âWhere are we going?â
âIf you go this way, you can go to the tower! Thatâs my secret base.â
The child was quite proud of his own secret base.
âYou know, when you go to this secret baseâ¦â
âYouâve done a very good job on the Kingdom of Portland, havenât you?â
Molitia stopped walking at a moment when she had heard a voice around the corner.
âOf course. Iâve also made contact with the merchant and Iâm all ready now.â
âYes, I would have let it go normally, but this time Iâm going to have it run a little earlier. So that they wonât bother us.â
Molitia quickly embraced the child, who was walking forward without knowing anything. She instinctively covered the childâs mouth gently. The little child was surprised and struggled a bit, but Molitia whispered softly with her index finger on her mouth.
Fortunately, Robert had understood Molitiaâs words before silencing his behavior soon.
âNow that weâre ready, itâs only a matter of time before the people of that kingdom make a move. Thereâs only one part of it thatâs calm.â
âBe careful not to leave a single trace, it doesnât matter if you just take care of the people after you use them.â
âOkay.â
âKeep in mind that you have to deal with it without anyone knowing at all. Especially when the Marquis knows about it.â
The voice soon subsided.
Did they leave? She stood there and waited a while, but she could no longer hear them talking.
Molitia carefully stuck her head out with the child still hidden behind her back. The people who were talking around the corner had already disappeared.
Who was that? From the conversation straight up to the scene where they were talking carefully. Everything was utterly suspiciousâevery single one.
Molitia slowly turned towards Robert.
âDid you see the person they were talking to earlier?â
The innocent child shook his head.
âDoes that voice sound familiar?â
He shook his head once more. When she had gotten the same answer, Molitia sighed deeply.
âThen, Robert, you have no idea what they were doing earlier?â
âYeah, I heard that itâs cold here and no one uses it. So, I found it for the first time and made it into my secret base.â
âDonât people come?â
âYes, they donât. I often came here when I hid because I didnât want to study!â
Molitiaâs face stiffened at Robertâs words.
It was a place where even the servants had rarely visited.
If Robert hadnât stumbled upon this path, it would have been a thoroughly neglected place. Even those who knew the layout of the Marquisâ wouldnât even know.
âSister?â
At the tug of her skirtâs hem, Molitia quickly escaped from her mind. Â The eyes of that child, who was all still innocent, simply rolled around.
âOh, nothing. Shall we head back to the room?â
âWhat? Why? Weâll get to the secret base in just a little while!â
Oozing with regret, the tug on her skirtâs hem became a little stronger. Molitia patted his head as if to soothe his disappointment, before bending herself towards the child.
âRight by now, people might be anxiously looking for Robert, who had disappeared all of a sudden.â
âHmm! Otherwise, I canât come out at all. I want to play outside, but they keep telling me to just play in my room.â
The child heaved proudly with his arms crossed. He looked up straightâjust like a Young Master.
âBut you shouldâve informed them. Iâm sure the maid is worried and looking around like yesterday. Robert, do you like it when sheâs having a hard time?â
The childâs head sank when he said quietly. Even yesterday, the child wiggled his hand as if he remembered that his maid was looking for him with beads of sweat all over her.
ââ¦â¦no.â
âThen letâs go and get the right permission. Iâll come with you and tell them as well.â
âReally?â
The sullen eyes of that child quickly regained their vitality once again.
âIf you let me know, I might give you permission with me too!â
âI promise. So, letâs go back to the room.â
âYes!â
She held the small hand of the child who was smiling brightly. She wanted to get out of there as soon as possible.
She swiftly glanced behind her back and soon stepped forward.
âââââââââ
Molitiaâs mouth had widened naturally.
Her eyes, which were already sleepy, moved quite stiffly. It always felt like this after playing with Robert. A condition in which oneâs energy was already too depleted to do anything.
As her mind tried pulling herself desperately in order to get to the bed, she tugged at the doorknob.