Chapter 26

The children were happily playing inside the orphanage just after they finished their morning lessons. Some of them wore thicker clothes and went out to play. Although snow was still around and abundant, the sun sometimes peeked out from the clouds above. It had already been about three months since the first snow fall. People could once again feel the warmth from the sun.

*Knock knock*

A knock came from the main entrance door. Frianne, who was the only adult inside, stepped forward and was surprised to see Osar.

“Morning.” He greeted Frianne.

“Lord Osar? Good morning to you too.” Frianne bowed and greeted back. “It’s rare to see you. I haven’t seen you for about a month now.”

“I’ve been busy with a lot of things. I was passing by and decided to visit the kids.”

“Oh! Please, come in. I bet they would be delighted.”

He stepped inside and removed his coat. As soon as the children saw who entered, they rushed in. Even those who were playing outside came in. Frianne lightly told them off to remove their shoes and change before coming inside fully.

“Is Esia not around?” He asked.

“No. She left to buy some food.” Frianne replied back to him, shaking her head.

“I see.” Said Osar. “The both of you were safe during the chaos a few days earlier, yes?

“Ah, when the city was in a bit of chaos? Yes. Both Esia and I were with the children. We heard from Aniem what happened.”

Osar nodded gesturing he understood. Although they were surrounded by the children, they didn’t understand much of the conversation. Except one.

“But Mother Esia felt different back then.” Alana spoke with a confused face. “Although she acted the same as always, she just felt different... I don’t know how, but different.”

“Alana, we already discussed this.” She reprimanded her. Although it looked like she was trying to look mad, but only made her look cute. “It was probably because you suddenly woke up.”

“No, sister Frianne. I mean, she looked like mother Esia, but her... aura? It looked more powerful. I wanted to vomit. What was that word? Nawsiting?”

“Nauseating.” Osar corrected her. Alana happily agreed to that. “Well, maybe it was just as Frianne said. Maybe you just woke up on the wrong side of bed.”

“No~~!” Alana strongly disagreed in a cute way, making Osar laugh lightly.

Osar played around with the children for a bit until he realised, he still has a mountain of work to do.

“Well, I must take my leave. I slacked off too much.” He got up and headed for the door.

“Oh, alright then.” Frianne walked up to the main entrance door and gabbed Osar’s coat.

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“It seems a few of our assumptions were true.” Osar concluded in a discussion meeting with the other four gentlemen. “I visited the orphanage earlier and Frianne claimed to have been with Esia the whole duration of the incident. Additionally, one of the kids said that the Esia at that time felt different. It wasn’t the usual Esia that was with them at that time despite her acting in the same manner as Esia. She might have some ability to sense mana or magic thus the sensation she felt. It’s either the Esia in the orphanage was a clone of some sort or another devil in disguise using magic.”

“It’s too early to conclude but I believe it’s another devil in disguise. Don’t forget that the two devils who kidnapped Veyrr may be related to her.” Count Garthus spoke, giving his opinion.

“I believe so as well. But the Esia that I saw at the forest felt strangely different, as if she had this condescending attitude or someone who cared nothing for the world.” Avim spoke up, voicing his opinion on the matter as well. “I’ve only met her once and mainly heard from the rumours. She looked like a sweet and charming woman. But with what I saw, I’m starting to think that the rumours are true.

The others contemplated and agreed for the most part. It’s as if the rumours that have been circulating have all been Esia’s doing and Esia’s true character.

“But that said, I still can’t believe she can use magic. It’s a rare thing to have that could easily grant anyone scholarship to prestigious schools in the capital.” Osar changed topic.

“So, should we continue with the largescale surprise inspection?” Johannes brought the question up again.

“I believe we should.” Zila agreed. “I believe that even if we send more scouts to the area, we would get nothing. And there may be more than just one or two entries to the dungeon besides inside the orphanage and the city wall.” He continued.

“Then, inform those who you trust the most and have them form a small elite group to keep watch of the orphanage.” Count Garthus gave new instructions.

“After we surround the orphanage, we arrest her and interrogate her later on. Although she has contributed a myriad of beneficial things to the city and possibly even the kingdom, she has still collaborated with devils who caused harm to the city, murdered and abducted people especially a child, and identity fraud.”

Everyone agreed and the discussion was adjourned.

Unsuspecting to their plan, Esia had just arrived at the orphange, hauling another box of their favorite preserved meat.

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The days continue on without Esia knowing of the plan the Count and the other men had. The sun is starting to appear more often now and buds start to grow from trees and bushes, signalling the transition to spring. More animals have gone out of their homes as well, hunting for food. This caused meat prices to go up in price for some time.

But the days where Esia would not notice is not unlimited. She started to notice more soldiers gathering near the orphanage and the usual wall entrance had more guards stationed on the wall, making it harder to move. Even at night, there are more patrols. There are still many things to be transported out of the dungeon. One night, she had decided to go out and investigate herself and had also ordered Teiyninya and Altafaigaman to do the same. And their conclusion was the same. The Count had eyes on the orphanage and even knew of the wall entrance. Although those men did not know of the reason why they were being sent to watch the orphanage. Esia then concluded why there were a large number of soldiers and hunters going on patrols both in and out of the city.

“Lady Eiulj, once again, we can’t transport the Eveloras out due to the number of patrols and guards. Even the rendezvous point with the carriage that transport them has gone even further than last time.” Altafaigaman reported, feeling uneasy.

Eiulj had a very displeased expression, one of annoyance and contemplation. She sat in her study in the dungeon, resting her head on the back of her palm.

“It’s fine. There’s a high chance we might need to evacuate the dungeon as a whole.” She said, reverting back to her usual calm expression. “Sorry, it’s my fault we’re in this predicament. I might have been caught from somewhere by someone.” Her expression turned grim once more, thinking of who could possibly spot her.

“Ah, no need to apologise, my Lady.” Teiyninya spoke, not knowing of what else to speak about.

Eiulj had gone back to contemplating on the events that happened thus far. She suspects that the presence she felt when she confronted Pharazus was actually real and might have been followed. She cast a barrier in advance just so no one would interfere, but it seemed that someone must have slipped in or might have been caught inside the barrier.

She thought even harder on who could have known of her identity. The soldiers who had witnessed the owner of the bar being killed by Pharazus, the colleagues of the Beviann worker girl, the soldiers under Pharazus. She thought back even further, the men who delivered the food from Haveloft Company to the orphanage, the men who constantly watched the orphanage from afar, or the soldiers who were killed during the first snow fall. And even thought about specific individuals, the Count’s right-hand man, Zila, Osar, or Madam Lecia. But she clearly knew that Zila and Osar were also investigating her.

With everything already moving like clockwork, she decided to abandon everything. She was enraged and hurt at the same time. With all the effort she put in securing the place and slowly building the dungeon, just imagining it collapsing in one moment almost caused her to fire her magic until her mana exhausted. But Teiyninya and Altafaigaman immediately tried to calm her down.

“Shit! All my centuries worth of work down the drain all because of a single mistake.” She still threw a fit, almost wanting to cry. “Asiel from the capital, Milya from the Vulupis, and now Esia. All those years of gathering resources, GONE!”

“Milya?” Teiyninya could not help but ask. She knew Asiel who was a famous chef for the king decades ago and at the same time, was Eiulj.

“Before I met you and Gaman, I was conducting research by myself in the Vulupis village further northwest of Heom, in the mountains.” Eiulj calmly told her story to the two. “They were very conservative and didn’t want to mingle with anyone besides their own, but I, as Milya, convinced them somehow that even trading with other races and cultures would bring benefits to the community. That I would act as the intermediary. Well, this and that happened and was chased by them and eventually ended up as Esia.”

Teiyninya screamed her dismay when Eiulj ended the story at that. She really wanted to hear the story of her being Milya.

Esia continued with her story telling after a brief pause.