Dirty Heart - Chapter 11

Courtney’s heart began to pound as if it would burst. Blood surged through her entire body, like a pirate who had just discovered a treasure map.

But the thrill lasted only a moment. Smuggling the report out safely was an even greater challenge.

The guard’s sharp gaze was still boring into her back as if it would pierce straight through her.

“A-achoo!”

This was the moment she needed quick thinking. She hurriedly covered her nose with her sleeve and deliberately sneezed even more violently.

“Cough, cough!”

Pretending she’d inhaled a lungful of dust, she staggered with exaggerated coughing, her face flushed bright red.

When she finally leaned against the bookshelf as if she’d lost her balance, the massive stack of documents came crashing down. Of course, the 『Report on Heart Transplant Side Effect Cases』 fell with them.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing, you stupid maid!”

The guard jumped up in shock.

“I-I’m sorry! My dust allergy is really bad, so I…!”

“Do you have any idea what will happen if the Duke finds out? Pick it up. Right now!”

Dropping to her knees, she desperately gathered the scattered papers while hiding the report inside her skirt.

“Did you pick everything up?”

“Yes, yes! I got everything!”

“Hand it over!”

The guard snatched the stack of documents from her hands. Courtney held her breath. Every nerve in her body was on edge, terrified he might notice that one report was missing.

But contrary to her fears, he only glanced over the stack roughly before tossing it onto the desk.

Relief flooded her. She stood as naturally as possible, then fussed as she dusted off her skirt. Her muscles threatened to cramp from the report wedged between her thighs, but she endured with superhuman restraint.

“Oh no. My clothes are all dirty. I just washed them yesterday too….”

Bending over as if to fix her clothes, she swiftly slipped the report into her apron pocket. Every movement flowed smoothly, leaving the guard with no reason to suspect anything.

“Get out. And don’t ever come back again!”

Still completely unaware, the guard shouted at her. Courtney quickly gathered her cleaning tools and bowed deeply.

“My apologies!”

The moment she stepped out the door, her legs nearly gave out beneath her. But instead of collapsing, she forced herself to keep walking quickly.

It was too soon to relax. Her heart pounded wildly, afraid the guard might realize what happened and come chasing after her.

At last, she was almost at the servants’ quarters. Her roommate Bailey spotted her and immediately ran over.

“Courtney! Where did you go? I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Why are you breathing so hard?”

“Huh? I just got a bit of exercise.”

“Exercise? All of a sudden?”

“More importantly, why were you looking for me?”

“A telegram came for you.”

Bailey handed her a crumpled telegram. Courtney took it and unfolded it.

『To Courtney

This month’s donation has not been received.

Please resolve it as soon as possible.

If it remains unpaid, I will visit in person.

-Director Charlotte, Saint Agatha Orphanage -』

The scrawled cursive contained words that were practically a threat. A hollow laugh slipped out of her.

Saint Agatha Orphanage. From the name alone, it sounded like the most benevolent place in the world, but in truth it was no different from a hell stained with hunger and exploitation.

Director Charlotte, known as the ‘Mother of Pitiful Children,’ was also a devil wearing a mask. She pretended to care about the children on the surface, but in reality she only squeezed the very blood out of them to fill her own belly.

Even after Courtney found employment at the ducal residence, Charlotte continued to contact her and demand sponsorship payments. Her justification was that Courtney should repay the orphanage for raising her.

“Come or don’t.”

Muttering to herself, she immediately tore the telegram into pieces.

Meanwhile, Bailey stared at her in shock. Normally, Courtney cared so deeply about the orphanage that she would wake up in the middle of the night over anything related to it.

Once, unable to understand why she sent most of her wages as donations, Bailey asked her about it. Courtney’s eyes filled with tears first. Just imagining the children going hungry hurt her so much she couldn’t bear it.

“What’s gotten into you? You used to act like you’d give them your liver and gallbladder if it meant helping the orphanage.”

“There’s no shortage of people trying to bleed me dry.”

“What about the children? You said you were worried because most of them can’t even eat properly.”

Courtney gave a bitter smile. Of course the children were pitiful, but when she herself was barely staying afloat, who was she to worry about anyone else?

***

Heavy silence filled the director’s office at Saint Agatha Orphanage. Charlotte, who stood by the window smoking a cigarette down to its butt, slowly narrowed her eyes.

“So there’s still no reply?”

“Yes, Director. Several days have passed since the telegram was sent, but there’s been no response.”

The nun standing beside her answered carefully. A cold smile spread across Charlotte’s face.

“That bitch Courtney dares.”

It was truly disappointing. To think that child who had once been so obedient and compliant would stab her in the back like this.

Flicking off the cigarette ash, she opened the desk drawer and took out a thick ledger. Inside, the details of every sponsorship payment Courtney had ever sent were recorded densely.

Not only did the orphanage receive 20 krangs from her every single month without fail, but on anniversaries or special occasions, they diligently collected additional fees as well.

Adding everything together, it was far from a small sum, yet Charlotte’s face showed nothing but greed.

She used the money Courtney sent entirely for personal purposes, mostly on luxuries like jewelry and fur coats. Meanwhile, the children were still fed moldy bread and thin gruel.

Thanks to Courtney’s payments, Charlotte’s life had become far more comfortable. Now, she couldn’t even imagine living without that source of income.

And yet Courtney dared to cut off such a precious revenue stream on her own. It was utterly unacceptable.

“Director, what should we do?”

“I’ll go myself. What’s so difficult about that?”

She slammed the ledger shut and cracked her fingers adorned with lavish gemstone rings.

It was perfect timing. She could see for herself just how impressive the illustrious House Erhardt was, and also confirm what kind of respectable position Courtney had managed to secure.

“It would be nice to have a suitable hostage.”

A sinister glint passed through Charlotte’s eyes. She turned her gaze toward the hallway and shouted loudly.

“Bring Liam here immediately!”

A moment later, a blue-haired boy appeared hesitantly. His entire body was covered in wounds. Though he’d just turned nine, malnutrition made him look far smaller than other children his age.

“…You called for me, Director.”

“You remember your sister Courtney, don’t you?”

Liam’s eyes sparkled. Courtney was the only person he could rely on in this hellish place. She took care of him in place of a mother, and when he was sick, she stayed by his side all night nursing him. She was someone precious to him.

“We’re going to see Courtney after such a long time. Aren’t you happy?”

“Really…?”

Liam nodded eagerly, but something felt wrong. Charlotte’s expression was far too ominous.

As expected, Charlotte clicked her tongue as she examined Liam’s appearance from head to toe, clearly dissatisfied.

“But the child looks far too fine, doesn’t he?”

“Ugh!”

Charlotte grabbed Liam’s jaw roughly. The boy flinched in pain, his brows knitting together, but she paid no attention. Instead, she exhaled a thick cloud of cigarette smoke directly in his face.

“I doubt Courtney would feel much sympathy if she saw you like this.”

“Cough, ugh! Cough, cough!”

“My baby. Stay still.”

Then something unimaginable happened. She pressed the lit cigarette she was holding against Liam’s pale cheek and began burning his fragile skin. The stench of charred flesh filled the air as the boy’s face twisted horribly.

“Agh, aaaaah!”

A hoarse, animal-like cry burst from Liam’s throat. His skin sizzled faintly beneath the cigarette, leaving a vivid burn mark.

“Now you look much more convincing. Enough to break Courtney’s heart when she sees you.”

Charlotte smiled in satisfaction. With the cigarette burn mark on his cheek, he’d become the perfect hostage.

Charlotte knew all too well that Courtney cherished Liam like her own younger brother. By exploiting that attachment, she could extort as much sponsorship money as she pleased.

“Wash him clean and prepare for departure. We leave early tomorrow morning.”

“Yes, Director.”

The nun lowered her head and withdrew.

“Our dear Courtney… you mustn’t look down on your Mother.”

Placing the cigarette that had just burned Liam’s cheek back between her lips, she took a long drag. Thick smoke filled the director’s office.