Desmond couldn't change who he was at his core.
The dream he always held of opening an orphanage entirely funded by his wealth was something he always desired to do. Even if it was similar to what Valerio told Leonor all those years ago, he was unwilling to bend.
He felt he could help a lot of children displaced by the war. He wanted them to have comfort and education. If they so choose, they could pay back his generosity by joining the soldiers of Montclair in case the duchy ever needed protection from the monsters north of the mountains in Letum.
However, Desmond wasn't expecting Leonor to find an orphan while wandering into the township. Although he realized he should have been prepared for anything. Leonor was smart and, if people found out she was the duchess, visiting orphanages would be a strategic choice. It would help her achieve a charitable appearance to the common people.
