MPBGS 46

Chapter : 46

Zavania sifted through his memories. They had only exchanged a brief conversation, yet the impression had been deeply etched into his mind.

“If I may say so, she resembles a god.”

“Lady Rahel? Resembles Lady Rahel… So that’s why the knight commander is so taken with her.”

Marik did not reprimand the blasphemous remark. Instead, he gave Zavania an order.

“However, first impressions and one’s true nature can differ. Since the bishop regards the knight commander as a son, I’m concerned as well. Shouldn’t we examine the character of Lady Rohanson from a parental perspective?”

“I will be sure to look into it.”

At Zavania’s pledge, Marik patted his shoulder as if trusting him. Zavania would undoubtedly do his utmost not to disappoint Marik.

After Marik and Zavania disappeared into the underground, and once the presence of others faded, Gabriel entered Merai’s cell.

A haggard woman, as though drained of all vitality, lifted her head at the sound of the door opening.

Her complexion was deathly pale, as if she would die at any moment. Having lived underground while keeping the children imprisoned there, yet now being confined alone herself, she seemed to be struggling considerably.

Merai’s suffering stemmed from childhood trauma resurfacing. Before she had ever earned the director’s favor, she too had likely been nothing more than a tool used to amuse the “devil,” just like the other children.

“Have you eaten?”

A question far too casual to be a greeting in a prison made Merai let out a dry laugh.

“The food at the Great Temple is truly nothing to speak of.”

A piece of bread and a bowl of soup. Though she knew it was something to be grateful for for someone about to die, the sarcastic words came out on their own.

“At least you’ll be allowed one meal of your choice to eat your fill.”

Hearing that, Merai realized what that “one meal” meant. It referred to the special last meal given to those awaiting execution. She accepted her fate calmly.

“So, it’s execution.”

“Yes. You will be handed over to the guards at dawn.”

She felt less emotional than expected. Now that her death had been set, Merai instead found herself growing calm.

“The children you sold will be brought back by Lady Rohanson.”

“Are they buying them back? Not much different from me.”

“Not at all.”

News that Merai and the priest had been detained spread quickly. In that short time, dozens of messages had already arrived. Some pleaded not to report the matter to the imperial family, while others offered to return both the money and the children.

Although dealing in people was hardly agreeable, Evangeline readily paid the money and reclaimed the children.

Of course, there were far more who pretended not to know. They would likely claim that they hadn’t purchased children but had merely paid a referral fee, framing it as employment instead.

Those who had long dealt with Merai, or those notorious for cruelty, remained silent as expected. They were either already dead or in a state too grievous to show publicly.

When Gabriel relayed the news, Daisy burst into tears.

“Stop crying. You haven’t forgotten what you asked for, have you?”

“Yes. I asked you to find the children.”

“Yes. In exchange for taking you, she agreed to find them all.”

Evangeline Rohanson was behaving uncharacteristically. The curt tone clearly provided immense comfort to Daisy.

Daisy knelt and tearfully expressed her gratitude. She did not care at all that Gabriel was watching.

The person who had once, in fear, denounced Evangeline as a devil was nowhere to be seen. Daisy now showed genuine submission. The sight reminded Gabriel of believers praying before a statue of Rahel.

The difference was that, unlike Rahel, Evangeline Rohanson was someone who could respond to her followers.

A pale hand rested on Daisy’s head. Perhaps because she was not someone who had ever needed to comfort others, the act of patting someone’s head felt very awkward.

Gabriel could not look away from the awkward gesture. Was that hand that had just comforted Daisy still cold?

Shaking off his thoughts, Gabriel focused back on Merai.

Evangeline had promised to bring all the children back. The ledger Merai had left behind would help identify them.

“Your ledger will be useful.”

And it would also increase the severity of her punishment. Since she had not committed murder, it was difficult for nobles to impose severe penalties for merely buying an orphan of common birth. Still, the ledger—which meticulously recorded dates, amounts, transaction locations, methods, and intermediaries—served as solid evidence.

One of the priests who had been involved in the transactions was not merely dismissed but instead assigned to a foreign nation at war, thanks to the ledger’s clear proof. It was effectively a sentence of exile—sent to serve and die there, never to return.

“Why did you keep the ledger?”

As if she had lingering attachments.

“I thought it might come in handy later. People tend to comply when you present them with a ledger and ask for something.”

Though, in reality, the buyers seemed completely unaware of the ledger’s existence until now.

“I see.”

Gabriel did not press further. Since she had said so herself, there was no need to refute it. Even if Merai had kept the ledger out of a faint sense of guilt, it would not absolve her of her crimes nor overturn her sentence.

“There will be an interrogation by an investigator tomorrow.”

Instead, Gabriel explained the purpose of his visit.

“During the interrogation, they will ask about Lady Rohanson.”

Gabriel instructed Merai on what to say. If asked about Evangeline Rohanson, she should respond that she was someone who occasionally volunteered at the orphanage. Daisy was to remain as uninvolved in this case as possible, so she should be avoided in any mention.

Merai let out a dry laugh upon hearing this. Not only was she expected to defend the very “angel” who had driven her to the brink, but she was also to claim she had received support from a noble?

All the nobles who had visited the orphanage had been there to buy children. If someone had truly provided support out of goodwill, there would have been no need for Merai to sell the children in the first place.

“Are you threatening me into giving false testimony? How very honest and noble the knight is.”

Despite Merai’s sarcasm, Gabriel did not react. Unlike his reputation for sincerity and justice, Gabriel himself did not consider himself entirely innocent, so her sharp words did not wound him.

“You expect me to say that?”

“Yes. If you remember what Daisy said.”

At that, Merai’s body stiffened. When was it? Yes—Gabriel had given Daisy a moment to speak privately, asking if she had anything to say to Merai.

In her memory, Daisy had spoken.

“Director… I could never think of you as my mother.”

Of course. Merai had never been Daisy’s mother.

Daisy had not been particularly important among the children either. Perhaps she had received similar criticisms from others, but the words that lingered most were Daisy’s.

“I once truly loved you.”

Unable to let go of her lingering attachment, Daisy had embraced Merai. Then, holding her tightly, she whispered into her ear:

“Lady Evangeline has agreed to take us in. So whatever you do, never speak of Lady Evangeline or the devil. If you feel even the slightest guilt toward us, if you ever cared for us even a little in the past, then do not say anything.”

Merai felt no guilt whatsoever, so Daisy’s words held no power over her.

“You heard that?”

“My hearing is quite good.”

After that, Merai fell silent. She did not explicitly agree to testify as Gabriel instructed, but Gabriel left as though his business was finished.

The next day, as Gabriel had said, Merai was transported to the execution grounds.

Those sentenced to death remained there until the day of their execution. As previously informed, an interrogation was also conducted. After finishing the questioning, the investigator flipped through some papers and asked:

“Anything you want to eat before you die?”

A final meal.

“I don’t understand why they bother feeding criminals who are about to be executed. They should just give that money as my bonus… Hurry up and answer.”

When Merai did not respond quickly, the investigator pressed her.

“Soup. Mashed potato soup.”

“Potato soup? How modest… Well, fine.”

The investigator scribbled something roughly in ink. Though the contents were not visible, it was obvious it would read something like: “Merai – potato soup.”

Before her execution, while other prisoners chewed on wine and meat, Merai alone ate potato soup.

Potato soup was the most commonly served dish at the orphanage. There had once been a child who, knowing they would soon be adopted, asked for soup, saying they would miss Merai’s food. After that, Merai made sure to cook soup for the children before selling them off. She did not know why.

“Did you enjoy your last meal?”

After finishing her meal, Merai was led away by a guard. A cloth was placed over her head, and she was seated. Somewhere, the sound of a blade being sharpened could be heard.

Merai closed her eyes.

It had been a thoroughly tasteless meal.

“The weather is nice.”

“Yes, it really is. The breeze is so cool—it almost feels like the scent of flowers is riding along with it.”

At Evangeline’s words, Kanna opened the door. Unlike Kanna, Daisy detected a faint, fishy scent amid the floral fragrance drifting in through the window.

“Perfect weather for dying.”

Evangeline combed back her hair, which had been tousled by the wind.

Daisy understood well who that “death” referred to. Today was the day Merai would die.