2.7

There wasn't a single layer of dust on the corners of the walls. There wasn't even a thin one. It was surprising that the place Brandon and the riders were looking at was free of dirt, while the entire area outside the house was so poorly maintained that it was doubtful if it was in the right place and if he wasn't abandoned. The furniture was clean, although aged and showing signs of prolonged use. You could tell it might be time to change them, but they were still useful.

The room they were in was spacious and clearly showed that it was a reception hall for outsiders. There was nothing luxurious, on the contrary, the whole environment was simple and with neutral colors, with nothing to adorn the walls and serve as decoration, besides the shelves and some objects that were placed there. It was a place that looked good and had been taken care of, but it could see the lack of use in how shabby it was. It was supposed to be a room for welcoming commoners, nobles or potential parents, but it didn't look like it in their eyes.

Brandon was discreetly looking around, even though there are only four of them in the room. He was also looking at the sofa he was sitting on next to Ferion and then at the open area in front of him. Only the rug on the floor was in that space. No sign of the man who had led them there. The old man who answered them at the door had left, after being informed that he would be back in a few moments to warn and arrange the children about their visit.

The green eyes held doubt in their gaze and distrust. They walked over to Ferion and watched him face the surroundings as well. Brandon was sure Ferion was thinking of something, but he didn't know what it was. The nobleman had a thoughtful expression that he recognized. It was the same expression he wore when younger and noticed something wrong or thought about something. There were few times he saw him like this.

"Ferion." The voice came from his lips, calling to him and drawing his attention. Ferion turned and looked at him with black eyes. The thoughtful expression was still there, but he paid attention to the redhead. "Did you also notice something strange?"

He didn't answer him right away, remaining momentarily silent, under Brandon's eyes.

"Yes…" he nodded in a vertical line. His eyes narrowed before continuing. "There is no sound of children or any presence other than the four of us when we enter. The outside of the building is in pretty bad shape, but the inside looked well taken care of, although some things look odd."

Ferion tapped his knee three times with his fingers as he reflected and spoke. "The man didn't ask for our IDs, but he took me for someone with money and acted much nicer than he appears to be."

Brandon heard him and didn't hesitate to nod. His young master's words were simply true facts. He remembered how the man looked at them coldly, as if they were a nuisance, but on the way up and down he quickly changed his attitude towards them. Also, he found it unusual, not to have seen so much as a childish soul along the way. It was an orphanage, but the children were nowhere to be seen and they looked like ghosts. Just the thought of such existences made her spine shiver.

"That certainly is strange. I don't hear any sounds either, and I haven't seen any signs of any children here. It would be normal if one or two came and looked at the new arrivals, but none did." Brandon said. He looked from the entryway to the hallway, but it didn't look like the kids lived there.

"He should have at least come forward and asked for our names as the norm and as a future father of one of the children he would be adopting. But he simply acted without question. Like you didn't care about that in the first place." The redhead stopped for a moment. "And also, the way he treated us, it seemed polite, but it still gave me an unpleasant feeling."

"I agree." Ferion's voice was present again, in response to his temporary assistant's lines.

The two knights who stood together there, watching the conversation between the two men, also did not disagree in her mind. Ever since entering that building, they had been alert to any potential danger, however low, against their young master's life, especially after the icy glare the man gave them when they were at the front door. That look wasn't something someone who was the director of a government-run orphanage could direct toward guests, even if they momentarily disliked their coming.

Nott, in particular, had a heart full of anger, resentment, and a hint of hate. These feelings were unusual for him, who had always been honest and kind to those around him. However, seeing that man's face smiling benignly, was truly detestable. Said man hadn't changed at all from what he remembered.

A sense of guilt rose in her chest, along with the other raging feelings she felt about what she remembered from the past. Although he couldn't do anything at the time, as he was only a child of fourteen years old and powerless in ways to protect himself against someone who had authority in the place, he still didn't try to do anything even after he became a knight. Shame was also something that was inside you.

"From his attitude and the environment, it's assumed there's something up in the air, although we haven't confirmed anything yet."

"Do you have any idea what it is?"

"Some." Ferion stated, being vague enough in that place.

The Miller who used to be a representative in the army wouldn't say what he was imagining in his head in the middle of enemy territory, even if the man was just a suspect to him and he wasn't there; you never know if someone is behind the door or not. Nott clenched his fists, one on his palm and the other on the sword he carried. The knight was thinking about how he felt before letting out a sigh and taking a step towards the two, attracting the attention of the three in the room.

"Young master, I ask permission to comment."

"Yea?" Ferion said, surprised. His gaze quickly changed back, a serious one, but with curiosity mixed in. What could the man Brandon eyed gleefully say about the current problem. "Is this about the orphanage we are in now?" Nott nodded at him. "Then proceed."

From the content of the conversation that Brandon and Ferion were having moments before, it seemed that they were talking about the place and the people who work there in a way that was looking for clues. It was clearer to Nott, who had worked on the property for some time and had known they were going places. Though Brandon hadn't told him much about his dates with Ferion, he knew this was work.

He had decided he was going to help. A way to get rid of the guilt and shame he was feeling. He also wanted the man with the mustache not to come to a very good end.

"Young master, I-"

His speech was interrupted by the sounds of approaching footsteps. All attention had gone to the door. There was something like wariness in Nott's eyes as he frowned at being interrupted. When he worked up a bit of courage to say what he knew, it happened. The weather was very good, but it could just be a coincidence. The doorknob was lowered and a slight creak of the door irons sounded through the room, showing a figure with the same benign smile under the white hair mustache.

The man who answered them at the entrance was in the black clothes they'd seen earlier, not a single loose line or out-of-order detail. It was a perfect outfit. He looked like someone gentle and kindhearted if you looked at it all together and someone who is well taken care of. However, the fours who saw it unreliable in its appearance.

"I'm sorry, I hope you didn't wait too long. The kids took a while to get ready." He said, bowing slightly.

"Everything is fine. It didn't take long anyway." Ferion replied, his face serious and his tone as well. "And where are they? I don't see any."

The space that wasn't filled by the man's figure was empty, with no one behind him. Only the view of the wall across the hall was seen.

"Children can enter."

The man spoke and light footsteps were heard. Small people were seen entering the room, when the man released the passage. They all vary at different ages, from the very youngest to those close to adulthood. The children walked inside, lining up in front of where Ferion and Brandon sat. They formed a row of ten horizontally and four columns behind. The amount was a little bigger than they thought it would be. It was surprising that not a single child's laughter or sound could be heard throughout the entire house.

The orphans were just standing there nervously. They wore simple clothes, but they were well cared for. Possibly for when they received it. It wasn't a very common thing for them to receive visitors after a long time, but that wasn't what they were looking forward to. The look they saw from the headmaster when they came to get them was even scarier than usual. The way he was looking at them now, as if he hadn't acted that way, was something that made everyone's spines crawl. Even the oldest ones, the ones who have been in the house for a long time, couldn't do anything to him.

Ferion was looking intently at them. He didn't fail to notice how they shivered. His gaze wandered over to those teenagers who were also looking a little stiff. The orphans in front of him looked stiff and afraid, as if something might happen to this visit. His brow furrowed at that and some flinched at the look on his face. A serious-faced noble who was watching them as if evaluating a product, that's how they felt. None of them would want to misstep and make a mistake and invite his fury. His and the director's.

Brandon was staring at each of those kids as well, as was Nott and the blue-haired knight. The three had divergent thoughts, but with a feeling of empathy in common. Brandon identified with them for being orphans and having no parents, as he also lost his mother, even if it wasn't at such a young age as some of those kids. Nott for understanding them. As the knight, he felt sorry for them.

When he finished looking at them, Ferion turned to the director. "Are they all?"

"Yes sir."

"Hm." Ferion muttered. "Do you have a list, a catalogue, with their information and names? I wish I had that to know more about them."

"Yes, it does. Excuse me for a minute."

The man with the mustache nodded at him and withdrew. The atmosphere that was silent became a little softer at the children's arrival, before becoming tense again from being alone with strangers. Some looked at them warily and suspiciously, while others felt more relaxed with the more threatening presence gone, even if they don't feel comfortable with strangers in the same place.

All were and remained silent, without making a single noise. They were just looking at them. Brandon felt a little pressed as pairs of eyes stared at him in silence. He wasn't used to being in the spotlight or having many people focus on him. He was a servant at the Miller mansion and that wasn't part of his job, as everyone usually focused on the noble he usually accompanied.

Ferion returned the look as well. It was an exchange of glances in which each part analyzed the other in silence. However, it didn't last long. The director appeared with a book in his hands and handed it over with the same friendly smile that had remained on his face since they entered. The book was relatively large and its cover hard. It was an administration book with the children's information, such as their name, age, day they arrived at the orphanage and the day they left, either adopted or reaching the age limit.

The nobleman leafed through the book and sometimes looked up to find the child on the page of the book. It was random and didn't last even three seconds before it went back to paper. Some orphans broke out in a cold sweat, but refrained from doing anything. The director looked with shining eyes at Ferion, while he read with a serious face. To the man, he looked like he was taking serious action, and there was no doubt that he would indeed take it. A strong-faced man who appeared to be well off was someone who would have no problem adopting a child or two, even though he is relatively young.

With the turn of a page, Ferion's eyebrows quivered momentarily, being caught by Brandon who stared at him in confusion, and he lifted his head, searching through that crowd of children and seeing again. He turned again, as if he hadn't done anything.

"No, nothing." Ferion said, turning to him. Finding his face with a few wrinkles and the big white mustache that was on his upper lip. "I just don't think I'll be able to choose one with just a single visit."

"Oh, that's clear, sir. Your choice is very sensible." The man nodded, agreeing with the words. He was trying to woo Ferion's goodwill towards him. It couldn't be more obvious.

He also couldn't disagree with the words Ferion said, however much he felt it was a nuisance. He could get rid of one of those pesky kids if the man took them away right away. However, the excuse he gave was plausible and many people who went to orphanages did. Such people would sometimes visit the place and look for a child that matched their preferences or situations, and if not, they would go elsewhere to find him.

It was a nuisance for him to have to take care of so many, but he couldn't express that to people outside.

"Sorry for taking up so much of your time."

"No problem. You must also be a busy man. That's understandable. Also, I couldn't be happier that you're back and that you're willing to take one of these lovely children with you."

With the director's speech finished, Ferion stood up. He nodded at the words spoken by the man and turned to the children who were looking at him as well. He shook his head at them. Brandon and the knights also glanced at them. Nott looked at them with a little reluctance to leave, and he bit his lip discreetly so as not to be noticed for not wanting to go and be with them, but he refrained from doing so. His young master must be thinking of something and he still hasn't said what he wants. He would have confidence in the family he served.

Brandon gave the children one last look before closing the door and leaving, following the others. Soon, he didn't see the children's shoulders slump and some stiffen with what was to come. The director, as soon as he got back, would complain to them, surely.

At the entrance, outside, Ferion was standing in front of the white-haired man given his age. He had his shoulders straight and chin up, looking into the brown eyes of the old man who pretended to be kind. His face was serious, just as he had first walked in. He would get out of there and have business to attend to, with such a matter being one of his priorities. He would also have to give a primary report on the situation to his father, as he was the one who asked him to come here.

"It's a shame you have to go now and you haven't adopted any of my children." The man said, with a fake expression of sadness.

"We will be back." Ferion answered him.

"Glad to hear that, sir. The children and I will be ready for your visit." He smiled at the noble.

The director was glad to hear that. They would come back and one of the children would leave. If all goes well, he could ask for a donation, the man seemed more than capable of that, in the end.

Brandon turns to follow Ferion just as Ferion starts to lead their way to the gate, but he still glances back. The front door was already closed, with no sign of the orphanage director's benign smile. The building behind him was run down and weeds were growing. Now that he had seen the inside of that big house, he couldn't figure out how the outside looked like that, being so clean inside.

And the four walked towards the exit. Not a single sound of a child or any living being was present. Only the sounds of their footsteps on the grass and earth could be heard in the midst of the silence that even they didn't want to break before leaving that place.