The Ugly Wife of the Shady Duke - Chapter 36.1
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“…?”
“Anyway, My Lady, please go outside and sit to get some fresh air. I’ll check things out separately.”
Benjamin smiled broadly and guided Grace towards the outside. As Grace almost felt like she was being pushed out, the children in the orphanage’s garden greeted her with laughter.
As Benjamin watched Grace being happily surrounded by the young children, he turned his head and looked at Cleta.
“So, you’re Cleta Dunn, right?”
“Oh, yes. Should I call you Mr. Linden?”
“Call me whatever makes you comfortable. First, I’ll take a look around inside. Have you checked the safe, by any chance?”
“That’s strange. If the intention was money, they would have looted the safe, but there’s no trace of money being involved. Could it be that they couldn’t find the safe…?”
“Do you know where the safe is located?”
“Oh, I use the bottom drawer of the bedroom wardrobe as the safe.”
“I see. Now that you’ve told me, I suggest you change it for the next time, just in case.”
After giving Cleta some brief advice, Benjamin examined the items that the others had sorted.
‘There doesn’t seem to be a significant difference in quantity.’
If there had been a discrepancy in the number of items, it would have caused unrest among the people inside. However, both Cleta, who was explaining to Benjamin, and the others organizing the chaos, showed no signs of confusion regarding a “theft.”
‘There doesn’t seem to be anything directly stolen, even though there are damaged items…’
Benjamin lowered his gaze and pursed his lips.
‘If I can’t resolve this properly and something else goes wrong, My Lady will blame herself again, and if I make a mistake, she might lock herself again and never come out of the annex.’
That was something he absolutely couldn’t allow. It took a long time for Grace to come out of the annex.
Although Benjamin knew that hiring some guards to protect the orphanage for a while would be the easiest and fastest solution, there was a reason he didn’t resort to it.
Once Grace returned to her old self, Benjamin no longer had the confidence to seize another “opportunity.”
“…Damn it.”
Unbeknownst to him, Benjamin muttered rough words, something he used to do more often when he was younger.
“Ah.”
Startled, Benjamin quickly wiped his mouth with his hand.
He glanced at Cleta, who was standing nearby. Cleta looked up at Benjamin with her round eyes, but quickly averted her gaze.
‘Did she hear?’
Grace had said that Cleta was not her friend, but seeing Cleta welcoming Grace amidst the chaos made her seem like a genuine friend.
Conscious of her presence, Benjamin put on his usual gentle smile and spoke to Cleta.
“I will do my best to help you, sincerely.”
“… alright.”
As expected, she heard it. Benjamin muttered inwardly.
He made a groaning sound and asked Cleta,
“Is the workshop locked at night too?”
“Yes. There is a risk of theft, and there are sewing machines, which can be dangerous for the children.”
“In that case…”
Benjamin didn’t really have much to ponder. In fact, there was only one person who fits the bill for such an act based on what he had heard so far.
‘From what I’ve gathered so far, it can only be that person.’
However, there was something unpleasant about the culprit, he thought of.
While examining the progress chart affixed to the wall, Benjamin lowered his head.
“For now, I will personally inform the security team. They will provide even stronger protection than what you report.”
His priority was to reassure Grace for the time being.
⋆★⋆
“Auntie, why haven’t you been coming here often these days?”
“Hmm? Would it be better if I came more often?”
“Yes. I would like it if you come more often.”
The children eagerly grasped Grace’s hand with their small hands.
The children had gathered together, playing and building sandcastles. Among them, one child gestured towards a spot with abundant grass and handed it over to Grace, saying it was the best spot.
Grace sat in the spot the children graciously offered, smiling.
“Have you been playing and building sandcastles like this lately?”
“Hmm? Yeah.”
As Grace affectionately asked, a hint of reluctance could be sensed in the children’s response. Grace noticed this and inquired further.
“Is something the matter?”
“N-no…”
The children shared glances with each other and tightly sealed their lips. They were all watching each other’s reactions.
They were clearly hiding something. However, it didn’t seem like anyone would speak up even if pressured.
‘In a situation like this, it’s better to discreetly ask one person.’
But if Grace were to openly take one child aside right now, that child might become an outcast.
‘The fact that everyone is being cautious and aware suggests that they have all experienced the same thing, and made some kind of unspoken agreement…’
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