“An orphanage?”
It was an unexpected suggestion, so I asked without realizing it.
“Yeah. I thought it would be good to use it as a children’s toy.”
Alexis handed me the soldier-shaped sculptures. I took a closer look at them.
Soldiers in uniform with long guns on their sides, a band playing cymbals and drums.
There were various kinds of soldiers, and although they were a bit crude, they were complete.
‘You could play soldiers with this.’
It was small and the perfect size for kids to play with.
It was originally used to be a decorative piece, but this new idea would be for a good cause. I didn’t think the boy who made this would have any complaints about giving it as toys to orphans, so I agreed with Alexis’s opinion.
Alexis was delighted to hear my answer.
“Then why not donate to the nearby Shelton Orphanage?”
“Okay, let’s do it.”
While we were making our decision, Sir Philip carried a box of sculptures around his shoulder and said:
“Lady, we’re all set.”
“Thank you. Good job.”
After getting ready, we got into the carriage. Sir Philip took a separate carriage to load the sculptures and followed us.
“Sir, where do you want me to take you?”
“To Shelton Orphanage-”
“Your highness, wait a minute.”
After Alexis told the coachman to wait a moment, he looked at me.
“Did I miss anything?”
“I want to stop by the bakery first.”
Toys were good, but something would be missing if we gifted them by themselves. Besides, it was past 3 pm. If I am going to stay out, I’ll get hungry so I thought it would be good to buy some snacks.
“That’s a good idea. But are you okay?”
“What?”
“You’ve already spent a lot of money helping that boy earlier. But I don’t know if it’s okay for you to spend that much again.”
Ah… … what else do I say
He asked anxiously if there was something that bothered him.
“You know what worry I have never had in my life?”
Alexis shook his head as if he didn’t understand. I said with a smile.
“I’ve never worried about money.”
Alexis opened his lips slightly as if he had belatedly remembered a fact he had forgotten. Then he burst out laughing.
“I asked a stupid question.”
I’d love to say no, but it’s true.
There’s nothing more useless than worrying about a rich man’s wallet.
He said as he sat on the couch of the carriage, staring at me with a smile.
“I forgot for a moment who you are, Princess Ashford.”
“It’s okay. It’s not like ‘I’m rich’ is tattooed on my forehead.”
If I showed off my wealth many troublesome things would happen. So, unless it was an important event, I deliberately went around looking plain and didn’t dress up—like today.
“It’s more comfortable being with people who don’t know that I am Princess Ashford.”
“Why?”
“Because there were so many people approaching me for money.”
Before I possessed this body. Looking back on Olivia Ashford’s life, the truth is that it wasn’t full of good things.
Perhaps Olivia never worried about money, but relationships were a problem.
Because her family was so wealthy too many people approached her with calculating hearts and impure intentions.
Few people genuinely wanted to be her friend.
But young Olivia wasn’t clever enough to tell them apart. She was hurt and betrayed a lot.
Alexis, who was silently listening to me across from me, spoke up,
“I didn’t know you had such a situation.”
I said with a bitter smile,
“Because I’ve never talked about it.”
In fact, most people know that Olivia has gone through her life without any difficulties. People don’t care about other people’s misfortunes.
‘Why did I say something and make the atmosphere so heavy?’
I was regretting when Alexis interrupted my thoughts.
“It must have been difficult.”
His tone was flat enough to mask his thoughts.
I asked him playfully,
“Are you feeling sorry for me?”
Alexis said with a smile.
“Perhaps… … . a little?”
I laughed out loud at his answer.
While talking to him, the carriage arrived at our destination. Ashford Bakery. Upon opening the store door, the clerk who was placing freshly baked bread on the display recognized me.
“Welcome, miss! Are you here to taste the new products?”
“No, I’m here today for something else.”
I explained what I was doing to the clerks. When I explained it was for charity everyone responded that they were happy to be part of a good cause.
Soon they were busy moving bread to the wagon with my direction. In the meantime, Alexis ate the bread I had recommended.
“How do you like it?”
He took another bite. After swallowing what was in his mouth, he said,
“Well….You deserve to be proud.”
Indeed I was proud when I heard his answer.
Ring— the bell rang.
I thought it was a customer who came to buy bread, but instead, I heard a familiar voice.
“Olivia, you are here.”