Looking for a Husband to Confine Me - Chapter 61.1

Schedule: Tue and Sat

Inside the carriage returning to the Count’s estate from the orphanage, Damian couldn’t contain his evident glee. His smile, as he gazed out the small carriage window, was different from his usual relaxed, sly grin. The reason for Damian’s good mood was likely due to what had transpired just moments ago, a promise made to a tearful child just before they left the orphanage.

“Waaah!” The child, who had suddenly started sobbing, clutched the gifted doll tighter and cried even louder. Hearing this, the orphanage director and the teachers rushed over.

“What’s wrong, Seira?”

“Hic, hic. I don’t want the nice lady and gentleman to leave.” Seira, as the child was called, whimpered to the director who tried to comfort her.

This commotion drew the attention of the other children, and soon they too, influenced by Seira, began to whimper.

“Seira was recently adopted, so she’s not yet used to saying goodbye,” the director explained, her expression troubled, as she soothed Seira. She then addressed Damian and me, “I see.”

“We’ll comfort her. You can go now.”

“But…”

“She probably won’t stop crying for a while.”

I stared at the crying Seira, unsure of what to do. My feet felt rooted to the spot. Just then, Damian, who had been teasing me moments before, moved to my side.

“Damian?”

He knelt down, like me, to meet Seira’s gaze.

“Sniff, hic.”

“Shh. Don’t cry, Seira.” Damian reached out his large hand and wiped the tears streaming down the child’s cheeks.

“B-But…”

“I’ll come back again.”

“…Really?”

“Of course.”

It was like magic. With Damian’s simple promise to return, Seira’s sobs began to subside as if by enchantment. Moreover, unlike his earlier awkwardness with the children, Damian now comforted Seira with surprising ease. Then, Seira turned her head and looked at me. She cautiously moved her small lips.

“You too?”

“Huh?”

“Will you come too?”

So, she was asking if I would come back with Damian?

“I…” Flustered by the sudden question, I could only part my lips. Tears welled up in the child’s eyes again.

I opened my mouth to answer, but Damian was faster.

“Of course Amelia will come too.” He didn’t just say it; he took my hand and showed it to Seira.

“Really? You’ll come too?” Seira asked again, seeking confirmation. Looking into her hopeful eyes, I couldn’t bring myself to say no. With a hesitant nod, a smile began to bloom on Seira’s face.

“Promise! Promise!”

In the end, I had no choice but to agree to soothe Seira. After making several promises to Seira, we were finally able to board the carriage. Since then, Damian hadn’t stopped grinning, his delight unconcealed.

Unconsciously, I glared at him with disapproval. Feeling my gaze, Damian slowly turned his head.

“Hmm? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“…It’s nothing.”

“It seems like you have something to say.”

Yes, quite a lot. I wanted to complain about him making a promise to Seira without consulting me. But the image of Seira’s tear-stained face softened my resolve.

‘It’s not like I can’t spare the time for a short visit.’ I sighed briefly and resigned myself.

Looking out, I saw the sunset-painted sky. As expected, if we had left any later, we would have arrived at the Count’s estate after dark.

“So, do you feel closer to me now?” Damian asked when I remained silent.

“I don’t know.” I couldn’t feel closer without something to bring us closer. I hadn’t gained any significant information, and I was only reminded of how little I knew about Damian.

“Then, I’ll be counting on you next time.”

“…For what?” Annoyed by his smug grin, I feigned ignorance. Damian raised an eyebrow.

“We made a promise, so we have to keep it.” He reached for my hand, just as he had with Seira at the orphanage.

This time, however, I didn’t readily offer my hand. Instead, I slapped his approaching hand, making a sharp sound.

“Don’t get any ideas. I made that promise to Seira, not you.”

He rubbed his hand as if in pain and nodded. Then, he looked out of the carriage and his expression hardened.

“What is it?” I asked, puzzled by his sudden shift in demeanor.

The carriage slowed to a stop, and I, too, could see what Damian had noticed.

“…Hector.” I breathed his name involuntarily.

Hector Acid, whom I thought had left, was still waiting near the estate.

‘Wasn’t our conversation over?’ Seeing him made me frown, just like Damian. I had spoken briefly with Hector before leaving the estate today. I thought that was the end of it, but I never imagined he would still be waiting. And not waiting in a carriage, but standing outside. Just how long had he been like that?

My immediate feeling upon seeing Hector was annoyance. How persistent could he be? The fatigue accumulated throughout the day seemed to double.