Living Up to Your Expectations - Chapter 30

“Oh? Lady Beth?”

I’d heard the rumors and come to the orphanage courtyard. There in one corner, I spotted her just as she was about to leave.

When I’d heard from Her Majesty the Queen that she “seemed to be going for an inspection,” I’d honestly wondered what she was scheming. Charity? Or some new political maneuver? At any rate, since it piqued my interest, I couldn’t help but see it through.

Leaving so soon?

“I heard you were visiting, so I thought I might show you around the orphanage but you’re already leaving?”

When I called out, Lady Beth answered without even turning around.

“Yes, my dress got dirty.”

…Dress?

I glanced over. A modest outfit primarily in white. Ceremonial wear, perhaps.

The material was high quality, the tailoring perfect. But I could see faint traces of dirt around her waist.

What happened? Did she fall? Surely not.

“Hehe, what a strange thing to say. Of course, it would get dirty. This is a facility with many children, after all?”

I said this with an exaggerated smile, letting my gaze drift over her attire. An emerald hair ornament in her hair, earrings adorned with jewels near her ears, a modest yet expensive brooch at her chest.

In other words—

She never had any intention of helping with cleaning, or playing, or even reading to them from the start.

“Lady Beth, I always visit in this dress. If anything, you’re the one more familiar with common life, so what was your purpose here today?”

Was that phrasing a bit mean?

But her sullen face was more transparent than I expected, and I couldn’t help but smile.

Did the word “common life” sting? Or was it the question, “what was your purpose?”

“To give my blessing.”

Ah, so it was the “what was your purpose” part.

But I know the truth. If you see the newspaper reporters coming and going, the purpose is clear. To boost her popularity with the people, that’s all.

“My, going out of your way at this time?”

Even before her official debut, giving blessings?

There are so many other things she should be doing. Dancing, manners—no matter how much time she had, it wouldn’t be enough.

I’d think she should be more worried about the already decided “disgrace” than popularity.

Just then—

“Ah! Big Sister Feli!”

A high-pitched voice rang out, and when I turned, a familiar girl came running over.

“Lala. Have you been well?”

Relieved by Lala’s smile, I crouched down to greet her. But—

“Oh? Your dress is covered in mud.”

After touching her dirt-stained dress, she must have touched her face too. There was even some on her cheek. As I wiped her face with a handkerchief, I noticed she looked downcast.

“Yeah! Earlier, I hugged the Spirit Princess, and we both fell over together.”

My goodness. So that’s what the dirt marks were about.

“Are you hurt?”

“No, I’m fine. I was running over to say I’m sorry.”

Making such a small child worry like that. My heart ached slightly.

“Lady Beth, it wasn’t on purpose, so you won’t mind, will you?”

“Y-yes…”

That voice, barely squeezed out. What an unnatural reply. Coming here all puffed up about “giving blessings,” she probably never anticipated a future where she’d fall into the mud with a child.

“That’s good, Lala. Lady Beth says she doesn’t mind.”

I said gently, softly stroking Lala’s head. And with my next words, I let just a hint of sharpness creep in.

“But even though you just received her ‘blessing,’ you fell right after. How strange, isn’t it?”

“Blessing” something that should normally bring happiness or protection.

But what actually happened was the child who received the blessing ended up falling on the mud. As if that blessing had no meaning at all.

Well now, Lady Beth. Do you think you can capture the people’s hearts with that level of “blessing”?

As I smiled as if to say just that, the corner of her mouth twitched slightly. The frustration behind it was still impossible to hide.

“Now, what shall we play today?”

When I smiled at her, Lala’s face lit up.

“Let’s play with mud balls!”

“Sounds good. I’m good at rolling them.”

“Me too!”

The children’s bright voices quickly spread. Before I knew it, small shadows were gathering here and there around us. Mud on their hands, mud under their nails. Not caring one bit, they laughed innocently as they grasped lumps of mud.

It was a world where adult values and formalities held no sway. Innocent, free, and warm.

Amid that scene, I let my gaze drift and called out to Lady Beth.

“How about you, Lady Beth? Your dress is already dirty, after all.”

I deliberately emphasized “after all.”

“I-I have lessons to attend.”

Her eyes glanced at me for just a moment. But they quickly darted away. Her mouth was tight, her eyes filled with obvious rejection.

“Why should I have to get covered in mud?”—the words seemed written on her face.

Even wearing the name “Spirit Princess,” she couldn’t descend into this small world covered in dirt. She could scatter blessings, but she couldn’t play together, laugh together, fall together.

“What a shame. Well then, until next time.”

I bowed politely, yet with a certain implication. Then I took Lala’s small hand.

Returning like that to the circle of children. The smell of mud, innocent laughter, warm body heat. These felt far more human than the cold air of noble society.

What I felt on my back were footsteps trying to cover up the situation, and quiet frustration. And alongside it, a sense of defeat.

It was the moment a slight crack appeared in the ornament called “blessing.”