Lily's POV
The warm water splashed softly against the plates as I worked alongside Alice, the two of us quietly cleaning up after dinner. The comforting clatter of ceramic and the faint scent of cooked meat and fresh vegetables still lingered in the air. Meanwhile, the children were starting to settle down, their sleepy voices echoing faintly from the nearby rooms.
"S-Sister…" a small voice called out hesitantly behind me.
I turned, wiping my damp hands on my apron, and found myself looking at the girl Leon had brought with him to the orphanage. She stood there clutching the hem of her dress, her eyes wide and uncertain. She was clearly younger... maybe four or five years below Leon and Alice in age. Her little sister, who couldn't have been more than two years her junior, clung quietly to her side.
"Um…" she started, her voice almost a whisper.
