Chapter 172

Chapter 144 – The Note

Charles and the merchants were ultimately escorted by the monks to an underground prison, awaiting the judgment of the Holy Church.

Theresa left with them. Before they departed, she asked me a rather strange question.

“What if one day… you find out that everyone has been deceiving you, even those you trust the most and your closest friends? Sylvia… what would you do?”

I looked at her slightly pale face.

“Why ask this?”

Theresa shook her head. “Just answer me; you can choose to remain silent.”

I did not understand the significance of her question.

But since she had opened up to me, I would give her a serious response.

“Hmm…”

After a moment of contemplation, I found my answer.

“If, as you said, the deception does not harm those I cherish, then… I would only be saddened.”

Theresa nodded, then asked again, “And if it does harm, or will eventually harm, what then?”

“I would stop it.”

“Even if it costs everything?”

“Even if it costs everything.”

“… Good luck to you.”

After taking two steps, Theresa turned back once more.

“I hope we can become friends.”

… Friends?

I thought we already were…

Theresa… is that all you wanted to say?

For a long time after she left, I stood there in a daze.

The fires in the deep alley had completely extinguished, leaving only vast expanses of ice spears and frost, making the early spring air feel like winter. No one could handle this, not even myself. We could only wait for them to melt naturally… it would take a very long time.

The Kamlis Swordsmen finished checking the goods. They took away all the reed grass mixed in with the cargo, and the remaining clothes were sent to the orphanage.

Regardless, the children were innocent. Without this shipment, they might not have new clothes for a long time.

When I went to see them today, most of the children’s clothes were quite old.

Afterwards, I left the deep alley with the Kamlis Swordsmen and boarded the royal carriage.

On the way back, my mind was restless.

My co-rider, Second Lieutenant Tarnis, also appeared lost in thought. She seemed rather dispirited and sighed softly after a while.

I understood the reason for her concern.

Today’s operation ultimately failed. Although we intercepted the cargo, arrested the people involved, and killed one of the heretics, the clues were almost completely severed here, disrupting Victoria’s original plan, and our position changed from active to passive.

The cause was the sudden appearance of two children.

But now, we could only wait. Wait for the captured merchants or Charles to confess, hoping to gain new intelligence. Of course, assuming they were truly members of the Gate of Truth.

“The Queen will definitely be angry… this means another scolding… really, it’s terrible.”

Tarnis’ low muttering reached my ears. I turned to look at her profile and comforted her, “It’s not your fault.”

Simple words couldn’t make her smile again, and Tarnis shook her head on her own.

“The Queen… is someone who only looks at results.”

She pondered for a moment, then suddenly looked up at me, exclaiming, “Miss Sylvia, did you recognize the appearances of those two children?”

“No,” I frowned. “They were very dirty, their hair covering their faces.”

After a moment of thought, I immediately understood the meaning behind Tarnis’ words.

“You mean…”

“Those children… were they really just coincidentally there… too much of a coincidence…?” Tarnis murmured. “There’s no one living on those nearby streets… whose children would run so far to play… and cover their faces…

“Marco!”

She hastily stuck her head out of the carriage curtain and shouted loudly. Soon after, the voice of an aquiline-nosed man came from outside.

“What’s wrong, Vice Captain?”

“Did you see where those two children went?”

“No.”

“Go ask if anyone else has seen them. If no one has, send someone to look for them immediately… Never mind, I’ll go myself.”

After saying this, Tarnis quickly turned back and shouted at me, “Miss Silverga, please return first.” Then she leaped out of the carriage and hurried away.

I wanted to go with her, but moved slightly only to be hit by a sharp pain in my lower abdomen, causing cold sweat to bead on my forehead.

…Maybe I should just rest for a bit first.

After Tarnis left, there was no one else around, so I didn’t have to hide anymore. Curling up, I sat in the corner of the carriage, pressing my abdomen tightly with both hands, my eyebrows knitted together.

Earlier, when we were in the narrow alley, I held the water caltrop grass… At that moment, I really had the urge to light it and take a puff.

The reason was pain.

It was just too damn painful! The pain was so intense that I wanted to numb myself.

Since morning, I had been enduring it. At first, it was just a slight ache, then it gradually turned into a pulling sensation. By the time we reached the narrow alley, the pain felt like a giant hand was twisting my insides mercilessly, and I couldn’t bear it any longer.

This was the first time I truly realized how torturous menstruation could be.

In the previous times, perhaps because I lacked experience, I was quite nervous. Although I couldn’t control my temper, I was more restrained in my behavior. I wouldn’t eat recklessly, and I made sure to cover myself well while sleeping… Later, as I gradually realized that this body was healthy and not prone to pain, I became lax and started being careless, thinking it wasn’t a big deal, so I let myself relax.

Now, I deeply regret it.

Why couldn’t I control myself? Knowing it was coming, why did I insist on drinking alcohol last night…

I tried hard to distract myself, thinking about the two runaway children… They probably won’t be found, right?

The huge royal city, two children whose faces I don’t even know, looking for them is like searching for a needle in a haystack… Perhaps I should start from a more reliable direction…

By the time I returned to Londoral Street, it was already past noon.

Warm sunlight filtered through the thin clouds and barriers, lazily shining down on me.

The smooth cobblestone road was accompanied by the chirping of insects and the fragrance of flowers.

Victoria hadn’t returned yet. At this time… she was probably still attending that troublesome council meeting, scheming with those fat and lazy nobles.

With great difficulty, I walked back to the mansion. I felt hungry, but I was so tired that I only made a simple honey pie for myself.

Holding the pie, I curled up on the sofa, staring blankly at the clean living room, chewing slowly.

Soon, my vision began to blur, and my damp dress clung tightly to my back… It was uncomfortable.

Truly… I felt like dying…

Suddenly, I remembered something a friend said in my previous life: girls who suffer from dysmenorrhea are abandoned angels.

She said this while lying pale in bed, and at that time, I laughed at her for being overly dramatic… Huh, who would have thought I would end up like this, it’s karma.

The pie tasted bitter, not sweet at all. I could only eat two and a half pieces before I couldn’t swallow anymore, even feeling nauseous and wanting to vomit.

Silently, I threw the pie, which I had already taken a few bites out of, and stood up from the sofa, moving towards the bedroom with no energy.

Maybe I should just sleep for a while… I don’t need to take off my clothes, I can put the satchel next to the cabinet… the satchel… ah!

I suddenly remembered that there was something Abel secretly slipped into my satchel.

What is it?

I opened it, rummaged inside, and then pulled out a yellowed piece of paper. Upon opening it, I saw a line of messy handwriting, hastily written:

Tonight, meet at Alik Alley.