57 Farewell, Alynthi (3)

Estelle was given the key to enter the Dukedom's dungeons.

In fact, the dungeons hadn't been used that much. Criminals and convicted people were taken care of in a separate place, to not further endanger the manor itself.

So, the Dukedom's dungeon was actually very neat and clean, suitable for living comfortably. It was also made this way to accommodate for the two siblings.

To avoid being seen by guards, Estelle asked her parents to vacant the space. The order was executed, and Estelle soon made her way to the dungeon.

Upon arriving, she opened the gates to the secluded room. With a metallic clang, the lock that was guarding the doors clicked open and was able to be removed.

The door itself was imbued with magic for further protection, but it recognized Estelle's authority and dispelled in a flash.

She lightly pushed the door open, peeking at the insides to spy on the scene.

With a careful glance, she found Derrick lying on top of his bed, sitting in a meditating position.

He seemed to be highly focused, closing his eyes with furrowed brows. He was calm. Not a single sound was made except for his shallow breathing.

But then, a creak was created out of the door's hinges. Estelle cringed, knowing that this would trigger Derrick and end her happy viewing time.

"Who's there?!!" His meditation was interrupted by Estelle's arrival. He opened his eyes and got off the bed, going into a defensive stance.

He looked left and right for intruders, only to find that the door now had a gap between the frame and the door itself.

Derrick pursed his lips. He internally thought that it was just a guard doing their job. Thus, he approached the door to greet whoever was behind it.

He found it strange, though, as his acquaintance guards would usually just barge in and say hi to him.

Alas, he shook it off and opened the door. It was normal for him, because he actually still had lots of freedom along with Sierra.

It was the result of having been imprisoned for so long. The security grew lax because their behavior was exemplary.

"Hey!! Why are you being so shy-" Derrick enthusiastically said, still thinking that the one behind the door was someone he was acquainted with.

However, the figure that greeted him brought a great shock.

In front of him was a young lady with a signature silver hair that he would recognize in a heartbeat, along with her striking golden eyes.

That first impression was then destroyed buy the uncanny appearance. 'Estelle' should've only been six years old, but the figure before him clearly surpassed that age.

Upon closer inspection, the girl really resembled his former master.

Derrick was confused. Did Duke Alan have a secret child that he never showed?

If Alan heard his words, he would definitely beat the former knight up for being so rude and unbecoming.

"You're- Young Miss Estelle?!" Derrick exclaimed in shock. No matter how close he surveilled her, it was Estelle.

Although she looked like she skipped a couple years, it was still easy to recognize her.

The current Estelle looked far older than what he envisioned her to be in her adolescent years.

"Do kids grow up this fast nowadays?" Derrick wanted to comment.

"You still recognize your former master? Good," Estelle leaned against the prison doors, waving her hands as a greeting.

"This... what happened to you, Young Miss?" Derrick scanned her from the top to bottom multiple times, but the still couldn't fathom how Estelle grew so fast.

"Things happened. Things that you would've known if you hadn't committed that silly betrayal of yours," Estelle teased.

Derrick's head instantly lowered. The shame and regret that once showed in his persecution came back.

He really regretted his choices. If only he was stricter and more diligent at educating Sierra, he would've definitely not fallen into this situation.

"Young lady.. What is your purpose?" Derrick coughed to regain his calm.

"I came here to see you two. Where's Sierra?" Estelle looked around, seeing no traces of the crimson-haired little Witch.

"Sierra is taking a short walk. It's her break time, given to her through anonymous voting. Everyone is so kind to us.." Derrick bashfully smiled.

"Where can I meet her?" Estelle had some things to do.

"I believe she went to the gardens... Are you going to look for her?"

"Yep. I'll be regrouping with you in a sec, don't worry," Estelle assured the man that she wasn't about to do something weird to Sierra.

Agreeing, Derrick told her that he was going to do his 'religious' activities.

He had developed a liking to meditation and calming pieces, it soothed his heart, and washed his negative feeling down.

Estelle marched to the garden right after parting with Derrick.

There, she met Sierra, who was currently conversing with Anna, their gardener.

Estelle waited after the two was done with their conversation.

She talked with Anna to allow her to still keep her silence about Sierra, in which the gardener lightly chuckled and assured the lady that no one would reveal such a 'pointless' thing.

It meant that Sierra did this often.

"Sierra Sullivan," Estelle called out.

The girl's head turned around at the mention of her name, squinting her eyes to see who called her.

Upon landing her eyes on Estelle, her next reaction was something even merrier, expressing her doubts on how it was possible.

However, the next second, she straightened up her tilted head and laughed meaningfully.

Her eyes were filled with mirth and glee over an unknown matter. Estelle raised her brows at this crazed behavior. What had happened?

"I know why you're like that, unlike that stupid brother of mine. You spent time in the Underworld, right? Meeting the Princess," Sierra suddenly proclaimed, making Estelle's eyes and mouth wide open from the outrageous statement.

"You also suffered because the Princess' power is the complete opposite of yours," She continued.

She even narrated some parts that only a handful of people should know.

"You.. How do you know things this well?" Estelle frowned.

Before, it was also like this. Sierra possessed information that someone like her wasn't supposed to have.

She credited that knowledge to Duke Alfonso, the one she secretly served behind the back. However, she might have to reevaluate that sentiment now.

Duke Alfonso was placed under her strict supervision. There was no way that he could contact the little girl.

Sierra and Derrick both wore restraining objects, the ones that forbade them from utilizing immense strength. It was basically the same as the jewelry Arayle put on Estelle when she was in the Underworld.

More than anything, the most deciding factor was that Duke Alfonso wouldn't have known about her special abilities.

"Didn't I tell you before? I'm a Witch! With high potential!" Sierra put her hands on the hips and shrugged.

"..Your powers awakened?" Estelle gaped in understanding. If Sierra got a power that assisted her in finding information, then it would make sense. "What was it? The power, I mean,"

"Why would I tell you? Bleh!" Sierra stuck out her tongue and ran away.

"Wait!" Estelle loudly called out to the girl. "Could you help me with doing something?"

If Sierra's power was indeed what she was thinking about, then the girl would have a very important use to her.