"...A-are you going to leave the orphanage?"
Erica's question sounded both naive and a little stupid.
I blinked. Looked at her. At her red eyes, in which something resembling confusion was frozen. And nodded affirmatively.
"Of course. After all, we can't stay here for the rest of our lives, right?"
According to the law, all orphanage inmates had to leave it after reaching adulthood. In the Paladia Empire, adulthood came at eighteen. Almost like in my past world.
But for me that deadline was pushed even earlier.
In fact, I planned to leave at sixteen.
If I had a weighty reason, study, work, or marriage, I could leave the orphanage even earlier. Waiting the extra two years made no sense. Especially since by that time Amalia and Erica would no longer be here. So why stay?
When I said this simple and obvious thing, Erica's reaction turned out strange.
She fell silent. Stared at me as if she had never even thought before that the orphanage could be left.
And then slowly opened her mouth.
"Then... can you take me with you?"
"What?"
I almost choked.
"When you leave the orphanage, I want to go with you too!"
For a moment I was stunned.
Of course, from a child it sounded cute. Even touching. But...
But it was absolutely impossible!
How the hell could the daughter of Marquis Blackwell go somewhere together with me?! The future heir of the "king of the underworld."
I wanted her, as in the original story, to reunite with her father. Even if Marquis Blackwell was a villain, as a father he wasn't all that bad. He gave her a name. A home. Power. Protection. Everything she had been deprived of here.
So, of course, I wanted Erica to return to her family.
"Erica... Sorry, but that's impossible."
The girl was clearly offended.
"Why? Why is it impossible?"
"..."
Well, how am I supposed to explain this?
"Listen, Erica, actually you are the true daughter of a marquis. If you go with me, you'll lose wealth, power, and everything else."
Yes, an excellent explanation.
"Erica, just believe me. Your fate could turn out much better if you don't go with me..."
If I don't die, and Erica doesn't spend her life on revenge... If Amalia and Erica don't become enemies... Then her future really could become better. A long life. Happy. And, most importantly, rich!
I wasn't going to deprive her of such a chance.
But Erica, it seemed, took my words completely differently.
"Maybe I know for myself what will be better for me?" she snapped. "I want to make the decision myself!"
I was taken aback.
"No, you..."
"Why do you always decide for me?!"
"I'm not deciding for you..."
"You are!"
At that moment our argument was interrupted by a familiar voice.
"Hazel, are you here too?"
Amalia finally entered the library.
Erica instantly fell silent. Her face flushed, and she turned away, as if she had been caught doing something shameful.
I, on the contrary, felt enormous relief. As if a mountain had fallen from my shoulders.
"Yes, I also decided to study a little," I said joyfully. "We were just waiting for you!"
Amalia smiled and came over to us.
"I see. Since that's the case, then let's study all together. You don't mind, do you?"
"Of course not."
I moved a chair out for her. Amalia comfortably settled at the table and shifted her gaze from me to Erica.
"By the way, what were you two just talking about?"
"Oh, nothing much..."
Fortunately, she didn't pry. Soon we changed the topic to studying. Mentally I let out a short sigh of relief.
I really hoped that Erica would never bring up this topic again.
***
For the next few days I continued to study diligently in the library.
But without a clear goal, doing this was difficult. I read books, made notes, but didn't understand what exactly I should be preparing for. Then I decided to consult our teacher, Mr. Loren.
When I told him that in the future I wanted to become a teacher, he seemed very moved.
"...Hazel, that's a wonderful desire," he said, adjusting his glasses. "Few orphans think about such a noble path!"
I felt a little ashamed. After all, I wasn't thinking about nobility, but about a stable piece of bread...
Mr. Loren very willingly shared useful information with me. And the main thing I learned was this: even if I planned to work in a school for commoners, I would still need a certificate of education.
Of course, I knew this anyway. But it was one thing to know, and another to have a concrete plan.
Before thinking about a teaching career, I needed to finish a specialized educational institution. Mr. Loren made me a list of colleges in the empire where I could enter the pedagogical faculty.
Since commoners could not enter higher educational institutions, the list included only colleges of a low level.
Well, so be it. For me it didn't matter much. The main thing was to get a diploma.
Thus I gained a concrete goal.
One could enter college from the age of sixteen. I still had four years to prepare. I planned to send applications to several institutions at once, but first of all concentrate on those with the lowest passing score.
For this I was ready to put in all my strength!
Now every evening until late at night I spent in the library. Today was no exception.
I sat in my usual place and pored over textbooks. My head was buzzing, my eyes were closing, but I forced myself to read further. Suddenly someone quietly knocked on my table.
I raised my head.
Before me stood a girl with dark hair and eyes the color of fresh blood. Resembling a little death reaper.
"...Ah, Erica? Is that you?" I was a little absentminded. "Is Amalia late again?"
I looked around. Apart from Erica, there was no one in the reading hall.
"No, today I just came earlier."
"Ah, I see... Well, all right, then sit down."
When I studied in the library, Erica often came here. Just to sit next to me. Usually she said nothing and silently watched me while she waited for Amalia for their lessons.
But this time...
"These past days you study here almost every day," she noticed. "Why are you doing this?"
"Didn't I say? I'm trying for my future."
Erica frowned slightly.
"What exactly do you mean by 'future'?"
I hesitated.
"Well... Actually, in a few years I plan to enter college. So I need to prepare for the entrance exams in advance."
Erica's red eyes widened.
"What? College?"
"Yes... Any adult person should finish some educational institution in order to work somewhere."
This was a truism. Both for my world and for this one.
Erica froze. It seemed she seriously thought about my words. And then...
"Then can I enter college together with you?"
"...What?"
"I want to enter the same college as you."
A pause hung.
For a moment I was even stunned.
No, essentially, how was this different from her previous request?! Last time Erica asked me to "take" her with me, but I refused. So now she decided to approach from another side?
Nevertheless, even to this I was going to answer with a decisive refusal.
What college for the daughter of Marquis Blackwell?!
"No, I don't think that's possible..."
"Why no again?" Erica protested. "Do you not want me to study together with you?"
"What? No, that's not the point!"
"Then you think I'm so incapable that I can't even pass the entrance exams?"
I let out a doomed sigh.
No... why had the conversation suddenly turned in this direction?
I wanted to object. To say that I didn't think that at all.
But just then, in the quiet library, extraneous sounds rang out.
"...David, are you sure she's here?"
"Of course! I definitely saw that red eyed rat come in here!"
"Ha ha. Then this is going to be quite fun."
From that malicious childish laughter, the skin on my body went cold.
Unexpectedly, a gang of children entered the library. The very ones who most often bullied Erica.