Subliminal Wayfarer

Who fell in love at first sight with whom? Grace had no idea what any of this was about, but that was the headline.

 

[ “The two of us couldn’t bear not to get married. Both she and I wanted to proceed with the wedding as soon as possible, and I merely made it happen.” ]

 

Hmm, while it wasn’t exactly wrong, the tone felt odd.

It sounded as if the two of them had fallen into a passionate love and couldn’t wait another moment to get married.

But the part that bothered Grace the most was the mention of ‘love at first sight’.

‘I mean, I know it’s a tabloid, but publishing lies feels unsettling…’

She wondered why His Excellency gave such an interview.

What on earth was the reason…? And why in such a way that seemed like it was for someone’s benefit?

‘Ah! Maybe there’s a reason he needed to present it this way?’

When she thought of it like that, it started to make a bit more sense…

Anyway, because of that interview article, Grace O’Ellin had now become the most talked-about woman in the capital.

Well, considering the ‘fiery love’ that brought the wedding forward to within a month, it’s no wonder things were heating up.

“Please tell me, Teacher. Is he a good person?”

At the director Kelly’s question, Grace smiled without hesitation.

That was enough. The director nodded as if she understood everything.

Suddenly, Kelly’s eyes welled up with tears.

“W-Why are you crying, Director? Are you feeling unwell?”

“No, it’s not that. I’m just so happy.”

“Happy? About what?”

“I’m just glad that it seems like you’ve found a good person. You know, Teacher, you’re a benefactor to all of us, right?”

The director gently held Grace’s hand.

She would never forget the day Grace first visited the orphanage.

It had been a particularly bad year financially.

They had barely managed to avoid closing down that year.

Grace O’Ellin had arrived, carrying food in both hands.

She had looked uncharacteristically shabby for someone from a marquis household, but the image of her carefully climbing the hill had been deeply imprinted in the director’s memory.

 

“If it’s not too much trouble, could I offer some support to this place?”

 

She had brought a few dresses from her childhood, some old toys, and a considerable sum of money.

The bundle of food she said she had secretly brought from the mansion had already been torn apart by the children’s eager hands.

Hills Orphanage wasn’t the kind of place noble young ladies would usually choose to support.

It wasn’t a large orphanage where someone could make a grand gesture of charity, and there weren’t many children.

Within the capital, there were countless institutions waiting for sponsorship from nobles.

Hills was a very small, shabby orphanage that didn’t even receive subsidies from the royal family, overshadowed by other places.

So, it had been strange when she appeared out of nowhere and handed over her bundle.

 

“I met that child a few days ago. She asked me to buy her a flower, but I couldn’t. It’s been bothering me ever since.”

 

Grace had smiled like a moonflower as she spoke.

The child she pointed to was Kristine, the one who had been at the orphanage the longest.

She was mature and clever, but she had scars on her chin, neck, and shoulder from a burn she received as a child after mishandling a hot kettle.

Because of those scars, the child’s parents had abandoned her.

With so many mouths to feed, they couldn’t bear to raise a child who had become unfortunate.

 

“So much money…”

“It’s an emergency fund I’ve been secretly saving since I was young. I had always planned to use it for something meaningful, and I’ve finally found the perfect opportunity. Please use it to help get through this winter.”

 

Grace had handed over the envelope with a smile, as if it were nothing.

For some reason, her hand had been wrapped in a white bandage when she passed over the envelope.

That was the kind of warmth Grace carried within her.

Even in the harsh conditions of the orphanage, as we dealt with endless struggles and experiments with konea, those days had not been easy.

Once, a group of nobles came to the orphanage, clearly intending to mock Grace.

 

“Goodness, it’s so filthy here… With so many other children who need support, why bother taking care of these dirty ones, Lady Grace? Your dear older brother is quite concerned… I would be, too, if my younger sister were coming to a place like this. What if she catches something?”

 

Their words hurt the director and the children alike.

But what frightened the children more than those words was the possibility that Grace, their only benefactor, might leave because of them.

 

“Don’t worry. They’ll get bored after a time. They’re not the kind of people who have the persistence to keep it up.”

 

However, despite all the ridicule directed at her, Grace just smiled as if it was nothing and continued what she was doing.

It must have been difficult for her, dealing with her brother who tormented her endlessly at home while pretending to be a good person in public, yet she never wavered.

It was truly remarkable.

Perhaps this unshakable nature was what drove Norman to madness.

“Director…”

“I trust your judgment, Teacher. Since you say he is a good man, I believe he must be, even if I haven’t seen him myself. I truly wish you happiness.”

“Thank you.”

“You are a special person, Teacher.”

The director smiled warmly as she gently stroked the back of Grace’s hand.

There was a long, thin scar between Grace’s left ring and middle finger.

It was a mark from the day she first visited the orphanage.

Norman O’Ellin had tripped Grace as she was leaving and tried to wrestle away what she had hidden.

Grace had resisted, refusing to let go of the money she had concealed in her pockets, and in the scuffle, the heel of Norman’s shoe had slashed her hand.

It was strange.

No matter how bad the relationship between siblings, how could someone harbor so much hatred towards the other?

If it weren’t for him, Grace wouldn’t have had to endure such a difficult life, especially since she was a daughter of a marquis.

“I think the first person to recognize how special you are was Norman O’Ellin.”

“Huh? What do you mean by that…?”

“Sometimes, inferiority can turn a person into a monster. When someone with a naturally vicious temperament harbors feelings of inferiority, it’s even more terrifying.”

Inferiority.

Grace couldn’t understand why Norman would feel such inferiority toward her.

That was the part that made no sense to her.

“I’m glad you were able to leave that place. Not all family members are warm and loving. In my time running this orphanage, I’ve seen many relatives colder than ice. The same goes for the children in our orphanage.”

The director gazed out the window at the children playing outside.

“But I hope such things won’t affect these children, and that they will still grow up good and kind.”

Her wrinkled eyes reflected a mix of regret and sorrow.

“My dream, my goal every day, is to help them shrug off those things and learn to love themselves. Oh, though I do falter now and then.”

The director added with a playful smile.

“What a truly wonderful dream, Director.”

Grace spoke with genuine admiration.

“It’s a dream I wouldn’t have had if it weren’t for you.”

“Huh?”

“Thanks to you, my dream became more certain. That’s something I’m deeply grateful for as well.”

“…But I haven’t done anything.”

“Of course you have. You grew up strong under that terrible brother, you didn’t give in, and… you came to us with that resilient spirit.”

The director reached out and embraced Grace.

“I’m so thankful for all of that, Teacher. I pray that your future will be filled only with blessings.”

Kelly prayed earnestly to the same God she had called upon so many times before.

She hoped that one day, she could lend whatever meager strength she had to support this young woman.

And that, in doing so, she might help Grace protect the happiness she was working so hard to build.

 

* * *

 

Grace, Julie and Ruppell all ended up causing quite a stir at the orphanage.

Grace helped the children with their homework, Julie made lunch with them, and Ruppell was led by the director to help repair the fence.

Before long, it was time for Grace’s afternoon appointment.

Before leaving the orphanage, she gave the children the invitations she had prepared.

“R-Really, can we really go to that place?”

Anna spoke with an excited, yet slightly fearful expression.

Grace firmly nodded, so as not to make the children feel anxious.

“Of course. This is my wedding, and you are my long-time friends. You can walk in proudly. I’ve set aside special seats just for you.”

Something like this was inherently impossible.

The children were commoners.

The fact that they were close to Grace, a noblewoman, was a miracle in itself, but now they were receiving an official invitation to her wedding.

And the person she was marrying was none other than His Excellency the Duke of Blacke, the most powerful noble in the country!

The children clutched their invitations, bearing Grace’s seal, with trembling hands.

“I was worried that my dear guests wouldn’t know what to wear, so I’ve ordered outfits for you… Is that alright? I picked the clothes myself, so I hope you don’t mind.”

“N-No! No! It’s perfectly fine, Teacher!”

“New clothes!”

“Wooow! Are we really allowed to go?”

The children buzzed excitedly and cheered.

Leaving behind the children, who were now shouting with glee, Grace finally managed to slip away.