Chapter 298


    He Decided to Shave His Beard


    There was no way that Tilura remembered this story about crying because of her father’s face when she was a baby…so I could not confirm anything. But I felt as if he had rushed to conclusions.


    Perhaps Sebastian could have told him… But then again, Sebastian was the kind of person to find it amusing.


    Besides, maybe he would have thought that it wasn’t his ce to say anything.


    In any case, this was all just spection… But I had a feeling that I wasn’t too far off.


    “…Uhh… While it’s not like that with everyone, some children are afraid of beards.”


    “But none of the other children in this orphanage were?”


    “…”


    “Well…”


    I nced over to Ms. Anne, and she closed her eyes with an ufortable expression.


    Hmm… I guess there was something that she couldn’t say.


    “Well, I think the children here are generally more used to being around adults. Perhaps Liza is not… Besides, she was bullied in the slums. And you know, many of the people there were not cleanly shaved.”


    “…I see… Well, I suppose you are right…”


    I went there for the first time today, and there was no one who had a cleanly shaved face.


    Perhaps Liza had been bullied by all kinds of people after her grandfather died. Perhaps one of those people had a beard.


    And so that was why she was scared of Mr. Ekenhart.


    Ms. Anna looked at me gratefully for covering for her.


    “It may be as you say, Mr. Takumi… Very well. I shall shave my beard after we return to the mansion!”


    “Hahaha! I think that’s a good idea…”


    Because Mr. Ekenhart’s beard made him look like a bandit.


    He was sure to look much more handsome if he shaved.


    “Besides, Tilura is much older now. So she will not cry regardless of how I look.”


    “Indeed. If anything, I think she’ll be proud at how dashing her father looks.”


    “Do you think so? Hehehe. One hopes…”


    Mr. Ekenhart chuckled as he imagined her reaction.


    All fathers wanted to be loved by their daughters, and Mr. Ekenhart was no exception.


    “Now…I suppose we should take Liza and leave soon.”


    “Yes. Though they seem to be enjoying ying with the others… It cannot be helped.”


    “…I’m really sorry.”


    “Do not mention it. There are too many orphans for this ce as it is. We will have to do something about that soon.”


    “Yes, thank you, Your Grace.”


    Mr. Ekenhart got to his feet and muttered as he watched Leo y with the children.


    I did feel a little bad about taking her away when they were having so much fun… But as long as Leo and I were there, she shouldn’t be too sad.


    As Mr. Ekenhart promised to do something about the orphanage, and Ms. Anna bowed, I called to Leo.


    “Hey, Leo. Liza. We’re leaving now!”


    “Wuff? Wuff-wuff.”


    “Kyaa! Ahaha!”


    When I called Leo, she turned to me questioningly at first. Then understanding what I said, she started to pull Liza by the sleeve towards us.


    Liza was surprised but then started tough.


    It was nice seeing her so happy and carefree.


    …Though, the sight of a giant wolf biting the sleeve of a little girl was a little unsettling…


    “Wuff-wuff.”


    “Good. Thank you, Leo. Did you have fun out there?”


    “Wuff!”


    Leo let go of Liza next to me and then she rubbed her head against me.


    And so I used my whole body to press against Leo’s cheek and patted her on the head.


    Leo nodded happily.


    “Now, Liza. We have to say goodbye to the children here for now. Don’t worry, you cane back and y with themter.”


    “…Okay. I understand. …Thank you, everyone…it was fun…”


    “Come again!”


    I turned to face Liza and told her to say goodbye to the children.


    She nodded a little sadly and thanked the children for ying with her.


    I suppose she hadn’t been able to y like this before, so it was no wonder that she was sad.


    “We wille back. Besides, there is a girl like you where we are going. I’m sure you’ll be good friends.”


    “…Really? So I don’t have to return to that ce?”


    “Yes. We won’t return you to a ce where you will be bullied. Don’t worry, you’re going to a ce with a lot of nice people. No one will hurt you.”


    “…Okay… Uuu…”


    “There, there…”


    It seemed that Liza had been worried that she would be sent back to where we found her.


    And once she understood that it was not the case, she began to cry.


    While she did not make any loud sounds, the tears she had been holding back began to flow.


    And so I hugged her and gently patted her on the head in order tofort her.


    “Now, let’s go, Mr. Takumi.”


    “Yes. Are you ready, Liza?”


    “…Sniff…Yes!”


    After awhile, Mr. Ekenhart called out to me. He had already wrapped up his face in the cloth again. And so I let go of Liza and got up to my feet.


    He had probably done that because we had to walk out in the town again, and in order to not frighten Liza.


    And so I extended my hand to Liza and asked if she was ready. She sniffed, wiped her eyes and then took my hand with a smile.


    I would have to be careful so that she did not have a reason to cry like that again.