I quietly opened my eyes.
The room was dim, with the soft glow of moonlight filtering in through the window.
Since I had taken a nap earlier, I had lost track of time.
But given how silent it was outside, it was likely already nighttime.
“It’s already night…”
Stretching lightly, I sat up.
Harp was still beside me, breathing steadily in her sleep, and Sua was curled up on the sofa, tightly hugging her blanket, lost in her dreams.
I smiled briefly at the peaceful scene.
But then.
Knock, knock.
A sound came from the orphanage door.
“Who could it be at this hour…?”
Curious but cautious, I slowly got out of bed, making sure not to wake Harp.
Carefully, I tiptoed toward the door.
Standing in front of it, I called out in a hushed voice.
“Who is it?”
A brief silence followed.
Then, a calm and gentle voice answered.
“Good evening. Apologies for the late visit. Is this orphanage… still in operation?”
I hesitated for a moment.
A visitor, at this hour…?
But the voice carried no hostility, so I decided to respond.
“Yes, it is. What brings you here?”
The man outside paused before replying politely.
“I am someone staying in a nearby village. I’ve been considering adoption and heard about this orphanage, so I came to visit.”
Adoption…?
I felt my body relax slightly.
At least his reason for coming was clear—he didn’t seem dangerous.
“And why come so late at night?”
His voice took on a slightly apologetic tone.
“I spent the evening thinking it over, and by the time I made up my mind… it was already late. I’m truly sorry for the inconvenience. But I wanted to see this place for myself and speak with you in person.”
Hearing that, I cautiously unlocked the door and slowly opened it.
In front of the door stood a middle-aged man.
His neatly pressed clothes and slightly exhausted expression made an impression.
“Please, come inside. It’s quite cold at night.”
The man looked at me as I opened the door—then suddenly froze.
His gaze wandered up and down my figure, his expression growing more bewildered by the second.
After a brief, awkward silence, he hesitantly asked,
“Um… is the orphanage director here?”
At first, I didn’t understand why he was asking such a thing.
Tilting my head slightly, I answered,
“…That would be me.”
His face became even more flustered.
Quickly, he waved his hands in protest.
“N-no! I mean… Can you call for an adult?”
Hearing that, I let out a small sigh—equal parts amused and exasperated.
It made sense.
With my small stature and youthful appearance, it was hard to believe that I was the one in charge.
“Um… I get why you’re confused,”
I said, keeping my expression serious.
“But I really am the head of this orphanage.”
The man still looked skeptical, his brow furrowing in uncertainty.
“A… Are you sure this isn’t some kind of joke?”
“It’s not a joke,” I replied, sighing softly.
Then, in the calmest voice I could manage, I explained,
“I take care of the children here. Of course, I’m not doing it all alone—I have help. But at the end of the day, I am the one responsible for this orphanage.”
As he listened to my steady, sincere words, his skeptical expression gradually softened.
Though he still seemed unsure, he scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
“So, you’re really… the orphanage director?”
“Yes, really,” I assured him with a small smile.
“I may not look like it, but I am the one in charge here.”
The man hesitated for a moment before sighing in resignation.
“I see… In that case, may I speak with you for a while? I have many questions about the adoption process.”
“Of course. Please, come in.”
I guided him to the sitting area, offering a lighthearted remark along the way.
Though he still seemed cautious, he gradually began to listen to me more attentively.
Since it was late and the children were asleep, we settled into the sofas and began our conversation in hushed tones.
He didn’t fully trust me yet, but at least he seemed convinced that I wasn’t joking.
“First, could you tell me more about this orphanage?”
Even as he asked, he kept sneaking glances at my face, as if still trying to make sense of the situation.
I answered calmly,
“Our orphanage isn’t very large. Right now, we only have two children. Rather than focusing on expansion, we prioritize providing a safe environment where they can grow and learn properly.”
“Only two children? That’s quite a small orphanage.”
“Yes,” I replied with a soft smile.
He seemed to process this information carefully before cautiously asking another question.
“Could you tell me more about the children? Their ages, personalities, things like that?”
I hesitated briefly, but seeing how serious he was about adoption, I decided to be honest.
“The two children currently staying here are Sua and Harp. They each have their own unique charms. Sua is energetic and cheerful—she gets along with people quickly. Harp, on the other hand, is quieter but very responsible and thoughtful.”
The man nodded, seeming genuinely interested.
“So, are both of them available for adoption?”
At his words, I paused, lost in thought.
Adoption.
That word lingered in my mind.
“…Sua is… in a rather unique situation. The idea of adoption might not be the best fit for her.”
The man looked at me in surprise.
“What do you mean by that?”
“It’s a long story, but… it’s best to consider Sua not eligible for adoption. Please understand it that way.”
I kept my explanation about Sua brief, intending to shift the conversation to Harp.
But the moment I brought up Harp’s name, an unexpected feeling welled up inside me.
“Harp is…”
I trailed off, struggling to sort through the emotions stirring in my heart.
Harp was responsible, reliable—more so than anyone I knew.
The thought of sending her away through adoption weighed heavily on me.
“Somehow… I don’t want to let Harp be adopted.”
The words escaped me before I could stop them.
The man looked at me with a puzzled expression.
“…Pardon?”
I let out a small chuckle, shaking my head.
“Harp is… truly precious. She’s like the heart of this orphanage. Not just for me, but for the other children as well. I don’t think we could do without her.”
The man listened carefully before nodding in understanding.
“I see. Then that means… there are no children available for adoption?”
“…If Harp wants to be adopted, I’d consider it,” I admitted.
“But that decision has to come from her. I won’t force any of these children into a new environment unless it’s truly what they want.”
He absorbed my words in silence before giving a slow nod.
“I understand. You’re a good director. In that case, I’ll return tomorrow and speak with the children myself.”
I walked him to the door and offered a polite farewell.
“Yes, I’ll see you tomorrow. And thank you for coming, even at this late hour.”
Once he left, I closed the door and let out a deep breath.
Sua and Harp.
They weren’t just orphans under my care—they were family.
Of course, Sua’s situation was a bit more complicated.
Regardless, the thought of sending them off to a new home wasn’t an easy one.
But if it meant giving them a better life, then… maybe it was something worth considering.
Returning to my bed, I gazed at the sleeping figures of Harp and Sua.
Softly, I murmured to myself,
“…What should I do?”
Once again, I found myself lost in thought.
Knock, knock.
Another knock at the door.
“At this hour… again?”
Opening the door, I found the same middle-aged man from earlier standing there.
“Oh… you’re back. Is something wrong?”
Looking a bit apologetic, he gave me a small smile.
“I know it’s late, and I truly apologize, but… I feel like I forgot to ask something important earlier.”
His serious tone caught me off guard, but I stepped aside and let him in.
After guiding him to the sitting area, I asked,
“An important question? What is it?”
The man hesitated briefly before looking at me directly.
“…Would you consider becoming an adoption candidate yourself?”
I froze.
“…What?”
“You,” he clarified.
“Of course, I understand this is sudden and may be inappropriate. But from what I’ve seen, you’re a remarkable—ah, child… No, adult. And you clearly mean so much to the children here. I simply thought… perhaps you’d consider starting anew in a different environment.”
His unexpected proposal left me speechless.
After a moment of collecting my thoughts, I cautiously responded,
“I appreciate the sentiment, but… I can’t leave these children. This orphanage is my home, and more importantly, it’s a place that needs me. I don’t believe it could continue without me here.”
The man studied me for a moment before nodding slowly.
“I see… The reason I made such a suggestion is because…”
He paused, then let out a soft sigh.
“It’s clear to me how much you love these children. And sometimes, people with such love… deserve a new family too.”
I smiled gently and shook my head.
“But my choice is to stay here and protect the children. That’s what I need to do.”
His expression held a mix of disappointment and respect.
“I understand. You truly play an irreplaceable role here. I apologize if my suggestion was out of line.”
“It’s okay,” I replied with a small smile.
“Rather, I appreciate your kind words.”
As he quietly rose from his seat, he added.
“I’m glad I got to meet someone like you. I hope you and the children continue to find happiness here.”
At his final words, I couldn’t help but smile.