Chapter – 04
Baroness Londini blinked blankly for a moment before finally understanding the situation.
No longer being able to extort money under the excuse of living expenses.
That meant she would lose Liliana forever—the endless fountain of money.
“D-Duchess! I…!”
Only then realizing the seriousness of the situation, Baroness Londini hurriedly tried to cling to Anriche’s legs.
Of course, Anriche simply avoided her by stepping back a few paces.
Anriche added coldly,
“I heard the orphanage underwent major expansion after you began raising Liliana.”
That struck the mark perfectly.
Baroness Londini’s eyes widened.
Anriche continued calmly.
“For Liliana’s sake, I’ll overlook everything that happened until now.”
“B-but…!”
“However, if you fail to abandon your greed in the future, or if any unfortunate incident occurs where you bother Liliana again…”
Anriche finished in a merciless voice.
“Then you will meet the lawyers of House Valois in court.”
Court? Lawyers?
Did she mean she was even willing to take legal action?
At this point, Baroness Londini’s pupils were practically trembling with an earthquake.
Regardless, Anriche turned back toward Liliana.
“Liliana.”
“Y-Yes!”
At Anriche’s call, Liliana snapped out of her daze as she had been staring blankly at the Baroness.
“What would you like to do, Liliana?”
“Huh? Me?”
Liliana’s eyes widened in surprise.
Lowering herself to Liliana’s eye level, Anriche spoke gently.
“I would like to become your guardian and live together with you from now on. Would that be alright?”
It was certain that Liliana needed to leave this orphanage.
Leaving a child in an abusive environment was unthinkable.
But that and living together with Anriche were separate matters.
She didn’t want to see Liliana forcing herself because of her.
‘So I should give Liliana a choice too.’
You couldn’t become full after the first spoonful anyway. For now, Anriche intended to be satisfied simply with becoming Liliana’s guardian.
After all, there were many truths Liliana still had to accept, such as the engagement arranged before birth.
Meanwhile, Liliana looked at Anriche helplessly.
“I….”
“If it makes you uncomfortable, it’s alright to refuse. I can prepare another place for you to stay, so you can think about it slowly—”
“N-no!”
Without realizing it, Liliana tightly clenched both fists and shouted loudly.
“I’ll go!”
Hm?
Startled, Anriche’s eyes widened.
But apparently the person most shocked by Liliana’s loud voice was Liliana herself.
“Ah, um… I mean… if I won’t be a burden….”
Liliana cautiously began watching Anriche’s expression.
‘Did I get too greedy?’
But she didn’t want to lose the noblewoman before her.
Because Anriche was the kindest person Liliana had ever met in her life.
“My goodness, how could you possibly be a burden? I’m the one who asked you to come with me.”
Finding Liliana both lovable and heartbreaking, Anriche quickly extended her hand toward her.
“Then shall we go?”
But Liliana could not easily take her hand.
It was a pale and elegant hand that looked as though it had never held anything heavier than a fan.
Could she really touch that hand?
Quietly staring down at her own dust-covered hand, Liliana muttered embarrassedly,
“M-my hands are dirty….”
“Oh, don’t worry about something like that. It’s fine!”
Anriche immediately grabbed Liliana’s hand.
Liliana’s eyes widened.
The soft and warm hand tightened around hers and gently pulled her forward.
“Come on, let’s go.”
At Anriche’s urging, Liliana absentmindedly followed behind her.
‘…This feels strange.’
As she hurried along, Liliana suddenly looked back.
‘Baroness Londini used to be so terrifying.’
She had been so frightened that she thought she would never escape the Baroness’s grasp for the rest of her life…
Yet she had escaped so easily.
Liliana gazed at Anriche’s back as though it were dazzlingly bright.
It was the first time in her life she felt certain that she could rely on someone.
Something warm and fluffy bloomed deep inside her chest.
The moment they left the office, shrill screaming erupted behind them.
“M-Mother! You’re just going to let that girl go like this?!”
“Shut up! You stayed silent while I was the one suffering, so why are you blaming me now?!”
Anriche quietly listened to the shouting spilling through the door.
The mother and daughter were now yelling furiously at each other with veins bulging in their necks.
“If you have a better idea, then you try something!”
“Why are you taking your anger out on me?!”
People really were right when they said that watching fights and disasters was the most entertaining thing.
Listening to the argument between the two women, Anriche grinned with smiling eyes.
This is incredibly satisfying.
‘Good. Then now… it’s time to show Liliana the power of money.’
At least I’m free to scatter gold coins however I want, right?
If I’ve become the extravagant mistress of the richest family in the Empire, then naturally I should do at least this much!
“Liliana, is there anything you want?”
“Huh?”
“Just tell me anything. I’ll buy it all for you!”
Anriche declared boldly toward the bewildered Liliana.
Liliana shyly replied,
“No, you don’t have to do that.”
“Why not?”
“You’re taking me with you already. That alone is more than enough for me.”
At those words, Anriche felt emotional.
Liliana was only seven years old.
An age where children usually wanted mountains of things.
And yet she was saying, ‘It’s enough just for you to take me with you.’
How carefully had she been forced to live until now?
“Hm, but there are soooo many things I want to buy for you.”
Deliberately speaking teasingly, Anriche watched Liliana’s eyes widen.
Instead of answering further, Anriche climbed into the carriage with a confident expression.
There were so many things she wanted to do for Liliana.
About an hour later.
Le Morgan Street, where the capital’s luxury shops gathered.
Liliana sat inside a high-end boutique specializing in children’s clothing, unable to hide her dazed expression.
‘I… think this is the first time in my life I’ve ever sat on such a comfortable chair.’
Blinking repeatedly, Liliana carefully pressed the chair cushion with one finger.
The seat was so soft that her finger sank deeply into it.
After staring at the cushion in wonder for a long time, Liliana suddenly hurriedly pulled her hand back.
If she kept touching it carelessly and dirtied the chair with her hands, it would be terrible.
Meanwhile, Liliana secretly glanced sideways at Anriche, who sat across from her.
Anriche currently had fire in her eyes as she flipped through countless catalogs.
“These clothes aren’t enough to fully express our Liliana’s cuteness.”
Anriche muttered in a gloomy voice.
“I need even more perfect clothes…”
Without realizing it, Liliana found herself staring at Anriche.
‘…She said she’s the Duchess of Valois.’
Although Liliana had not lived a very long life, she felt she had never seen someone this beautiful before.
Silky dark-brown hair flowed in soft waves down to her chest.
Her snowy skin was smooth like porcelain, and beneath her long eyelashes were violet eyes the color of beautiful violets.
Liliana had always thought she would never even encounter such a high-ranking noblewoman in her lifetime, yet this lady was going to become her mother-in-law.
And on top of that, she herself had apparently been engaged to the young Duke of Valois since before birth…
‘This is way too unbelievable.’
Just as Liliana shook her head at the absurdity of it all—
Anriche happened to lift her head, and their eyes met directly.
“Eek!”
Startled, Liliana accidentally made a strange sound as she sucked in a breath.
Ah, what do I do?
I’m so embarrassed I could die!
Liliana’s face turned bright red.
At that, Anriche gently curved her eyes.
“Is there something you wanted to ask me?”
Well, Liliana had been sneaking glances at her for quite a while now.
It definitely seemed like she had something on her mind.
Swallowing nervously, Liliana carefully asked,
“Are you really going to buy clothes for me too?”
“Of course. Otherwise, why would we come all the way to a clothing store?”
Anriche asked back with wide eyes.
“Right now, Liliana doesn’t even have a single set of clothes to change into, does she?”
Anriche shrugged proudly, and Liliana gloomily nodded.
After all, the pitiful belongings Liliana had owned until now…
‘We threw all of them away when leaving the orphanage!’
Anriche recalled the satisfaction she had felt while shoving all those belongings—no, trash—into the garbage bin.
Seriously.
‘Ever since becoming “Anriche,” that might’ve been the best thing I’ve done so far.’
It felt as refreshing as pulling out a rotten tooth!
However, unable to overcome her guilty conscience, Liliana shook her head frantically.
“But you’ve already done so much for me. I don’t think it’s right for you to buy me new clothes too…!”
Not only had Anriche rescued her from that hellish orphanage, but she was now spending so much money because of her.
Liliana looked as though she might cry.
Was this what it felt like to suddenly rise from hell into heaven?
She was overwhelmingly grateful… and deeply sorry at the same time.
