The Villainous Noble Son Wants to Capture His Stepsister! - Chapter 15

SIDE: Laps

Cold drafts seep through the cracks in the walls. Our clothes are tattered. Once again, we have nothing to eat today.

We huddle together for warmth as we sleep, hoping that tomorrow, we might find something to fill our stomachs.

By the time I was old enough to understand the world around me, my parents were already gone. They told me that a newborn, wrapped in cloth, had been left at the orphanage’s doorstep.

But I never felt lonely—because I had a family of my own. Others who shared my fate, children just like me.

For the sake of my family, I had no trouble bowing my head to beg for food or working for meager wages under harsh conditions.

My best friend and I often dreamed about the future—about one day making this orphanage bigger, so that no child would ever have to go hungry again.

Then, as fate would have it, I was fortunate enough to be employed as a maid in the ducal household. It wasn’t an extravagant salary, but since I was given room and board, I could send almost all of my earnings back to the orphanage.

The work was difficult, but I had no major complaints—

Except for one.

I could not bring myself to accept Lord Kraut, the heir to the duchy.

A boy of noble birth, yet utterly disgraceful. A spoiled, gluttonous, obnoxious child.

He would gorge himself on expensive pastries, adorn himself in gaudy, tasteless clothing, and throw tantrums like a petulant brat.

But more than anything, what I despised most was how he wasted food simply because it didn’t suit his taste.

How dare he?

When we—when my family—had spent days starving, with nothing but hunger gnawing at our bones?

So no, I won’t deny it—I felt no pity when I heard he had fallen from his horse. If anything, I thought it was divine punishment.

But from that day on, Lord Kraut changed.

He stopped his picky eating and overindulgence. He started waking up early to train, swinging his sword with relentless discipline.

He who once loathed his studies was now diligently pouring over his lessons in etiquette and academics.

He began treating the servants with kindness, often bringing them sweets as small gifts.

And most astonishingly of all—

He devoted himself to charity.

The day he learned I was from an orphanage, I expected scorn—but instead, he bowed his head and asked for my help.

“The most vulnerable in this city are not being protected. I need your help to change that. Will you lend me your strength?”

I still remember the sheer outrage that flickered across his face when he first witnessed the orphanage’s dire state.

Ah…

This was the real Lord Kraut, wasn’t it?

Something must have happened—something tragic—that had turned him into that selfish, thoughtless child.

But now, he had reclaimed the kindness and nobility that were always his to begin with.

(※ This was a complete misunderstanding.)

Each time Lord Kraut swung his sword, his silver hair shimmered in the light.

Now that he had slimmed down, he was every bit the image of an aristocratic young noble.

When he stepped out of that carriage, every single person watching had been struck speechless—as if a prince from a fairytale had just emerged into reality.

Even if someone had claimed that he had walked straight out of a storybook, I might have believed them.

…Which is why their insulting remarks afterward were infuriating.

I suppose to those who only knew the old Kraut, such a drastic change must have been unbelievable.

But that doesn’t mean I forgive them.

Every time Lord Kraut swung his sword, at least one, sometimes two or three of the thugs would fall.

I couldn’t even see how he moved—his strikes were too fast.

This was the divine skill he had honed through sheer effort. Truly impressive.

Several times, larger men lunged toward us—perhaps trying to take us hostage.

But Heliotrope cut them down mercilessly.

Overkill, honestly.

Being leered at by those thugs, hearing Lord Kraut insulted—she must have been bottling up her rage all this time.

And frankly?

I completely understand her feelings.

Finally, the thugs’ leader, an imposing brute, charged at Lord Kraut.

But—

He was felled in a single, effortless slash.

The moment their leader collapsed, the remaining thugs surrendered on the spot.

And then—

A deafening roar erupted from the gathered crowd.

The people cheered—they called Lord Kraut’s name, their voices ringing through the streets.

The newly built orphanage stands before me.

Through the windows, I see small faces peeking out, eager and curious.

A smile spreads across my lips.

Smooth walls without a single crack.

Freshly washed, clean clothes.

Warm, delicious food—every day.

Tonight, the children will sleep in peace.

And tomorrow—

They will dream of better days to come.