning at Yeongjae Academy so I can't do much work yet, but by graduation, I'll be able to do much better! And I'm really good at cleaning originally. I cleaned all the upper school classrooms in Elam City by myself. So...”
“Ibi, wait a moment. Surely you're not saying you want to work for the duke family right now?”
“Yes. Isn't that why you're calling me?”
As if wondering what other reason there could be for calling her, Ibi tilted her head, leaving the duchess speechless for a moment.
She set the embraced Ibi down on the ground and knelt to meet her eyes.
“Ibi, that's not what I meant. So, um... After you graduate, you could stay with our family for a long time and become my disciple. Or... um...”
As she spoke, the duchess glanced at Arcel.
Pretending to listen quietly, Arcel's face was flushed red with joy.
Suddenly, an image flashed in the duchess's mind of a slightly older Ibi shyly calling her mother.
'I like her.'
If her son liked her, then she did too. She might even like this child more than her son!
'I want to teach her more.'
She wanted to watch up close how her talent shone and how she grew.
If she stayed at this duke family forever, how wonderful that would be.
'It would be nice if things worked out with Arcel too, but...'
Ibi was only seven.
Too young to have special feelings for Arcel, and an age where she could change her choices anytime.
But if she held on too tightly from such a young age, Ibi might feel sorry and make a choice she didn't truly want, watching her expression.
'That won't do.'
No matter how much she wanted it, she couldn't force a life-altering decision.
'Besides, His Majesty the Emperor is her guardian.'
Imagining Ibi with sparkling green eyes as a musician made her just smile.
But all this had to be Ibi's choice.
A path chosen purely by herself, not by coercion or circumstances.
Like all professions, the path of an artist was arduous too.
She just wanted to help from nearby.
In any case, to do that, they needed to get closer.
His Majesty the Emperor might envision a different future for Ibi.
'His Majesty won't easily permit it.'
Recalling what Arcel had said at dinner before, even Yeongjae Academy's math professor was eyeing Ibi.
Moreover, Airin Terrins, at whose house she had stayed before coming here, seemed to adore this child too.
'A family rumored to be the empire's greatest merchants.'
The duke family didn't fall short of the Terrins family, but when it came to big money, the Terrins had a overwhelmingly strong image in the empire.
'She really likes touching instruments, so I need to teach her diligently for at least this week to spark her interest.'
Then she would come with Arcel every time she went out, and gradually...
As the duchess was neatly planning in her head, Ibi whispered in her ear.
“If you pay me a lot, I'll come here after graduation. I'll clean hard without slacking. Promise.”
Saying the world's most pitiful words, yet still believing she would be made to clean, the duchess hugged Ibi again at her innocence.
“Ibi, you too!”
And Arcel beside them watched his mother rubbing her face against Ibi's cheek with a mix of embarrassment and envy.
* * *
“What's going on today? It's the first time I've been called to the main building twice.”
A completely ordinary-looking man, the kind one might forget his face seconds after passing him on the street, grumbled as he stood before the duke.
It was Riden, the one who handled all the duke family's secret matters.
“Even Young Master Arcel summoned me directly.”
“What did Arcel ask of you?”
“Eh, you didn't know, Your Grace? Then I can't say.”
“I'm the one paying your salary right now.”
“Young Master Arcel might be in charge of my future. I'm a man who invests in dreams, hopes, and the future originally.”
At Riden's cheeky reply, the duke sighed.
“Enough joking. It might be a serious matter.”
At the word 'serious' from the duke's mouth, Riden finally wiped the smile from his face.
“What is it?”
His cold work voice emerged.
“I'd like you to investigate the orphanage in Elam City. Specifically, find out how one of its children ended up there.”
“Who is it?”
“That girl sitting between my wife and son outside the window. Cute, right?”
“Yes, cute like my own daughter... No. That's not it. Why send me all the way to Elam City when the child is sitting right next to you?”
“I have suspicions. Above all, find out thoroughly where the orphanage Director brought that child from, without anyone noticing, and where she was before coming to the orphanage.”
“But Elam City is pretty far. It'll take some time.”
“Doesn't matter. Just don't miss a single thing—scrape it all up. By the way, what exactly did Arcel entrust to you?”
“Ah, that? You'll keep it between us, right?”
“No. I'll ask Arcel directly in a bit.”
“...Then I don't know why you're asking me. Well, since you'll ask him directly, I'll tell you in advance: it's about the Count Aradman family.”
“Count Aradman family? The one that was noisy because their daughter was expelled from Yeongjae Academy?”
“Yes. Young Master Arcel asked about a new girl who entered that family. A blonde girl with green eyes named Eve.”
“Eve?”
Instinctively, the duke felt a chill.
Because a name had come to mind unbidden.
Evebien.
The name of the deceased princess.
Come to think of it, the Ibi outside even had a similar name to the princess.
Evebien.
A name that could be called Eve or Ibi.
“Actually, it's a capital family, and since their employees have remarkably tight lips, I've already found out quite a bit.”
Riden answered lightly, as if it were nothing.
“What?”
“A strange woman started visiting a few weeks ago, bringing the girl with her. They don't know which family she's from, but the count treats her quite courteously. And her characteristic is...”
Riden said as if it were odd.
“She always wears gloves.”
At those words, the duke's eyes flashed.
“Cancel what I said about taking it leisurely. Drop everything else and find out about both as quickly as possible.”
The duke looked at the calendar and set a date.
“I need to confirm all this before the Autumn Ball.”
* * *
And before dinner, Ibi was clutching the duchess's arm with shining eyes.
“Really? I can get 1 gold per day?”
Just now, the duchess had formally offered Ibi a part-time job.
