Chapter 40
Since Gabriel said he's taking them, wouldn't it be okay to go visit later? Last time you said you were going to capture the monastery's abbot too. Come to think of it, both are abbots. Anyway, they say the higher-ups have the most corruption, right?
"It's all settled now."
Trudging back, it seemed Gabriel had just heard the full story from Daisy.
"Sir Gabriel has agreed to take the children."
Kanna let me know how far the conversation had progressed.
"Since it would be difficult for the two of you to take responsibility for the children, we're planning to place them in the temple's orphanage."
True. Daisy and Troy are young too. It would be hard for the two of them to take responsibility for all the children.
"Have the children board the carriage."
At Gabriel's command, the knights moved in perfect unison.
Then suddenly the children ran over and bowed deeply.
"Tha... thank you."
Among them, a brave child who wasn't even afraid of Evangeline thanked me as their representative. She must have bitten her tongue because her pronunciation was off.
"...Right."
Receiving thanks felt unfamiliar. It felt a bit awkward when Raphaela thanked me before too...
Whenever characters in novels act like that, it really makes them feel like living people. The children, having overcome the great hurdle of expressing gratitude, were loaded into the carriage following the knights.
Worried that it might be unsafe for them to go alone, Troy decided to go with them. Daisy said she had something to talk about with me, so she decided to stay.
Wait, come to think of it, didn't Troy borrow money? He didn't spend that, did he? While I was feeling anxious, Gabriel seemed to think it was because of him and started explaining.
"...I'm also from there. So you don't need to worry about the children being harmed again."
Huh? Gabriel suddenly dropped some backstory bait.
"Even if they stay at the orphanage, everyone's career path isn't fixed or anything."
Gabriel kept listing advantages as if he was the one running the orphanage. Okay, I get it—strict in education but equally strict in operation, no corruption, respecting career freedom, generous support, unlike other common orphanages it's absolutely amazing, so stop!
"I see. Hearing you say that puts me at ease."
Only then did Gabriel stop his promotion. Just now, he wasn't a rofan male lead but like a promotional staff member.
We should go now too. Jelly's friend and Jelly boarded the carriage. Pudding also boarded following Jelly.
Just as I was about to get on the carriage too, the children approached again. It was the two children who had been acting alone earlier. Ranon and Yulma, was it?
We just said goodbye, what more do they want to say?
"Would it be okay if we went together too?"
"Ranon! What are you suddenly saying?"
Daisy was very flustered, as if this hadn't been discussed.
"I promised Yulma that if we got out safely, we'd start working together."
"I know it's shameless but... Unnie Kanna told me to at least ask."
Kanna avoided my gaze. When did she get close to the kids? The heroine who fell for the villainess must have wanted to spread the word that I'd turned over a new leaf.
Well, it's not that difficult. They're asking for work when I'd give donations even if they just asked.
"If you're willing, I'll give you jobs at my mansion."
"Thank you!"
I just said they could work, but the two were very happy. They succeeded in getting jobs so of course they'd be happy. On the other hand, Daisy looked anxious. Is she worried they'll make lots of mistakes since it's their first time working?
"Young Lady, but..."
"If you're that worried, you can come back to the mansion too. You have nowhere to go, right?"
"...Yes."
If you're anxious about leaving the two kids alone, you can just follow. And we have Jelly at our mansion, right? Troy stays somewhere else, and if she's under the same roof as Jelly, wouldn't she naturally get closer to Jelly?
"I want to go too!"
But one child wedged herself in. This boldness was from the aggro-drawing child.
"Mary!"
This time Daisy was genuinely angry. Right, Ranon and Yulma are grown enough, but Mary is too young.
"I'm sorry. I'll send her back right away."
"She can't work, but if she just wants to stay, that's fine."
Still, with how much money I have, taking responsibility for one more child won't make me starve to death, so it should be fine.
"...Thank you."
Daisy thanked me while holding Mary's hand tightly. Her body as she bowed was particularly small. Because of the director, a child ended up having to take responsibility for a child.
While we were doing that, Gabriel seemed to have finished organizing. The temple's carriage had finished preparing to depart and was waiting for Gabriel. But didn't Gabriel say he had business with me when he visited the mansion?
"Come to think of it, didn't you have business with me?"
"Yes. I had something to say, but... I was concerned about sending the children off without someone in charge."
True, suddenly taking ten children, it would be better to have the Knight Commander there.
Then this is where we part.
Gabriel extended his hand. Is he trying to do that noble greeting again? I can't bring myself to call it a hand-kiss because it's too embarrassing.
I had planned to wear gloves next time, but I never imagined meeting today so I'm bare-handed now. But Gabriel is just doing it out of politeness, so it should be fine.
I handed my hand to Gabriel. And Gabriel bent his waist and pressed his lips to it. A soft sensation—wait what? Soft?
"Today's visit wasn't properly procedure, so it's my fault. So I'll visit tomorrow. Formally."
Y-y-you crazy bastard... I was so surprised I couldn't even speak properly. Just now, didn't he really kiss me? But why is he so nonchalant? Right, you're a rofan resident!
Gabriel left me standing there dumbfounded. Another knight remained where Gabriel had left.
As if befitting a fantasy, he was a knight with melon-colored hair. Why isn't this one leaving?
"It's truly moving to meet you again. Do you perhaps remember me?"
I feel like I've seen him somewhere... Ah! The person I poured holy water on!
"That person from back then?"
"Yes! I'm Michel, whom you saved, Young Lady. I was sorry I couldn't thank you directly then because the situation was chaotic, so I accompanied the Commander today when he said he was visiting the Young Lady. I also heard you saved the children today. I felt this before too, but you are truly merciful."
"Michel, stop and let's go."
When Gabriel urged him, the melon-haired knight bowed and left. Basically saying my good deed points went up, right?
"Young Lady, shall we depart too?"
We should.
I wondered if it might be cramped with so many people, but the inside of the carriage was more comfortable than expected. Where did Jelly's friend and the children go? Hena isn't here either. They definitely all seemed to have boarded the carriage.
"Jelly sent them ahead to the mansion."
Hearing Kanna's explanation, I slapped my knee. Come to think of it, Jelly's special skill is teleportation. It felt shameful that I'd just treated her like a dog with a good sense of smell all day today.
"You all go ahead. I have something to talk about with Daisy."
"Is it a conversation I shouldn't hear?"
Not particularly, right? I shook my head.
"Then I'll stay too."
Pudding looked at me as if asking if she could stay too, so I picked her up and placed her on my lap.
Jelly then said she'd go ahead, told the coachman to go to Rohanson mansion, and disappeared.
The large wheels began to roll as the carriage started moving.
Didn't Kanna and Daisy bond a bit earlier? Maybe it was my imagination, but it was just silent.
Normally Kanna would have displayed the heroine's characteristic sociability, but the other party wasn't good. Am I the only one finding this silence hard to bear? Since I have something to talk about anyway, I should just say it.
We just found the kids, so wouldn't it be okay to ask now? Or is it too heartless to ask someone whose mental state is completely shattered right now?
Ah, whatever.
"Daisy."
"...Yes."
"About the price for granting your wish."
Daisy swallowed. She was visibly tense.
"Just answer my questions honestly."
It's not like I'm making her do something dangerous. She just needs to answer exactly what I ask, right? Isn't that basically getting it for free?
"What did you tell Gabriel about me?"
Daisy took a breath. She seemed like she wanted to run away, but she couldn't jump out of a moving carriage. I waited patiently, and after hesitating for a while, Daisy finally opened her mouth.
"I told Sir Gabriel... that the Young Lady isn't my young lady."
"What?"
What does that mean? Since she quit working at the mansion, does she mean I'm not the person she serves?
"Y-you're not Evangeline Rohanson. I told him that."
Wait, wait, wait a minute!
My possession was discovered? When! Why was it discovered! The memory loss buildup was perfect!
Just like how people don't notice a magical girl's true identity, isn't possession supposed to go unnoticed too? Is a plot development where possession gets discovered even possible?
Of course, sometimes there were cases where they confess near the ending or use it as an emotional obstacle. But I'm still just setting things up! I was even in a crisis where I'd be executed immediately if Gabriel didn't shield me.
And she told Gabriel that?
Logically, since they wouldn't know what possession is, wouldn't they think I was possessed by a ghost or demon or something? Would Gabriel think that too?
But when we just met, he didn't really show any signs of that...
Then could it be that what he wanted to talk to me about was this? I got chills for a moment. How do I face Gabriel tomorrow?
'I wish tomorrow wouldn't come.'
I hate my past self for thoughtlessly allowing Gabriel to come tomorrow.
Then did she tell Hena this too?
I understand now why Hena seemed so down. If suddenly the countess she served was a different person, it makes sense she'd feel betrayed and confused.
And now Kanna knows too. Pudding I'll set aside for now. Ah, if I knew this was the story, I would have sent Kanna ahead!
This won't do. Before getting exorcised by Gabriel, I need to get somewhat prepared. I need to build up immunity.
"Kanna. What do you think? Do you feel betrayed?"