Chapter 9: Son

"I see… Those bastards deserved death," Erica stated, her voice cold. .

'To think slavery and organ selling is in this world. This proved to be troublesome. I'm glad Erica's Kingdom doesn't allow that by it doesn't mean some people don't engage in such activities in the shadows. Daring to be so brazen with such actions in the Orgador Kingdom I'll make sure they regret this.'

"I'm sorry," Erica said, her voice softening as she turned to Juko, taking his trembling hands into hers. "I don't know how to comfort you in this situation, but I promise you this: nothing like that will ever happen to you again. I swear it."

"Thank you," Juko whispered, his eyes brimming with tears, yet a small, hopeful smile tugged at his lips. After a moment of hesitation, he blurted out nervously, "Can I sleep by your side tonight, Mum?"

Erica froze, her heart skipping a beat. 'Mum… he called me Mum.' A nervous chuckle escaped her. 'It's not bad being called Mum. Better than Aunty, I suppose. It reminds me of when I worked in that nursery. Kids always seemed to cling to those who made them feel safe.' She glanced at Juko, noting the anxiety in his eyes. 'And it must've taken a lot of courage for him to ask.'

"Sure, you can sleep here," she said, patting the bed. "Just take this side, and I'll be over here. I promise, I won't try anything—just sleep, alright? I don't want to seem creepy or anything."

Erica tucked herself tightly under the covers, keeping to her side, while another thick blanket lay ready for Juko. Puzzled by her overly formal speaking, Juko let out a small giggle before wrapping himself up the same way she did.

"Goodnight, Erica."

"Goodnight, Juko… my new son," she murmured, her heart swelling as she drifted off to sleep.

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The next day…

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"Princess Erica, it seems they used teleportation to escape in a hurry," a knight reported grimly as they arrived at the scene. Erica, Juko, and a few knights had ridden in on horseback, but the sight before them made her stomach knot. The village was in ruins, the ground reeking of rotting blood and ashes. There were barely any bodies—just scattered remains the knights had found.

"They knew something was wrong when their men didn't return," Erica muttered, her voice icy.

Behind her, Juko clung to her, his small body trembling uncontrollably. Erica gripped the reins of her horse. "Don't worry, Juko," she vowed, her voice steely. "I'll find those responsible, and they will regret ever daring to do this."

"Thank you," Juko said, though his voice was strained with guilt. "But… I feel like I'm taking advantage of your kindness."

Erica's heart ached at the sight of his pained expression. "You're not," she assured him gently.

"It's okay to be sad, Juko. It's okay to cry," Erica said softly, turning slightly so he could lean on her. "You can cry on me. I'll comfort you." The gentle assurance was all it took for Juko's tears to spill over as he wept quietly behind her.

"Please bury the remains that were found," Erica instructed the knights calmly. They nodded, splitting off to carry out the task while Erica remained with Juko, offering him silent support.

By midday, Erica, Juko, and a small group of knights stood before the freshly dug graves in the center of the ravaged village. They bowed their heads in solemn respect before mounting their horses to leave. Juko bit his lip, holding back tears as they rode away.

When they reached the mansion, Paine was already waiting, calm and composed. Around them, the courtyard was bustling with activity—horses and carriages were being prepared, and maids hurried about, loading goods.

"Princess, it's time to leave," Paine said with a respectful bow. "I've ensured that all your belongings are packed, and there are enough teleportation scrolls to transport everyone to the Orgador Kingdom."

'He was prepared,' Erica nervously thought with a mix of admiration and anxiety. 'I didn't plan for us to leave this early.' With a sigh, she dismounted and helped Juko down as well. They were promptly escorted into one of the carriages, and soon after, a large magic circle appeared beneath them. In a flash of light, they were transported to the capital of Orgador.

As they arrived, a sea of people lined the streets, watching as the military escorted the group of carriages.

"We welcome Her Highness, Princess Erica Westomsveif, back to the Kingdom of Orgador!" Paine announced loudly, and the crowd erupted into cheers. The knights marched proudly alongside the carriage, a grand display of loyalty and honor.

'So many people… Is Erica really this popular?' Erica wondered, peering out at the cheering masses.

A knight rode up beside her carriage and informed her, "Princess, we're making our way to the castle."

"I understand. Thank you," Erica replied, flashing a radiant smile. The knight, caught off guard, blushed deeply, turning away as he rode ahead, embarrassed by his own reaction.

'How innocent,' Erica mused with a light chuckle.

'However,' Erica thought her gaze becoming cold yet worried, 'This kingdom is poorly maintained. The stench wtf???? Reminds me of what I read in history. In the old days there was poor health and clean systems. How the fuck is a magic world suffering from this a well??!!' she wondered, noticing every single detail when watching the commmoners.

The atmosphere was ashy, the scent of coal thick in the air. The streets were lined with some people in tattered clothing, their faces pale and unhealthy. The signs of poverty and neglect were everywhere, and it made Erica's heart sink.

When they finally reached the castle, her disappointment was clear. 'This is the castle?' she thought, surveying the structure before her.

'It's not as majestic as I imagined, but at least it's better than the mansion I was staying in.' She sighed inwardly.

"Juko, please come with me," Erica said, extending her hand.

"Sure," Juko replied, taking her hand as they stepped out of the carriage together.