MPBGS 33

Chapter : 33

Look at this. They say he’s ordinary and has no charm. Or is that not it? If someone extraordinary looks ordinary, doesn’t that make them seem more approachable and likable instead?

Hmm. From my romance-fantasy knowledge, the latter seems to dominate. It’s not like tyrants or northern grand dukes are popular for no reason. They aren’t popular just because they’re powerful rulers — they’re loved because they act like ordinary men who overflow with love only for the heroine.

“First, let’s go to the Ainoa Orphanage.”

“Did I mention the name of the orphanage?”

Oh no. Did I forget to say the orphanage’s name? How should I cover this up? If I say I investigated them in advance, that might feel awkward.

“I said it earlier.”

“…I see.”

You can’t spit on a smiling face, right? I smiled silently and tried to manipulate her memory. Fortunately, Daisy seemed to accept it and let it go. It felt like she was giving me a pass this once… No, that can’t be it, right?

Since the orphanage was our original destination, we arrived safely without getting confused about directions. In a world without navigation systems, she sure knows how to find the way perfectly. Daisy seemed impressed too, staring at the coachman in amazement even after getting off the carriage.

“That coachman…”

“Yeah. It’s the same one from before. Convenient, right?”

It seemed like he shared memories with Daisy and Jelly. What’s going on? It’s weird. A loving couple promising affection, and the coachman… A couple going on a walk, and the coachman… No matter how I place it, it’s strange! What exactly did the three of them do together?!

“We used this carriage when we escaped with him.”

Jelly gave a brief explanation.

Ah. Right, that too. A desperate escape with a man and a woman… Yes, that makes sense. I can clearly imagine the coachman whipping the horses in urgency.

When Daisy heard that, she frowned.

“How can you call a person ‘convenient’?”

“A person? Does that look like a person to you? You’re funny.”

It looks like a person to me though.

But judging by how Jelly acts, maybe he isn’t human. Wait—could he be the same species? Like a werewolf? Maybe he helped them escape from the slave traders at great risk after realizing they were fellow kind.

The coachman was a good person! No, a good non-human!

While his fellow species were working hard to earn money, our Jelly managed to hook a noble and live comfortably. Being born as a wealthy household’s pet really seems best. Come to think of it, I once dreamed of being reincarnated as a rich family’s cat.

I turned my gaze from the trio and looked at the orphanage.

“It’s quiet.”

As Canna said, even considering it was early evening, it was unusually quiet. The streetlights were dim, probably because the gas had run out. Since this area wasn’t wealthy and was outside the capital, it didn’t seem well maintained.

Maybe because the lights were weak, it felt so eerie. Like a ghost might appear. I’m someone who never even watched horror movies with ghosts in them.

It’s okay, calm down. This isn’t a romance-fantasy world with ghost episodes. Unless the heroine has a ghost-seeing setting, ghosts shouldn’t suddenly appear. Surely they don’t show up… right?

“Canna, can you see anything?”

I was too scared to ask directly if she could see ghosts, so I omitted the subject. Ghosts supposedly cling to you if you talk about them. Just thinking about it gave me chills. Even without mentioning the subject, Canna always understood me well. A romance-fantasy heroine’s intuition works hard in everything except romance.

“Yes. I can see something.”

What! Wasn’t this just a dark romance-fantasy story? Why was there suddenly a ghost-seeing setting?! Ghosts are horror! That’s a genre shift! I hate it!

“What is that person doing over there?”

I don’t like ghosts… Wait, a person?

When I looked where Canna pointed, I saw a dark figure lingering at the orphanage entrance. It looked very unsteady, but it was definitely a person. Phew. I thought it was a ghost.

“…Troy?”

Troy? Daisy sounded unsure, but confirmed that if she wasn’t mistaken, it was indeed Troy.

Fast developments, what is this?

“Jelly.”

“Me? Again?”

When I urged her to take action, Jelly protested. Then who should do it? Me in high heels? Your future girlfriend? Our flower-like Canna? Or Pudding, who can’t even speak yet?

Hey, we didn’t even confirm Troy by scent — shouldn’t we at least catch him?

With an annoyed gesture, Jelly snapped her fingers, and Troy’s body froze as he tried to run away. The culprit practically confessed by appearing himself.

Now all we needed to ask was where the children were sold.

But before we could ask, Troy suddenly collapsed forward. Daisy was standing behind him, holding her shoe. She must have slipped behind him and struck his head with the heel.

“You really like hitting the back of people’s heads.”

Jelly muttered while checking Troy’s head. Fortunately, there was no blood. Hitting the back of heads? Daisy seems… rather aggressive.

“Ugh, he reeks of alcohol.”

Jelly covered her nose. Troy had been staggering because he was drunk. His face was red from alcohol. It seemed he used the money from selling the children to buy drinks. Typical fantasy villain.

“Hey. Wake up.”

Even after Jelly shook him, he didn’t respond. Since he had already been hit on the head, I stopped her from shaking him further.

When she let go, Troy fell flat to the floor again.

“It’ll take some time for him to wake up.”

“I’m sorry for acting on my own.”

Daisy lowered her head, gripping the shoe tightly.

After a moment, we decided to wait inside the orphanage.

I would have preferred to stay in the carriage, but it was too cramped. It wasn’t a noble family carriage — just a regular four-seater. And leaving an unconscious Troy on the floor felt awkward.

We might as well search inside while waiting.

The gate was open. Passing through the iron gate that looked like a prison entrance, we found a small courtyard and the dark orphanage building.

All the gas lamps outside were dim or out. The moon was covered by clouds, making it hard to see anything. Using the faint light, we crossed the yard. Jelly dragged Troy by the collar.

“There’ll probably be candles in the bedroom.”

We followed Daisy quietly. The silence was broken only by footsteps.

“Here.”

It was a large room with several beds. Daisy found candles in a drawer and lit them. Flames rose, casting a warm glow on her face.

She held one candle, and Canna and Jelly each took one.

“Can we leave him here?”

Jelly tossed Troy onto a bed and sat down. The children’s bed creaked under the weight.

“Please be careful. It’s a children’s bed.”

“But the children aren’t here.”

“You said you’d find them, my lady.”

At my glance, Daisy and Jelly fell silent.

After that came silence.

Canna stared at the fire, seeming displeased with Daisy. Daisy waited for Troy to wake up, fidgeting. Jelly played with Pudding.

Troy showed no sign of waking.

Since waiting felt like a waste of time, I stood up.

“My lady?”

“I’ll look around inside.”

As much as I wanted to hide here because I was scared, if I didn’t at least try to help, Daisy might complain later. I had to show I made some effort.

Canna stood up naturally, and Pudding jumped into my arms.

“I’ll go too.”

Daisy also stood with a candle.

It was better if we went together, in case we got lost.

“Jelly, stay here.”

“Yes, yes. I’ll watch him well.”

We left the room and checked the others. No one in the bathroom. No one in the hallway.

In the dining room, a strong smell of soup lingered.

“It seems it was used just recently.”

Canna examined the unwashed kitchen tools.

If the smell was this strong, it must have been within a day.

So they were kidnapped today? If we had arrived a day earlier, it might have been fine. But since it’s only been a day, the children are likely still alive — that’s a relief.

Then we heard something strange.

“B—pa.”

Huh? What was that?

There was no one inside, yet it sounded like a voice carried by the wind.

It sounded like someone murmuring about being hungry. Could it be the ghost of a poor orphan who starved due to lack of funds?

That’s not scary at all — just sad.

It seemed I was the only one who heard it.

Ghost?

Goosebumps rose on my arms. I hugged Pudding tightly and moved closer to Canna.