I let out a derisive snort and stood up from my seat.
“I’ll send over the revised contract through a messenger by today.”
With those words left for Calisto, I was on my way out of the marquis’s residence when I happened to spot Lennox in the garden.
‘Wow… he’s cleaned up so much I almost didn’t recognize him.’
Perhaps the household had taken good care of him—he looked far neater and more put-together than the last time I saw him.
Beneath his black hair, his skin was as pale and flawless as fresh snow. His delicate, well-proportioned features were strikingly handsome—though since he was still a child, “cute” came to mind first.
But Lennox wasn’t alone.
‘Who are those kids next to him?’
They looked three or four years older than him.
‘Did he make friends already?’
But as I kept watching… it was obvious that the atmosphere between them wasn’t friendly at all.
One of the boys was poking Lennox on the forehead, picking a fight.
“Hey, I don’t know what trick you pulled on the young marquis, but there’s a thing called order here. Got it?”
“…So?”
“So? Hey, this punk doesn’t get it?”
“It means since you’re the newbie, you do our work too, idiot.”
As I eavesdropped, alarms blared in my head.
‘Hey! I worked so hard to pave a flower path for him!’
And now they were throwing dirt on it?
My goal was to make Lennox’s life so comfortable and peaceful that he’d never even think about revenge.
I couldn’t let that be ruined already.
“Do it properly, okay? We’ll be watching. If you slack off, you’re done for.”
Lennox didn’t react at all.
But I knew. Behind that blank, innocent-looking face, cruel thoughts were surely brewing.
‘You’re the ones who won’t be “getting away with it”…’
The boys shoved a rag and a bucket into Lennox’s hands before leaving. He stared at the cleaning tools for a moment, let out a sigh, and walked away.
I hesitated briefly, wondering which way to go, then made my decision.
‘Let’s eliminate the cause first.’
Anyone who interfered with Lennox’s happiness needed to be dealt with—by me.
“Wait a moment. You boys, come here.”
Up close, they looked even younger than I’d thought.
‘Well, Lennox is small for his age.’
Judging by their clothes, they were servant boys—errand boys of the household.
“Y-Yes…?”
Though my face was hidden behind a mask, they could tell from my attire that I was a noble. They approached nervously.
“Do you know who I am?”
“I-I’m sorry, we don’t…”
Well, it would’ve been stranger if they did recognize me with a mask on.
Still, they seemed to think I’d get angry and say, ‘How dare you not know me?’ They looked intimidated.
‘Already picking on the weak and fearing the strong, huh.’
They looked so naive—nothing like boys who would threaten Lennox like that.
Hopeless brats.
“Really? The young marquis was asking me recently whether there’s been any pointless hierarchy disputes among the errand boys. I must have been mistaken about what I saw.”
“Huh?”
Their expressions stiffened immediately. Wow, they were terrible at hiding it.
“He even consulted me about it today. Must’ve been quite troubled—his expression was very serious.”
I calmly spun the lie, using Calisto’s serious face from earlier as “evidence.”
“So I thought… maybe you boys were the ones causing that hierarchy issue.”
“T-That’s not true!”
“It better not be. The young marquis is particularly sensitive about that sort of thing. If he sees even the slightest hint of it, he’ll throw all of you out.”
My cold tone made them visibly frightened.
“And don’t even think about bullying others where no one can see. You’re not exactly trusting your fellow errand boys, are you?”
It was obvious how things worked among boys like them—petty alliances that would crumble the moment things went wrong.
As if they knew it too, they said nothing, just glanced nervously at one another.
“Someone always ends up spilling the secret.”
I tapped my lips lightly, then placed a hand on each of their heads.
“You’re still young. Your futures are bright. Don’t go looking for trouble, alright?”
I gently patted their heads, as if advising them.
“Yes, ma’am…”
After leaving them with that warning, I returned to my family feeling refreshed.
With this, they’d at least behave themselves for a while—keeping an eye on Calisto and on each other.
I felt a little uneasy about threatening children, but it was the best I could do right now.
If I stepped in directly and saved Lennox in front of him, it would ruin my position as his secret sponsor.
I thought everything had been resolved for the time being.
At least… until another refusal letter arrived.
After cleaning the floors and returning to his room, Lennox was about to lie down when he felt a strange sense of unease and stopped.
Someone had been here.
For some reason, he was certain of it. His sharp gaze swept across the room.
Then he spotted the sponsorship contract on his desk.
Looking at its contents, it would be foolish to refuse.
It promised to cover all necessities—food, clothing, shelter—for free, and even provide money for independence and educational support.
“…”
But Lennox stared at the contract with a completely indifferent expression.
Back in the slums, it wasn’t uncommon for kids his age to sign contracts sweet-talked into them by adults.
Those contracts also claimed to “support” children, without specifying any cost.
But deep down, the kids all knew.
That those contracts were nothing more than traps.
There was no such thing as excessive kindness for children like them in this world.
And yet, they signed anyway.
Even if it was a trap, at least they wouldn’t starve to death.
But what awaited them was worse than starvation.
They were worked endlessly, abused until they fell ill, and once they were no longer useful, they were discarded—left to die in the back alleys.
And Lennox had witnessed it all firsthand.
They had only exchanged a few words, but even such shallow connections made watching their deaths painful.
“I… hate that.”
To be used up meaninglessly and die like that—he loathed it.
Still, Lennox couldn’t easily let go of the contract.
A part of him wanted to grasp this rope that might be his only lifeline.
Who could be satisfied with a life of wandering the streets, worrying about their next meal?
If only the price were clearly stated—then at least he could think, If I fulfill this, I can gain all of that.
It was too suspicious.
Even the fact that a contract he had already refused had returned again.
Frowning slightly, Lennox stared at the document.
The wording was difficult, filled with complex terms. He considered just returning it to the young marquis.
Then—
His green eyes stopped on a particular line.
Something had been added this time.
Yes. A condition—a price.
“…If you encounter someone in need, you will help them.”
He slowly read the scattered words he could understand.
Realizing what it meant, Lennox let out a cold laugh.
‘This is the price?’
Did they think he was a fool?
In such a thorough, densely written contract, the only thing they wanted in return was for him to help others?
The more he thought about it, the more suspicious the hidden truth behind the contract felt.
As he stared at it with a sigh, he noticed something else.
‘…Why is the handwriting different here?’
Wasn’t this contract supposed to be between just him and the young marquis?
And yet, it felt as though it had been written by two different people—as if it were a joint effort.