Chapter – 02
1. The First Target Is the Daughter-in-Law
Swallowing dryly, Anriche stared at the orphanage in front of her.
At first glance, it looked like nothing more than an ordinary orphanage.
But…
‘So this is the orphanage where our Liliana is being abused.’
Biting her lip, Anriche strode toward the orphanage gates.
On the plaque hanging beside the entrance, elegant lettering read:
Londini Orphanage.
‘Londini.’
Anriche rolled the name around in her mind.
Londini Orphanage was run by the Baron Londini family, relatives of Liliana.
It was also the place where Liliana, who had lost her parents in an accident, was currently staying.
Liliana was the only daughter of the Everett Count family.
Although the Everetts were not particularly powerful, they were an old and prestigious noble house.
They had maintained a long-standing friendship with the Valois Ducal family, and through that connection, “Liliana” and “Elliot” had been engaged to each other since before they were even born.
If only her parents had remained alive, Liliana probably would have become the happiest girl in the world.
‘But the problem was the sudden carriage accident.’
The carriage had slipped on a rain-soaked road, causing Count and Countess Everett to lose their lives on the same day.
Alexei grieved deeply over the death of Count Everett, who had been one of his closest friends.
Because of that, he intended to bring the now-orphaned Liliana to the Valois household and personally care for her.
But at that moment—
Baron and Baroness Londini, distant relatives of the Everett family, intervened.
‘We will take care of Liliana until she reaches adulthood.’
‘No matter what, wouldn’t it be more appropriate for us, her relatives, to care for her closely?’
Their argument had seemed reasonable, so Alexei entrusted Liliana to the Londini couple.
The fact that the Londinis operated an orphanage also reassured him.
Since they were kind enough to care for orphans, he believed they would treasure Liliana like their own daughter.
‘But the real reason Baron and Baroness Londini ran the orphanage… was because of the government subsidies.’
Her violet eyes turned cold.
‘In the original story, Liliana kept suffering endlessly until she met Elliot.’
The Londini couple only coveted the Everett family’s wealth; they did not possess even the slightest affection for Liliana.
However, the Everett fortune was being directly protected by Alexei.
The Londinis repeatedly received money under the excuse of Liliana’s living expenses, but even that had its limits.
‘Of course, the amount they received was still enough to expand the orphanage itself…’
But greedy people like Baron and Baroness Londini would never be satisfied with just that.
And beyond greed, there was also an emotional issue.
The Londini couple harbored a deep-rooted inferiority complex toward Count and Countess Everett.
‘The Londinis were a branch family of the Everetts.’
The Everetts were an ancient noble family that even maintained ties with the Valois Ducal House, the greatest family in the Empire.
In contrast, the Londinis had always been overshadowed by the Everett name and treated as a “worthless family.”
Count and Countess Everett had considered the Londinis among their few precious relatives.
But to the Baron and Baroness, that fact meant absolutely nothing.
‘So what if they’re the main family?!’
‘Acting all noble and superior!!’
That had been the Londinis’ constant complaint.
Later, they brought the orphaned Liliana into their home in order to covet the Everett inheritance, but…
‘That girl looks exactly like her father… disgusting.’
Liliana, who perfectly resembled the former Count—an unbelievably handsome man—was nothing more than an eyesore to them.
And so, the jealousy and envy the Baron and Baroness carried ended up being poured entirely onto the young Liliana.
In the form of “abuse.”
‘Alright. Let’s go in.’
Taking a deep breath, Anriche rang the bell.
Ding-dong— ding-dong ding-dong—
After waiting for a moment, she heard the sound of hurried footsteps approaching from beyond the thin door.
“Coming—!”
Click.
The door opened, and a tiny girl appeared.
The moment their eyes met, Anriche unconsciously parted her lips slightly.
‘Wow… am I looking at an angel that fell from heaven right now?’
Anriche stared blankly at the girl.
The child, who looked around seven or eight years old, was unbelievably beautiful.
Her golden hair fluttered softly like spring flowers, tied together behind her back, while her sprout-green eyes sparkled intelligently.
If she could, Anriche honestly wanted to check the girl’s back.
Who knew?
Maybe she really had angel wings hidden there!
‘She looks exactly like the novel described!’
Still, just in case, stop fangirling for now.
First, ask her name.
‘Hoo-ha, hoo-ha.’
Anriche took several deep breaths to calm her pounding heart.
Then she carefully asked the girl,
“Hello, is there perhaps a child named ‘Liliana Everett’ in this orphanage?”
At the question, the girl’s eyes widened.
“L-Liliana? I’m Liliana…”
At the girl’s timid reply, Anriche felt a thrill run through her.
Of course. A child this beautiful had to be the heroine of this world!
Until now, I thought my son was the cutest person alive, but my daughter-in-law is just as impressive!
“I see. Nice to meet you. Are Baron Londini or the Baroness inside by any chance?”
She had heard that Baroness Londini currently held the position of orphanage director.
So at least the Baroness should be here.
Anriche had spoken casually without much thought, but she was suddenly startled.
The moment the Londini couple was mentioned, Liliana’s face turned pale.
“T-the director?”
…The director?
A strange sense of discomfort ran down Anriche’s spine, and she narrowed her eyes.
Liliana wasn’t even an orphan officially admitted into the orphanage, so why was she calling her “director”?
Shouldn’t she be calling them aunt and uncle instead?
“Mm, yes… the director.”
Anriche decided to nod along for now.
Liliana cautiously studied her expression before asking carefully,
“Um, if milady is perhaps from another orphanage…”
“Hm?”
“C-could you please not take me away?”
At some point, Liliana had tightly clenched her tiny fists.
Her light green eyes trembled desperately as she looked at Anriche.
“I’ll definitely disappoint you. I can’t work well, I’m incompetent, and I’m clumsy with my hands…”
Anriche stared at Liliana in confusion.
What on earth was this child talking about?
But Liliana desperately continued listing her own uselessness.
“I-I also eat a lot. If you take me with you, food expenses will be high. A-and also…”
“……”
Anriche silently watched Liliana demean herself without hesitation.
Fear filled Liliana’s face.
As though the very idea of being taken somewhere terrified her.
After a moment, Anriche suddenly asked,
“What are you so afraid of?”
“……T-the director said…”
Only after hesitating for a long while did Liliana finally move her lips and answer quietly.
“That other orphanages… are hell.”
“What?”
“They beat children every day, and kids who can’t work properly get slapped all the time…”
Liliana fidgeted with her fingers.
Avoiding Anriche’s gaze, she finished in a shrinking voice,
“And children who don’t obey get locked in solitary rooms for a whole week.”
“……”
“They said that this orphanage is already generous enough to take in a slow child like me… and if I went somewhere else, I’d be beaten terribly…”
Anriche’s jaw dropped open.
No, what kind of things had they been saying to a seven-year-old girl?
What orphanage nowadays is run like some horrifying nightmare?!
Just as Anriche was about to protest in disbelief, her eyes suddenly landed on Liliana’s appearance.
Her filthy clothes were covered in dirt and clearly patched up countless times.
She was much smaller and thinner than Elliot, who was the same age, and her fingertips were covered in wounds.
‘…Oh no.’
Her violet eyes darkened deeply.
There probably really were places like that.
Orphanages that treated one specific child horribly.
“First of all, I’m not affiliated with an orphanage.”
At those words, Liliana abruptly lifted her head.
“R-really? Then why were you looking for me? And why do you want to meet the director?”
Liliana poured out question after question.
Hope instantly filled her green eyes, making them sparkle brightly.
The sight was so heartbreaking that Anriche unconsciously clenched her fist tightly.
You’re a child who deserves far better treatment than this.
Once you leave this orphanage, there are people waiting who will love you dearly.
And yet, without knowing any of that, you’ve been trapped here, living as though abuse were something normal…
“Well, it’s true that I came to take you.”
“What? B-but you said you weren’t from an orphanage…”
“Ah, I haven’t introduced myself yet, have I?”
Stretching out her hand, Anriche gently stroked the top of Liliana’s head.
Liliana stiffened in surprise.
‘Someone stroking my head like this… it’s my first time.’
Feeling that warm touch, Liliana unconsciously held her breath.
For some reason, a corner of her heart felt ticklish, as though brushed by feathers.
“My name is Anriche von Valois.”
