However, upon closer inspection, Mia could understand the reason behind the seemingly cleanliness. There were barely any items in the occasional bedrooms, almost resembling places where people lived, and there were no common children’s doodles on the walls. Perhaps it was an obvious thing, but it was a completely different sight from a kindergarten full of things for children.

‘Nia in a place like this…’

This was the place where her precious daughter had once stayed. Thinking about the miserable appearance of the child at that time still made her anger well up, but to properly investigate the situation, it was better to approach quietly and maintain composure.

However, there was one question that arose at this point. Passing several rooms, there was no sign of the children.

“Um, where are the children?”

“Oh, ma’am. It’s currently mealtime. Of course, the children are eating on the second-floor dining hall.”

“……Ah, I see.”

It was a common response, but there was an inexplicable irony in the middle-aged woman’s smile. Unlike her widely curved eyes, her mouth twisted up on one side.

It seemed to contain an implied meaning, suggesting not to doubt the condition of the items, like any other merchant.

“Since you probably want to see the children quickly, I’ll get ready. Please wait here.”

“Yes. I’ll wait here.”

To Lucia’s concise response, the director tilted her head with a slightly strange look. When Lucia looked at her,

“Hmm, don’t you have any specific requests?”

That was it.

Usually, when adopting, various conditions are presented, but this guest had no conditions at all. It was natural since Lucia had come to inspect all the children. However, there was no reason not to say this when asked first.

Only then did Lucia recall the portraits of the duke and duchess and the appearance of her brothers in the reception room.

The first commonality that came to mind.

Strangely, even the duchess, who wasn’t from the same bloodline, had the same peculiar commonality – cherry-colored hair, like ripe cherries.

“It would be nice if the hair of a girl who entered within the last three years is close to cherry red.”
“Girls who entered within the last 3 years, it would be nice if their hair is close to cherry color.”

“Hoho, I see. It seems Madam is also looking for a child with that hair color.”

Her face seemed somewhat familiar.

When Lucia stared at her intently,

“It’s obvious. If you’re from the Empire, you must know about it. If the Imperial Princess is still alive, she would have inherited the cherry-red hair. It’s still popular like a trend. Well, as you may know, the donation costs…”

Lucia’s expression hardened even more as she listened to her words.

The word “trend” attached to adoption didn’t sit well with her.

“It doesn’t matter.”

‘Since it’s a place that will eventually disappear.’

Lucia intended to use part of the travel expenses from the Crown Prince to send the children here to a large orphanage in the Imperial Capital.

“Oh! My goodness, then please rest comfortably. Madam, you won’t regret coming here!”

Unaware of such thoughts, the woman’s thick eyeliner, like that of a merchant, was satisfactorily curved.

As she busily disappeared, Lucia immediately began to search the office.

She wanted to find records of the children when the woman wasn’t paying attention.

But all that was there were the director’s miscellaneous belongings.

There should be ledgers somewhere, but it seemed they were not here.

Putting aside the disappointment, she listened to the sound of someone approaching again.

“We’re ready. Please, come out quickly. Hoho!”

Following her to the place she went, there were roughly fewer than ten girls.

Eyes full of no expectations, lips that were parched despite having just eaten.

However, what was more surprising than the expressions of those children was that there were quite a few girls with cherry-red hair.

And for some reason, seeing the actual cherry-red hair that looked familiar, someone came to mind.

‘Right, Mia…’

However, focusing on the present, Lucia started to concentrate on the current situation rather than Mia, who was already under her influence.

“Are there so many children who entered within the last three years?”

“Recently, the situation in the Empire has worsened, so there are many children who have nowhere to go.”

Although the director sighed sadly, Lucia didn’t believe that sigh.

‘How many children can be in this narrow place? I’ll have to look through the ledgers separately.’

Thinking that she just had many children, Lucia began to slowly inspect the children.
‘How many children could be in this narrow place? I’ll have to look through the ledger separately.’

Lucia, who just thought there were many children, began to inspect the children slowly.

Somewhere, dusky skin, small and thin figures, dry eyes scrutinizing everything.

Somehow, memories of when she first saw Nia started to come to mind.

Certainly, if they grew up properly, these children would undoubtedly become as bright and innocent as Nia.