Chapter 5: Forced by Circumstances

“What is your name again?” The great noble’s tune shifted hues, turning affable once again.

However, Lili felt something else from that seemingly amiable tone - it was seething anger. It made her step back a little, but soon recovered after she remembered what she did to the noble.

“Lili, please call this servant Lili. S-Sir noble.” The young lady lowered her head, refusing to raise it unless she received a verdict. Despite hearing the friendly mood of the great noble, she still felt the threat of death laying above her head.

“What a pleasant name you have.” The noble nodded, he slipped a glimpsed at the paling headmistress and smiled. No one knew what was running through his head.

Cold sweat trickled down from Lili’s brows, her voice trembling. “I have no excuse, please punish me!”

Instead of replying, the noble turned toward the old mistress. A dark-colored seal appearing on his palms. She waved it in front of the old lady. Mirth creeping into his pudgy lips. “I also need an assistant for one of my ventures in the capital. Can I take her, Anna?”

The lips of the old mistress shuddered. Her eyes turned listless.

“Hm, you don’t want to?” The pudgy noble’s eyes shifted into slits, his smile turning deeper and deeper.

“No, it’s not that lord noble. B-But the children need her here, lord baron.” The old mistress stuttered, her voice shaking for an unknown reason. “I need her help. I’m already old. Not strong enough to handle the heavy tasks as compared before.”

“That’s indeed a problem,” frowned the noble. “Then how about this…”

The pudgy man glanced at the trembling young lady on the floor, “I’ll exchange her for the little girl over there. I’ll leave, hm, little Betha here to help you.”

“B-but…” The old mistress’s face fell.

“I only have this piece of patience, Anna.” The noble lifted his finger, checking his nails. “I really need her help this time. We must not waste a talent like her, Anna. She’ll do well on that store of mine. And she’s going to be perfect!”

Silence loomed, filling each corner of the room. The atmosphere turned stony. No one spoke for a few seconds.

“I’ll go.” Lili raised her head. “Thank you for considering me.”

Lili sensed the malice directed towards the old mistress. Some guards behind even held the hilt of their swords, ready to pull their weapons out anytime. This, she rushed her reply, hoping to help the old mistress.

The pudgy man’s chortled, ignoring the old mistress. He glanced at Lili in deep thought.

However, the face of the old mistress paled. Her face crumpled, akin to an old piece of paper. Fortunately, she immediately hid it away from the noble.

“There you go,” said the noble. He gestured, making the guards take a step back. He shifted his gaze, watching Lili with interest. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure she’ll have one of the best jobs in my business. Anyway, I can always buy an extra shirt, but not a talent.”

“Thank you, great noble," whispered Lili. She sighed in relief after realizing that the noble would not pursue the 'tea incident' and the disrespect of the old mistress.

Her teacher in Antacastian etiquette told her that a noble could even decapitate a commoner once they're disrespected. The law court wouldn't even peek at their case, especially a case of an orphan and an old lady from some random orphanage.

"Anyway, I am a bit in a rush," said the pudgy noble.

"Half a day. Is that enough for you to prepare?" The noble smiled at the golden-eyed lady.

Lili froze, stumped at the rapid turn of events. She expected it would take three days, just as usual. But half a day…

She wished to ask for more time, opening her mouth… "But…"

The noble frowned after hearing her first word. The noble’s shifting expression stopped Lili from continuing her words. Thus, she immediately changed her tune. “As you will, great noble."

“That’ll be great,” the noble clapped and chortled. “Go ahead. Oh, bring the kids with you. I’m going to have a long talk with Anna.”

Lili stood from the ground, her head still lowered. She glanced at the old mistress. The old lady met her gaze with a strained smile, telling her to follow the order. She took the shock kids with her, bringing them to the upper floors of the orphanage.

***

Lili heard her heart galloping, her thoughts scattered as she and the children arrived at the orphanage’s second floor. Her feet brought her to the room of the children. The only place aside from the kitchen where she felt at peace.

“Sis Lili, you walk so fast.”

“Yeah, Big Sis.”

“It felt like you were running away from a thief.”

Lili turned and saw the three children huffing. Her heart softened for them. She pinched the trio’s silly faces and said, “You just don’t exercise, unlike me. You should go outside more and strengthen your bodies.”

“Sis Lili, are you really going with us?” asked Aldis, gazing with zeal and curiosity. “To the territory of the noble?”

Lili’s face stiffened, muffled after hearing the question. Truthfully, she doesn’t wish to go, but she had no choice. The noble had already given his verdict.

“Yeah, it looks like the noble needs talent in the store.” Lili gave him a wry smile. “The noble might be short of staff. You heard it, right? That I’m an exceptional talent!”

“Great! Sis Lili would be there.” Aldis jumped in delight.

“It’ll be great that I won’t have to face Betha’s nagging too. Hurray!” The black-haired youth named Nicol guffawed.

The silent young girl named Betha stared at the young lad and rolled her eyes. She stared at Lili in deep thought. Though she felt happy that she would stay, she still felt something amiss. After all, she saw the expression of the old mistress before they left the room. She was extremely pale.

Unlike the two blokes, she also knew the punishment of offending a noble. Thus, the odd kind tone of the noble despite what Lili had done somehow bothered her.

“Sis Lili,” asked Betha. “Will you be alright?”

Lili strode forwards and ruffled the young girl’s hair until it turned into a bird’s nest. She lowered her head up to her ears and whispered, “I will be alright. Do your best to help the old mistress. She’s not getting any younger anymore.”

“But…”

Lili immediately put her finger on the young girl’s lips, stopping her from uttering any words. She eyed the young lass. “Don’t scare them. You have always been quick-witted. I’ll do my best to protect myself.” She then turned to Nicol and Aldis. “I’ll also help the two. Perhaps I will also meet your other elder brothers.”

Betha pursed her lips, holding the hems of Lili’s old skirt. “Promise me you’ll return.”

Lili thought hard for a moment and said. “I will. I’ll ready my things first.” She ruffled Betha’s hair before turning towards the young lads.

“Aldis and Nicol, get your things ready!”

“Ai!” The two lads tittered before running to pick their things.

Lili walked out of the children’s room, striding towards the small attic atop the orphanage. The old mistress gave her a personal room as an orphanage staff. Though most of the time, it’s in the claws of the little roaming brats.

With a heavy heart, she started arranging the things she needed to bring. She only had a few personal possessions. So she would make it even if she doesn’t rush. She pulled her drawer open, pulling a feathered pen and a bottle of ink. Then she started writing a letter. One for the children. The other for the old mistress.