Until last night, after investigating the ledger with Mia, it was concluded that all the children with crimson hair had ended up in the Empire.

It seemed like all the children, like Mia, had been adopted by the noble families of the Empire.

Whether they were adopted due to the trend caused by the disappeared lady, as mentioned by the director, or for some other reason, it was unclear.

Narrowing it down to about three, Lucia planned to find the lady with the members in the remaining time.

So, on the last day before returning to the Empire.

Lucia prepared to check the children she had left in the capital’s orphanage for a moment.

“It could be the last day. Would it be okay not to meet your friends?”

Lucia somehow met Mia’s gloomy face.

As Mia had been with the children she was protecting for a long time, they had lived together like siblings.

However, the child bowed her head.

“Until I become someone who can really help, it might be better not to see each other.”

Although the child’s face couldn’t be seen, it seemed like a face that somehow knew.

She was a deep child who had already realized the fact that if they couldn’t take responsibility at the age of just 11, they would be a poison to each other.

“Yeah. I’ll cheer for you.”

Lucia gently stroked the stubborn child’s head.

It was a slightly disheveled age that suited Mia more.

And she greeted the people who had been watching.

“Well, please take care of the children.”

“Yes. Don’t worry and come back safely.”

“Take care.”

The prince and Lion, who had come out to see them off, were for a moment.

‘… Have they become close?’

Even Lucia, who was oblivious, found it strange that the two were sticking together.

But that was probably a nerve-wracking competition to take Niya’s place.

Unfortunately, there was no way she, as the person involved, would notice.

And finally.

“Hees. I’ll be back.”

“Yeah.”

Hees raised his hand around his pocket and nodded his head.

What he had was a letter from someone who might be Niya’s parents.

‘…I’ll find a clue about the real parents in this mission for sure.’

Certainly, this was something Lucia hadn’t even thought of when she went to the orphanage where Niya had been.

Moreover, what was even more disturbing was that the letter had a sealed magic formula and couldn’t be opened.

Sealed magic on such a shabby letter envelope.

It was fortunate and unfortunate.

Rather, it would have been better if, like a myth, the saint had sparkled and emerged from the womb of a god, not a human body.

He had left the task of unraveling the magical formula to Hees for now, but what if he found Niya’s real parents from the letter?

‘…What should I do?’

Until Lucia left the room, she held Niya in her arms, but she couldn’t meet the child’s eyes at all.
After Lucia went out, a small greenhouse attached to the temporary residence of the diplomatic mission.

In the pouring sunlight, the children holding dolls seemed quite happy.

“Rabbit, rabbit. Did you hear? The hedgehog next door traded beans with a calf.”

“Oh, no. How can that be? Can’t we drink our village milk now?”

“So, when we tried to chase it away, luckily, those beans grew into magic beans, and we baked cookies made from these beans. Here.”

When Mia offered small green cookies, Nia’s eyes widened.

“Wow, it must be delicious!”

Although it was a tea-time snack, Mia, blending fairy tales with the green color, made it enjoyable for her younger sister.

Since there had been rare opportunities for something to eat, even a small snack was considered a significant event for the two.

Mia, looking at Nia’s puffed-up cheeks, felt her heart full, as always, as if her belly were full.

However, it was at that moment.

“Is that so? Is that so? Rabbit, fox. Give me one too.”

Appearing in front of the children was a pink-haired figure.

Prince Irene sat on a chair he had brought from somewhere, holding a raccoon doll in his hand, and shook it in front of the children.

“… Huh? Yes! Here you go!”

Mia was surprised, and quickly handed him a plate of cookies.

Nia, who still had an underdeveloped sense, knew how high the two men’s positions were as much as Mia, who was bright for her age.

Until now, Lucia had been there to offset the atmosphere, but now that the circumstances had changed, Mia’s small shoulders were so tense that they were about to rise.

Seeing the child’s vigilance, the prince, as if to reassure her, smiled kindly, making eye contact.

Expressionless until now, but when he smiled, the faint pink light gave life to his bloodless white skin, creating a smile that emitted a sweet fragrance somewhere.

Captivated by his innocent smile, Mia exclaimed,

“Cough…”

Watching this, Lion coughed low as a warning.

But Irene, as expected, ignored it.

Instead, he approached the children more actively, shaking the funny voice to them.

Playing along naturally, the gaze of the prince, who saw the small dolls on Nia’s lap, softened.

“By the way, rabbit, fox. Does the hedgehog have a baby too? Are you two alone?”

“… Here, I-say.”