Well, the current regent killed her parents, so...

You could say there was a lot going on.

But no, I wasn't alone. Madam--the Matron, that is--was a good patron to the cause. Though, of course, she also took in a number of the orphans for her own purposes.

[hmmm... but not wanting to get into that.]

Fingers also helped. Fingers is a good friend to a number of folk, really.