MPBAGS Chapter 66

Gabriel left the children at the orphanage directly and arrived at the knights' order rather late. It took more time than expected to explain the situation and go through the procedures.

Raphaela, who had been writing a report for the upcoming meeting, welcomed Gabriel's return.

"Thank you for your hard work, Captain. I could have gone instead."

"No. I told the young lady that I would take care of it."

In fact, it would have been fine if Raphaela or other knights had handled it.

Gabriel's decision to go personally didn't stem from a determination to take responsibility for the children to the end. To begin with, Gabriel wasn't as faithful and righteous as he was known to be in society.

It was entirely because of Evangeline—more precisely, because of the bitter expression that Evangeline Rohanson had shown. Though it was closer to unfamiliarity than bitterness.

Perhaps because they were children connected to Daisy, Evangeline had shown an unusually keen interest in the children and treated them gently. Since she cared about the children, Gabriel had no choice but to care about them too.

"Thank you."

Gabriel had witnessed the moment when Evangeline shed her mask as a noble young lady. He noticed that the moment Evangeline received the child's grateful greeting, cracks appeared in her bored mask.

"...Yes."

The inner workings of Evangeline, which Gabriel could only glimpse by deliberately crossing lines and acting presumptuous beyond propriety, were revealed by nothing more than a child's simple expression of gratitude.

How could such a poor greeting shake her so?

'Does she like children?'

No. It wouldn't be such a favorable emotion—perhaps she just became a little more gentle? According to the situation Daisy had explained, Evangeline had ultimately saved the children, after all.

The carriage that had passed before his eyes, the red wheel tracks, suddenly came to mind.

If Gabriel himself had met Evangeline during his past orphan days, could he have received help? Would those white, cold hands have been extended to him?

Since it was already past and irreversible, Gabriel soon shook off his thoughts.

"Well, it would certainly be much more effective if you made the request rather than me, Captain."

Raphaela grumbled. The priest in charge of the orphanage was an extremely upright person, but so upright that he tended to ignore the money-crazed nobles. Since Raphaela was well-known to be of noble origin, it was obvious that he wouldn't have welcomed him if he had gone directly.

On the other hand, it was clear as day that he would have warmly welcomed a self-made knight captain from an orphanage background.

'I never lived extravagantly though.'

Anyway, from the moment one entered the temple, one became a person unrelated to their family background, but this was really too much. Raphaela, who had already been treated like a cast-off child, chewed over his dissatisfaction.

His already severe noble-phobia seemed likely to worsen after hearing about wealthy people trafficking children. One of the priests on that transaction list just had to be of noble origin too.

"What about Merai?"

"We've confined her in the basement for now."

Raphaela reported on the progress of the matter. Merai had been immediately locked in a detention cell, and they had reported directly to higher authorities. Perhaps considering the matter serious since a priest was involved in human trafficking, a meeting was scheduled immediately.

Merai's treatment would probably be decided at that meeting.

"Captain, and it seems like the story of Lady Rohanson will come up in the meeting."

In the case of Priest Berga, there was no direct connection so Evangeline's story didn't come up, but this time was different. Since Bishop Jabanya had also witnessed Evangeline and taken interest in her, the topic would surely arise.

"About the young lady's identity... will you tell them everything?"

A person who might be the culprit of the Donau incident, the owner of the summoning circle, a revived corpse, a being beyond reason who pretended to be a noble young lady.

If everything were revealed, Evangeline Rohanson would not escape death. Or perhaps the opposite.

"Well..."

Gabriel closed his eyes. From somewhere, he could hear the sound of a heart beating very slowly.