MPBGS 29

Chapter : 29

After a long time, I went to see the butler. The servants, who looked like they were reporting something to him, lowered their heads deeply, trying not even to step on my shadow, and disappeared silently. To think this reaction was considered an improvement—how bitter.

“Milady? What brings you here…?”

“I need something.”

“And what might that be?”

“I heard that a maid named Daisy worked here?”

The butler didn’t reply.

“The Daisy who went to the convent.”

Ah, why is he acting like he doesn’t know? I already knew everything coming here. Saying it out loud makes me feel like a detective interrogating a criminal.

“I want to know where Daisy lives. She hasn’t disappeared, has she?”

Information on someone who just left is usually discarded immediately. But now that I think about it, it’s kind of strange that personal information about a former servant still remains. Moreover, it seems the higher-ups are secretly investigating and trying to find her address.

“I heard she sold her house to enter the convent. The place she calls home now would be the convent, I suppose.”

No, the problem is that Daisy isn’t in the convent. That convent master committed so many evil deeds that Daisy ran away and exposed them to the convent. And along the way, she also revealed my misdeeds.

Saying it like that, it makes me seem as wicked as that horrible convent master. Daisy looks far more righteous.

“Isn’t there anywhere else she might live?”

The butler seemed to know more than he was letting on. Is it the glasses? Or does he secretly head the information guild—or moonlight as an assassin?

I pressed him persistently, and one more piece of information slipped out. I knew it. He was hiding it on purpose.

“Ainoa Orphanage?”

“She was from an orphanage. If she left the convent and stayed somewhere temporarily, it would probably be there.”

Orphanage? Then Daisy was in an orphanage, happened to become the villainess’s maid and got mistreated, ran to the convent, and ended up with trauma thanks to the mad convent master. The exact timeline is unclear, but she was caught by the slaver, escaped with Jelly, and survived.

Somehow… Daisy’s story seems deeper than Kanna’s. Wasn’t Daisy the real heroine? I thought Kanna was just a character inserted by the original story’s contrivances to stop the villainess’s reign. Was I mistaken?

I didn’t know. I’d find out when I got there. Before coming to the butler, I changed into modest outing clothes and brought plenty of gold coins.

Outside, a carriage was already waiting. It wasn’t the Rohanson family carriage; it seemed a separately hired one. When did someone call it?

“Jelly asked for it.”

I felt a pang of guilt for just scolding her. True, Jelly can be rough at times, but she listens well and shows consideration too.

“Did I do well?”

Jelly grinned proudly, showing the claw marks on her face as if they were badges of honor.

“And Pudding?”

“Here.”

Jelly handed over Pudding. Wait, bringing him along? The carriage ride would be so bumpy.

“Pudding, want to come along?”

Pudding nodded. I couldn’t leave him behind now, and he seemed to want to come too, so I had no choice but to take him along.

“Where to, milady?”

The driver, since the carriage was summoned by Jelly, was extremely polite. Though he seemed to have a small bad habit—scratching his neck. The skin there was slightly red.

“To Ainoa Orphanage.”

Well, that had nothing to do with his driving skills anyway.

Today, Daisy was visiting the orphanage that had taken care of her until a few years ago. After escaping the temple, she stayed in a cheap inn. She had nothing to do but eat and sleep, so her money dwindled quickly.

While counting her remaining money, she realized she had more than usual and remembered she hadn’t visited the orphanage recently.

‘It’s about time.’

Daisy always donated part of her earnings to the orphanage to repay the director. Sometimes she would bring bread and fruit for the children.

She had visited once before entering the convent. But for some reason, she felt especially eager to see her “siblings” today. Carrying a bundle of gifts, she headed to the orphanage.

Since it had been a long time, the orphanage seemed unfamiliar. There was no sign of life. Daisy hesitated but entered without further thought.

Inside, there was no one. She called for the children and the director, opening each room in search of someone.

Had they all gone on a trip? When she opened the director’s office door, she saw a symbol that shouldn’t have been there—so familiar.

It was drawn by the one wearing the lady’s face, the same figure Daisy had summoned before, painted in blood.

‘Why is this here?’

For a moment, Daisy couldn’t grasp reality. Why was this drawing in the orphanage, and why was no one inside? A chilling thought swept over her entire body. Her hair stood on end, and her throat tightened.

Her legs weakened, and she crawled forward. The blood-painted diagram on the floor was truly a summoning circle for a demon. The grotesque colors were imprinted in her mind. A metallic stench hung in the air.

‘What is this…’

It felt as if the drawing was following her.

Where was the director? The children? She could still see them running toward her innocently. Could they have been sacrifices for this ritual?

Daisy searched the orphanage again, but there was no sign of anyone—not even a corpse. Only the blood drawing remained.

She sat there for a long while before leaving on shaky legs. She couldn’t stay there any longer; she had to see someone alive immediately.

Half-stunned, she walked as a carriage passed right in front of her. It nearly rolled over her, and she collapsed in shock.

“You crazy girl! You want to die or something?”

The driver yelled without stopping. Even if some important person was inside, most carriages would never halt mid-run to avoid displeasing the passenger.

Daisy, dazed by the sharp scolding, remained seated quietly. A passerby helped her up.

“Oh my, I don’t know who’s crazy. Are you okay, milady?”

Not only that, but the passerby also brushed the dirt off her clothes. Daisy bowed repeatedly, murmuring thanks.

“Are you feeling unwell? Then go home and rest…”

Patting her shoulder, the passerby resumed walking.

Daisy buried her face in her hands, tears threatening to fall again. Go home? But where? If there’s nowhere to return, where should she go?

‘Director… kids…’

“I need to find a guard…”

No. That won’t do. They’re not dead; they’ve just disappeared. Calling a guard won’t help. And given that summoning circle, normal methods wouldn’t solve anything.

She needed to find someone else. Someone who could immediately resolve this situation.

Daisy hailed a carriage.

“Rohanson, to the Rohanson estate.”

“If you need help, call again. Next time, it’ll cost you.”

“If you have a wish for me, I’ll fulfill it.”

She recalled the words of the demon and Évangeline. If she needed help, come. Could she really get help?

Logically, she knew she should go to the temple, not Évangeline. But was the main temple a place Daisy could just enter? Last time, it took three days just to gain entry. That would be too late.

Besides, even if she went, the priest Berga would still be under investigation, delaying her search for the orphanage children.

But Évangeline… she surely knew about the summoning circle.

“Five copper, please.”

Daisy reached for her purse, but it was empty. Had she dropped it somewhere? Then she remembered the passerby who helped her almost get hit by the carriage. He must have taken it.

“No money? Get out.”

“It’s urgent! I’ll pay later, I swear!”

“Listen, young lady. Do you think I haven’t been tricked before? People like you promise to pay but run away. I’ve been fooled before, so no. Take another carriage.”

Daisy had no choice but to get out.

She began walking, reluctantly at first, then faster. Eventually, it became a run.

There would be a way at the Rohanson estate.

She ran. When her lungs burned, she walked. When her calves ached and feet grew heavy, she pushed forward until she arrived at the estate.

“What business do you have here?”

The gatekeeper blocked her. Was he newly hired after Daisy left? She didn’t recognize him. If he had been someone she knew, it would have been easier to get inside.

She hesitated but finally said the name.

“Évangeline… I’m here to see Lady Évangeline.”

That day, for the first time, Daisy admitted that the entity which had once possessed a deceased lady was called “Lady Évangeline” in public. Daisy, too, referred to her that way.

It felt like killing someone who had already died all over again.

“Lady Évangeline is out.”

Of all times! She had said to come if there was a wish! Daisy lowered her head.