The Kingmaker System-Chapter 59 - 58. Remains Of Someone’s Hope (5)

Davian had started going for the expeditions as well since I and a few knights were busy with the investigation. Every evening I would hear the stories about Davian being an amazing swordsman and how he resembled his father and also how in future he would surpass the previous Archduke.

Davian himself wouldn’t say anything and I had noticed as how his mood was slowly darkening with the days passing.

It had been nearly two weeks already and I and the knights had found nothing from our investigation. I knew it would take time but the possibility of not finding anything at all was the worst case scenario.

"Welcome back!" Ethan greeted me as I returned from the investigation.

He was the hopeful among everyone. He would cheerfully welcome me and the other knights everyday and ask us if we found something and would tell us about what happened in our absence.

Lyall had his own reports to give which included the technical details of the expeditions and his own observations of Davian’s skills.

"Hello, Lord Ethan."

"You seem tired." He remarked and I nodded feeling exhausted.

The days were filled with us trudging in deep snow amidst the snowfall and the sharp winds that it was a task only to climb the mountain instead of searching through.

"Maybe... It would have been better to wait till spring to restart the investigation." He said and I sighed.

"I know but I can’t stay that long, I need to return when the spring arrives."

Ethan’s mood suddenly went gloomy, "Oh, right... You have to leave."

"Are you upset?"

"Not really, it was going to happen some day and there’s still a lot of time for you to leave so I’m not going to feel bad."

I chuckled, he had become a good friend of mine but I wonder what his reaction would be if he came to know that the gentleman he was seeing as his friend was actually an eleven year old girl.

"Anyways, come with me to the town tomorrow." Ethan said and I frowned.

"Huh?"

"What? It’s a day off for everyone tomorrow." He remindef and I suddenly recalled of the announcement that Davian had made a few days ago regarding the day off for everyone.

The Winter Solstice was around the corner and Northerners celebrated it quite grandly. There was a fair arranged in the town for the period of four days and it was the responsibility of the Lord of the North to see to it that this tradition went on without a hitch.

In short, Davian was the host of this festival.

The Winter Solstice annual ball was going to be arranged in the Frosthail castle and every noble of the North was going to be present.

The castle was being decorated for that occasion and everyone in the castle was excited for it. It was the occassions like these that helped a person distract themself from the crushing moment of their life.

For Davian though, I felt as if it was the opposite. It might be his first Solstice without his parents and probably not the last.

I hoped that we could find something before this Ball but now I was feeling bitter of the empty hands that I returned with every evening.

"We will go to the town and get ourselves some good outfits for the ball. I can already imagine the ladies wanting a piece of you."

I laughed at that, "I know, but I don’t think I’ll be there."

Ethan stopped short as I said that.

"What?"

"I don’t quite like parties or noisy places so, I might not come besides, there’s some work that I need to do."

"What kind of nonsense is that?" Ethan shouted making me chuckle.

"I’m sure you will have more ladies for yourself if I don’t come, Lord Ethan. Give me the good news later." I smiled and walked away.

I couldn’t show Ocean’s face in public just yet, let alone in a ball where the people are gathered for social connections, showing off and possibly, information gathering.

The next day, regardless of me saying that I wouldn’t attend the Ball, Ethan had dragged me off to the town for shopping.

The town was decorated quite simply with the people still preparing for the festival and setting up stuff around the marketplace. The people seemed quite excited as they were happily busy with their work.

"Is it like this every year?" I asked and Ethan nodded as we walked down the stone cobbled street with the carriages and the people rushing past us.

"Yes, usually it’s more fun but this time we have cut down on the festivity a little bit since... you know."

I nodded and a child dressed in a burlap sack like dress bumped into us. I narrowed my eyes as my hand moved in reaction and I took her arm before she could run away.

"I-I’m sorry!" She squeaked.

She didn’t seem older than eight or nine as she put her head down which was covered by a cloth. Her arm was so skinny that I felt as if I was holding a twig, she was trembling a lot as I held her.

"I-I’m really sorry, I-I wa-wasn’t watching where I was going. P-Please let go of me."

"Sir Ocean..." Ethan spoke up as well and I sighed.

"Fine, go. But don’t get caught next time." I said and she stiffened before lifting her head to me.

I saw the bright green eyes peering into mine before they went wide and she gasped loudly.

I released her hand and she stood there watching me as if she had been looking at something great. I didn’t know I could charm little kids so much to make them stop and state at me like this.

"Run or I’ll take it back." I said and she flinched before she put her head down and ran away.

"Take what back?" Ethan asked and I smiled as we resumed walking.

"Your money." I said and he nodded before he suddenly stopped and patted his vest.

"She-She stole my money!" He shouted and I laughed.

"You’ve been living here for so long, don’t you know that when someone bumps into you, the first thing you should do is check if your money is still with you?"

"Wh-Why did you let her go? I’ll go chase her!" Ethan turned but I reached out holding his arm.

"Let her be, I’ll pay for your outfit."

"But..." Ethan’s shoulders slumped and I patted his back before we walked ahead.

That girl had a strange air around her. In contrast to Davian whom I saw everyday, the person whose existence was devoid of mana, this child’s presence was bathed in the light of mana.

Ethan bought an outfit after he had tried out several more and I ended up buying one too since the lady who was managing the boutique kept insisting. She had gotten so fired up that she made me try multiple outfits, even the ones who weren’t for sale.

"You are my muse, Sir Ocean!" She had gripped my hands so tightly that I thought she might take them off.

Her eyes shone brightly that it took us some time to get out of there. But I did get a discount for both of our clothes since I was paying.

"You sure have it good, Sir Ocean." Ethan said as we walked through the marketplace.

"Hm?"

"Anything you wore looked great on you."

I laughed, it was thanks to this form that was the epitome of beauty. I had asked Silas to make an average looking disguise but he had gone and created the mixture of Adonis and Aphrodite. An androgynous beauty that stood out quickly among the crowd.

I didn’t complain because even I liked Ocean’s beautiful face.

We shopped for the accessories that would go with the outfits and after the shopping was done we were in the restaurant for lunch.

"We still have time, so, shall we stroll around a little more before going back?" Ethan asked and I shrugged my shoulders.

We roamed around watching a few street performances and eating some snacks before we headed back to the carriage. It was quite a fun day if not for the thing that I saw before leaving the marketplace.

We had almost reached the carriage when I heard the commotion.

"What’s wrong?" I asked and Ethan shrugged his shoulders.

Out of habit, I decided to ignore it as it was an unnecessary scuffle but while walking past the crowd I felt something collide into my side and a large shadow followed behind.

I looked down at the small girl who clutched onto my cloak before the large man who was huffing as he doubled over.

"You-You little witch!" He grimaced and I looked at the girl who quickly his behind me.

"Wait, wha-"

"No point in hiding! Come out, I’ll butcher you this time, you thief!"

"Ah, it’s the girl from the afternoon who stole my money!" Ethan quickly recognised the child and I looked at the man in front who looked livid.

"Lord Ethan, please relax." I looked at Ethan before facing the man.

"What’s wrong?" I asked.

"That brat is a thief, please don’t shelter her!" He told me.

"What did she steal?"

"The meat from my shop."

I looked at her once as she was still clutching on to my cloak and hiding herself behind me.

"How much does it cost?" I asked.

"Are you going to pay for her?" He asked and I pulled out the pouch of money from my vest.

"Yes, tell me."

"You’ll fall into debt of you start paying for their stolen stuff, My Lord. You seem like a noble so don’t waste your money on such trash."

"Yes, this wretch steals from our shops so much that it’s annoying!"

"Don’t pay for her! Arrest her that should be her punishment."

"Send her to the gallows!"

The crowd seemed quite agitated by the child and I sighed.

"For now, tell me how much the meat costs?And give me some extra too."

The butcher told me the price and I paid the amount before taking the meat loaf which he handed to me.

The crowd slowly dispersed and I turned to look at the child.

"You stole a good amount from him then why were you stealing?" I asked the child and she kept her head down.

I sighed, it was obvious that she might be a part of some underground criminal crew here. If I messed too much then it would be a hassle so the best thing that I could do for now was to ignore.

"Here, eat up." I said as I handed her the meat loaf.

She hesitantly took the loaf from my hand and started eating.

"Don’t steal so obviously next time and if you do then run faster so you don’t get caught." I said before I looked at Ethan.

"Let’s go."

Ethan and I started walking away from the child and Ethan once looked back before speaking up.

"That kind of advice... isn’t it wrong to tell her to be better in stealing instead of telling her to stop."

"The only way for her to stop stealing is for her to find a home where she could get proper nurturing. I can’t give her hollow advice when I can see what situation she’s in. She has to grow strong on her own."

"It’s cruel." Ethan mumbled.

"That’s the way of the world, Lord Ethan."

I turned to look at the child, she was looking at me now. There was a bruise forming on her left cheek and her lips were chapped. She looked quite desolate standing there alone but that was all I could do for her.

I had other stuff on my plate and I couldn’t go around rescuing the street children directly just yet.

But it did give me an idea.

"I guess I should contact back home for this one."