Seated on a chair in the orphanage classroom, Dorothy furrowed her brow after hearing Anna’s words. The name felt somewhat familiar to her, like something she had come across before. After thinking for a moment, she recalled frequently seeing this name in the newspapers.
Viscount Field, a local noble of Igwynt, held a hereditary title as a traditional aristocrat. After a long period of traveling abroad, he returned to Igwynt six years ago and began engaging in charitable work. It was said that he often ventured into the lower districts to understand the lives of the impoverished and provide aid. Among the Igwynt elite, he was known to be the most aware of the struggles of the lower classes.
Dorothy also remembered reading in recent newspapers about his criticism of Igwynt’s police force for its negligence, particularly for failing to protect the lives of the poor and abandoned. He claimed that disappearances were frequent and largely ignored. At the time, Dorothy had briefly wondered if these so-called disappearances were the work of the Crimson Eucharist and had worried about the viscount’s safety.
It was surprising how charitable this viscount seemed to be. Hosting a charity event every year and adopting an orphan afterward? That would make six adopted children over six years, with this year being the seventh…
Even for a benevolent noble, wasn’t this number of adoptions a bit excessive?
“Miss Mayschoss, are you all right?”
At this moment, Anna, who was standing nearby holding a storybook, asked curiously upon noticing Dorothy lost in thought. Hearing Anna’s voice, Dorothy snapped out of it and smiled in response.
“Oh, it’s nothing, Anna. I just remembered something… By the way, I wanted to ask, do you know the children who were adopted in previous years?”
“Hmm… I don’t know the older ones from the earlier years, but I know some of the more recent ones, like Gregil and Boom… They were adopted by Viscount Field in the past two years. They were both excellent students here and were my role models.”
“Is that so? After they were adopted, have you seen them again?” Dorothy continued to ask.
Anna thought for a moment before nodding.
“I’ve seen them, but only rarely. The adopted children often accompany Viscount Field to various events, and we occasionally see their photos with the viscount in the newspapers. Every year during the charity event, the viscount also brings two of the previously adopted children along, so we get to see them then too… But, teacher, why are you asking about this?”
Anna asked curiously, and Dorothy replied with a smile.
“Oh, nothing, just asking out of curiosity… By the way, Anna, you mentioned that I might be able to attend this year’s charity event as well? But isn’t it only open to Igwynt’s upper-class citizens?”
Dorothy asked, to which Anna nodded confidently.
“No problem! Since our orphanage is a focus of the charity, we’re allocated a few invitation slots. As long as Sister Deidre agrees, we can get you an invitation. With all of us asking together, we’ll definitely convince her!”
Anna’s tone was filled with certainty and anticipation. Looking at Anna’s earnest expression, Dorothy nodded.
“All right… I’ll leave it to you all, then.”
Afternoon, Charity Orphanage, Headmistress’s Office
Sitting behind her desk was an elderly nun in her fifties or sixties, clad in a black habit, her face lined with wrinkles. This was Sister Diedre, the headmistress of Charity Orphanage and an official nun of Igwynt’s Radiance Church.
Sister Diedre pulled an envelope from her desk drawer and handed it to Dorothy, who sat on the other side of the desk.
“Here, this is the invitation. The time and venue are written inside. Don’t be late, Miss Mayschoss.”
“Thank you, Sister Diedre. It’s an honor to attend such an event.”
Dorothy took the envelope with gratitude, to which Sister Diedre responded with a smile.
“If you want to thank someone, thank the children. It’s rare for students to volunteer here, and you’re the first to win their favor so completely. This invitation is well-deserved… Now, I need some rest. Fetch, escort our guest out.”
“Take care, Sister Diedre.”
Dorothy left the office escorted by a balding middle-aged man. As she walked into the hallway, Anna was still waiting for her, holding her book.
“How did it go, Miss Mayschoss? Did you get the invitation?”
“Here it is, thanks to you all,” Dorothy said with a smile, shaking the envelope in her hand.
“That’s great! Don’t forget to come watch our performance on the night of the event. I have to go rehearse now! See you later!”
Anna waved cheerfully and ran off into the distance. Smiling, Dorothy waved back before silently opening the envelope and carefully examining the invitation inside.
“7:00 PM on the 25th, Gemstone Theater?”
At the same time, elsewhere in Igwynt’s upper city, within the Radiance Church.
In a small, secluded chamber inside the church, three figures were present. Two men in black clerical robes sat together, while across from them sat a nun with platinum-blonde hair and round glasses.
“All right… we’ve gathered a general understanding of the situation. Sister Vania, we’ll submit a preliminary report of your account to Tivian,” said one of the clerics as he stood up and collected his documents.
Sister Vania let out a deep breath and asked, “This… this will be the last inquiry, right?”
“Yes, the last one. Our initial investigation at Red Creek aligns almost entirely with your account. We find no issues with your statement. When you return to Tivian, they may ask you a few more questions as part of standard procedure, but there’s no need to worry.”
“Thank the Holy Mother that there were survivors from this heretical disaster,” another cleric said as he rose.
Hearing their words, Vania finally felt a heavy burden lift from her shoulders.
Half a month ago, after escaping from the underground crypt of Red Creek’s chapel, Vania had sent an urgent telegram to Tivian’s Glimmering Light Diocese, reporting the situation. Tivian promptly contacted Igwynt’s church, instructing them to dispatch a Radiant Executor squad to Red Creek to secure the area and escort Vania safely to Igwynt.
Recently, multiple Radiant Executor squads from Tivian arrived in Igwynt County to begin the recovery of sacred relics from the crypt. Meanwhile, Vania had spent several days undergoing inquiries in Igwynt.