The Original Villainess

CHAPTER 12

“This is the office. Down there is the sitting room. The children’s bedrooms are upstairs to the right. All of the teachers and myself live here, and our rooms are to the left. The kitchen and dining room are through that door, and we employ several renowned chefs to cook full, nutritious meals for every child, three times a day!”

My shoes clicked against the marble floor as Mr. Lowt pointed out various rooms without actually showing me the inside. He sent off all the teachers to get the kids ready to meet me. I wonder what that means. “How many children do you house here at any given time?”

“We currently have twenty-one children. Most of the children sent to us are adopted, or receive a sponsorship before the age of twelve. All of our children are talented in something, so it really depends on what kind of child you want to sponsor,” he drooled, throwing open the door to the sitting room. “Shall I have some tea prepared?”

“Sure,” I responded nonchalantly, and he disappeared. I walked the perimeter of the room. I knew it. There’s something weird about this. There’s not a speck of dust below my eye level, but once I look up, I can tell things haven’t been cleaned in a while. I wonder what’s going on. And twenty-one children? For an orphanage this size? Either he’s really good at getting sponsors in, or people nearby don’t die and leave behind their children as often as in the capital.

“Um. My lady?”

I looked at Lee, who stuck out like a sore thumb, in his dingy cloak.

“Is there a name I can call you?” he asked.

I paused, trying to think back on Consider the Lilies. “Master has a nice ring to it.”

He glowered at me and I turned away, peering at the decorations around the room. This vase…it’s made of silver. This chest, I’m pretty sure it’s mahogany, or the equivalent in this world. “This pattern…” I murmured, my fingers brushing over the waist-high chest that held the silver vase, remnants of a memory returning.

“Did you say something?”

I shook my head. The only trees I’ve seen in the two months I’ve been here are pine, oak, and maple. We passed orchards as we crossed town boundaries, so the capital probably farms most of their fruits and nuts there, but the ax handle I bought for Mrs. Bristol’s orphanage was hickory, and that’s pricey because you have to import it from the southern kingdom.

In the book, the author noted during Brynne’s debutante that the royal family used an artisan from the Na kingdom across the sea to craft the finest pieces of furniture for every room in the palace. He was expensive, along with his work. The reason he was so sought after, though, was not just because he was a skilled carpenter, but because he always wove a piece of purple heart into every masterpiece he created. He would use only a sliver, but each piece, no matter what wood the furniture was made of, would contain a nearly ethereal pattern of the purple wood. It was described as such that angels would use his creations in heaven.

This…I’m 100% positive that this is purple wood. Brynne’s memories from the palace are inside me, and there’s no denying it. Which means this pattern…it truly is gorgeous. Actually, it kind of looks like a heart…which is cute.

So if this chest is mahogany, which can’t be found anywhere in this kingdom, and was crafted by the most expensive carpenter in probably this entire world, then someone at this orphanage has spent a pretty penny to spruce this place up. The question is why.

This is…horrible.

I tapped my chin as I turned about the room, eyes peering intently at each piece of furniture, each artwork, every single speck of dust. It’s nice to have a clean, bright setting for the children to grow up in, but this goes beyond that. This…this is mockery. It’s like when your neighbor owns a classic Bugatti in pristine condition, but all you can afford is a thirty year old oldsmobile.

“My lady,” Lee whispered over by the window.

“What is it?”

He nodded once, and I followed his gaze. Out in the yard, I saw one of the female teachers from earlier dragging a girl wearing a dirty gray dress that resembled an unwashed potato sack by her hair, around the corner of the house and out of sight.

The door opened again and Mr. Lowt carried in a tray of tea cheerfully. “Some of the children are ready to meet you!” he announced, and three of the teachers stepped forward after him, setting down thick stacks of files. “Now, do you prefer a boy or a girl?” he asked, pouring the tea.

I blinked at him. “Does it matter?”

“Wh–of course not!” he hurried, beads of sweat lining his brow. “Some people have a preference, so it’s easier to cut the stack in half quickly!”

They’re children, not paperwork. I picked up a file and thumbed through it, eyes nearly popping out of my head. Personnel files? On the children? What does this mean? “Not smart?” I bit my lip before speaking, reminding myself to calm my tone. “What’s this?”

“The files on each of the children, of course! They tell you which child is good at which subject or activity, or what kind of work they do or do not excel in.”

Like I said. Children, not paperwork. I tossed it back on to the stack with a bored look to hide the anger that was simmering in my core. “Let me just meet the children, please.”

“Of course, my lady!” Mr. Lowt said, and he snapped his fingers.

A handful of children walked in wearing new clothes. Fancy, embroidered dresses for the girls, and pressed vests and cravats for the boys.

“Such pretty clothes,” I murmured, sipping at my tea. What is this? I think I’ve had this before. Well, not me, but Brynne. It resonates with my taste buds. I stared into my cup. Such a pretty color. “Apple blossoms?” I was unsure why the words came to mind, but Mr. Lowt beamed at them.

“So you’ve had this tea before! It’s such a rare and expensive tea! It’s imported from across the sea, you know. Known for its fruity fragrance and its calming color, a lot of noblewomen swoon after this tea! We always serve our guests this tea when they come to choose a child to adopt or sponsor!”

Oh, I remember now. When Brynne debuted, Carson had pulled her into a private lounge at the palace and served this tea. I can’t remember what it’s called, but the base is apple blossoms, which makes it a popular tea to drink in the spring. It’s also incredibly expensive, because not just ordinary apple blossoms are used. It’s a special kind of apple blossom that only grows in the kingdom across the sea. It’s so expensive, even House Sumner can only dream about importing it two or three times a year. In fact, the only people in this entire kingdom who can afford to drink it whenever they want, are members of the royal family.

My eyes flickered briefly to the mahogany chest and silver vase, the corners of my lips gritting downward. First, the most expensive piece of furniture in the world, then the most expensive tea. I do not like where this is going.

I cleared my throat and set the cup down, changing the subject. “Were these clothes donations from the townspeople?” I asked as casually as I could manage while scanning the children in front of me with sharp eyes. They are clean. But each one is hiding their hands behind their backs. And that boy…I thought I saw him limping when he came in, but he seems to be fine right now. My gaze honed in on the neckline of one of the dresses. I knew it. These clothes are designed to hide the whip marks. The teachers aren’t very careful, if they think I can’t see the red welts underneath the lace. It’s late spring, and they’re still wearing heavy dresses and long pants.

Mr. Lowt gave a full belly laugh. “Of course not, my lady! The townspeople can’t afford such clothes! These were gifted by the temple using donation funds!”

I narrowed my eyes at the children. Something’s off. “I see. Are there more children to see?”

“Do none of them strike your fancy? They are our most well-behaved children!”

“I thought I told you, Mr. Lowt, I will not be making a decision today,” I replied coolly. “Show me the children. All of them.”

He gulped, rubbing his hands together again. “I-I understand, my lady.” He whipped his round head around and glared at the children, who flinched visibly, and scurried out of the room. Then he smiled nervously in my direction. “I apologize, my lady,” he bowed. “It will take a few minutes to get the next set of children ready.”

Next set? Set? What does he think they are? Golf balls? I swallowed back my anger, reaching habitually for my tea. No, wait. The tea is delicious, but who knows where the money for this came from? I’d rather not drink it. I’ll act like a rich woman who can afford to let an entire pot of the most expensive tea in the kingdom go to waste. I folded my hands neatly on my lap and turned up my nose at the director.

A quiet laugh came from behind me, and I closed my eyes calmly, all while imagining stomping on Lee’s foot with my heel. Let me rebel in peace! I wanted to scream at him. You can’t agree with this, either!

The door opened again and more children came in. Wait. Aren’t those the same clothes the first group was wearing? I scoured my eyes over the line. Like the first group, none of them dared to look at me. So small. My eyes lingered on one of the boys. There was a drawing on him in the file I read earlier. “How old is that boy?” I asked, nodding to the one at the end.

“The lady asked you a question, brat!” Mr. Lowt barked. “Will you not answer her?”

“Thir-ah. Twelve, my lady,” the boy shivered, dipping his head until his chin touched his chest. My hands clenched on my lap, and I ground my teeth together.

Mrs. Bristol knew the ages of all the children in the orphanage. She never had money for new clothes, but she still kept them clothed and fed in the best way she knew how. If these children are wearing these fancy clothes in front of me, then what are they wearing when they’re not in front of me?

Thirteen, he said? It sounds like the adults here are making the older children lie about their age, since younger children adopt faster. They probably wouldn’t be able to explain why a thirteen year old looks no bigger than a ten year old. “Really? I would have thought you were younger, since you look so thin. What’s your name?”

“L-Levi, my lady.”

If I had been drinking my tea, I would have dropped my cup. As it was, I was glad I was sitting down, and not holding anything fragile. Levi? How auspicious. “I see.” I turned my head back to the director. “Mr. Lowt, you said you have twenty-one children in your care, correct? I have seen fourteen of them. Bring the others in, please.”

—

“Was that all of them?” I asked Mr. Lowt as the last group of children left. There were twenty-one children. While they wore the same clothes, I could tell none of them were presented twice. So who was that I saw getting dragged by her hair? I shot Lee a glance, curious to know if he had noticed. His lips were pressed in a straight line, and his features were hardened. I wonder what he saw to make him react like that. Actually…I wonder what kind of childhood Lee had. You don’t become Carson’s most trusted aide by living a beautiful, carefree life. Did he even want to work for the crown prince? I wouldn't be surprised if Carson blackmailed into helping him succeed the throne.

“That was the last of them, my lady,” Mr. Lowt declared.

I sighed and pushed myself to my feet. “I see.” I glanced out the window, but there were no children in sight. Keeping them hidden until I leave, probably. “Mr. Lowt, what do you feed the children?”

“Huh? Oh, er, bread and steak, if we can afford it. Rice porridge if we can’t. We usually can’t, unfortunately.”

If you can afford it? You have a “renowned” chef cooking for them, and you give them rice porridge? Anger flashed through my eyes as I stared down at him. No. I can’t do this here. I have to finish my mission. I can’t do that if I get mad here. I forced a smile, cupping my cheek in my palm. “I see. How many meals a day?”

“Of course they get three meals a day!” he sputtered.

Three meals of steak a day? A thirteen year old boy would not look so young and sickly if that were the case. “Who does the cleaning here?”

“The children,” he sighed, almost in relief. “It’s good to teach them such skills at a young age, as many go on to become maids or footmen in noble households.”

This is a good skill to have, I agreed silently, but my eyes took in the dust along the ceiling. Should I? Shouldn’t I? I’m afraid if I mention anything, he’ll have a five year old attempting to dust the high corners and end up hurting themselves. I furrowed my brow as I tapped my chin. What to do? Ah. “Perhaps you should do a better job teaching,” I pointed out with a polite smile as I ran my fingers along the top edge of the window frame. I blew on the dust that had gathered, staring at the director with an evil glint in my eyes.

“I-I apologize, my lady!” he bellowed, throwing himself onto the floor. “I shall scold the children better so they know to clean the high places as well!”

I knew it. “Enough of this,” I snipped. “Mr. Lee.”

Lee flinched. “Huh? Me? I mean, yes, my lady?”

“You saw all the children, yes?”

“That’s correct, my lady?”

“Were any of them tall enough to properly dust high places like the window frame, or the top corners of the room?”

He shook his head easily. “Not at all, my lady. They were all rather on the short side.”

I crouched in front of the director, still prostrating himself in front of me. “Mr. Lowt,” I whispered darkly, “when I suggested you do a better job of teaching, I did not mean to rebuke the children who have done their job well. I want you to scold the adults who walk past an unfinished job and do nothing about it. The children were all too short to reach the dust at the top, but every one of you adults can easily pick up a rag and clean it in no time flat. Do you understand what I am saying?”

I stared at the top of his head, shining with sweat, as he nodded vigorously, and stood.

“I shall take my leave, now,” I told him, still face down on the floor. Oh, how I want to smash my foot into his head! “Mr. Lee!” I didn’t stop walking until I climbed into the carriage. Not even when Dorothy greeted me.

She plopped onto the bench next to me. “Are you alright, my lady?”

I inhaled slowly, holding my breath before letting it out. I rested my elbow on the small window ledge as the driver got the horses moving, closing my eyes against the gentle breeze. No, I’m not alright.

“I think this place was really pretty!” Dorothy babbled when I didn’t respond. “Some of the children came out while you were inside, and they smiled so happily! It looks like a much better place than the last one! Though the director of that orphanage seemed to really care about the children, that house was nowhere near good enough for my lady to be there for long periods of time, “ she pouted.

“Enough, Dorothy,” I chided, still gazing out the window. “Even a gilded book can hold harsh words.”

“Huh?”

Oh, they don’t have gilded books here? I shifted so my head rested against the wall as I watched the scenery change. “It’s not our tears that measure our pain, but the smiles we fake.”

“I don’t get it, my lady!” she cried after a moment of silence.

“She’s saying that when something looks pretty from the outside, it’s usually hiding some dark secret inside,” Lee said quietly.

So he did see it. I wonder if I can use this. Maybe this will help me in my goal to not die.

“But, my lady,” he asked, voice filled with curiosity. “Why didn’t you say anything? I could burn the whole place down right now, and that’ll be the end of it.”

My eyelid twitched as he spoke. “And then what?” I snapped, shooting a harsh glare his way. “You burn the place down, and then what? Should I adopt all those children? Turn them over to a different orphanage? Don’t jump into a fire, unless you have the tools to put it out, Mr. Lee!”

His eyes widened, half in surprise, half in some other emotion I couldn’t name.

I sighed and turned away. “You should get some rest. Our next stop is three hours away.”