ARML 12

Chapter 12

Lumière, the priest, was shocked by the male lead’s reaction.

“Duke Rufesc’s son, this is great news for the temple!”

“It’s still dangerous. We don’t know who’s behind this incident yet. It’s risky for Lowell, too.”

The shadowy figure agreed with the male lead.

“Rufesc is right, Lumière.”

“My lord…”

“If we get excited and end up losing a powerful new ability holder, it’s the temple’s loss.”

“….”

The priest finally nodded reluctantly.

“Yes… I’ll keep quiet about it. Miss Lowell.”

“Ah, okay.”

“I’ll personally investigate which family you’re from. I already felt your holy power earlier, so it shouldn’t be hard!”

“Okay…”

“I’ll make sure to bring good news!”

“Thank you…”

He looked really excited, but I only felt confused and uneasy.

Maybe my parents abandoned me… or maybe we were separated because of some terrible accident.

Once they finished checking my abilities, the male lead looked at me.

“Lowell, you probably heard by now… but your power is very special. It’s strong enough to fight black magic.”

“Ah… yes.”

“If people find out, the Magic Tower might try to force you to join them.”

“What happens if I get taken to the Magic Tower?”

“…They love research.”

“…”

In other words, in fantasy novel terms, I’d become a lab rat floating in formaldehyde.

‘So… I either die from a work accident or get kidnapped for weird experiments.’

Both options are terrible.

In the end, like a servant with no way out, I gave in.

“Sigh… Fine. I’ll sign the work contract.”

The male lead’s eyes lit up like someone who just got a marriage proposal accepted…

When the contract was placed in front of me, I couldn’t help but sigh.

‘I give up. Whatever happens, happens.’

But my hand holding the pen trembled.

Why is writing the name ‘Layla Lowell’ so hard?

“Lowell, do you have shaky hands?”

The male lead suddenly asked seriously.

We were sitting really close to each other.

The way we looked at each other was intense.

The male lead reached out like someone ready to help me crawl through hell.

And me? I was just hanging onto a cliff, desperate not to fall.

“Want me to help?”

“…No, I’m fine.”

Get your hands off me.

Meanwhile, Seamus signed his contract quietly with no drama.

And just like that, both of our contracts ended up in the shadowy figure’s hands.

“Well then, that finishes the new recruit hiring.”

He looked very satisfied.

“I look forward to working with you, Miss Lowell. And you too, Finley.”

I couldn’t return the same energy.

Now that my plan to just enjoy easy work failed, I felt like I’d been stomped on by an elephant.

‘Should I just mess around at work tomorrow to show how bad I can be?’

They said I couldn’t skip work—but they didn’t say I couldn’t be late.

‘Great. If work starts at 9, I’ll show up at 9:15 and take 45 minutes to drink coffee.’

But the shadowy figure suddenly smiled even brighter.

“Oh, that reminds me. Miss Lowell, Mr. Finley.”

“Yes?”

“…Yes.”

“Just in case, you two should stay at the Imperial Palace dormitory for a while.”

…What?

People who live far from the city were allowed to stay at the dorms.

But the orphanage isn’t that far away…

“You were just involved in a black magic incident. We need to keep you safe for a while. We can’t let anything happen where kids live, right?”

“Ugh…”

When he puts it like that, I can’t argue.

If they start placing guards at the orphanage because of me, it’ll be total chaos.

‘Yeah, no need to imagine. It’ll be a disaster.’

“Mr. Finley, what about you?”

“…I already live in the dorm.”

So now we’ll see each other morning to night every day.

But just as I was thinking that, the male lead nodded.

“This situation is serious, so I’ll come pick you both up every morning.”

…What did you just say?

Even if he’s a workaholic, coming to the dorm every morning to get us?

Personally?

I was standing there, mouth hanging open, when he gave me that sparkling look again.

“Lowell, I should visit where you’re staying, right?”

“Ah, yes… I also need to explain things to the director at the orphanage…”

“Understood. I’ll come with you.”

“…Excuse me?”

“I’m your mentor now. It’s my responsibility to help you.”

This fantasy world clearly misunderstands what a ‘mentor’ is.

‘Since when does a mentor help their junior move houses?’

That evening.

The male lead actually came with me all the way to the orphanage.

Honestly, I didn’t want him to come, but I didn’t have the energy to stop him.

‘At least I should warn him once.’

Just before getting out of the carriage, I firmly asked him:

“I’ll go inside first to get my stuff. Please come in after I call you.”

“Hm? Why don’t we just go together now?”

“Please wait until I say it’s okay.”

…Because if I don’t, he’ll walk straight into a mess.

It’s not the kids I’m worried about.

“Nuna, you’re back!”

“Whoa! Layla unnie is here!”

Even though we don’t share blood…

Ever since before I remembered my past life, I’ve been caring for these kids. I’m not ashamed of them.

They’re also the only ones who truly celebrated my success.

‘It’s the adults I don’t want him to see.’

“Layla!”

That was Director May, hurrying toward me.

She looked so angry, I thought she could fry an egg on her forehead.

“Why are you so late?! I told you to help with the kids’ bath after work!”

“What about the other teachers—”

“They already went home!”

Yup. So she’s asking me, who doesn’t even get paid extra, to do more work right away.

When I didn’t answer, she frowned.

“By the way, how much are they paying you at your new job? Once you get your salary, I expect you to hand it over.”

“It hasn’t even been a full month yet, so I don’t know exactly…”

“Don’t talk back!”

“…”

“A good child who knows gratitude wouldn’t act like this! You’ve been acting strange lately.”

I looked at her with a blank face.

The ‘old me’—before I got my past memories back—was obedient.

‘Because she was my guardian.’

Even though she always pulled me out of study time to do chores, I wanted her approval.

[Director, I won an award this time!]

[Oh? Good. Now go change all the kids’ diapers.]

[Director, I want to take the government official exam… Can I please have some time to study?]

[What? How can you be a role model if you don’t help take care of your siblings? Lazy kids always complain about not having time.]

It was frustrating. But surprisingly, she wasn’t the worst.

‘At least she didn’t hit me.’

Instead, she’d wake me up at midnight or dawn to do chores.

Bathing the kids, washing pee-stained blankets…

All the hard work that paid teachers avoided—she gave it to me.

She called it “repaying the favor” for raising me, but she never truly acknowledged my efforts.

‘She hasn’t even asked if I’m okay right now, even though I look like I’ve been through a lot.’

That’s how people are, I guess.

‘Anyway, I should explain things quickly before the male lead comes in. I need to warn her to fix her expression.’

“Director, I have something to tell you—”

“Oh! Oh my!”

Before I could even start, she gasped.

Her cheeks even turned slightly pink.

‘What’s she looking at?’

Ah. No way.

The male lead, whom I told to wait in the carriage, had already walked up behind me.

And I suddenly understood why the director’s tone changed.

‘He’s the most handsome man in this world, after all.’

His black hair swayed slightly in the evening breeze.

His dark red eyes, and perfectly sculpted face…

That elegant, cool vibe of a romantic hero.

The director whispered to me, clearly flustered.

“Layla. Who… who is that?”

“He’s a senior from work. From the Rufesc family…”

“Oh my goodness! But why is he here?!”

She looked at me with sparkling, curious eyes.

‘Stop imagining weird things.’

He’s just a crazy workaholic mentor from a fantasy novel.

“Lowell.”

“Please wait just a little longer…”

“Sorry. I couldn’t wait. I came out.”

Wow, this mentor really knows how to say the most confusing things.