The Black-haired Noblewoman, Who Disguised Herself, Seems To Have Been Doted On While Serving As The Caretaker For The Duke Who Dislikes Women - Episode 24

And the following week. I left the mansion with the Duke of Harrington and Mr. Curtis, heading to a large orphanage within the duke’s territory. There were many kind women, like Amanda and others, who seemed easy for children to trust, but for some reason, the duke had never taken a female servant with him before. I was told this by Mr. Curtis while loading the carriage, and I found it strange. Why was I the only one allowed to accompany him on this task?

But since it was a rare outing, I decided to wear one of the dresses that were recently gifted to the duke, a calm-toned brown dress.

When I reported to Amanda that I would be going out today with the Duke and Mr. Curtis, she eagerly asked where we were going, if I would be going with them, and what I would be doing. She was probably curious because a female servant had never taken me out before.

“I see. You’re visiting a welfare facility. Be careful and have a good time. When you get back, tell me how it went.”

Did Amanda look a bit lonely, or was it just my imagination? …Maybe she wanted to go together.

I was allowed to ride in the large carriage with the duke and Mr. Curtis, but the duke has been reading documents the whole time despite the swaying. …Doesn’t he get motion sickness?

Since Mr. Curtis kept talking to me about various things, I wasn’t bored. I was worried that he might be too noisy, but the duke was quietly going through the documents without seeming to mind.

I must have been jostled in the carriage for about an hour. Even in a luxurious carriage with a comfortable ride, sitting for so long started to make my backside hurt, but it seems the carriage has finally arrived at its destination.

“Welcome, my lord. Thank you for always being here.”

The kind-looking director respectfully greeted the Duke of Harrington. Then, he cast a glance at the duke’s arm.

“What happened to you? Are you injured…?”

“It’s just a little accident. Nothing serious.”

As the person responsible for the injury, I find the conversation between the two of them very awkward.

After that, the male servants carried the donations to the institution that had been brought by the following carriages, and the duke entered the reception room with the director.

“Well then. Let’s keep an eye on the kids for a while.”

“Y-yes”

Curtis-san called out to me like that, and I walked along with him. The orphanage was kept clean, and the sunlight streaming in through the large windows felt nice. It was a pleasant place, but if they knew the lord was coming to inspect today, they would have made sure everything was in order beforehand, no matter what kind of facility it was.

It’s important to keep a close eye on the children to ensure that everything is being properly managed on a daily basis, I’m sure.

He said it was to check if there were any inconveniences, but I’m sure that’s not the only reason. The Duke of Harrington is a very kind person, so he probably wants to see for himself if the children are living peaceful days.

I walk down the hallway, vaguely aware of that fact.

“Since it’s free time before lunch, it seems like everyone is playing outside.”

“I see.”

“Ah. There’s a door over there that leads to the garden.”

“It’s true. Hehe. I can hear cheerful voices coming from over there.”

While talking about such things, I follow Mr. Curtis. As I walk, casually looking around, I spot a girl sitting alone at a desk in a large room with the door wide open. After passing by, I suddenly stop, take a few steps back, and check the room again.

It’s a girl around five or six years old with her hair in pigtails. She’s adorable. …But still, she’s alone. There’s no one else in the room. Given the stuffed animals and toys scattered around, this must be a children’s playroom.

The child who was alone in that room looked unusually lonely, and I hesitated for a moment, feeling concerned, before quietly stepping inside.

“Hello”

When I quietly called out to her, the girl flinched, her shoulders twitching, and she looked at me with wide eyes. To prevent her from being scared of an unfamiliar adult for the first time, I put on my best smile and asked her.

“Sorry for surprising you. I came here to greet you with the lord. … It seems like everyone is playing outside, but are you playing here? Drawing?”

The girl looked down, paused for a moment, and then nodded slightly. In front of her were crayons and paper. I went over and peeked at the paper.