Chapter 11

A Name Worth Remembering

The physician's clinic was unusually quiet.

Only the crackling of the fireplace disturbed the silence.

Theo was asleep on the small bed, his breathing finally steady.

The fever had begun to subside.

Seraphina sat beside him, watching the child without saying a word.

His face looked peaceful now.

Far too peaceful...

For someone carrying so many bruises.

The physician approached quietly.

"My Lady."

She looked up."Shh. Lower your voice"

"Will he recover?"

"Yes. My lady!!"

"He only needs proper food..."

"...and proper rest."

The old physician hesitated.

"But..."

Seraphina already knew there was more."But what!?"

"...Those injuries."

"They weren't caused by hunger."

The physician sighed heavily.

"I've treated that child several times."

"You have?"

He nodded.

"He never tells me who hurt him."

"He simply smiles and says..."

'I fell.'

The physician closed his medicine box.

"But bruises tell stories."

"And these..."

"...are stories no child should carry."

Seraphina lowered her gaze.

A strange heaviness settled in her chest.

She had entered this world determined to survive.

She never expected to care.

Yet somehow...

She already did.

A soft knock came from the door.

Lily entered, bowing slightly.

"Young Lady."

"I've returned."

Seraphina stood.

"What did you find?"

Lily's usually gentle expression had disappeared.

"I visited the eastern district."

"And?"

She hesitated."Say fast. I have no intend to waste any another minute…"

"...Theo has no family."

Silence.

"He has lived on the streets for almost three years."

"He sleeps wherever he can."

"Sometimes behind the bakery."

"Sometimes in abandoned warehouses."

"Sometimes..."

She swallowed.

"...under the bridge."

Seraphina slowly clenched her hands.

"And the bruises?"

Lily's face darkened.

"The older boys."

"They control the orphan children."

"They steal whatever little food the younger ones earn."

"If anyone refuses..."

She looked toward the sleeping Theo.

"...they're beaten."

Seraphina closed her eyes.

"So that's it..."

Theo hadn't stolen because he wanted bread.

He had stolen because there were children waiting for him.

Children who depended on him.

The physician quietly added,

"That boy..."

"Even when he's starving..."

"He always shares first."

"He never eats until the others have."

Seraphina looked back at Theo.

"...Idiot."

The word escaped almost like a whisper.

A small... Affectionate one.

Just then...

Theo stirred.

His eyelashes fluttered.

Slowly...

His amber eyes opened.

He looked around in confusion.

"...Where..."

His gaze landed on Seraphina.

He immediately tried to sit up.

"L-Lady Ardent!"

"Easy."

She gently pushed him back onto the pillow.

"The physician said you need rest."

Theo looked down.

"...I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"I caused trouble."

Seraphina blinked.

Then...

She lightly flicked his forehead.

"Ow!"

"That's for apologizing."

Theo stared at her.

"You collapsed."

"You scared everyone."

"And your first thought is apologizing?"

He looked away.

"...I'm used to it."

Those four words...

Hit harder than any scream.

Seraphina felt something tighten inside her chest.

She smiled anyway.

"Well..."

"You'll have to get used to something else."

Theo looked back at her.

"...What?"

She reached toward the bedside table.

Picking up a fresh loaf of bread lily had bought.

She placed it in his hands.

"This one's yours."

Theo immediately tried breaking it in half.

"For the others..."

Seraphina gently stopped him.

"I've already asked Lily to send food to them."

His eyes widened.

"...Really?"

She nodded.

"So today..."

"You eat first."

Theo stared at the bread.

His hands trembled.

No one...

Had ever told him that before.

A single tear rolled down his cheek.

"...Thank you."Theo had fallen asleep again.

"...Foolish child."

But...

A small smile appeared on her face.

Perhaps...

Because she saw a little of herself in him.

Always putting others first.

Always pretending to be alright.

Outside the clinic...

Lily quietly watched through the window.

She smiled softly.

"Our Young Lady..."

"...has changed so much."

Far above the capital...

Hidden within the ancient halls of N.O.X....

Several cloaked figures stood around a circular table.

One of them closed a report.

"The Young Lady of House Ardent has once again exceeded our expectations."

Another lowered his hood slightly.

"She protected the child."

"She investigated his suffering."

"And she stayed beside him."

Silence.

The eldest among them slowly smiled.

"The blood doesn't lie."

The room grew still.

Another member spoke quietly.

"The letter has reached her."

The elder nodded.

"I know."

A long silence followed.

Then...

His weathered voice echoed through the chamber.

"The one we have been waiting for..."

He closed his eyes.

"...has finally returned."

No one spoke.

Not another word.

Only the flickering candlelight danced across the ancient stone walls.

Somewhere in the capital...

A silver-haired young lady sat beside a sleeping orphan.

Completely unaware...

That an organization hidden in the darkness...

Had been waiting for her...

For far longer than she could ever imagine.

//Blood!? Why do they want to meet Seraphina!?//