Chapter 738
"Oh-ho."
Richard muttered an exclamation, but his face carried an expression that showed no interest at all.
If he brought up the subject of volunteer work first, he felt he would lose without a fight. Instead, Simon pulled a photo from his pocket and handed it to him.
"What’s this… hmm?"
His expression subtly changed as he looked at the photo. It was of a woman with short, sea-blue hair, fuming in anger.
In truth, Simon had wanted to use Anna’s photo, but Lete had advised against showing Anna’s face too soon, fearing that the first meeting would lose its dramatic effect.
This photo was nothing more than bait to lure Richard out.
"This lady comes out often for volunteer work, would you like to join?"
Srrk.
Richard quietly draped his arm around Simon’s neck.
"Admirable. From now on, we’re blood brothers, brother."
Simon smiled bitterly.
‘Well, blood was mixed, in a way.’
* * *
The date was set.
In the meantime, Simon and Lete scoured the Neutral Zone for a suitable volunteer location, and finally found one that met their conditions.
An orphanage on the outskirts of Bahila Fiefdom.
Originally it had been a facility to care for abandoned children within the fiefdom, but with the outbreak of war, the number of war orphans had exploded, and the orphanage had reached the limit of its capacity.
Thus, it relied on volunteer work and financial aid from those of goodwill.
Since it was a facility for children, neither the Holy Federation nor the Dark Alliance would dare bomb it, so safety was guaranteed.
—There’s no better place than this.
—Yeah, let’s somehow bring the two of them tomorrow.
And so, the grand operation to make Richard and Anna fall in love began.
Bringing Anna was easy for Lete. Anna herself had deep interest in volunteer work and in war orphans, so her desire to come was strong.
Surprisingly, bringing Richard wasn’t hard for Simon either. Richard’s mindset was simple. Since the woman in the photo Lete had shown was pretty, there was no need to drag him along, he agreed to come on his own.
And so, the two arrived at the orphanage.
‘Nothing special here.’
On top of a hill stood a large building, with a wide field perfect for children to run around in. There was a well, and a river flowed nearby.
"Over here!"
Behind the building, they saw Lete, dressed once again in coachman’s clothes, waving. Simon hurried over with a smile.
"Good work, Lete! Has mother arrived?"
"Yes, she’s here. She’s changing into comfortable clothes from the carriage. What about Richard?"
"He followed along. Too easily."
Lete snickered, covering his mouth.
"Sorry to Lady Israfil, but what else can we do."
The two immediately set about preparations.
But then—
"What’s that guy doing?"
Lete pointed with cold eyes.
Richard, unable to hold back even for a moment, was already hitting on a woman. He leaned against a wall with one arm raised in a cool pose, grinning.
‘Unbelievable!’
Simon rushed forward in horror.
If Richard got tied to someone other than Anna, that would be trouble.
Slaaap!
But then came the sharp sound of a slap. The woman stormed off in anger, leaving Richard behind. Simon hurried up, asking,
"What happened?"
"Ah."
Rubbing his cheek as if nothing serious, Richard said,
"Tried to flirt, but turns out she was a mother who has a child in this orphanage."
"…Yona."
At this point, it wasn’t about love, Simon was starting to worry if this man could ever be rehabilitated as a human being.
* * *
"Thank you all for coming here again today to help."
The orphanage head was a woman in her sixties, who looked like she had weathered countless trials. Her manner was calm yet firm, her speech direct. Her hands were covered with thick calluses.
The volunteers stood before her, listening.
"Since it’s early morning, we must move quickly while the children are still asleep. We’ll start with preparing breakfast, so let’s divide the tasks…"
Not in her sacred robes or Efnelle uniform, but in casual clothes and a hat pulled low over her face, Anna stood with her hands clasped, listening intently, her eyes sparkling.
Meanwhile, Richard, standing at the very end of the line, yawned widely, looking half-asleep. Simon jabbed him in the ribs several times with his elbow.
"Well then, let’s begin."
Simon and Lete swiftly pushed Richard and Anna toward the firewood storage.
It was a relatively simple task, carrying already-split firewood to the kitchen, with only four people assigned to it.
‘Richard can help carry Anna’s firewood, they’ll naturally start talking, it’s the perfect setup!’
‘Will it work though?’
It was their first time playing matchmakers, so nervous doubts crept in as they watched from afar.
But instead of carrying wood, Richard sprawled in the grass nearby, yawning nonstop.
"Hey, why don’t you lend a hand?"
One male volunteer, annoyed by Richard’s idling, called out. Richard raised his eyes sharply.
"You talking to me?"
"Yeah, you punk."
As Richard strode toward him, Simon and Lete exchanged uneasy glances.
Is he about to cause trouble again?
Richard snatched the firewood from the volunteer’s arms.
"Fine, I’ll take care of this. But in return…"
Thud!
Richard kicked him hard. The volunteer flew into a stack of firewood, crashing it down in a clatter.
"You bring new ones."
Richard smirked. Simon panicked, about to intervene—
"What’s going on here? I heard a loud noise…"
At the worst timing, Anna entered.
Seeing the volunteer collapsed in the woodpile, she rushed over, startled. Richard whistled innocently and walked away.
"Are you alright?"
"Y-yes, it’s nothing."
Blushing as he looked at Anna, the volunteer replied. Anna turned sharply, glaring at Richard.
"You pushed him, didn’t you? Won’t you apologize?"
"He’s the one who picked a fight with me first, so why should I?"
Saying that, Richard quickly walked away. Simon rushed after him, flustered.
"What are you doing?!"
"Ah, more nagging."
In the end, Simon grabbed Richard by the hand, dragging him back to force an apology to the volunteer.
‘I brought my father along, but why does it feel like I’m the father here?’
The first impression had soured a little.
Even when Richard and Anna crossed paths carrying firewood, nothing much happened. It was the same no matter what other task they were given.
Anna focused wholeheartedly on working for the orphans.
Richard, meanwhile, slacked off, then quietly asked Simon,
"Hey, what about that blue-haired girl who comes often?"
Simon answered sulkily,
"I said she comes often, not every day."
"…Tch."
Losing interest, Richard spent the rest of the time avoiding work.
Crisis.
Simon and Lete held an emergency meeting, and finally Lete said,
—At this point, let’s drag him into the kitchen!
So they asked the orphanage head to put Richard and Anna together in the kitchen. The thought was, cooking together would help them grow closer naturally.
The two quietly began preparing ingredients.
"……"
At last, Richard’s listless gaze shifted toward Anna.
Loose clothes that hid her figure, a long skirt, and beneath the pressed-down brim of her hat peeked a beautiful face.
At last, as though truly seeing Anna for the first time, Richard’s pupils trembled.
‘It worked!’
Simon, watching from hiding, clenched his fist in triumph.
‘He must have fallen in love at first sight!’
‘Well, I don’t know if it’s that much, but if he feels nothing after seeing Teacher Anna, then he’s not a man. Now we just need Richard to step up.’
Sure enough, as soon as he chose his target, Richard moved.
"Are you good at cooking?"
"Ah."
Anna, who had been slicing carrots, lifted her head.
Because of earlier events, there was still a wary look in her eyes, but ever since Simon had forced Richard to apologize, her voice had softened somewhat.
"I’m not very good, but… I’d like to take this opportunity to learn diligently."
Richard again paused, staring at her face.
From a distance, Simon struggled to keep his lips from curving upward, cheering his father on in his heart.
"Wanting to learn is a good attitude."
Richard stepped in behind Anna.
"Shall I teach you?"
Then, as if embracing her from behind, he laid his hand over hers on the knife.
‘First meeting and already…! So disgusting!’
Lete clutched his own shoulders, appalled.
Though it was improper, Richard’s innate looks and aura were so overwhelming that, as they say, he could pull it off no matter what he did.
"Here, cut diagonally, slowly like this."
Together, Richard and Anna cut the carrots. Richard spoke in a calm, masculine voice, letting her breathe in his scent, letting her see the veins bulging on his hand.
And he tossed out questions to ease the mood.
What brought her here.
Whether she often came.
Anna answered obediently.
‘Her grip’s loosening. She’s falling for it, as always.’
Not once, not ever, had it failed at this point.
Even the most difficult and picky women eventually succumbed. Richard was certain of victory.
"But, I’m sorry—"
Anna gave an embarrassed smile.
"You cut worse than I do."
"Hm?"
Beyond the carrots she had sliced, the ones they had cut together were completely uneven in size and shape.
"I appreciate you teaching me, but since there isn’t much time, I think it’s better if I do it myself."
Anna pushed Richard aside and sliced alone. Richard stood there like a decorative screen, shocked.
‘Haah.’
Simon let out a heavy sigh. Lete shook her head, though a satisfied smirk tugged at her lips.
"Volunteers!"
Just then, the orphanage head suddenly appeared. Simon and Lete jumped in surprise.
"Y-yes!"
"If you’re slacking already, what good is that? If you don’t intend to work seriously, then it would be better for the children if you left!"
"We’re sorry!"
With no choice, Simon and Lete scrambled into the kitchen to help with preparations.
"I’ll take this fruit knife."
"Mm."
Pulling cabbage from the shelf, Simon glanced sidelong at Richard and Anna.
"……"
"……"
Awkward.
Unbearably awkward.
After the failed attempt, Richard looked dazed, while Anna seemed completely indifferent.
Then Anna turned, smiled brightly, and spoke to Simon and Lete.
"My, you two look close."
And leaning slightly toward Lete, she whispered,
"That man you asked about before, don’t tell me you meant him?"
"N-no, not at all!"
It’s because of you two!
At this rate, Anna was practically trying to set up Simon and Lete instead. Simon felt a throbbing pain in his head.
After asking a few more questions, Anna returned to her work, and Simon quietly asked Lete,
"Isn’t there something more effective we can try?"
"There is."
Lete clenched his teeth.
"We’ll settle it once the children come out."
"Hey."
At that moment, Richard approached, his face like a wounded lion. Simon looked up.
"Yes?"
"Let’s talk outside for a bit."
Simon followed Richard behind the orphanage. Richard had one hand in his pocket, smoking a pipe.
Fwoooh—
Blowing out white smoke, his deep eyes gazed at the forest, a picture in itself. Simon unconsciously gulped.
‘Whatever else, he really is handsome.’
Now he understood, at least a little, why women fell for Richard even knowing he was a playboy.
Then, slipping the pipe between his fingers, Richard cursed.
"Damn, this is the first time I’ve actually failed when I tried seriously."
He frowned as if describing some inexplicable phenomenon, puffing on his pipe.
"My start was a little blunt, sure, but after that the mood was good, my lines were smooth. But that woman’s a block of wood. Yes if yes, no if no. I need some hint to steer by, but she gives nothing at all."
"…Ha-ha."
Richard fell silent for a moment, then suddenly looked at Simon.
"What do you think?"
Simon’s eyes widened. He pointed at himself.
Was he asking him? About romance?
"Don’t feel pressured."
Richard smirked.
"If the other person isn’t ordinary, then the solution should come from an extraordinary angle as well."
‘Is that a compliment or an insult.’
Simon gave a wry smile.
At any rate, since Richard seemed intent on redeeming himself, for Simon this was a golden opportunity.
‘Alright, what should I say?’
Perhaps, since coming back from the past, this was the most important moment yet.
To regain the future.
To live together, the three of them, in Leshill.
It was time to find a solution.
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