“Director. Should I put this here?”

“Yes. I think it would be best to place it beside the table for now.”

Leah put down the box she was carrying and dusted off her hands.

“Why don’t you rest a bit? You came here on vacation. You probably haven’t had a proper rest with all the guild work and everything…”

Maribel’s voice lowered, feeling sorry for making Leah work during her vacation.

“I’m happy to be able to help like this. Cleaning isn’t that difficult.”

Leah had always cared more for the orphanage than herself, from childhood until now.

And Maribel always felt sorry for Leah because of this. It seemed like she lacked affection for family.

Maribel put down the towel and spoke while looking out the window.

“That assistant of yours, James. He seems like quite a nice fellow. Coming all the way here to help like this.”

Following Maribel’s gaze, Leah saw Akkia helping Theo.

‘I didn’t expect him to work so hard.’

Most of the repairs to the orphanage building were finished, but the garden still showed many traces of flood damage.

Who would have thought the duke would volunteer to help Theo clean the garden together?

Who would think that man was a nobleman? It felt like discovering a new side of the duke.

“Elder sister, elder sister!”

Leah, who had been staring intently out the window, looked down at the tug on her skirt.

There was Betty, who had just turned seven, looking up at Leah with bright eyes.

“What is it?”

“That handsome elder brother who came with you.”

“Handsome elder brother?”

She should know Theo’s name. It seemed she was referring to the duke.

“Who is that elder brother? Is he your husband?”

“…Husband? No. That elder brother is my assistant.”

Husband? It must be the influence of playing house.

“Assistant? What’s that?”

“Um… It’s…”

As Leah was trying to organize her thoughts on how to answer, Harry, a child the same age nearby, answered while picking his nose.

“Assistant means. He’s Leah’s subordinate!”

“Subordinate?”

“Since he helps with Leah’s work, he’s her subordinate.”

Leah let out an awkward laugh at the conclusion that seemed somewhat right, yet wrong.

“Elder sister. Look over there!”

Looking where the child was pointing, Leah saw several carriages lined up heading towards the orphanage.

‘What’s going on?’

They had already received basic water and food supplies, so there was no reason for such large cargo wagons to come.

Leah stopped what she was doing and went outside. The person who got out of the carriage that had just entered was Berun from the Magnolia Guild.

“Miss Leah.”

“Mr. Berun?”

He got out of the carriage and greeted her politely.

“What are all these carriages?”

“A small gift from the Magnolia Guild.”

“A gift?”

As soon as he finished speaking, workers began unloading the cargo from the carriages.

Toys that children would like, clean clothes, books, and bed sheets. Items that the orphanage needed were piling up one by one.

“Is all of this really a gift for us?”

“Yes, thanks to Miss Leah’s help, the guild’s work was able to wrap up quickly. The guild master specially instructed this as a token of gratitude.”

“My goodness.”

In fact, many things like children’s toys and books had been damaged or lost due to the flood.

The few things they managed to save were covered in mud, losing their original appearance.

Leah stared at the boxes piling up neatly with a dumbfounded expression. The children lurking nearby could barely contain their excitement at seeing the toys.

“Elder sister! Can I take these toys?”

“Huh? Yes. Of course. But you have to share and play with the other children.”

“Okay!!”

“But elder sister. Who gave us these gifts?”

Leah knelt down to the child’s eye level and said,

“It’s from Magnolia. The guild master sent these gifts wishing for you all to grow up well.”

“For us to grow up well?”

“Yes. It’s a gift hoping you’ll grow up healthy without get ting sick, just like now. So later, let’s write a thank you letter to the guild master who gave us these gifts.”

“What kind of person is the guild master?”

“He is-”

As Leah was about to continue, Akkia, who had approached unnoticed, answered in her place.

“A very excellent and great person.”

‘Your Grace?’

“I’ve heard he’s incredibly handsome too.”

The duke speaking as if he knew the guild master well seemed quite arrogant. Suddenly appearing and praising the guild master like that.

‘Come to think of it, has His Grace ever spoken so well of anyone?’

Though he never said it explicitly, he was a man who thought himself the most outstanding person in the world.

“So, always live with a grateful heart towards the guild master.”

“Yes!!”

The innocent children raised their hands and gave a loyal answer. As Leah was watching this scene in amazement, Berun, who had finished checking if anything was missing, approached.

“The guild master has also promised regular support for the orphanage from now on.”

“…Pardon?”

Not only these many gifts, but regular support too?

The guild was a profit-seeking organization. Even if they were grateful for the help, this was too much.

‘Why are they going to such lengths?’

Leah asked with a somewhat suspicious look.

“I appreciate the consideration, but… Could I know the reason for providing so much support? It seems excessive for just helping out a little with work.”

“Ah, that’s…”

Berun trailed off, seemingly flustered.

‘How should I answer this?’

He wiped away the cold sweat that kept forming and avoided eye contact. But as he looked somewhere, he flinched and gave an evasive answer.

“The, the guild master likes children… Haha.”

“…I see.”

Though something felt off, she had no intention of refusing what was being offered. Everything here was exactly what the orphanage needed.

‘How did they send just what we needed, as if they had inspected the orphanage?’

As Leah was wondering what kind of person the guild master might be, Akkia, who seemed to have been talking with the children, approached her.

“James.”

“…?”

“How do you know the Magnolia guild master?”

Based on what he was saying to the children earlier, it sounded like he knew the guild master well.

The idea that the duke, shrouded in mystery, was acquainted with the equally mysterious Magnolia guild master. Curiosity showed in Leah’s eyes as she asked Akkia.

“Well. As someone doing business in my territory, I know him well.”

So it’s because he’s the landowner after all.

“What’s that?”

Leah nodded towards the envelope in Akkia’s hand. Considering he had been empty-handed when talking to the children, she thought he might have received it from Berun.

“A letter from the territory. It came through the guild.”

Akkia answered with an indifferent face as he read the letter. Leah, who had been watching him, turned her head at the sound of children’s loud laughter.

The gentle scenery of the orphanage came into view.

‘I wish this place could always be peaceful like today.’

If the children could always have reasons to smile like this, that would be Leah’s happiness.

If she ever meets the guild master, she must convey her thanks.

‘And to His Grace too.’

She turned to look at Akkia. His expression, which had been smiling faintly until just moments ago, had hardened.

At least here in Tren, there had been no occasions for the duke to frown. Leah approached the duke and asked,

“Is something wrong?”

Akkia looked up at Leah’s worried question.

“It seems the butler who went on vacation will return to the mansion earlier than expected.”

“Bayern? How much earlier?”

“Four days from now.”

Four days…

They would have to leave right now to arrive in Heidern territory before Bayern.

“I think I’ll have to go back first.”

“Wait a moment. Then I’ll quickly pack my things…”

Leah sensed something serious in the duke’s cold, sunken eyes. As she hurriedly tried to take off the apron she was wearing, Akkia stopped her hand.

“It’s fine. You stay here and finish cleaning up. I’ll leave as soon as I’m ready.”

“But…”

“It would be difficult to ride with you too, so listen to me.”

‘Well, I don’t know how to ride a horse.’

Leah felt that further words would be useless seeing Akkia firmly rejecting her intention.

Leah smiled brightly, conveying that she understood.

“Then, I’ll follow as quickly as I can. You go ahead.”

That seemed to satisfy Akkia very much, as a faint smile finally appeared on his lips.

“Alright. I’ll be waiting at the mansion.”

Akkia left immediately, riding a horse that Berun had procured. It had been two days since he returned to Heidern territory like that.

Leah gathered her packed belongings on the bed. Even though it was just a short vacation, she had quite a lot of luggage, probably because Theo and the director had prepared various things for her.

Moreover, although it had only been two days since he left, the orphanage residents seemed to feel Akkia’s absence considerably.

[Elder sister, isn’t James coming anymore?] [No. James is busy with his assistant work, so it’ll be hard for him to come again.]

The children expressed their disappointment at James’s departure. Though he was an arrogant man in front of Leah, James was different at the orphanage.

No, he was so different it felt unfamiliar.

The man who only cared about himself helped with the orphanage repairs and even got along well with the children.

‘It’s really strange.’

For a duke who had lived in seclusion in his mansion all his life, he rode a horse quite skillfully.

He seemed indifferent to the mansion’s affairs, but he understood the situation better than anyone. A sickly but not weak duke.

‘What other sides of His Grace don’t I know?’

Leah shook her head vigorously as the duke’s face invaded her thoughts again. She had promised to return to the mansion quickly, so there was no time for such thoughts.

“When I get back, I should treat him well.”

I should work hard on developing the treatment too.

As a gentle smile spread across Leah’s face, there was a knock at the door. It was Theo who poked his head through the opening door.

“Leah, the carriage has arrived. Did you pack everything?”

“Yes. I’m all ready.”

Theo grinned and came in to carry the luggage Leah had packed. As they were about to leave the orphanage together,

“I’m glad James is by your side. I was so worried about sending you alone to a foreign land.”

Leah smiled at Theo’s sincere concern, as always.

“Well… That’s true.”

Since James is in the position of an employer, he can’t be separated from me. If Theo knew that Leah was working as a double agent, he would surely try to stop her with fire in his eyes.

Theo, a friend and like an elder brother.

There was no need to say anything since she could leave Heidern territory in a few months after paying back the contract money.

‘It would only make him worry if I said anything unnecessarily.’

Leah came out with Theo and loaded her luggage onto the carriage. After loading all her belongings, just as she was about to get on the carriage,

“Leah… Um, you know.”

“Yes?”

“You prefer living in Heidern territory over Tren, right?”

After beating around the bush so much, this is what he wanted to ask. It seemed Theo was very sad about his hometown friend, who was like a sibling, leaving.

“I suppose so. Besides, I can’t leave the territory right now, Theo.”

Not just because of the money issues entangled with the supplement business, but also because of the deal with the duke.

“There’s someone I’m deeply involved with.”

Theo’s shoulders slumped at the sight of Leah lost in thought, as if recalling someone.

Theo keenly felt that what James had said was true.

‘So there really is someone she’s seeing.’

“I see…”

Leah patted Theo’s slumped shoulders, not knowing the real reason for his dejection.

“I’ll come visit often. I’ll write letters often too, Theo.”

Theo stared blankly into space until Leah’s carriage disappeared into the distance.