1-3 The Orphanage
A few days later, I rode in a carriage with my father to the orphanage.
Since the duke’s mansion is located deep in the noble district, we passed by several other noble residences along the way. One of them looked familiar to me. Of course, that’s natural since I’d seen this scenery in my previous life.
However, I couldn’t remember at all whose mansion it was, despite recognizing it.
It looked like an ordinary lower noble’s residence that could be found anywhere.
“Father, whose mansion is that?”
I asked, pointing out the carriage window.
“That’s Viscount Ravenwood’s mansion. Their family is known for producing excellent magicians for generations.”
It was a name I’d never heard before. Was I mistaken about something?
Still, as the carriage passed by, I found myself staring intently at that mansion, as if drawn to it.
The orphanage we were taken to was grander than I had expected.
The building, attached to a monastery, was made of stone and looked historic. It also had a spacious courtyard.
As soon as we stepped onto the grounds, we could see children playing in the courtyard, their laughter and cheers echoing. The garden was well-maintained, with vibrant flowers in full bloom.
Huh? This isn’t as bleak as I thought it would be.
Why do they seem to be living so happily? Since they don’t have parents, I expected their lives to be more filled with sorrow.
At the entrance of the building was an old wooden carved door with the name of the orphanage engraved above it.
–Holy Haven Orphanage–
Inside, a long hallway stretched out, with children’s drawings and handmade decorations displayed on the walls. On both sides of the hallway were the children’s bedrooms, with beds neatly arranged.
In my imagination, this place was supposed to be like hell, with children engaged in bloody fights over a piece of bread. But it turned out to be more decent than I thought, which was disappointing.
“Welcome, Duke Rosenberg and Lady Selina.”
The person who greeted us inside the orphanage was a plump, middle-aged nun who served as the director. She seemed like a kind person with a nurturing nature. I had hoped for someone more sinister, who would scold the children with a shrill voice.
Is this orphanage really alright? Are there actually any children here who have properly strayed from the right path?
“We are grateful for your generous initiative to choose a servant from among our orphans,” the director said.
Servants in the duke’s household are well-treated and usually require a certain social status and education. So it was natural for the director to be grateful that they were choosing from orphans. Well, I think the treatment of my servant will be quite harsh though.
“We have pre-selected children who would be suitable to serve in the duke’s household. Please choose from among these children,” the director said.
With that, she introduced the children who were waiting behind her.
They seemed a bit nervous, but they were neatly dressed and had pure, childlike expressions.
“Welcome, Your Grace the Duke and Lady Selina,”
they greeted us in a practiced manner. They must have been taught some etiquette.
…No. These are not the kind of people I’m looking for.
They need to have fallen more to the dark side. It would be troublesome if they suddenly regained their conscience when faced with Eleanor. After all, that saint is a formidable opponent who can make even the town’s miscreants repent in tears. I want a child who looks sullen and plays by killing insects in the corner of the garden.
“Madam Director, I greatly appreciate your thoughtfulness, but I would like to see and choose the children with my own eyes. So, if possible, I would be happy if you could introduce me to the other children as well,”
I said, carefully choosing my words and speaking politely. In my previous life, I might have said something like, “You’re wasting your excess consideration and fat.”
“I see. Then I will introduce you to the other children as well. What kind of child are you looking for?”
the director responded cheerfully, not seeming offended.
“Well, let’s see. I prefer children who are strong and violent, or those who are cunning and always deceiving others, or perhaps merciless children who can kill animals without batting an eye.”
“Eh?”
The director’s smile became strained.
“This is Richard. His father is a notorious ruffian who is in prison for repeated acts of violence. Richard himself often uses violence against other children, and he’s one of the problem children we have trouble handling,”
the director introduced Richard with a confused expression.
He should be the same age as me, but his body is larger. With his brown skin and short brown hair, he looks rough just by appearance. Even though he should know we’re nobles, he’s taking a sullen attitude.
What an excellent specimen. Even his father is a certified criminal. If we start training him now, he’ll likely grow into a promising violent fool in the future. I also love how dimwitted he is, looking at us with defiant eyes despite knowing we’re nobles. I’ll have him use his strength to the fullest for me.
“I’ll take this one as the first,”
I decided immediately.
“Eh? Are you sure you want Richard?”
the director was perplexed. She’s probably unsure if it’s okay to send such a problem child to the duke’s household.
“Hey, who do you think you are, deciding things on your own? Don’t get cocky just because you’re nobles!”
Richard was an absolute idiot. Normally, no one would get away with speaking to a duke’s daughter like that. If it were me in my previous life, I would have turned him into fertilizer for the fields. In fact, the servants my father brought with us are getting agitated.
I held them back with a gesture.
“Richard. From today, you’ll be a candidate to be my servant. If you have any complaints, come at me. You’re confident in your strength, aren’t you? Though you seem weak in the head.”
“You asked for it, you brat!”
Taking my bait, Richard lunged at me. What a simple-minded child. His movements are sloppy because he’s untrained.
At this point, he’s no match for me, who has properly trained in self-defense.
I lowered my body to dodge his attack, then struck his now-exposed jaw with the heel of my palm. As he started to lose his balance, I swiftly kicked him between the legs.
“Urghh…”
Richard groaned and fell to the ground.
“Now do you understand who’s superior? Since you lost, you’ll have to do as I say, okay?”
It’s best to establish a clear hierarchy with these types through sheer force.
“Well then, Director, please introduce me to the next child.”
Glancing at the writhing Richard, I smiled at the Director.
The director’s eyes were darting back and forth.
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“This is Oscar. He’s a leader figure among the boys, but he’s rebellious towards us and often sneaks out of the orphanage, causing us trouble.”
The introduced boy wore a defiant smile. He had beautiful black hair and almond-shaped eyes. He must be popular with girls. He might even think he could easily win me over.
Unfortunately, my inner self is eighteen years older than my appearance, so I have no interest in children.
Though I say that, Edward is also a child at this point, but marrying the crown prince would bring status, honor, and power, so it’s incomparable. The benefits are different.
“Are this child’s parents con artists or something?”
He has an air about him that suggests he could smoothly deceive people with his good looks, so perhaps his parents are of that ilk?
Hearing my question to the director, Oscar frowned in displeasure.
“No, his father is a nobleman and his mother is a commoner. Due to various circumstances, he ended up here…”
The director trailed off.
I see, it’s a common story. A nobleman had his way with a commoner girl, a child was born, and not knowing how to deal with it, they left the child at an orphanage. Oscar probably knows his father is a nobleman, hence his misplaced confidence.
Well, he has a good face, so he might be useful in captivating noble daughters. I’ll secure him for now.
“I understand. I’ll take this child as a servant candidate too. Whether they’re children of nobles or commoners, I’ll make sure they understand that they’re equally (worthless) in my household.”
I lifted Oscar’s chin with my index finger. I can’t wait to see this handsome face distorted in pain. The thought made the corners of my mouth turn up involuntarily into a wicked expression.
Perhaps because of my face, Oscar showed a frightened expression. How rude. I’ll make sure he suffers later.
“This is Louis. He lost his parents in an accident and came here. Due to the shock of the accident, Louis hasn’t been able to open up. He hasn’t made any friends and is always alone.”
Despite being introduced by the director, the boy kept his head down, refusing to look up.
He’s probably carrying emotional wounds.
This is good. People carrying such darkness are easy to manipulate. Left alone, they’re the type to seek salvation in religion or something similar.
If I educate him properly now, he’ll surely swear loyalty to me and jump into fire or water at my command.
“I understand. I’ll take this child too.”
“Eh? But this child hasn’t done anything wrong?”
The director seems surprised. What is this person saying? I’m not looking for bad people. I’m just looking for talented individuals who can become excellent servants.
Louis also seemed surprised, probably not expecting to become my servant.
“Don’t worry, there’s nothing to be concerned about. I need you.”
I gently placed my hand on Louis’s shoulder. He gave a small nod. Good, the contract is sealed.
“It seems there’s no problem. Let’s move on to the next one.”
The Director looked at Louis with what seemed like pity for some reason.
“The next child is Isabel. Her mother was a prostitute who died from illness. She’s a smart and pretty child, but she has a self-righteous streak and often sets up others to take the fall. Sometimes even adults fall victim…”
The child the Director introduced was a girl with beautiful blue hair. At just ten years old, she already exudes a bewitching aura. While pretending to be frightened, she was eyeing me with a probing gaze.
She’s a typical schemer. The type who likes to set people up and then watch from a safe distance. She might be smart, but she only uses it for malicious purposes.
She’s not a decent person, but she seems skilled at plotting. She could become a useful pawn.
“I’ll take this child as a servant candidate too.”
When I told the Director, Isabel’s body trembled slightly.
“Um, I don’t think I’ll be of any use…”
A face on the verge of tears. A voice barely above a whisper. Indeed, she doesn’t seem capable of much.
But it’s all an act. Having lived as a woman for eighteen years in my previous life and ten years in this one, I can tell. This type of woman can shed tears at will to deceive people.
Isabel has probably instinctively sensed danger and is trying to avoid becoming my servant candidate.
Including this aspect, she has impeccable qualities. This is the kind of talent I’ve been looking for.
“Oh, does Isabel want to become a prostitute like her mother? What a wonderful dream for the future.”
At my words, Isabel’s fragile expression from earlier instantly changed. Her face contorted, showing intense anger. A face that seemed to resent everything in this world. It sends chills down my spine. That’s the face I wanted to see.
“What a lovely expression. Perfectly suited to be my servant.”
I leaned in close to Isabel’s ear as she glared at me with a demonic expression.
“You’re smart enough to understand this, I’m sure, but this is a done deal. You know what happens if you defy a ducal house, don’t you?”
Children who are somewhat perceptive understand the meaning of power.
She turned her face away in frustration at my threat.
“Director, please introduce the next child.”
The Director was flustered, not quite understanding what was happening.
“Over there is Emma.”
Where the Director pointed, there was a girl clinging to the stone wall of the orphanage. She was climbing the wall as nimbly as a monkey.
“She’s energetic, or rather, beyond that, she’s always doing dangerous things. She’s good at physical activities, but we’re at a loss on how to handle her…”
“I’ll take her as my servant candidate.”
Another instant decision. Her athletic abilities are impressive. She’ll likely be able to handle dangerous missions.
And so, while Emma was still climbing the wall, she became mine.
The Director seemed to have given up on something, and without even informing Emma, she moved on to introduce the next child.
“This is Alice. She likes books, but we’re having trouble dealing with her.”
The Director’s explanations were becoming increasingly brief. It felt like she had started introducing children she wanted the ducal house to take off her hands.
Alice, with her reddish hair, seemed like a quiet child, but she was staring intently at me.
“Trouble? Why is that?”
“The orphanage doesn’t have many books, you see. So she tries to read anything with writing on it. For example, other people’s letters, diaries, anything.”
I see, that is troublesome. However, being eager to learn isn’t a bad thing.
“Alice, would you like to study magic?”
“…Yes.”
Alice answered without emotion. I’m not sure if she’s really motivated, but it wouldn’t do to only gather physically capable individuals. We need this type of child too. It would be a bonus if she became a magician.
“Then, I’ll take this child too.”
Having grown tired of putting on airs, I decided to take Alice as a servant candidate as casually as if I were buying clothes.
And so, I continued to designate the Director’s recommended problem children as my servant candidates one after another.
In the end, a total of six children – Isabel, Alice, Emma, Richard, Oscar, and Louis – were decided as my servant candidates. Their own wishes were irrelevant.
It’s disappointing that so few of them are happy about becoming servant candidates for a ducal house.
I stuffed them into a carriage I had chartered for this purpose and brought them back to the mansion.
The Director seemed to want to say something until the very end, but she also appeared relieved that all the problem children were gone without a single one left behind.
TLNOTE : While waiting, I implore you dear readers to read other masterpiece novels that also written by the same author :
- When the Monster Meat I Ate Led Me to the Throne
- Who killed the Hero?
- The Suspects of Necromancy
- The Exiled Merchant Saves the World with the Power of Gold (translated by my friend meerkat)
Also check out my friend Localizermeerkat for more LN translations!
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