I May Be A Villainess, But I Won't Live My Life That Way - Chapter 33

Chapter 33

“Oh my! Do documents come out this quickly?”

The director widened her eyes as she looked at the documents I presented.

“When I inquired last time, they said it would take at least 6 months if it’s fast and up to a year if it’s delayed. But what people at the office were actually saying is that it takes about 3 years in reality.”

Observing the director, who seemed fascinated by the documents, I sipped my tea leisurely.

It was my favorite tea from my favorite shop, but it tasted extra special when I saw the look on the director’s face.

It was a taste that made the effort of traveling to see him, meeting him, and bowing down to ask him for a favor all worth it.

Meeting and making a request to that Asel using my own means, even considering the amount of money, it was worth it.

Moreover, Azel had brought a check with a beautiful amount written in his name to the charity ball.

It was an amount worth seriously considering building a statue of himself in the courtyard of the new orphanage.

“We’ve collected quite a bit in charity funds from the ball, and we’re planning to start construction soon. Are there any specific requirements for the design that we should consider?”

“Well, I’m not well-versed in that aspect, to be honest.”

The director scratched her head awkwardly. However, beneath that, there was a face filled with joy.

Was it a perplexed expression because she was too pleased?

“Then think about it. I’ll make sure to accommodate as much as possible. No, I’ll arrange for an architect to visit here in a few days. We can discuss it then.”

“Yes, understood, that’s really nice of you to be so thoughtful. The children will really love it.”

Holding the documents close to her chest, she bowed deeply to me.

“It’s fine. I’m doing it because I want to.”

“Oh, I’ve hired the teacher you mentioned last time. Since the ages of the children vary, we hired two teachers who will split their time three times a week.”

“What kind of people are they?”

“One is a teacher who will teach basic reading and maths to young children. Although she doesn’t have much teaching experience, she taught all five younger siblings how to read, so we hired her. She is very good at storytelling, so the children will likely enjoy it.”

“That sounds good.”

“And for the older children, I found someone to teach them maths and literature and Caracenese. There’s a lady who works as a tutor at a manor house, and she told me that she’s looking for a new job because the two young ladies she teaches are going to boarding school.”

I nodded at the director’s explanation.

Since Carasen was a country with active trade with Sprento, learning their language would probably be useful in various ways.

Mathematics and literature were basics, needless to say.

In fact, cultural and polite manners would not be very useful for common children. Politics, international affairs, imperial studies, and the like would be even less relevant.

“That’s great.”

The dedicated director, who worked hard for the children, seemed meticulous in hiring teachers.

“But wouldn’t it be better to have classes five times a week instead of three? There’s no need for them to learn three days a week and review one day.”

Even though I had received instruction from tutors in various fields every day without a break, it seemed unnecessary for the children here.

Still, three times a week seemed too lax.

“Yes? But hiring two people for five days a week would be…”

“Don’t worry about the money.”

I took out the checkbook, wrote the same amount as last time, and handed it to the director with my signature.

“I want you to spare no expense when it comes to the children’s sleeping, eating, and learning.”
“Yes, we’ll do that. Thank you very much, Miss Bianca.”

The director, who received the check I presented, bowed once again.

“It’s fine. I’m doing it because I want to.”

That’s right.

Initially, I started this to spread rumors among others, but strangely, I became particularly concerned about the affairs here and wanted to do better.

And seeing the children happy genuinely made me feel good.

“And where is Lara?”

Wanting to feel even better, I found the second reason for visiting the orphanage after the charity ball.

“Princessssss!”

Seeing Lara’s face shining brightly with a smile, I laughed for the first time in three days.

“Hello, Princess! Have you been well? Lara has been well! And now Lara can write ‘Lara’ by herself.”

Running from a distance, the child, who threw herself into my arms, poured out words as if she had been holding them in for a long time.

While brushing aside the tousled brown hair of the child, while picking off dry bits of leaves stuck to her cheek, Lara chattered non-stop.

“Lara is easy, but Nicole is difficult, and Peter is also difficult. It would be nice if we could change Nini and Pipi’s names. Director’s name is difficult, too, but Director is not so difficult, so it’s okay to keep it as it is.”

Her voice was sweeter than a lark’s, and the corners of my mouth turned up, but somehow they didn’t come down.

“Lara is easy, but what is Princess’s name?”

“Bianca. Bianca Croft.”

The moment she heard my name, Lara’s expression became about to cry.

Did I do something wrong?

“It’s too hard… Can’t I just call you Bibi?”

“Well, that might be a bit awkward?”

My name was derived from my great-grandmother, who was my father’s favorite.

She was a very beautiful and dignified lady, and my father advised me to become someone worthy of that name.

And I had done my best to become a person worthy of the name Bianca, and those efforts had shaped the person I am now.

Besides, the name Bibi… it sounded more like a name for a dog than a person.

“Bian… what?”

“Bianca Croft.”

“Bianco……. Hah… so hard.”

An uncharacteristically long sigh escaped Lara’s tiny mouth.

“Lara?”

Even at the sound of her name, her little face was still filled with worry. It was so cute again, I couldn’t help but smile.

Despite her sigh of frustration, she seemed determined to learn how to write my name.

“I can’t change your name for you,” I said, “but I think I can motivate you to learn.”

Lara blinked at me, her mouth slightly open, as if my words were difficult.

Was the word “learning” or “motivation” difficult?

But Lara is a smart girl, she’ll figure these things out soon enough.

“So what I am saying is that if you get really good at writing Bianca Croft, I’ll give you a prize.”

“A prize?”

“Yes.”

“What kind of prize?”

“Um…….”

I didn’t really have anything in mind, because it was all off the cuff.

“Is there anything you want to keep or eat?”

“Chocolate! And cookies!”

“Okay. If you write a really good Bianca Croft, I’ll buy you chocolate. And cookies. And chocolate chip cookies!”

“Wow! That’s exciting!”

The kid’s face broke out into a grin.

It was fun to see her so excited about just a few sweet things.

“Don’t you want anything else?”

I wanted to do anything for Lara, anything to make her happy.

“No.”

But the greedy child shook her head.

Suddenly, I wondered what this little girl would be when she grew up.

If she wanted to be a painter, I wanted to buy her painting tools, if she wanted to be a writer, I wanted to buy her books.

If she wanted to be a merchant, I would teach her to count, learn Caracenese, and send her to study abroad.

In any case, I wanted to do my part to help Lara achieve the future she wanted.

“Then, what’s Lara’s future hope?”

“Future hopes?”

Judging by the tilting of her head, it seemed like that word was still challenging for Lara.

“What is Lara’s dream?”

I explained it in as simple words as possible to match the child’s level.

Hoping that Lara would tell me what she wanted to be.

“In Lara’s dream, Mom and Dad are there.”

But what came out of the child’s mouth was a completely different story.

She talked about her ‘dream’ in the sense of what she had dreamt last night, not her future dream.

However, Lara being here meant that they only existed in her memories.

Ricardo mentioned that most of the children in the orphanage were war orphans. Perhaps Lara was one of them.

“So, when Lara dreams, Lara becomes sad too.”

The word ‘sadness’ from her small mouth clung to my heart.

“So, Lara wishes she didn’t have dreams.”

“Lara.”

As tears filled the child’s large pupils, I couldn’t bear to look at it and tightly embraced her.

Lara’s small body was so tiny that, no matter how tightly I held the child, it felt like she could slip away at any moment.

Feeling a pang of sadness, I thought my tears might fall.

I couldn’t imagine the sadness this tiny child must be feeling, having grown up with so much love from both parents.

“Princess.”

“Yes.”

Lara seemed a bit uncomfortable, and when she called me, I blinked my eyes several times to get rid of the tears that had been welling up.

And when it seemed like I could finally look at Lara, I let go.

“Princess, please don’t go anywhere.”

Her eyes of a deep brown color looked up at me and said, “Don’t go far, leaving Lara alone. I don’t want to see you only in dreams.”

“Sure, I won’t.”

“Promise?”

A small pinky finger was held out in front of me.

“Yes, promise.”

I hooked my little finger with hers.

“Heaven and earth! Starry sky! Toot-toot!”

The child laughed heartily while reciting a seemingly meaningless spell.

“That’s right. I’ll stay by your side, alive and well.”

Another reason to survive had emerged.

“Smile Love”