“That’s not to say milady is neglecting the young lady,”

Meleis hastily corrected himself.

On the contrary, Varia was caring for and loving Leonia as if she were her own flesh and blood.

The way she cherished and protected the child was the very image of a true parent—something no one could deny.

“At the time, when the young lady clung to His Grace’s leg, she shouted that it was okay to be scolded, as long as she was told she was loved.”

“......”

“She shows that kind of anxiety from time to time.”

The time spent surviving in the orphanage. The betrayal of Saura, who had worn the mask of ‘Teacher Connie.’

Those dreadful memories, too heavy for someone so young, would occasionally resurface and disturb Leonia’s otherwise peaceful days.

“It’s merely my foolish speculation.”

“It’s not foolish.”

Varia shook her head.

“Sometimes, Leo acts so mature. I think those sad memories are the reason.”

There were times when that prematurely adult-like demeanor of hers became a cause for concern.

“I think the best I can do for Leo is to understand and listen to that pain.”

“You are already a wonderful mother, milady.”

“She just drags me around everywhere.”

Varia gave an awkward smile.

“There’s no helping that.”

Meleis answered firmly.

“The young lady is extraordinary.”

Who could possibly win against a child who had been showing unyielding stubbornness since she was the size of a mouse dropping?

Varia burst into laughter at Meleis’s comforting words, telling her not to worry about such things.

“Oh dear.”

Suddenly, the carriage came to a halt.

Meleis quickly reached out to steady the staggering Varia. She looked at him with startled eyes.

“What’s happening?”

With a grim expression, Meleis opened the window and asked the knights accompanying them.

They could hear the frightened cries of the horses and the driver trying to calm them.

“A child ran out.”

Paavo reported the situation.

“Are you unharmed, milady?”

“I’m fine. Is everyone else okay?”

Regaining her composure, Varia inquired after the others.

“No one’s injured. The horses were startled, but they’re beginning to calm down. The child wasn’t seriously hurt either.”

Varia let out a quiet sigh of relief.

“Tell the coachman I’m fine. I hope he wasn’t too shaken.”

The coachman was probably the most frightened of all. Varia felt all the more concerned because he had been going especially slowly, knowing ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) she was aboard.

“The child...”

Varia looked out through the window. The knights were inspecting the child who had fallen.

“...Seems like one of the children who wander the back alleys.”

Meleis, watching alongside her, commented.

A basket had toppled over where the child fell. Inside were a few half-withered wildflowers.

Some of them had been trampled beneath the horses’ hooves.

“Could she be without a guardian?”

Varia murmured with pity as she looked at the terrified child.

“Oftentimes, it’s the parents who push children like that onto the streets.”

It was doubtful she’d make much selling wilted flowers, but even the small amount she might’ve earned would likely be taken away by someone lurking behind her.

In the worst cases, children were deliberately sent out to provoke nobles and extort compensation.

Of course, such schemes often backfired.

'I thought public safety had improved recently.'

Knights had been patrolling the capital frequently to find the missing emperor. That had incidentally improved public safety.

'Of all things, to throw her in front of the Voreoti carriage...'

Varia didn’t know who might be hiding behind the child, but she was certain they’d face a terrible future.

“I’d like to check on the child.”

“I’ll come down with you.”

Meleis opened the door and took Varia’s hand.

The knights guided Varia to the child.

“Are you alright?”

Varia asked gently.

The child was clearly terrified. Varia thought it was only natural—she’d nearly been run over.

She reached out and asked if she could examine her, and the child slowly nodded.

“Your palm is scraped.”

Varia frowned.

A wound from hitting the ground had opened up on the child’s small palm. The raw red skin was just starting to bead with blood.

But even more concerning were the much older scars and marks on her hands.

They told the story of a child who had endured a long and difficult hardship.

“The young lady used to look like that too...”

“Hey.”

Manus quickly elbowed Probo in the side.

Probo clamped his mouth shut too late—Varia had already heard everything.

'The orphanage was hell.'

Leonia had once said that.

The orphanage where she’d lived had been a den of criminals trafficking in human lives.

The teachers neglected and beat the children. Selling them for money was routine.

Ferio had managed to find a few of the children who had been sold off, but many remained missing.

“What’s your name?”

Perhaps because of that memory, Varia couldn’t take her eyes off the girl.

“K-Kella...”

The girl stammered her answer.

“That’s a beautiful name.”

“......”

“Are you hurt anywhere else? Is your hand okay?”

“I-I’m fine...”

Kella hiccuped as she spoke. Varia gently reached out and tidied the child’s tangled hair.

“Where are your parents?”

“A-At home...”

“Do you have a little sibling? Or maybe an older sister or brother?”

“M-My sister... she was sick and died...”

Kella’s stammering voice trembled with grief. Varia fought to keep her aching heart from showing.

“My little brother... he’s hungry...”

Varia listened patiently to the child’s faltering words.

But her trembling voice and shaking body showed no sign of calming down.

'They’re nearby.'

Whoever held the child’s leash.

“Kella. Since I ruined your precious flowers, let me make up for that.”

Varia picked up one of the fallen blossoms.

“But they’re so pretty. The scent is really...”

“Ah, ahhh!”

As she brought the wilted flower close to her nose, Kella screamed and grabbed her arm.

But Varia had already stopped moving.

'...What was that just now?'

With wide eyes, she looked at her hand. The one holding the flower was trembling faintly, as though stricken with tremors.

“Milady!”

“Are you alright?”

The knights quickly separated Varia and Kella, checking on her.

But Varia’s mind was focused entirely on her hand.

'It wasn’t my body reacting...'

It wasn’t a mere premonition or sense of danger that made her flinch.

'Something' had grabbed her arm.

“No! No!”

Still dazed, Varia snapped her head toward Kella.

The girl, now restrained by the knights, clutched the flower Varia had dropped and hid it behind her back.

“Y-You can’t smell it! If you smell it, you’ll die!”

Her tear-filled eyes were full of fear.

“I’m sorry! I-I didn’t mean to!”

“Kella, don’t cry. Try to explain.”

Varia tried to calm her, but Kella couldn’t stop crying.

“M-My brother was taken!”

“Your brother? The younger one?”

“They said if I d-didn’t do what they said, they’d k-kill him...!”

“Calm down!”

Varia gripped Kella’s shoulders tightly.

“I’m a rather high-ranking noble, you know. And these knights are very strong. If you tell me the truth, I promise we’ll help you.”

“Hic... sniff...”

“Take your time. Who pushed you? Who made you do this?”

“I-I don’t know their name...”

Kella finally answered, still stammering.

“Y-Yellow? Bright yellow... e-eyes...”

“Bright yellow?”

“T-This...”

She pointed at Manus.

More precisely, at the golden brooch Manus had recently taken to wearing—he’d said it matched his skin tone.

Varia and the knights’ eyes widened in shock.

“Big sis!”

At that moment, a scream rang out from the mouth of the alley. Everyone turned toward the sound.

“Kea!”

Kella, now pale, tried to dash toward the alley, but Paavo grabbed her and held her tight.

Even as she struggled, Kella kept calling her brother’s name.

“Kea! Kea!”

'...That crazy bastard!'

Paavo’s mouth twisted grimly.

The knights encircled Varia and placed their hands on their swords.

Soon, someone stepped out from the shadows of the alley.

The first to appear was Kea—Kella’s younger brother. His face was a mess of tears and snot, and his clothes, faded and ragged, matched Kella’s.

But what shocked everyone wasn’t Kea.

It was the man holding a small blade to the child’s neck.

“Kyah!”

Someone near the alley screamed.

The already tense atmosphere erupted into chaos.

“Wait, is that...!”

“N-No way! It can’t be!”

“I thought he was in the palace because he was unwell!”

Some of the nobles seemed to recognize the man threatening the child.

'This is bad...!'

Varia bit her lip hard.

She’d suspected the emperor had gone mad—but never imagined he would go so far as to take a child hostage and reveal himself in public.

At first, even Varia hadn’t realized who he was.

His clothes were filthier and more tattered than Kella’s, ripped to shreds.

What must once have been opulent fabric had become rags unfit for even cleaning.

His shaggy light-brown hair hadn’t been washed in days, and dark grime clung to the exposed skin beneath his torn clothes.

But his unfocused, lifeless eyes still held that golden hue—exclusive to the emperors of the Bellius Empire.

Those golden eyes looked like a desperate cry to assert his existence.

“Milady.”

Meleis spoke quietly.

“Please return to the carriage. Probo will accompany you.”

“But that child...”

“Our priority is you, milady.”

“Meleis!”

“It’s alright.”

Paavo handed Kella to Varia.

“The Gladiago Knights are the strongest in the Empire. We’ll subdue the hostage-taker and rescue the child safely.”

“Milady, please hurry.”

Manus added firmly. Only then did Varia turn back toward the carriage with Kella in her arms.

Probo was already there, helping them inside.

“K-Kea! Kea!”

“Don’t worry.”

Probo comforted the crying Kella.

“We’ll get your brother back, safe and sound.”

“These knights are very strong. They’ll bring Kea back to you.”

Varia hugged Kella tightly.

The girl slowly nodded, just a little calmer. Varia gently stroked her head with pride.

“Then let’s—”

Just as Probo turned to climb in—

“Guhhak!”

A hideous death cry froze them in place.

Varia slowly turned her gaze toward the street.

It felt like the entire world had slowed to a crawl.

Moving at that eerie pace, the emperor collapsed, coughing up thick, dark blood.

The blade at Kea’s neck clattered to the ground. Kea shoved aside the emperor’s falling arm and ran.

But he was soon caught again.

This time, by a stronger hand and a blade that no longer hesitated.

Varia. The knights. The bystanders.

Everyone watched, stunned, as the emperor died—and the one responsible stepped forward.

“...That lunatic!”

Varia ground her teeth.

Remus Olor emerged from the shadows, stepping over the emperor’s body, smiling like a deranged madman.