Chapter 135: Tug of War
“Miss,”
Leander entered my office, looking a bit awkward. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“Well, I think it’s something we should handle ourselves, but it’s been getting strange lately, so I thought I should report it.”
“Go ahead,” I said.
“The number of people wandering around the mansion has increased.”
I had noticed this in recent reports as well. Ever since I returned from the Dead Land, more and more people had been lingering near the mansion. However, they were just loitering, not causing any harm, so it wasn’t practical to detain them. I had simply instructed the soldiers and knights to be extra vigilant.
“Should we tighten security?” I asked.
“They’re not hostile, like before. They don’t know how to hide their presence, and they don’t even try to break in. Most of them run away when we give them so much as a stern look.”
“But…?” I prompted. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
Leander hesitated. “A child came today, and what she said was a little unusual. I think you should hear it.”
If Leander thought it was worth my attention, it probably was.
“Where is the child now?” I asked.
“She’s still at the front door. Shall I bring her to the drawing room?”
“No, I’ll go to the front door.”
Before leaving, I glanced at my desk. There were some snacks the chefs had made for me to eat while working, including some candies. I quickly wrapped a few candies and headed out.
At the front door, a girl no older than ten stood waiting. Her worn clothes clearly indicated she came from a poor family. She looked up at me with wide, light brown eyes.
“Is this Older Sister’s name Fiona?” she asked.
I looked into the child’s eyes and nodded. “Yes, that’s right. What’s your name?”
“Rizé.”
“Okay, Rizé. Why did you come to my house?” I asked gently.
“I want to ask you something.”
“And what is that?”
Rizé pursed her lips before speaking. “Is it true that you can save my older brother?”
“What?”
What was this about? But Rizé’s face didn’t seem to show any signs of lying. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“Who told you that?” I asked.
“My mom.”
“Can you tell me your mom’s name?”
Rizé clearly said her mother’s name. It wasn’t familiar to me. On top of that, it was a common name—something four out of five women in the village could have.
“And who did your mom say told her this?”
Rizé flapped her arms slightly, as if trying to remember. “Oh, she said she heard it from a very important high-ranking person. My mom called him ‘The Count.’”
Ah, of course… I inwardly ground my teeth. That damned Bill Curtis, how dare he use my name like that. I kept my tone gentle. “Rizé, what happened to your older brother?”
“I don’t know. But my mom said he was punished by heaven for making a mistake, and that’s why he couldn’t even have a grave.”
I remembered the village that had been struck by the darkness. It had been hard to find any bodies there. Rizé’s brother was likely one of the unfortunate souls lost in that tragedy. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“My mom said my brother could come back if the Count helps us. Then the three of us can live happily again.”
“Does your mom miss him a lot?”
“A lot. The three of us have been together since my dad died.”
I could picture the child’s family situation. Even among poor families, parents usually tried to care for their children, at least to some extent. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com. But Rizé’s appearance showed none of that care. Her tangled hair hadn’t been combed, and her old clothes bore no signs of repair. It was clear she hadn’t been properly cared for in quite some time.
I gently placed the candy in her pocket and asked, “Can you tell me when you last saw your mother?”
“Three days ago,” she replied.
So, her mother hadn’t returned since then.
Rizé blushed, as if she felt guilty for speaking ill of her mother. “But before my brother died, my mom was always sweet and always there for me.”
Children often followed their parents without question. I looked at her, feeling a bit distraught.
“I miss my mom, and I miss my brother too. Can older sister really save my brother, like the Count said?” Her voice wavered with hope.
Behind me, Leander, who had been quietly observing, took out his handkerchief and blew his nose. He had a daughter around Rizé’s age, so this situation must have reminded him of her. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
I sighed, meeting Rizé’s clear, innocent eyes. “I can’t.”
I couldn’t lie to her.
“Dead people can’t come back, Rizé.”
Her light brown eyes dropped to the ground, clouded with sadness.
“…”
I gently tucked her tangled hair behind her ear and spoke softly, “But I’ll try to bring your mother back home, okay?” Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
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