I wil not choose you - Chapter 4
【4】
――This should be good!
While watching over the orphans enjoying their meal at the party, I was greatly satisfied.
(The development is quite different from the scenario, but for now, it somehow worked out.)
In the game, the setting was that “Noel was being bullied by other children,” but it turns out the sister was more of an issue than the children…
The fact that the orphanage itself was in such dire straits was not explained in the game.
I realize that there was quite a bit of information not disclosed in the game, buried deep in the background.
“Meat is so good!”
“This bread is fluffy and delicious!!”
Among the delighted children, Noel was silently savoring the food.
(Maybe Isla has never interacted with Noel before. In that case…)
I sat in the chair across from Noel and tried talking to her.
“Hey. Your name is Noel, right?”
“…”
Noel is a beautiful girl who looks like a fairy, with golden eyes and silver hair.
She stares back at me wordlessly.
“Do you like the meal? I wonder what kind of food you like.”
However, Noel did not answer my question. She seemed to enjoy the food, munching away with shining eyes and full cheeks in silence.
Other children spoke to me from the side.
“Director, talking to her is useless.”
“This little one, Noel, can’t talk at all.”
(Noel is still in a state of not speaking. Even though she can speak, she doesn’t try to talk to anyone…)
“You don’t know what Noel is thinking, and it’s creepy.”
“Yeah, yeah. She’s always tiny and never grows taller.”
“Always alone.”
I gently furrowed my brows and admonished the children with a soft voice.
“Don’t say such mean things. I want everyone to be good friends.”
…Yes. While exchanging glances between the slightly dissatisfied children and Noel, I contemplated the future.
――A week has passed.
Under the new system at the orphanage, the children have already begun to show lively smiles. The new teachers are also doing a good job.
But Noel is alone again today.
While the other children are playing with a ball, she is silently doodling with chalk on the wall in the backyard. I watched her small back from a distance.
(…Noel might not be suited for communal living. I want to create an environment where Noel can live freely, but what should I do?)
Ideally, we should respect individuality, and we also need to consider the handicap of not being able to speak. However, creating an environment to individually care for each child in the orphanage is challenging. Noel, who tends to wander off on her own when you look away for a moment, seems beyond the reach of the teachers.
Should I hire a dedicated teacher for Noel, or rather, do I want to be by Noel’s side all the time…
(But ‘special treatment’ can lead to jealousy, and other children might avoid Noel even more. What should I do? …Wait, isn’t this doodle too skillful!?)
Looking at the graffiti on the wall, I was astonished. It wasn’t just graffiti; it was unquestionably a genius-level artistic masterpiece.
Drawn with white chalk on the gray wall were the rich and vivid shades depicting the goddess Floren, said to be the founding goddess of this country. It was more vibrant than the mural in the cathedral, and the goddess had a warm, human-like smile, gazing at us.
“Amazing—”
“I see, an impressive talent. I can understand why you support her.”
――Huh?
As I turned around in response to the voice from behind, there was my brother.
“…Are you here again today, brother!? Shouldn’t the Chief Secretary’s duties keep you busy? You always seem so busy.”
“I’m taking paid leave.”
My brother walked up to Noel and, at an extremely close distance, gazed at the wall painting.
Noel looked up at him with a blank expression.
“…Hmm. With appropriate education, she might become an extraordinary painter. If that’s what the child desires, I could become a patron and hire her as the ‘official artist’ for the Gasstark family. How about that?”
I couldn’t understand my brother’s words. As I tilted my head, he continued,
“It’s like an upfront investment. If you feel that the orphanage cannot fully nurture her talent, she can live in our mansion. I guarantee food, clothing, shelter, and education. In return, she would deliver the paintings she creates to me.”
(…! Does that mean…)
As I began to understand my brother’s intention, my eyes widened.
He turned to me and smiled kindly.
“She’s your ‘favorite,’ isn’t she?”
“…Brother!”
As if a flower had bloomed in my heart, warmth spread in my chest.
My brother is extending a helping hand! Welcoming Noel into our home—what a wonderful idea!
I was so happy that my voice became hoarse.
With sparkling eyes, I rushed towards Noel and invited her, “Won’t you come to our house!?”
Noel, with a bewildered expression, looked straight into my eyes. Worried that the silence might lead to rejection…
――*nod*
With a small, fluffy shake of her silver hair, Noel nodded. Though she was silent, her large, golden eyes were sparkling. It seems she doesn’t mind.
From there, everything went smoothly. After completing the procedures, Noel’s residence was changed from the orphanage to the Gasstark family’s manor. With almost nothing but the clothes on her back, Noel embarked on this journey.
It seems that Noel has no attachments to the orphanage, and she boarded the carriage with me, holding my hand.
Sitting between my brother and me, she looked around the inside of the carriage with curious eyes.
(I’m so happy! I can live with my favorite from now on!)
Whether it was a comfortable ride or not, Noel started dozing off shortly after the carriage set off. I gently embraced her small body and stroked her silver hair… soft and precious.
“Kuuu…”
Savoring the happiness, my brother looked at me with a pleased expression.
“Did I contribute to your ‘favorite activities’?”
“Yes! It’s amazing, dear brother! I love you! You’re my benefactor! I’ll never forget this kindness in my life!”
Overwhelmed with happiness, tears welled up in my eyes.
Once again, “Kuuu…” slipped out as I continued to caress Noel.
“Is she really that much of a favorite?”
“Yes, of course! She’s not just a recent favorite… she’s been my ultimate favorite since ancient times. I never imagined the day would come when I could touch her with my own hands!”
In my past life, I bought all of Noel’s merchandise—clear files, acrylic stands, figures—I admired them every day. But there’s no doubt that the real, living Noel is infinitely more precious.
“Even though she’s such a small child, you call it ‘ancient times’? When did you have any connection with a commoner’s child?”
My brother chuckled.
Unable to come up with a response, I sighed in relief when he said, “Well, it’s fine.”
“She’s cute.”
Thinking my brother praised Noel, I was overjoyed.
“Right!? Noel is truly adorable! I’m glad you understand Noel’s charm, dear brother! So, starting today, let’s enjoy our favorite activities together as siblings—”
“I mean you.”
“…Eh?”
His ice-blue eyes looked warmly at me, like the sunlight melting the snow.
“You’re the one who’s cute.”
No words came out.
My face, my body, everything became hot.
My heart tightened painfully.
This is strange.
Feeling excited like this is no good.
It’s not a reaction one should have towards a family member.
…Why does this person occasionally say things that make me uncomfortable?
Is he teasing me by bothering me?
If so… that’s a bit mean.
Unable to find the right words to respond and feeling embarrassed with my blushing face being seen, I turned my face away in silence.
It’s so uncomfortable.
As if to conceal my confusion, I continued to comb through Noel’s hair.
After quite a long silence, I heard my brother’s laughter, a breathy “hmm.”
“…By the way, wasn’t Noel supposed to be a singer? She hardly talks at all.”
Realizing that my brother had changed the subject, I responded with a somewhat awkward but cheerful voice.
“She will sing a lot from now on. She will become better at both painting and singing.”
“How do you know that?”
“Well, I can understand everything about my favorite. Anyway, you won’t regret becoming her patron! She’s undoubtedly a genius!”
Suppressing the pounding in my chest, I consciously let my voice bounce as I continued to talk to my brother about Noel’s charm.
――Two weeks later.
A young woman with a hood pulled low over her face appeared at the orphanage that Mireille had acquired.
“What?! Noel isn’t here… What’s going on!?”
As the woman raised her voice, pink hair spilled out from under the hood.
The orphanage teacher who was responding to the woman asked in a puzzled tone, “Excuse me, but who are you?”
“I’m… Noel’s relative. More importantly, where did Noel go? I have to see her.”
“She was taken to the director’s home.”
“Huh? Director? That wasn’t the setting!?”
“Th-the setting…?”
Ignoring the teacher’s question, the hooded woman muttered to herself with bloodshot eyes.
“What’s going on? This world is too messed up. The orphanage’s name has changed, and there’s some renovation going on…”
Staring at the construction sign at the entrance of the orphanage, the woman clicked her tongue in irritation. Then, she focused on the name of the “Director” written on the sign and was shocked.
“…Director Mireille Gasstark!? Mireille is the director of this orphanage?”
The woman paled, turned on her heel, and hurriedly left the orphanage as if escaping.
“What’s going on? Mireille is the director? That means Mireille took Noel! Noel belongs to me, and she’s taking her away…”
As she muttered to herself with a manic expression, a man wearing the same-colored hood as the woman approached from somewhere.
“Miss Isla, please be quiet. If it’s revealed that you and His Highness Judrich infiltrated the capital, everything will be in vain.”
“I-I know. …There was just something unexpected, and I got flustered.”
The hooded man is a ‘collaborator’ for Isla.
He assisted Isla and Judrich in returning to the capital, facilitating their covert entry.
“I’m grateful to you guys. If it weren’t for you, I would have been caught at the checkpoint before infiltrating the capital.”
“It’s an honor to be of service. Now, let’s return to His Highness. We’ve already secured a suitable place for him to remain hidden.”
Understood. Isla nodded and then gritted her teeth in frustration.
(…I thought everything would be fine if I could get Noel here! I can’t let Mireille get in my way again.)