Published: August 3, 2025
“Wilma, thank you for everything up to this point. You can go back now.”
“But, Myne-sama…”
Wilma cast a glance at Fran and Delia with concern. However, if Wilma stayed here until both of them finished explaining everything, it would cause problems at the orphanage.
After sending Wilma back to the orphanage, I went upstairs. Rosina, looking somewhat dazed as if she had just woken up, slowly rose from her chair.
“Welcome back, Myne-sama.”
“Rosina, do you know what’s going on?”
“No, Delia woke me up, so I don’t know the details.”
She had been taking a nap to rest, but it seemed that had been interrupted. Though Rosina’s expression didn’t show it, she was probably quite displeased.
“Please rest a little longer in your room.”
“I will.”
Rosina staggered a bit as she retreated to her room. After seeing her off, I headed to the table and asked Delia to prepare some tea. I hoped that the slow, careful process of boiling water and making tea might help calm her mind, even if just a little.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t understand any of this. Fran, please explain everything in detail.”
Delia quietly went to the kitchen, so I decided to hear the situation from Fran first. Fran nodded slightly and began speaking.
“It seems Arnaud, who was coming back from the orphanage with Delia and a message from the high priest, met them on the way, and the two of them returned to the room together. I was on a break at the time, but Delia called me, so I hurriedly got ready and met with Arnaud.”
Apparently, Fran had also been woken from her nap just like Rosina, and not only did she deal with Arnaud, but she also got caught up in the argument that Delia stirred up.
If I had been in the room, Delia and I could have handled it without waking Fran.
“Sorry for being absent.”
“No, even if Myne-sama was here, if Arnaud came, you would have to call me. It would be troublesome otherwise.”
Fran shook her head lightly. If the message was from the high priest, she had to listen properly.
“Besides, Arnaud’s business was really only the message. So, it wasn’t troublesome. It was unexpected that Delia became so furious.”
Fran glanced toward the kitchen and sighed lightly. Just that told me how hard it must have been dealing with Delia’s outburst.
“So, what was the message?”
“The high priest said he searched for an adoptive family for Dirk, but it seems difficult after all.”
According to Fran’s explanation, the high priest had been looking for an adoptive parents for Dirk. Unfortunately, the result was negative, but Arnaud brought the message encouraging them not to be discouraged and to continue raising him at the orphanage.
…The high priest is too conscientious.
When I was told it would be difficult for a boy to be adopted, I had almost given up, planning to contract with Dirk myself after I became a noble’s adopted daughter. I had even half-forgotten about looking for an adoptive family.
After finishing the tea preparation, Delia, who placed a cup before me, furrowed her brows and glared at Fran.
“How could the talk of giving Dirk up for adoption even come up!?”
From what Fran told me, neither Arnaud nor Fran seemed to know that Dirk was a self-eater. Delia’s anger focused entirely on the fact that the adoption plan was proceeding behind her back.
I quietly looked downward. The high priest had told me to keep the fact that Dirk was a self-eater secret. Since Dirk had mana, they were searching for an adoptive family. How was I supposed to explain that to Delia without revealing the truth?
“Myne-sama and your family, and also myself and Dirk… does the high priest have a hobby of breaking families apart!?”
“He has no such hobby. The high priest has his own reasons.”
In Delia’s mind, the high priest seemed to be a bad person who tore families apart. Given that, it’s no wonder that Fran, who respects the high priest, became a bit frustrated and spoke a little harshly.
“Delia.”
I slowly exhaled as if taking a deep breath and looked at Delia.