ARML 13

Chapter 13 

On his way to the orphanage, Carlisle’s heart was pounding with excitement.

“Finally.”

He finally had a junior colleague who wouldn’t slow him down.

Someone he didn’t have to waste time training. Someone who could back him up while he was out on missions.

“And she can even see the core of black magic.”

Layla Lowell was like a ray of hope for him, a lifeline.

He would be a fool not to hold on to her.

“She can work in our department for at least three years.”

In that time, he would find a way to break the black magic curse that had plagued his family.

“And destroy the people who cast it.”

Carlisle clenched his fist and cheered silently in the carriage.

But when he arrived at the orphanage where Layla lived, that excitement froze.

“Please wait here. I’ll go explain the situation first.”

“Hmm.”

He understood why she went ahead without him—but it didn’t matter.

‘I can hear everything…’

Because the Lupesk family may be cursed, but their senses were far more sensitive than normal.

Without meaning to, Carlisle started focusing on their conversation.

[Why are you so late? I told you to help with the kids’ baths after work!]

He could hear Layla and the head of the orphanage clearly.

[By the way, how much do you get paid? Once you do, you should give it all to me, no questions.]

[It hasn’t even been a month yet. I don’t know how much exactly.]

[Don’t talk back to me!]

Carlisle’s excitement completely disappeared.

He hadn’t thought about what kind of life Layla Lowell lived.

‘She didn’t even want to join the Black Magic Unit…’

Feeling suddenly ashamed, Carlisle jumped out of the carriage.

‘I’m sure she’ll explain things well…’

Still, this was the time to step up. He was her senior after all.

The orphanage director looked shocked when she saw him.

“Sorry I didn’t introduce myself earlier. I’m Carlisle Lupesk. I’ll be working with Lowell.”

“Y-You’re not late at all! I-I don’t even know how to greet someone like you…”

“No need to make it complicated.”

Meanwhile, Carlisle gave Layla a nod.

‘Go ahead and pack your things.’

His junior, who had been watching awkwardly, quickly understood and went inside. But the director was now completely focused on Carlisle.

“Um… what brings you here with her…?”

“I came to let you know that Lowell will be staying at the palace from now on.”

“The p-palace?”

“Yes. She needs to get used to the job.”

The director’s eyes got even rounder.

She didn’t know the palace had dorms for staff, so she jumped to another conclusion.

‘She must’ve impressed someone important! She is very pretty, after all.’

If the Duke himself brought her here, then of course…

The director quickly bowed politely.

“Please take good care of Layla. She may not have much, but she’s a lovely girl.”

“She is far from lacking. She’s the most talented person I’ve seen.”

Her sense, her hidden abilities—no one else like her among the rookies.

“I’ll take full responsibility for her from now on.”

Since he brought her in out of selfishness, he’d look after her for at least three years.

And since he now knew the director had been using her, Carlisle decided to offer compensation.

“Since Lowell won’t be here anymore, I’ll make sure this place is properly supported. You can hire as many new staff as you want.”

“Oh my!”

“Don’t worry about the cost.”

The overjoyed director clasped her hands together.

“I can’t believe she made her own path like this! Please take care of Layla. If she had parents, she’d be a perfect bride…”

“By the way, was there anything strange when Lowell was left here?”

Carlisle didn’t like hearing others talk about her sad situation, so he quickly changed the subject.

The director, realizing she may have crossed a line, scrambled to answer.

“Oh—sorry! Well, I wouldn’t say it was strange exactly…”

She hesitated, then slowly recalled the memory.

“She was just… left at the orphanage one night. No one was around.”

“Just appeared like that…?”

“People abandon kids like that all the time!”

“…”

“I gave her the surname, but her first name was written on a note.”

The name Layla meant “Lady of the Night.”

Quite an elegant name for a commoner.

‘Isn’t that Old Tongue?’

At that moment, a little boy around four years old approached Carlisle.

He had black hair and blue eyes, and he looked very sad.

“Mister, mister.”

“…Huh?”

…Did this kid just call him mister?

“Henry!”

The director yelled, but it was too late—the boy had already spoken.

“Is Layla not going to live with us anymore?”

“Ah… That’s right. She’s going to the palace for a while.”

“But then… when will she play with us again?”

“…”

“Can’t she just stay here with us…?”

Carlisle gently took the boy’s hand.

Back in his family, there were many young siblings like this.

“I’m sorry.”

“Sniff…”

“Hmph. Can you show me to your sister’s room?”

“Yes, sir!”

The boy smiled brightly and pulled him toward the second floor.

Carlisle frowned.

‘This is strange.’

This orphanage should’ve been receiving enough donations. So why did it look so run-down?

‘There should’ve been enough to fix those damages…’

Finally, they arrived.

Layla Lowell was inside packing her things with the door open.

As Henry quietly left, Carlisle found himself alone in the room, feeling dry-mouthed.

And then he saw it—Layla had her back to him, shoulders trembling.

‘Wait… is she crying?’

It felt like someone had punched him in the back of the head.

He realized what he needed to do.

‘I should’ve apologized to Layla first.’

He had gotten too excited about his goal and rushed ahead.

He had pushed the contract in her face, even though she clearly didn’t want to join.

[My Lord, help me…!]

[Carlisle!]

[Aaaah!]

Even so, he couldn’t let her go.

Voices of people calling for help still echoed in his mind.

So the least he could do was apologize.

“Lowell.”

“…”

“I’m sorry for forcing you into our department.”

“…”

“We’re always short-staffed, and I wasn’t thinking clearly. I just… really wanted someone capable to join.”

But Layla still didn’t turn around.

She must be that scared or angry.

‘Words aren’t enough anymore.’

It was time to prove how sincere he really was.

‘I guess that’s the only way now.’

Meanwhile, upstairs…

“Ugh!”

I got so angry while packing that I cursed a bit. Okay, maybe a lot.

‘I don’t even have that much to pack!’

All I had were:

Books I read to prepare for the palace job.

Reference materials. Blood-stained notebooks from nosebleeds.

Proof of how hard I had worked to get a good job.

‘I didn’t work this hard just to end up in some dangerous department!’

This time around, I just wanted an easy, sweet life. Boohoo.

But I hugged myself and thought it through.

‘There’ll be even more dangerous things ahead. I can’t just sit around crying.’

Even if I got paid well, I needed to stay healthy to enjoy it.

If I couldn’t find a way to quit the department…

There was only one option left.

“…Hmph. That department itself…”

I’d just have to destroy it.