Chapter 16
“No, Rodi, don’t do that.”
“Lexiard is right. That’s my job.”
“Can’t we do it together?”
The two of them looked even more troubled. If Gembil had been alone, he would’ve just snapped back that a little kid like you couldn’t do anything—but Lexiard was standing right next to him now.
Just the fact that he was sticking close made it obvious he was interested in Rodi, so there was no need to risk irritating Lexiard.
Then Gembil suddenly remembered something from the report he heard that morning before heading out.
“Hey, newbie. Didn’t you say you were learning the imperial language?”
“Oh, right!”
Only then did Rodi realize he had been learning letters earlier but left to eat.
He’d completely forgotten about it while having fun sightseeing and playing with Lexiard.
“Rodi, let’s go study the imperial language.”
Lexiard encouraged him from the side.
“Oh? Gembil’s here too? Newbie, did you eat a lot?”
“Yeah!”
Ekision lounged lazily on the sofa, even with his feet propped up, as if he had taken a long nap.
He waved a hand casually, but when he noticed Lexiard entering behind them, he jumped to his feet.
“Oh! Lord Lexiard came too?”
“You’ve returned. Gembil, thank you for your hard work.”
Padride greeted them next.
“Here, these need approval. Clear my afternoon schedule—I’ve got something to check.”
While Lexiard and Rodi went to the sofa, Gembil walked over to Padride, who was still busy working nonstop, and handed over the documents.
“Yes. Do you need anything else? Thank you, as always.”
“Keep it up.”
Gembil gave a slight bow toward Lexiard, Rodi, and Ekision, then went back out to work.
Rodi, who had been about to practice the imperial language with the pen Ekision gave him, stared blankly at Gembil’s retreating figure.
“So cool……”
His eyes sparkled, as if he had just found a new goal.
“Boss!”
Iklis stopped walking and quietly looked at Rodi approaching him.
It wasn’t until evening that Iklis, who hadn’t been seen all day, finally appeared.
Even though everyone else looked disheveled from the late hour, Iklis appeared perfectly neat, as if he had just gotten ready—except for the hand shoved casually into his pocket and his loosely brushed-back hair.
The moment he stepped into the hallway and saw Rodi running toward him, Iklis felt a strange sense of déjà vu.
Like a dog greeting its owner after waiting at home.
Not that he had ever raised one.
‘Someone… welcoming me.’
It was unfamiliar, yet strangely not unpleasant.
“……”
“Boss, why are you just standing there?”
Rodi looked at him curiously when Iklis didn’t react even after he came right up to him.
“Because I want to.”
“I practiced the imperial language today.”
“Then why are you dragging that thing around?”
Iklis’s gaze shifted to Lexiard.
“Because he’s my friend.”
“That’s hardly what I’d call a friendship.”
“…You sound like a bad uncle.”
“Rodi, uncles are like that.”
Lexiard had come closer and was now standing behind Rodi like a shield.
“Why aren’t you going home?”
“This is basically my home too.”
“Who do you take after to be this stubborn?”
“The staff said I take after you a lot, uncle.”
“That’s right! You two look alike! Even your hair color is the same!”
Iklis looked down at Rodi crookedly.
“Haven’t you learned that you should flatter your boss?”
“What’s that?”
“It means your social life is doomed.”
“Boss, you only say difficult things.”
Why does he dislike Lexiard? As Rodi grumbled, a heavy hand landed on his head.
Rodi thought he was being praised, but Iklis just looked down at him silently.
“What?”
“The orphanage director has been replaced.”
Iklis had come directly from visiting the orphanage.
He stopped by while handling other matters—but also because Rodi, who had brought him a whopping 11 billion Libra, was worth the trouble.
“…Really?”
“Want to see for yourself?”
“See what?”
Rodi blinked his big eyes.
The place Iklis led him to contained a wriggling sack, soaked red.
Strange sounds came from inside.
Heavy breathing, maybe groans of pain.
It even sounded like a faint plea for help.
“Even maggots know how to survive.”
“……”
“That bald bastard made quite a profit.”
Iklis dropped into a chair, treating it like nothing more than trash.
Rodi stood there blankly, unable to take his eyes off the moving sack.
“…Director?”
“Yeah. I bought the whole place and put my own people in. Your friends won’t starve anymore. They’re safe.”
Rodi slowly turned his gaze toward Iklis.
He had kept his promise.
The orphanage now belonged under him.
So it had been that easy.
The teachers said they would save them, but none of them ever could.
At some point, only teachers who obeyed the director remained.
“Choose.”
“Huh?”
“Dog food, or fish food. Your pick.”
Rodi’s gaze returned to the sack.
He understood what Iklis meant.
‘That’s the director.’
At some point, the sounds stopped—perhaps they had passed out.
There was no more movement.
Dog food. Fish food.
Neither option sounded good.
For the first time, Iklis felt a little scary… and unfamiliar.
Yet that was probably the real Iklis Cheiles—the boss.
“Scared?”
Iklis asked casually, chin resting on his hand—but his eyes were fixed intently on Rodi.
Even when Rodi tried to look away, he could feel that gaze following him.
It felt like being put on trial.
“If you can’t decide, then—”
Just as Iklis was about to give up—
“Which one hurts more?”
Rodi spoke while staring at the sack.
“……”
“Director, Jenny is sick. I think it’s a cold—I’ll take her to the clinic.”
“Kids get better if you leave them. What a waste of money.”
“You know how dangerous colds are for children! I’ve already isolated her, but if it spreads—!”
“Tch. Teacher Laurel, you talk too much. If you’re that concerned, use your own money. Touch the safe and you’re fired!”
Jenny had been very sick.
Fortunately, Teacher Laurel brought medicine herself, and she recovered. A few days later, she was adopted.
The director received a large donation from the noble family that took her.
“How much do kids even eat? Just split that among them.”
“But how can twenty kids eat this little?”
“Boil it in water or something. Use your head.”
Even when they held gold coins, all that reached them was a single piece of bread.
There were many other things too.
They’d be taken out to look presentable for donors, only to be kicked away the next day and called filthy.
So many memories—but certain ones came back first.
If that really is the director…
When Iklis didn’t answer, Rodi looked up.
Iklis, who had been watching him the whole time, smirked.
A satisfied smile.
It was quite a sight—watching Rodi think through the situation and arrive at an answer on his own.
“Who knows.”
“Then choose the one that hurts the most.”
Because the director should suffer as much as they did.
“…Good.”
“Take it away.”
A subordinate, who had likely been waiting nearby, answered, “Yes, Lord Iklis,” and dragged the sack away.
Then the door opened, and Lexiard walked in.
Earlier, when Iklis took Rodi away, Lexiard had tried to follow but was refused.
“You’re really a terrible uncle. Rodi, are you okay?”
“Huh? Yeah.”
Lexiard immediately went to Rodi.
“Why are you bullying him?”
“When are you going home?”
Once again, neither Iklis nor Lexiard listened to the other—they only said what they wanted.
Rodi thought their relationship was really strange.
