Anselm and Malena stood outside an orphanage's fence, watching the children playing inside.
"Malena."
Anselm suddenly asked, "What do you think of Earl Hardstone?"
After some time, having finally managed to somewhat extricate herself from that bitter and dark emotion, Malena thought for a moment, "He should be... a slightly better noble."
After Anselm allowed her to access a wider range of documents and materials, her understanding of Scarletfrost became more comprehensive. Coupled with Anselm's explanations, Malena now knew the situation of Scarletfrost better than most of its nobles.
Compared to other nobles, Earl Hardstone's actions were clearly more in line with the true meaning of a noble—that is, bearing honor and providing protection.
For example, this orphanage was promoted and built by Earl Hardstone, helping many orphans and abandoned infants in the Outer City District of Scarletfrost.
This could also be seen from his own words, actions, and his style. Compared to the nobles who were seen as wicked beyond redemption in Sitana's eyes, Earl Hardstone's image was clearly more traditional.
"So, what do you think makes him one of the better nobles?"
Anselm asked this while smiling at a little girl in the yard who had noticed him.
The little girl's face turned red in an instant, and she covered her face and ran away with a "dada," extremely cute.
Malena fell into deep thought; she had hoped to immerse herself in thinking, using it as a way to escape the nightmare that made her despair.
"I think... it's not because he is particularly kind."
The girl pondered the words Anselm had just taught her—the implementation of policies ultimately serves people, but who exactly are these "people," and which side do they represent?
"He doesn't genuinely want to make Scarlefrost better."
Back at home, as the person in charge of buying and selling goods at the market, Malena had a keen and meticulous grasp of human nature. She frowned slightly, speaking in a tone that was not very certain, "It's more like a... sense of responsibility, or perhaps... dignity? The dignity of a noble?"
"This term is not bad," Anselm lightly applauded, "Dignity, it's very suitable as Earl Hardstone's starting point. His family has a long history, and his ancestors were once glorious. Although they have been declining, but that purer 'noble heritage' has never changed."
"Remember Bernal? His ancestors were originally retainers of the Hardstone family, but due to certain reasons, they chose to separate. The Hardstone family not only did not pursue it but has been supporting him until now, and Earl Hardstone has also treated him well."
The young Hydra stroked his serpentine ring, "You should know, being retainers is not something you can just leave. Sometimes, no matter how rich the reasons are... for the nobles they serve, this is equivalent to betrayal."
"After all, in the eyes of most nobles, the commoners, the retainers, and all that these people possess, is given to them by the nobles."
"So—" he turned to look at Malena, encouraging her with a warm and bright smile, "You were able to point out from the beginning that his 'kindness' is out of dignity, which is very good. I already told you that you also have talent, didn't I?"
"...No, um, I mean... thank you for your praise."
Malena, who instinctively wanted to deny herself, blushed slightly, lowered her head and answered shyly in a small voice.
In this world, the one who discovered her and was willing to trust her absolutely was Lord Hydra.
Even to this world, where she felt she was nothing more than an ordinary person, even less than a mayfly, he was willing to offer her such genuine and sincere recognition and respect.
It feels so reassuring to stand beside Lord Hydra.
Thinking this, Malena couldn't help but feel her heart race, berating herself for being such a shameless girl in her thoughts.
"A-apart from that," she averted her gaze, trying to calm herself down by shifting her focus, "I also believe this is a means of competition with Earl Scarletfrost."
"Mm..."
Anselm did not comment, as he had turned his attention to the yard beyond the fence, where the little girl who had blushed and run away earlier was now back, holding a flower in her hand.
Her cheeks flushed as she cautiously approached the fence, looked up at Anselm, and spoke timidly, "Are you... Lord Hydra?"
Anselm crouched down, reached through the fence, and smiled as he gently patted her head, "It's me, lovely little girl, what's your name?"
"L-Lilica."
The girl enjoyed Hydra's caress, then quickly realized her rudeness. She closed her eyes, her voice trembling with shyness and nervousness, and handed the little flower to Anselm.
"My, my auntie headmistress, said that it was you who gave us a lot of coal, otherwise, we would have been cold in a few days. This is, this is a gift for you!"
"Thank you, I'll take it."
Anselm spoke softly, his finger touching her forehead, "Close your eyes first, let me think..."
"Malena."
He stood up, whispered in the snow-haired girl's ear, the warm and moist breath made Malena's body tremble slightly, while her earlobes turned hot.
"Do you have any small gifts suitable for this lovely girl on you?" Anselm asked softly, his voice a bit husky, "I'll repay you."
"I... I..."
Anselm's voice, Anselm's breath, Anselm's scent, Anselm's warmth... all of this made Malena's head spin. She nervously fumbled around, and finally hurriedly took off the hair ornament on her head, wanting to distance herself from Anselm, yet unwilling to leave this warmth.
Her fingers trembled slightly, placing the hair ornament in Anselm's palm, "Please give this to her."
"Thank you for your generosity, Miss Malena." Anselm's fingertips lightly brushed over Malena's palm, he chuckled lightly, "I owe you one, remember to ask me for it."
He placed the hair ornament into the girl's tiny palm, and after her joyful and excited cheers, he rubbed her hair again, then left with Malena.
The young noble didn't say much, just walked on the street with the girl who had her head down, her hands clasped together in front of her.
Until the emotions surging in Malena's heart gradually subsided, until Malena increasingly wished that this road had no end.
She wanted to get closer, even closer, ideally so that her shoulder could be close enough to Lord Hydra's shoulder, touching and separating from time to time.
Before the girl had a chance to act on her thoughts, the Hydra she was walking with suddenly said:
"Malena, so what do you make of... Earl Hardstone's dignity?"
"......"
This question made Malena pause for a few seconds, not because of the difficulty of the question, but because of the significance of the act of "asking a question."
Right... what am I thinking? Lord Hydra is taking me out to broaden my horizons, why do I still have the leisure to think about those things.
...How could I have the right to think about those things.
After a brief silence, the kind and gentle girl gathered her emotions, not letting her sadness and disappointment show in the slightest. She answered softly but firmly:
"I think that's not wrong."
"Even if he doesn't genuinely care about the commoners, even if he only values his own noble honor, even if he, like other nobles, doesn't put us in his eyes, just treating us as ants."
"But at least he did something. His 'dignity,' even if it helped one more person survive the winter, that is valuable."
Malena lowered her head, "Because we... don't have the qualification or the confidence to ask for more."
At this point, it seemed she understood why Anselm had asked this question.
"...Lord Hydra." She mustered her courage and moved closer to Anselm, "I assure you, Sitana will not make such shallow and short-sighted foolish actions again. I will educate her well, just as you have educated me."
Malena spoke to Anselm with seriousness, solemnity, almost as if she were taking an oath, but the response to her earnestness was only Anselm's... nonchalance.
"...Huh? What?"
Under the young girl's stunned gaze, her beloved Lord Hydra first paused, then reacted, and his lips curved up.
--As if he had taken what she said as a joke.
"No, it's okay, don't worry about it, Malena."
He said so lightly, "I don't mind Sitana doing anything, she won't truly anger me, and I will always forgive her, you can rest assured."
"After all, she has that kind of value and ability."
This ability to recognize talent and magnanimity, which would bring tears to anyone, completely destroyed the already shattered self-esteem of the intelligent but ordinary young girl.
Right... we don't have the qualification or the confidence to ask for more.
But she does, doesn't she?
Even if Sitana is as short-sighted and ridiculous as she can be, she has the value that makes Lord Hydra always forgive her.
And I don't.
"...Malena?"
Lord Hydra's concerned voice sounded in Malena's ears, "What's wrong, are you feeling unwell?"
"...It's just that the wind is too strong, it's making my eyes hurt a bit, please don't mind it."
The young girl, rubbing her eyes, smiled at Anselm.
Crushing the tears, swallowing the numbness.
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