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“Grand Duke!”
Lucas hurried into the office. He entered without knocking or asking Estin’s permission first.
Estin glanced away from the papers and fixed his gaze on Lucas. Lucas had an odd expression. Estin’s demeanor also changed to one of seriousness.
“What’s going on?”
“It has something to do with the Texton Orphanage.”
In Conler’s territory, there was an orphanage called the Texton Orphanage. Compared to other orphanages, Texton Orphanage has been given almost twice as much assistance.
The children of Brandon Orphanage lived in that orphanage, which was the reason for this full sponsorship.
He was supporting them with both their basic needs and their education so that they could be independent as adults when they grew up.
“I was examining the Texton orphanage, as Grand Duke Estin mentioned.”
“But.”
“A young boy named Brian has vanished.”
“Why is the name familiar?”
“Of course, it was the boy who informed the director that Mary had stolen the money.”
Estin’s brows furrowed as if realizing what had transpired that day.
He questioned Brian to see if he knew anything about the director, but it was obvious from the young boy’s terrified expression that he didn’t.
He didn’t think it was fair to keep questioning a child of the same age as his son, so he moved on.
However, why did the kid suddenly vanish at this point?
“He and Miss Mary used to fight a lot, so their relationship wasn’t always good.”
“Fight?”
Estin’s demeanor darkened. Lucas continued.
“Oh, they never verbally sparred; instead, they engaged in physical fighting.”
In her darkest moments, Mary was like that. Grand Duke Estin thought so. Her fight with a child who was older than her wasn’t all that shocking.
“What color is Brian’s hair?”
It was pale brown.”
“It doesn’t make sense to call it similar because the gender is different,”
He left the orphanage without saying anything, so it was obvious that there had been some kind of intervention.
Someone either promised him more assistance or kidnapped him forcibly.
The likelihood of the former would be higher because the genders are different and the hair is not dark, but it was necessary to consider all possibilities.
“I don’t think there’s anything to worry about since he’s a grown-up child, but just in case, look for his whereabouts,”
“I understand.”
Lucas nodded at Estin’s words and was about to walk away when he heard a knock.
The door was opened by the butler, Alberto, who had been given Estin’s approval to enter. He respectfully bowed and drew nearer to Estin.
“The Marquis of Bourne has written a letter to us.”
The letter from Alberto had a picture of a large deer on the envelope. They wouldn’t have talked much if Astina hadn’t come from the same orphanage as Mary.
After verifying the letter, Estin’s eyes grew cold. Lucas asked with caution as he continued to stare at him.
“What is it about?”
“How is Mary doing?”
“Perhaps she is with Hestia.”
“Bring her in right now.”
Lucas was intrigued by the contents of the letter, but he dashed to the training ground where Mary would be.
It was because he noticed Estin pretending to be cool. He caught Estin’s hand shaking slightly while holding the letter.
“Alberto.”
Estin yelled Alberto’s name in a low voice as Lucas vanished.
“Yes, my Lord.”
“We need to get ready for a visitor.”
***
“Ouch
”
“Are you alright?”
Hestia and I were practicing archery when my fourth finger started to hurt once more. Hestia came running as I groaned quietly.
I’m not sure why it hurts so bad. The fourth finger cannot be the only one experiencing muscle pain.
Rex brought me a muscle pain ointment just in case, but it was ineffective.
“What’s wrong?”
“You’d better put your bow away for the day,”
I have pursed lips. My hands were gently encircled by Hestia’s warm hands. Hestia, who had been tinkering with the back of my hand for some time, said sternly.
“There must be something that fits this hand much better than a bow; I can’t believe you’re shooting an arrow with such a small hand.”
“Like me, Hestia began her career when she was a child.”
“I wasn’t this small, though.”
Hestia took a step back, raised her gaze to meet mine, and gave me a soft stare. She sighed and said.
“Are you eating well?”
My eating habits have increased, and Bonita also praised me for it.
Hestia’s expression, despite my words, was not very good; she appeared to be very upset.
“There’s so much going on around Miss that she doesn’t have time to grow up properly.”
“

I’m growing up hard.”
This time I held Hestia’s hand tightly; she seemed anxious about the things that were happening around her, as deputy commander of the knights.
Even though I couldn’t completely cover Hestia’s hand with my little hand, I believe she will feel my warmth.
Hestia grinned brightly, as if she understood my emotions.
Did you mention to the Grand Duke that your fingers hurt?
“No
”
“Wouldn’t it be better to tell him?”
I shook my head and pursed my lips. Grand Duke Estin appeared to be quite busy.
Aside from the troublesome things coming down from the imperial family, there are also the investigations of the underworld to consider. Even ten bodies wouldn’t have been enough to finish his work. I didn’t want to worry him about me again in the interim.
“What should we do, since it would be difficult to shoot an arrow if your fingers hurt like this?”
“When I see him, I’ll shoot him

.”
Hestia stopped and silently waved her hand up and down as I murmured ominously at the thought of the man.
Then I came to a realization.
“There’s a dagger I got as a gift.”
Sadly, it wasn’t such a good idea.
“It’s missing

.”
“Oh, you’ve never taken it out.”
“I’m not sure,”
“Did it disappear recently?”
“Carol and I searched for it yesterday, but we were unable to pinpoint it.”
“Should I visit Giefroy and make a purchase?”
I shook my head. Though I appreciate Hestia’s consideration, the gift was still specifically intended for me by Count Stein.
More than anything else, I was annoyed that I had lost it.
In addition, I received it as a gift after defeating Cameron in a wager.
Later, when I’m a grandmother, I’ll sit next to my granddaughter and tell her about the dagger. Until my granddaughter becomes irritated that she has everything memorized!
“In any case, miss.”
Hestia suddenly gave me a grave expression. She then carefully held my shoulder after releasing her hand that had been caught in mine.
“Why were you looking for the dagger yesterday?”
“What?”
Gulp~
I swallowed unconsciously because Hestia’s voice and demeanor were so grave.
She seemed concerned that something bad would happen to me. I hurriedly said something to reassure Hestia.
“It’s not like that.”
“You’re not going to stab your finger with a dagger just because it hurts, are you?”
I’m curious, but I don’t want to ask why; what on earth does Hestia think of me; do I look like someone who would do such an extreme thing.
“No, I don’t.”
“I was joking, too.”
Why are you making such a joke?
Hestia, who had been grinning, suddenly took a serious tone.
“But I worry that you might run into someone who is immune to the effects of arrows.”
“Ah
”
I recalled the things I had already encountered. Although they were severely wounded by a sword, the zombies by the palace didn’t actually perish.
Even the black smoke I saw on my birthday cannot be struck by an arrow.
“Things I encountered at that time didn’t perish after being slashed by a sword.”
“Yes, things that weren’t even corpses moved against their will.”
“That’s right. They moved just like this!”
I made an effort to mimic the zombie movies I had seen when I was Ha So-hee.
Hestia bowed her head as she continued to observe it intently while simultaneously trying to contain her laughter.
I halted my monstrous limbs and stood. I’m positive I appear very odd.
But what distinguishes them from zombies? Zombies are incapable of thinking, so what about them?
However, if they had any sense, they wouldn’t allow themselves to be repeatedly sliced by a sword.
“A weapon called Mace exists.”
In the middle of my agony, Hestia suddenly brought up a subject. Mace is similar to that sharp object. I inquired once more while claiming ignorance.
“Mace?”
“You beat them with a baton from the beginning; it’s an old weapon.”
“As expected
 Should we solve the problem by fighting?”
“Should we pretend that this conversation never took place?”
Hestia gave me an awkward smile and stroked my hair before whispering once more.
I think I’m going to get in trouble with Grand Duke Estin, or he’ll say something about Lucas for teaching her something really good.
I vowed never to mention Mace for Hestia.
Lucas ran from a distance as I walked back to the castle with Hestia.
Hestia used to play a trick on Lucas by escaping while holding my hand when he ran from a distance, but this time, Lucas ran so quickly that she didn’t have time to do that.
“What’s going on?”
Hestia handed over the water bottle she was holding in her hand to Lucas, who ran quickly, but Lucas didn’t take her eyes off me and said with a serious expression.
“The Grand Duke is looking for you. I think you should hurry up and go see him.”