Chapter 75

Without noticing Anriche’s expression, Liliana was so excited that she continued to speak.

“Everyone said sorry for the teatime incident and even the swordsmanship!”

“Oh my gosh, that’s great.”

“Right? I’m so glad to hear that.”

Liliana clenched her fists as she continued her words, “Actually, I was constantly worried that Lady Tornian would keep bullying me.”

And then, she smiled.

“But now, I don’t have to worry about that. I’m so glad!”

“Yeah, I thought it was very fortunate.”

Just then, Elliot interrupted with a sullen face.

“Honestly, I don’t trust that girl.”

“Elliot…?”

“We’ll see, if she just torments Liliana again…”

Anriche gazed at Elliot with delighted eyes. Yes, even in the original story, he couldn’t live without Liliana. And now, he was already a fool for Liliana.

…Well, that’s a good thing.

The moment Anriche nodded her head like that.

Liliana opened her mouth, squinting her eyes.

“By the way, I heard mother bought the Londini Orphanage?”

“Yes, right.”

This time she had no intention of hiding it, so Anriche nodded her head.

“Then… How do you plan to use the building?”

“Yes?”

At the unexpected question, Anriche opened her eyes wide. Liliana asked her next question in a rather nervous voice.

“…Is the orphanage going to disappear altogether?”

“Well, I’m still thinking about it. Why are you thinking like that?”

“Um, that’s…?”

Liliana, who had been wiggling her fingers for a while, carefully opened her mouth.

“…If the orphanage disappears altogether, her students will have nowhere to go.”

“Liliana.”

“It’s a bit… that, therefore.”

Glancing at Anriche with a squint, she took a deep breath and finished her words, “There is no place to be at all… It’s a bit scary.”

“….”

Anriche felt her chest ache. Because she seemed to know how frightened Liliana must have been while living in the Londini orphanage.

Being abandoned…

Being permanently deprived of her place of residence…

It was probably the fear that Liliana had had since her birth. Because of that…

‘Is that why you take care of the orphanage students? ‘

Anriche revisited the original story.

‘It was said that the reason Liliana was able to get through her difficult life day by day was because of the friendship she had with the students.’

It clearly said so.

She secretly shared food with the students and treated them kindly, so she was able to endure it.

‘Rather, her blood relatives, the Londini family, treated Liliana like a maid.’

Eventually, Anriche, who snorted inside, answered in a gentle voice, “Don’t worry, what Liliana fears won’t happen.”

“Re, really?”

In response to the friendly answer, Liliana raised her head while twinkling with a bright face.

Seeing that, she asked mischievously.

“Of course. Have you ever seen me lie to Liliana?”

“Oh, no! I’ve never seen it!”

Liliana shook her head to her side.

At that, Anriche smiled and held her two children in her arms.

***

A few days later.

Viscountess Ivan was in a crazy mood.

“Hey, how the hell did this happen…?!”

She blinked her eyes and looked down at the letters piled up on the table. Although the senders were different, the content of the letter was the same.

“Why, why are you firing me like everyone else did!”

Unable to overcome the rising anger, Viscountess Ivan pushed aside all the letters from her desk. Not enough, she trampled the letters scattered on the floor.

“Why! Why…!”

Viscountess Ivan raised her voice as she gasped for breath. She couldn’t figure out why all of a sudden her employers fired her, no matter how much she thought about it. Unfortunately, she went to every house by herself, but…

‘I don’t want to have a conversation with Viscountess Ivan, so please leave immediately.’

…Everywhere, only cold words of refusal came back.

‘I’m suspicious of the Tornian family.’

Deep in her thoughts, Viscountess Ivan opened her eyes narrowly.

It was reasonable doubt.

Since that was because it was Tornian who was the first to send a notice of dismissal. Starting with them, notices of dismissal began to flow in from other places as well.

‘I must see Madam Tornian’s face.’

She, of course, had already knocked on the door a few times, though… Still, it’s something she had to know. Nonetheless, she jumped up from her seat before slamming the door as she walked out.

***

Anriche took Liliana and Elliot today to visit Tornian’s townhouse. It was because Mrs. Tornian earnestly invited them to the townhouse.

“Welcome, Duchess!”

Mrs. Tornian welcomed the Valois family with a bright face. In front of her, Peter and Anita stood.

“What are you doing? You should apologize to Lady Aberyt right away!”

To her mother’s rebuke, Anita annoyedly protested.

“Mo, mom. Didn’t I already apologize?”

“Still, do it one more time in front of mom.”

Of course, that annoyance quickly subsided in front of her mother’s grim face. Anita, who pouted her lips, secretly glanced at Liliana before opening her mouth.

“Well. I was mean at the tea time…… ”

Anita wiggled her fingers and squeezed her eyes shut.

“I’m so sorry.”

“I, me, too…”

Peter also sneaked into the conversation.

“This swordsmanship battle and everything that happened before that… I want to apologize.”

“I’m fine.”

Liliana smiled brightly.

“Thank you for your apology.”

However, unlike Liliana, Elliot didn’t seem to be okay at all and spoke up.

“No, they are apologizing for their mistake! What are you thanking them for!!”

Elliot, who was furious, unknowingly raised her voice.

“Just do another thing at Liliana from now on!”

He clenched his fists tightly and shot at the Tornian siblings. His eyes were so bloody that the Tornian siblings were overwhelmed and avoided his eyes.

Liliana, unable to see it, called for Elliot.

“Elliot.”

“But…!”

“I am really okay?”

Saying that, she comforted him with a smile.

“Liliana, you really…”

Elliott looked dissatisfied, but in the end, he did what Liliana wanted, and he bit his lips. Mrs. Tornian, who had been watching her with a timid and anxious heart, opened her mouth quickly.

“My kids have apologized, though still, as a mother, I’m really sorry.”

At the same time, she secretly examined Anriche’s eyes.

‘I made an apology right in front of the Duchess, so please don’t take this as a problem anymore and bury it.’

Seeing that desperate look, Anriche nodded her head politely.

“Would you like to come this way? It’s not enough, but I have prepared tea and refreshments.”

“Oh, thank you.”

Thus, the Valois family was ushered to the tea table prepared in the parlor. Contrary to her humility, saying, “It’s not enough,” the tea and refreshments were all top-notch. Somehow, her effort to not get hated by the Duchess of Valois was standing out.

So, some time passes.

“Mom, can we go to our playroom to play?”

“I want to show Liliana my new doll.”

The children, who were full from juice and snacks, spoke to Anriche and Mrs. Tornian.

“Don’t be alone. Take the nanny.”

“Yes!”

So, after the children ran away, Mrs. Tornian carefully called out Anriche.

“Excuse me, Duchess…”

“Yes, tell me.”

“Didn’t you say the other day that if you get close to ink, her hands will turn black?”

“It was.”

Answering her, Anriche nodded her head slightly.

“I… I thought the Duchess was right.”

“Well, may I ask what you mean by that?”

“As of today.”

Mrs. Tornian continued with a nervous voice, “Our Peter and Lady Rondini, will not be engaged.”

“Oh, my goodness…”

Anriche, who had blinked her eyes, gently pushed up the tip of her lips.

“You made a big decision.”

“It was all thanks to the advice of the Duchess of Valois.”

“Well, medicines that are good for the body are bitter in the mouth…” She said as she put down her teacup with graceful movements and continued her speech.

“Even if you give them advice, you don’t often follow them.”

However, at that moment…

Knock, knock.

A short knock sounded.

“Come in.”

They thought it was the maid who came to clean the refreshment plates, although the maid brought out unexpected news.

“Excuse me, Madam…”

“Why?”

“Viscountess Ivan has visited.”

“…What?”

Mrs. Tornian widened her eyes. Why, after all, at the time she was with the Duchess of Valois…!

“Never let her in the townhouse, understand?”

“No, you don’t need to.”

But then—

Anriche shook her head.

“She has to know the reality to give up quickly.”

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