Duke, Please Repent!

Chapter 15

In the Duke’s estate

Translated by Appleot
Edited by Appleot

 

Chapter 15

In the Duke’s estate (2)

 

 After finishing the meal, the Duke’s office, that I arrived at under Norman’s guidance, was not far from my room.

 

 ‘What’s wrong with wasting movement?’

 

 I can’t believe that we went to a restaurant far away and had to come back here. Efficiency has been severely reduced.

 

 ‘Should I ask them to change the location of my room?’

 

 I opened the office door with that thought. At that moment, seeing the sight that caught my eye, I realized what’s going on. Why is my room in the castle? Why was it also assigned near the office? Not to mention Serpence’s desk. On the desk that’s supposed to be my seat, a mountain of documents was piled up.

 

 ‘This was a location selection on the premise of overtime work!’

 

 There were no more jokes now. Instead of moving the room closer to the restaurant, we’re gonna need to eat here. Serpence looked at the documents that had to be dealt with urgently. And, I was in charge of checking the contrast between the original documents made with the copy documents processed at the mansion.

 

 In particular, for accounting, I have to check the numbers one by one, which hurts my eyes and makes my head spin. In the meantime, people who appeared to be administrators kept coming and posting reports. Even Serpence’s documents, who is fast in completing work, showed no signs of shrinking.

 

 ‘In the original story, after Zion died, did he do all these things alone?!’

 

 I remembered him staying up all night on the train, dealing with work. Maybe he did something like that. If I had a time machine, I would like to beat myself up from the past when I just spent time and left work.

 

 “Duke, I think I’m going to die…”

 

 If Serpence hadn’t infused me with his divine power from time to time, I would have already fallen into a groggy state long ago. I thought it was work that had to be done in at least four days, but it wasn’t. Tomorrow we have to go to volunteer work and street inspection, and we have to deal with general documents?

 So, in reality, the time given for this work was only two days, today and the day after tomorrow.

 

 ‘Checking a month’s worth of documents in two days…!’

 

 It’s not good enough to take a quick look at the documents too. Very rarely, there’s a typo or things like that. I don’t know for sure yet, but documents with different copies of the original have been found. After the report, it’s necessary to determine the cause. Since I’m busy with work, I have to fill my meals with sandwiches… This is my first overtime job since becoming Serpence’s assistant.

 

 ‘While we’re this busy, there’s also volunteering in the midst? This is what a service is!’

 

 Serpence and I are working hard for the Prasidus Spirit, what kind of service is needed too? The only good thing is, he said that the inspection did not mean that we had to check the entire duchy. Are we just gonna go around in disguise and check prices, living conditions, and security?

 

 ‘That would be fun.’

 

 It would give us time to catch our breath…

 

 * * *

 

 Early the next morning, with a half-asleep mind, I got on the carriage, half dragged by Norman. Has Norman become in charge?

 

 “Breakfast will be eaten at the orphanage belonging to the church.”

 

 Serpence, who was riding on the carriage first, said that in a low voice as soon as the door closed. Is that what you’re talking about as soon as you see me? To Serpence, I seem to have become a person who only knows what to eat. Of course, I was going to ask.

 

 “Are we going to an orphanage?”

 

 At my words, Serpence casted his gaze to me, wondering if there is any problem with it.

 Come to think of it, Serpence has become less talkative since he stopped pretending to be nice in front of me.

 

 ‘I don’t know if this is his actual personality, or if he’s awkward with himself for not acting…’

 

 If not, is it because of my lie that I have a good eye for people? Even if he didn’t have to say it, he thought I would understand everything, and it was like casting ‘I’m going to tell you with my eyes.’

 

 ‘If it’s the last reason, it’ll be really upsetting…?’

 

 That’s why bluffing that doesn’t make sense shouldn’t be said. 

 

 “It’s just. I think the wagon that’s following us contains gifts for the children?”

 

 The truth is that I felt ironic that he went to an orphanage, because he had not been treated as a child should have been. Serpence nodded his head instead of answering my question, and quietly moved his gaze out of his window.

 

 ‘Aren’t you going to read a book today?’

 

 When the duke’s carriage arrived, a bunch of children ran out. A voice was heard of the driver and a priest, saying that it is dangerous to get close to the horse.

 

 “How are you all?”

 

 Serpence got off the carriage and knelt down on one of his knees to meet the children. Then he hugged the children one by one and called them by name. Once again, I seemed to understand why the people at the dukedom were so passionate about Serpence.

 

 He had such a big effect on people only using his appearance that I thought he would just do it simply, but I felt sincerity that was difficult to dismiss as just acting. It must have been the closest people to him to see this kind of thing, so I thought it was worth it now, even if it was kinda exaggerated.

 

 “Are you the new assistant?”

 

 It’s nice to watch Serpence get up with a child in both arms, one at a time. Was she in her 50’s? A woman in a priest’s suit approached me and spoke.

 

 “Ah, hello! My name is Zion Rivelon.”

 “I’m Amelia C. Serenity. Although not enough experienced, but I’m the head of this orphanage in the Prasidus Territory.”

 

 She smiled softly, and when the meal was ready, she led us inside to eat with them, saying that the food is ready. There was a brief prayer before the meal. The children solemnly put their small hands together and closed their eyes, but as soon as the prayer was finished, they began to chatter loudly.

 

 Serpence also sat between them, with a baby about a year old sitting on his lap, he was slowly feeding him baby food. The way he looked down at the baby with his kind smile and warm eyes looked very sublime and noble. It was so pure that it was impossible to approach him without knowing.

 

 However, the innocent children seemed to be worried that Serpence is taking care of the baby and not eating well. They brought the bread soaked in the soup to his mouth, and he took the bread with a slightly embarrassed but happy face.

 

 ‘…whether that’s acting or sincerity. Either way, it’s too sad, isn’t it?’

 

 For some reason, my heart feels so empty, and even if I drink water, food seems to keep getting stuck in my throat. When I first met Serpence, I would have laughed inside, saying it’s ridiculous, but now I can’t.

 

 He is neither the final boss in the novel nor the scapegoat for the continent. He’s only a person. He is just a child, unable to grow mentally. As long as I chose to understand him, it won’t just be about me wanting to live and wanting the world to be peaceful…

 

 ‘I want him to be happy too.’

 

 Not acting, seriously. After the meal, Serpence went into the Director’s office to talk, and I was left behind among the children.

 

 “Hey guys, hello?”

 

 Seeing so many children looking at me alone with curious eyes, I was really nervous.

 

 First of all, I greeted them with a smile as bright and kind as possible.

 

 “It’s weird to see you smiling!”

 “The old man who came before was scary, but this man is such a fool!”

 

 I almost got hurt a little. However, the children said it’s funny, they smiled, held my hand, and invited me to play together with them, so I thought it didn’t matter. What if it’s weird, the kids like it, it’s fun!

 

 ‘But why do I still feel a little sad…’

 

 Serpence came out of the director’s office and joined as we builded towers with blocks, hugged them, and played with them.

 

 Serpence sat a child on his lap and read to him a storybook. Meanwhile, I became a horse, crawling on all fours with a child on my back.

 As the children braided Serpence’s long hair with clumsy hands, my hair was ripped apart with rough hands. When the girls grew up, they told Serpence to make them a bride, and the boys said they would make me a subordinate when they grow up.

 

 ‘What? What the hell is this difference?!’

 

 Isn’t the treatment too different?

 Without realizing it, I was about to burst into tears. Did she notice my sad heart?

 The girl who had been watching me since I pretended to talk came up to me and said,

 

 “It’s okay, it’s okay. Don’t cry.”

 

 She comforted me by stroking my hair softly. It feels like all the sorrow is washed away.

 

 “Will you be my dog ​​when I grow up?”

 

··I think my ears are a little broken. 

 Did she say I’m cute like a puppy? Yes, that’s definitely what I heard. This child keeps stroking my hair.

 

 Since we had a later schedule, Serpence and I were only with the children until lunchtime. Leaving them behind, we got on the carriage. When we were about to leave, the director told us that the children really liked it and that it would be great if we could come again in the future. It felt like my heart was going to swell, and I was filled with warmth.

 

 “By the way, there were more people than I thought.”

 

 I thought that if it was Serpence, he would be good at things like welfare and pursue a setting that would prevent it in advance.

 

 “When we get to the dukedom, there are many people and the land is wide, so what. Is there anything you can’t do in this matter?”

 

 Serpence shook his head at my question.

 

 “Of course, there are children from the Duchy. However, since they are in the Duchy, they belong to the Order…”

 

 According to his explanation, he said that most of the cases were moved here because of the capacity from orphanages in other branches.

 

And one more thing. This is the most problematic case.

 

 ‘When people living in other areas deliberately come to drop their children.’

 

 He said he first caught them and listened to their stories. They were unanimously, [“Even though the circumstances are unfavorable, I just want my children to live in a good place.”]

 

 It is said what happened…

 I thought it’s because the facilities and education are better than other childcare centers in other areas because they donate or support a lot because they think about the external image.

 But their words were only excuses to relieve guilt.

 

 ‘As evidence…’

 

 At first he had given them a grant and sent them back with the children. However, they were eventually sent to an orphanage in the territory, or in severe cases, they were thrown away on the way home. Because of that, he had no choice but to accept it as if he didn’t know, Serpence said that in a low voice.

 

 Seeing the children abandoned by their parents, what did he think of, with him having to kill his parents with his own hands?

 

 “Why are you looking at me with those eyes…?”

 

 Maybe he felt my gaze…

 

 ‘uh?’

 

 After getting off the train, I remembered that the number of his words decreased significantly. Did he keep the words I said and thought about the timing to put them down? Should I ask him about talking now? Well, I can’t be shy, I’ll let it go naturally.

 

 “No, just? It’s because you’re not reading today.”

 

 Serpence, who seemed to stare at me for a moment, turned his head again and looked out his window. He seemed to be thinking complicatedly.