Chapter 24
#24
A set time. A set meeting.
Outwardly, it was a pleasant time for fiancés, but in reality, it was no different from a monthly meeting of warlords.
That was what Ricardo and my meetings were like.
It was a time to inform each other about family events to take care of in the coming month or to select balls that we absolutely had to attend together.
The only time we spent on each other was the initial "How do you do?" and the final "Take care." That was all there was to those meetings.
But today was a little different.
As usual, Ricardo entered the Croford Family's drawing room alone, and as usual, he sat upright on the sofa and took a sip of tea.
And if it were like any other time, he should have said:
"Is there something special?"
But today, he didn't say that.
"I'm planning to formally discuss the marriage with Lord Croford soon."
I was taken aback by his words, which were different from usual.
I was taken aback by the different pattern, and I was taken aback by the content.
This development was not good. I hadn't told Maria yet that Ricardo and I were engaged.
Since we were going to break off the engagement anyway, there was no point in her knowing that he had a former fiancée, and that it was me.
If she were to find out, I wanted it to be much later.
After she had received plenty of my favor and fallen deeply in love with Ricardo. And after I had broken off the engagement.
Then she would have no reason to poison me, Ricardo's former fiancée whom he had already broken up with, and if I made her think that I had broken up with Ricardo for her sake, she would feel even more sorry and grateful to me.
"Ricardo."
My mind and head were simultaneously complicated, wondering how to persuade him, but I calmly called his name.
"I've been dredging up very old memories, and I don't know if you remember."
As if trying to get the jump on me, Ricardo started talking before I could say anything.
"What memories?"
"How our engagement came about."
Ricardo spoke as if there was a very interesting story, but in reality, it was nothing special.
A naive girl pestered her father, who would do anything for her, the power and friction between the families were in a reasonable balance, and it was an engagement like a contract made because it was a rational choice when considering the pros and cons.
Hidden behind the romantic word "fiancé" was a cold "calculation" like the beads of a merchant's abacus.
"It was probably summer. When I came back to my room exhausted after finishing swordsmanship training with my teacher, my mother was waiting for me. And she said with a smile. That my marriage partner had finally been decided."
Ricardo smiled a little bitterly.
"The word 'finally' didn't fit. I had never thought about marriage. I was only thirteen then."
That's right. He was a thirteen-year-old boy dreaming of becoming a knight.
"And you were only ten."
And I was a ten-year-old girl dreaming of becoming a lady.
"It wasn't my decision. I'm sure it was the same for you. The adults' promise became an order for the children, and it was an agreement for the organic connection of the two families."
However, there was a difference between the two of us.
The young ten-year-old girl dreaming of becoming a lady had secretly liked the young thirteen-year-old boy dreaming of becoming a knight.
He was only three years older than her, but he felt much more grown-up, and that's why she liked him.
A fact that the boy didn't know. And a fact that he will never know.
It was a fact that was no longer important.
"Why are you bringing up that story all of a sudden?"
"Since the engagement was carried out without regard for our own wishes, I was wondering if the marriage could proceed in the same way."
"Ricardo."
"So, I'm planning to proceed with the marriage. Ignoring your wishes a little."
He was talking about the time I brought up the story of breaking off the engagement. That such a thing would not happen.
"Wouldn't such a marriage be unhappy?"
"What kind?"
"A marriage without love."
"Why do you think there isn't any?"
For a moment, I was speechless.
Why do I think there isn't any? Does that mean there is?
As if understanding that I couldn't bring myself to ask that question, Ricardo was staring at me intently.
It was as if he was waiting for me to ask that question.
"I'm planning to hold a ball next month."
Making an effort to avoid Ricardo's gaze, I picked up my teacup.
As I pretended to admire the color of the tea and changed the subject, Ricardo gave a small wry smile and picked up his teacup as well.
"I hope you'll keep the time open to attend as well."
"I will."
"I have two… three things to discuss today."
Looking at the head of the orphanage, who was about to make tea herself, I quickly corrected myself.
"Three things?"
She paused and looked at me.
"First, the first thing."
I gestured to Panya, who was sitting next to me, and she placed what she had bought at the store before coming here on the table.
"What is this?"
"It's tea that I enjoy drinking. I'll drink this tea when I visit here."
"Ah! I see. I was thoughtless. To offer such a thing to a noble young lady."
The head of the orphanage blushed and quietly hid the tea she was about to make.
The quick-witted Panya quickly took the tea she had brought and went to where the head of the orphanage was standing, and began to make tea in her place.
Looking at the head of the orphanage, who still had a slightly awkward expression on her face, I smiled gently.
"It's just that I'm a bit picky about tea. And I like that about you."
As if not understanding what I meant, the head of the orphanage looked at me.
The middle-aged woman with gray hair mixed in here and there and no makeup had a face that was far from beautiful.
The clothes she was wearing were neat and clean, but they were far behind the times, and they were old, as if to prove that she had been wearing them for a very long time.
The same was true of the head of the orphanage's office.
A sofa that didn't even know what cushioning was, a bookshelf that was bent in the middle because it couldn't bear the weight, a cracked teapot, and tea that tasted like sewage.
Everything was the same.
Even though I had paid a large sum of money to this orphanage, this head of the orphanage's office and the head of the orphanage sitting in front of me were the same as before.
Instead, what had changed was that Lara had boasted that she had eaten a stew with plenty of meat and it was very delicious, and that the children who had been wearing clothes with worn sleeves and patched knees and elbows were wearing new clothes.
"And the second thing is a reminder about the children's teacher that I talked about last time."
"I'm looking into it. There are three or four people who have contacted me now, so I'm going to choose from them."
"Is it going well?"
"Yes. I've already bought the children's books and school supplies, as well as desks and chairs, so we'll be able to start education soon if we meet a good teacher."
"Good."
As expected, the head of the orphanage was not being lazy. It was just that I was feeling a little impatient.
"And the last thing is, I'm going to host a charity ball."
"I see."
Although she nodded, the head of the orphanage's expression was one that didn't understand why I was telling her that.
"It's a charity event to help this orphanage."
"Yes? We are grateful for all the help you have given us so far."
"I know. But I want to help more."
Finally, Panya brought the tea, and as I smelled the fragrant tea, I was able to look at the head of the orphanage with a more relaxed gaze.
"I think you should move."
"Move?"
"Yes. Build a new building. This place seems a bit old."
"Does that much money come together from just one charity ball?"
"Of course, it's not enough with just that one. But the land where the orphanage will be built will be sponsored by the Croford Family, and I will cover the money that is lacking to build the building as well."
The head of the orphanage's eyes widened at the words that I would provide the land and the money that was lacking.
"The reason I came to see you today is to ask if you have any intention of doing so. And also to ask if it's okay to hold a charity ball in the name of this orphanage."
I didn't think she would refuse.
However, I thought it was right to ask for permission, even if it was just formally, since she was still the head of this place.
And also to see Lara's face.
"Of course, we would be grateful if you would do that for us. The current building is old, so it costs a lot of money to repair it, and it would be better for the children to live in a clean, new building. In fact, the number of children has increased since the beginning, so the rooms are a bit small."
Of course, the head of the orphanage did not refuse. No one would refuse to have a new building for free.
In addition, Ricardo's words that the orphanage's situation was not improving much because she was trying to accept as many children as possible when she had money were also true.
"Um… but……."
"Is there a problem?"
"We are receiving some support from the Empire, so we need permission to move."
"Then get it? Isn't that enough time while the building is being built?"
"That's… that procedure is more complicated than you think. We considered moving to a slightly larger building before, but we gave up because it was not easy to get approval."
"You're moving, so what kind of approval do you need?"
"Because it's an orphanage, the procedures are complicated, such as where the money came from, whether the children were used to get the money, and whether it's a legal building. In addition, people don't like orphanage buildings, so that permission is also difficult……."
The head of the orphanage trailed off slightly. She seemed heartbroken that the children, who were precious to her, were being treated coldly in society.
I felt like she was a really kind person, as I had felt after meeting her several times.
"I understand."
So, I decided to be a little more generous.
"I'll take care of it."
"Yes? How can you do that……? Of course, I know that Bianca is in a great position, but it's not that simple because it's a matter that requires the Empire's permission."
"I know someone."
Not that I want to get to know them.
