Sophie gazed at the distant horizon, where the sun was beginning to dip, casting a golden glow over the fields. The children's laughter rang through the yard, light and free like the breeze that tugged at the laundry she had just finished hanging.
She wiped her hands on her apron, a soft smile playing on her lips.
"Sophie," came a sharp voice.
She turned. It was Sera—her fellow caretaker at the orphanage. Unlike Sophie's gentle and kind nature, Sera was strict, reserved, and rarely engaged with the children beyond her duties. Her expression was as stern as ever, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.
"The director wants to see you," Sera said flatly.
"M–me?" Sophie blinked, her voice cracking slightly in surprise. Her hands instinctively clutched the edge of her apron. "Did I… do something wrong?"
Sera didn't answer. She merely turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Sophie standing in the sun-dappled garden with unease blooming quietly in her chest.
Sophie knocked on the door of the director's office. A hoarse voice from inside said, "Come in."
The director sat at his desk, writing something. He didn't look up as she entered.
"You came, Sophie," he said.
"Um… yes. Sera said you called for me," Sophie replied hesitantly.
The director cleared his throat. "Yes, I did. Sophie, when you first came here, you were only a teenager. Yet you've been such a great help to me. You cared for the children, tended to their needs, even taught them real skills and education. I never had to step in for anything, because you were always there. But now… I want you to be free from all this."
He opened a drawer and pulled out a small but heavy pouch, placing it gently on the desk.
"Here, take it. It isn't much, but it will see you through for at least four months. Use that time to find a job… or something of your own."
Sophie froze, stunned. She had only recently been thinking about spending even more time with the children—and now, she was being asked to leave.
Sophie didn't say much. She knew the director wouldn't take no for an answer. It was true—she had always tried her best to help him, especially since he had become something of a father figure to her. But now, she had no choice but to leave everything behind.
Just then, Sera appeared out of nowhere, her face unusually tense.
"Are you… are you okay?" Sera asked.
Sophie blinked in surprise. She had never seen Sera like this before. Sera had always been rude and rough with her, never once showing concern. Sophie only shook her head, unable to speak, and walked away without looking back.
As she stepped outside, her fingers curled around the heart-shaped locket she always carried. She had been holding onto it ever since she first came to the orphanage.
The truth was, Sophie wasn't actually an orphan. She had been born into a wealthy family. Her father, a powerful Viscount, had built his fortune through several businesses, while her mother—a Viscountess—came from a prestigious Duke's household. Sophie was, by all rights, a noble's daughter.
But one terrible night, everything had changed. Assassins had struck their home. Her parents had fought desperately to protect her, saving her life at the cost of their own. Sophie had wandered aimlessly afterward, too young and terrified to find her way to her relatives' estate. Instead, she stumbled upon this orphanage—a place well-managed and full of life—and since then, it had become her only home.