The Original Villainess

CHAPTER 14

“Whew.” I jumped out of the carriage and stretched. “Finally! I can’t wait to be done with this carriage!”

Like the other orphanages, the door opened before we had finished climbing down, and a small handful of adults spilled out. One lanky man with a perfectly curled mustache that strangely resembled some old guy I’d seen a picture of in my world history class in high school was at the front, arms open.

“My lady!” he greeted cheerfully. He acknowledged the others with a bow of his head.

Better than the last place, I sniffed. I eyed him from head to toe. I have…absolutely nothing to say about his outfit, except that it’s hideous. Who recommended yellow and orange together? What designer in their right mind makes a plaid shirt, vest and pants of different colors, and throws them together? I feel like I’ll get vertigo if I stare at him too long. Definitely already feeling nauseous.

“I am Luke Larden,” he said with a crooked bow, probably affected by the wobbling in his sideways knees, “the orphanage director. May I have my lady’s name?”

“I am…” I glanced at Lee, still at the carriage. I can’t take the chance that he’ll overhear me. “Exhausted!” I complained. “After traveling all day! Would you be so bothered if I begged you for a cup of tea, good sir?”

He blinked rapidly in surprise. “Of course, my lady! Right this way!”

I paused, looking back at the others. “Oh, may I bring my servants?”

His smile faltered a bit. “They can enter the house through the kitchen around back,” he answered.

“What about my guard?”

“Guard? My lady!” His eyes widened in horror. “Whyever would you need a guard at an orphanage?”

I smiled simply, biting back a retort. “Since he’s not a servant, he can come with me, correct?”

“Ah. I mean, whatever you wish, my lady.”

“Mr. Lee!” I called, waving him over. He jogged up to us, and I gestured to the others to go around back to the kitchen. Still better than the last place, but this guy thinks too highly of himself, huh?

“What exactly are you doing, my lady?” Lee whispered as we passed through the group of adults that had gathered outside the door.

I grinned at him. “I’m on a mission, Mr. Lee. If you’re curious as to what it is, why not stay with me a little longer?”

“You say that like I have a choice.”

“You always had a choice, Mr. Lee,” I corrected him. “You’re just very good at making the correct one.”

He gazed at me appreciatively as the director turned around to introduce the various adults. Teachers and tutors and the cook. They each bowed to me diligently before separating so we could step inside. Jeez, what is this place, Fort Knox? The outside looks like a simple house! Did they line the floors with gold, or something?

“My lady, the children are having dinner in the dining hall now, but if you wish to meet them, I can arrange a small group of some of our most well-behaved children.”

There’s that word again.

“If you wouldn’t mind,” I began, fluttering my eyes at the director, “could I possibly meet the children in the dining hall? After all, I’m interested in sponsoring a child, and the best way to choose which child is to see them all gathered together, is it not?”

“O-oh, of course, miss. Right this way!”

“What's for dinner today?” I asked the chef.

“Potato soup,” he answered proudly. “I don’t mean to brag, my lady, but I make the best potato soup in town!”

Sounds delicious right now, actually. But still full of empty calories. “No vegetables? Growing children need meat and vegetables,” I said, not unkindly.

“Of course, miss! I’ve added some peas to the soup. No meat today, as it can be expensive, but we try to feed them beef three days a week.”

Not really a balanced diet, but better than what Mrs. Bristol’s kids have. I wonder why such a drastic difference between the three orphanages. I allowed the chef to open a door for me, and I stepped through. The dining hall was spacious, but rather clean. Each child I saw had a bowl and cup in front of them. Pretty decent. They’re all wearing the same clothes, like someone mass-produced it just for them. The clothes are a bit dirty, though…actually, I think it’s the children who are dirty… I bit back a sigh as a child ran up to me, interrupting my next question to the director.

“Are you a sponsor?” he asked, excitement in his eyes.

“Possibly,” I answered cautiously.

“My name is Nemann!” he shouted. I didn’t have time to cover my ears. “I am seven years old, and have already mastered basic arithmetic!”

Other children abandoned their meals and flooded towards us. I glanced at the director, but he only stood there with a pleased smile on his face. Wait, did he teach them to pester sponsors like this? Why?

“My name is Arthur!”

“My name is Sammel!”

“I can ride a horse!”

“I can read three languages!”

“I’m Sally!”

“I have the prettiest embroidery!”

“I can paint!”

Ah. I see. They teach the children to show off their strengths, so the sponsor will pick the best and brightest. This is no different than the last place when Mr. Lowt gave me files on the children, of all things! I cleared my throat and held a hand up so they would see it. “My apologies,” I said, placing my hand over my chest and giving the children a bow. “It appears that I have interrupted your dinner. Meals are ever so important to young children, such as yourselv–” Wait, I interrupted myself, glancing around the room, why is everyone here so young? Surely they must have a few teenagers? “--so please forgive my intrusion, and continue.”

“Aww,” they whined as they backed off and returned to their seats, begrudgingly eating their soup.

Jeez. That was exhausting. “How many children do you have?” I asked, glancing around the room. First glance, maybe thirty? The building is relatively small, though, so I wonder where they all sleep.

“Thirty-four,” the director responded proudly. “We take in children from as far as two towns over!”

That would be impressive, if there were older children here, too. “How do you get by? Donations from the townspeople, perhaps?”

“Some,” Mr. Larden admitted, “but most of what we have here is thanks to our sponsors!”

Sponsors? Sponsors are responsible for the individual child under their care. How does that fit in? “Any help from the temple?” I asked casually.

“Oh, they throw us a few coins here and there,” the man shrugged, almost as if the mere mention wore him out. “I think they want to make sure we can’t complain to the king when they don’t do their job, but it helps keep the children fed, so we take what we can!”

Okay, this is bugging me. “I have noticed a lack of teenagers. Do they eat separately?”

“Oh, no, my lady,” he laughed. “We don’t have teenagers. Only children twelve and under.”

Anger boiled, clawing at my insides. Calm down. Let’s hear him out. There might be a good reason. “Surely there are teenage orphans in neighboring towns.”

He breathed a sigh, as if it explained everything.

I waited.

He finally continued. “If a child is not adopted or sponsored by the age of thirteen, they are sent away.”

I c****d my head. So they just…let the children fend for themselves the moment they become a teenager? Are teenage orphans so terrible, no one wants to adopt them? No wonder Mr. Lowt told the kids to lie about their age. “Why is that, Mr. Larden?”

“Most of them get apprenticeships, and some find jobs as tailors or seamstresses. Others venture to the capital in hopes of striking it rich!” The teachers laughed along with him, nodding in agreement.

I cleared my throat. Maybe I just don’t know enough about this world. But. My eyes fell on Lee next to me. He doesn’t look too happy with this situation, either. “Mr. Lee.”

“Hm? I mean, yes, my lady?”

“At what age is a person considered an adult in this country?”

“Fifteen, my lady.”

He’s just taking this in stride, I chuckled to myself. “Under what circumstances would a child be allowed to leave the home before the age of fifteen?”

“Work and education, my lady.”

“At what age is a person allowed to find work or education outside of the home, without parental permission?”

“Fifteen, my lady.” I could hear his smirk growing more and more pronounced, and I half wanted to slap him for it.

I kept my gaze even on Mr. Larden, even as his round eyes continuously questioned my line of questioning. “Then at what age is a legal guardian that is not a child’s biological or adoptive parent, be allowed to send said child out of the home for good? For any reason?”

Mr. Larden’s eyes widened as he finally understood the point I was trying to get across.

“Fifteen, my lady,” Lee answered smugly.

“Mr. Lee, are you familiar with the royal decree that all children under the age of fifteen without a home, be clothed and fed, either by the temple, or one of the country’s many orphanages?” Nice, Brynne! At least those stupid books came in handy for once!

“Yes, my lady.”

“Do you happen to know what the punishment might be for someone who blatantly denies their responsibility as a child’s guardian and leaves them to fend for themselves before the age of fifteen?”

I could practically hear Lee’s lips twist into an evil grin. What exactly happened to this guy, that he wants to murder all the orphanage directors?

“Of course I do, my lady.”

“Then please, Mr. Lee. Enlighten us.” Mr. Larden’s knees shook almost comically, and the teachers gathered behind them huddled together, fear paling their faces.

“For each case of neglect–” Lee paused dramatically– “six months of probation, during which the offender is either incarcerated, or sent to do volunteer work, typically related to the type of crime they have committed; a fine of one thousand gold; termination from any occupation that involves the caregiving of children, as well as the removal of any and all children from the offender’s home during time of probation; and.”

I glanced at Lee as he chuckled darkly.

“A ten page apology letter to the person against whom the crime has been committed.”

Dang, Your Majesty. You really hate people who mess up kids, don’t you? Not even my last life had so many protection laws for children.

Thoughts began to bombard my mind rapidly, as pieces from the original story and memories of previous conversations I’d had started to fill in some blanks that were starting to leave room for doubt.

But the king in Consider the Lilies is attempting to harmonize adulthood with a child’s ability to to take care of themselves, so people like Luke Lardon, who so openly sends any child under the age of fifteen into the world without the knowledge needed to—at the very least—protect themselves from men like Luke Larden, are held accountable for their actions. Or, lack of action, in this case.

However, due to the royal decree that the temple was put in charge of making sure these rules are being followed by any adult responsible for the care of children, and taking into account that the temple is most likely embezzling money from the people of this kingdom in order to put Carson on the throne, this tells me that the king is completely unaware that the temple is not actually doing the job they had sworn to do during their agreement with the throne. But if the money that the nobles are donating are not going to the people, then where is it going? Mrs. Bristol hasn’t seen a single copper in years, while Mr. Lowt has been fattening his pockets–and his belly–with the money the temple gives him, all while starving and beating the children in his care.

But Mr. Larden said he only receives a few coins from the temple, and most of the rest of the money comes from sponsors, which doesn’t actually make any sense, but maybe if I ask– Wait, I interrupted my own train of thought. Wait, wait, wait.

First off. What if that’s the plan? What if the crown prince is using the temple to get some of the orphanages on his side. Most sponsors are nobles. They can use the children under their sponsorship to raise children to be in the service of the crown prince, all while weeding out the nobles who are not exclusively on Carson’s side. By doing this, the orphanages that agree receive kickbacks from the temple, which explains Mr. Lowt.

But then we have directors like Mr. Larden, who are genuinely confused as to why the temple is only sending a few coins. But this guy is unaware that he’s in the middle of one giant laundering conspiracy! The sponsors take the children—hang on.

When we the kids started crowding around us, there was one table I saw that didn’t bother to so much as glance our way. Most of the kids were wearing the same basic clothes, but the children at his table were dressed just a little bit differently. Could it be, that because the temple refuses to provide for the orphanage as is expected, Mr. Larden as come up with a way to swindle sponsors for their money? Instead of sending the sponsored child off with the sponsor when they get chosen, Mr. Larden keeps them here until they are thirteen, when he then ships them off to wherever will take them?

I wonder if the sponsors believe the children are receiving education in such places, and continues to send funds for them, but Mr. Larden is merely leeching off them, all while selling them out to rich girls who want a “toy” to play with, or old men who like little girls and boys. Does he write letters to update the sponsors to let them know that the child they chose is doing a good job? My fists curled up into balls at my side at the thought, and I stepped closer to the orphanage director, glowering at him through narrow slits. In doing this, he inadvertently supports the crown prince’s people by supplying them with anything they need. Meanwhile, they probably keep falsified records, so if anything happens to make the plan backfire, they can use the evidence to turn him into a scapegoat, and make him take the fall for it. No. I can’t make assumptions, even about him. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly to appease my anger. “Mr. Larden. Would you be so kind as to tell me how your sponsorship program works?”

“Huh? Oh, o-of course, my lady,” he stammered, even as a tinge of relief filled his voice at the topic change. “When a sponsor chooses a child, we keep the child here until they are thirteen. In that time, we use the donations from the sponsor to find tutors specific to the child’s needs and educate them according to how the sponsor wishes. When they turn thirteen, we send them off to their sponsor.”

“Is that so? In no case, do you send a sponsored child somewhere other than the home of the sponsor to which they now belong, under royal law?”

He flinched and his gaze shifted away. “I-I m-mean, o-of c-c-course n-not!”

So it’s true.

He fell to his lanky knees, trembling. “It’s such a shame, Mr. Larden,” I said quietly in an attempt to control my anger, crouching down next to him. “I was so looking forward to my visit today. The children are mostly taken care of, on top of being well-educated. So why did they have to have such a sleazy, greedy, cowardly director like you in charge of them?”

“M-my l-lady?” he stammered.

I leaned in again, sneering at him. “You wouldn’t want your negligence and embezzling to be reported to the king, now, would you?”

He shook his head furiously, and I stood.

“Mr. Lee, we’re leaving.” I didn’t give the adults another look, but I felt bad for the children who thought their only hope in a sponsorship walked right out the front door. I saw Dorothy’s and Alec’s silhouette waiting for us by the carriage, and I slowed my pace to match Lee’s as we strolled down the path.

“What’s on your mind?” I asked him, waving back to Dorothy who was gesturing for us to hurry up.

“You are a strange one,” he admitted with a little smile.

He’s so hot and cold. Okay, partially my fault for constantly teasing him, but it’s quite adorable. “How do you mean?”

“Are you someone who can even get an audience with the king? How are you supposed to report that bastard?”

I felt a strange warmth in my chest as I smiled at Lee. “You have no idea who I am, do you?”

“Uh, no. Which is why I asked for your name hours ago, my lady.”

I shook my head gently. “I won’t give you my name. Not today, not tomorrow. But one day—probably soon—you’ll hear it, and you’ll wonder how you never recognized me.”

“So we’ve met before? That would explain how you knew me as soon as you saw me, but—”

I shook my head again. “Nothing quite like that,” I told him as we approached the carriage. “But don’t worry. It has nothing to do with you.”

He reached a hand out hesitantly, taking my arm in his strong fingers to hold me back a moment. “My lady…” his vibrant green eyes searched my own, even as the sky darkened with the setting sun, a brilliant hue of oranges and pinks throwing a new life across the grounds.

“Yes?”

“Are you…no. Never mind.” He let my arm go and opened the carriage door, helping Dorothy up first, then holding a hand out for me.

I c****d my head at him. ‘Are you’ implies a personal question. Am I what? Am I tired? Am I planning something? Am I engaged? Lol, yeah right. Doubt he’d ask something like that. But what was that look in his eyes supposed to mean? He looked almost…concerned.

—

“Done,” Lee said, poking his head into the carriage. “Two rooms. One on the first floor, one on the third.” He opened the carriage and help me and Dorothy out. The driver trotted the carriage a ways down to where a stable waited for the horses.

“My lady!” Dorothy whispered, tugging me off to the side. “I just realized that you don’t have a change of clothes for tomorrow!”

I opened my mouth to respond, but Lee came up from behind me. “Don’t worry, Dorothy. I’ve got that taken care of.”

She narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously, and I took her by the elbow.

“Now, dear, Mr. Lee knows what he’s doing. Let’s leave it to him.”

Lee winked at me as he handed me a key. “Here. The driver and I will take the room on the third floor, so you two ladies can rest easy on the first floor.”

I shook my head. “You two take the first floor. Dorothy and I will take the third floor.”

He and Dorothy gaped at me.

“I can’t let my lady walk all the way up to the third floor while I enjoy the easy comfort of the first floor!” he cried, pulling at his hair.

I almost laughed. He’s acting like a real servant now. “Don’t do that,” I scolded gently, prying his fingers away from his head. “Your hair is too pretty for you to go bald.”

He frowned at me in confusion, and held out the first floor key, but I shook my head again. “What will we do, Dorothy and I, if an intruder comes in during the night and attempts to harm one of us?” I asked innocently as I cupped my cheeks with my palms. “Surely, being on the third floor, and far away from their initial breakin point, will prevent any lasting damage to our poor, delicate female bodies?”

Lee blinked once, twice. Then he lowered the hand with the first floor key, and raised the hand with the third floor key. I grinned brilliantly as I snatched it up, blew him a kiss, and dragged Dorothy by the elbow until we got to our room.

Wahh. So big! I gasped appreciatively as I looked around the room, when I spotted the window. That’s right! This is why I wanted the third floor! I threw open the curtains and opened the window, taking in a deep breath from the night breeze.

“My lady, night air is bad for your health!” Dorothy exclaimed.

I shrugged off her worries. “Come here. Look at this view.”

The night sky, littered in futuristic gems that resembled a sea of diamonds under the sun, blinked a welcoming greeting for all to see. The air was fresher than anything I had ever tasted. A few distant lamps attached to carriages and lone riders lit a path to the road, where streetlamps were beginning to wink on to make night travel less dangerous. Down in the valley, some houses had brightly lit windows, while some were starting to go out after being used too long without replacement.

“Isn’t it beautiful?” I breathed.

Dorothy raised a brow at me. “My lady…it’s too dark to see anything. What view are you talking about?”

I pressed my forehead firmly against the small window ledge. Gah! I was trying to share something wonderful with her, but she didn’t get it! A familiar face floated through my mind. Something wonderful… I sighed and dropped my cheek on my fist in defeat, even as the stillness and beckoning peace eased the tension in my soul. I wonder if he would get it.

“My lady, time for your bath!”

I shook my head roughly. It doesn't matter. He’s not here, so I can’t show him. And even if he was, he’d probably react like Dorothy, or think I was childish and silly. And then I’d feel insecure, because what kind of future duchess is childish or silly?

Jeez. It’s hard to think of myself as a duchess just because I’m engaged to Levi. I see him more as Doctor Richards than a duke.

I stepped into the tub after Dorothy helped me undress. “But even still,” I murmured quietly, resting my head on the edge of the tub as I soaked. “ I think it would have been nice to show Levi.”