2.9

"Right. Is there anything else?"

A voice broke the quiet environment that had settled. She was firm and attracted the attention of the two other people in the room. Ferion, who had spoken, was looking with his intimidating eyes at Nott. He wasn't mad at the knight, but that didn't mean his brows hadn't deepened in the moments after his speech. He looked scary to the target, but he held his ground and pretended not to be hit.

Nott couldn't get a word out with that self-directed intensity. It was unlike anything he'd experienced at the boot camp or in the city since joining the earl's order of knights. Even when he was a kid, his dad had so much pressure on him. That was the difference between someone who went and survived on a battlefield and those who are still on the path of learning. The knight shook his head in the negative.

"Your information is useful to have more knowledge of the illegalities that are happening in that orphanage. If everything I said is true, and such acts are still being carried out, then it will be easier to find proof, even if we don't form any elaborate plans." Ferion said. The night in his eyes fixed on the man's hazel ones. "Also we can use you as a witness, as there must be records of you living there. You were right to tell us."

The chair made a squeaking sound on the floor as it recoiled as it was pushed. The arms supported the white hands with calluses and the body rose to a standing position. Ferion had risen and looked at the two of them.

"Our conversation ended here. And since we're done, I'll report back to my dad what you said and what we discovered during the evaluation. He must be waiting for my report."

Ferion circled the table again and walked towards the door, with a few hooks at the same height as the iron plate on the other side. Before he left, he turned to both of them who were focused on each other, not making a sound. Brandon had confusion on his face, as if wondering if he should go along with him, and Nott was looking anxious.

"There's no need to come with me, Brandon. You can keep working…" The black eyes flicked to the brown haired man. "But I think the two of you are going to talk for a while."

With that said, the door opened and closed. The noble had left. Only the two of them stood there, not knowing what to do, but aware of each other's presence. Nott was the first to face Brandon, hoping that the other didn't have any negative emotions about him, he feared that he was disappointed in himself for being silent all this time.

"I'm sorry…" The murmur that left his lips was low, but Brandon still heard it. His forehead narrowed and his green eyes trained on Nott's.

"Why are you apologizing to me?"

"For not speaking sooner… And for being silent…" The voice died away. Nott bit his lip. He looked at the forest that was in his friend's green and could not continue.

The knight felt guilty for not having helped the children earlier, shame for having to admit he hadn't done something honorable, and fear that Brandon wanted to end his friendship with him. The redhead was the first friend he made on the estate and he cherished his friends, even more the friendship of someone like Brandon who didn't have many but was devoted to them. He liked him, after all, Brandon was a good person.

"You do not need."

"What?"

"I said you don't need to apologize."

The words the brownish one heard were something he didn't expect. They were startling and a wide-eyed face were seen by the irises. Brandon wondered what kind of image he had for Nott to think of him like that, they got along so well, but the man looked like he expected something terrible from him. It was rather uncomfortable to see the reaction he had to hear such words.

"I don't know why you're so surprised, but there's no need for you to apologize to me. You are also a victim after all." He said. "If you want to apologize, apologize to the kids at the orphanage. So are they."

"But…" Nott hesitates. "Are you not angry?"

"Of course I am. But not with you. I have no reason to be angry with you. The culprit is that director after all." Brandon said. "Did you think I would be mad at you? Because?"

"Because I didn't say anything even if I knew." Hearing this, Brandon let out a sigh. His friend was kind, reliable and lively. It was obvious to him that he wouldn't hide such a thing if he knew how to resolve it. Maybe he wasn't trustworthy enough to tell him this for them to work out.

"That happened when you were fourteen, right? There was no way you could do anything."

For Nott, that sentence was like a twinge in his heart, because it was true. He couldn't do anything at the time, even if he reported it to the police. Officers wouldn't care about a group of orphans who were being abused in their place of residence. There was also no guarantee that they couldn't be bought by Headmaster Ivor if they went to investigate. Man would certainly be able to do that.

Furthermore, if he reported to the county troopers who were responsible for patrolling, it was unknown if they would listen as well. Their routes weren't close to the orphanage, although they walked around the surrounding area, and they couldn't go outside. So what could a child shunned by society do against an authority figure? He had no power, status or anything to fall back on.

It was with that thought, that even though he was adopted by the soldier, his father, he didn't tell him anything. The man was just an ordinary civilian too. He had nothing he could do but file a complaint or report to his superior. However, the fear of being heard and returned later or of something happening to the man, was also something he felt.

Nott grew guilty about it and he wasn't sure if anything was still going on at the orphanage after all this time. Even so, he didn't feel better or relieved, let alone ignore it. He regretted it, powerless as he was about it.

"But I'm happy for you." Nott looked into Brandon's face when he said that. "You stepped forward to face it when you had the opportunity. He was not silent and told his story when he saw the need. In a way, I'm proud."

Brandon's handsome face flashed a smile directed at Nott. The knight felt relieved to see how his friend had not changed his treatment of him, even though he knew about his past and something he was ashamed of. For a moment, he felt a little foolish for having imagined that the redhead wouldn't accept what he'd said and done.

"Thanks." He said thank you, something he really meant. It was sincere. And he returned a smile on his kind face.

Brandon glared at him as he thanked him and shook his head as if to say it wasn't something to be thankful for. Well, he soon wanted to change the subject now that his friend was more relaxed.

"So… You met Ferion, what did you think of him?" He asked, curious about what his friend would say about the heir to the Miller house. He thought that he might have the same opinion as he did about the man, that he was rather intimidating with that serious face.

"The First Young Master…" Nott mused.

That face that looked at him with serious eyes and that had clear features. The intimidating, almost overwhelming aura he felt when he directed it toward him with its intensity alone. And how firm his voice was when talking to him, Brandon and even the neutrality he had when talking to the director of the orphanage, even though he was aware of what happened. It was obvious to him that the first son was responsible and capable, but he was like iron as the rumors said.

Nott couldn't deny it, he had been a little scared of seeing him and being in his presence. But part of him was a little proud to be one of the knights of such a man who will inherit the earldom.

"A bit scarry…?" He said, still remembering how it felt to sit in that chair and have his eyes on you.

Nott saw and heard Brandon chuckle lightly at his hesitant response.

"I'm glad I wasn't the only one." Brandon said to him, a smile on his face.

"You too?" It was a surprised tone. Nott didn't expect Brandon to say that living in the same house as him for years.

"Clear." Brandon nodded. "Although now, it doesn't seem so much. It just has a serious atmosphere, but it's friendly to anyone you talk to. I think I'm getting used to it. Like I said earlier, we're not that close so I didn't know much about him."

"I never thought you'd think that about him…" Nott spoke. "I think he's good at the job too. The way he acted at the orphanage was very composed. I was surprised he spoke normally when even you seemed rude to the director."

"I didn't like him. It gave me a feeling of direct discomfort. And it turns out I was right." He shrugged. "And Ferion is really capable. Otherwise, he would not have been one of the best in the war."

"Yes… And I think it's time to go." The knight sighed. He wanted to chat some more with his friend now that he felt relaxed in his presence, but he still had work to do and so did he.

"It seems so." Brandon said and saw him get up from where he sat. The brownish one turned to him and smiled.

"Thank you again." The same thanks were given, but it was unnecessary for Brandon.

"And again, not something to be thankful for."

Nott gave a wave and walked out the door. Only Brandon remained standing there. With a sigh, he looked around the room. With no thoughts going through his mind, it was as if he was blank and empty. He was just processing. He sat down in the chair Nott was in and looked up at the wooden ceiling. However, he soon turned back to the table and got to work. There were still documents Ferion needed to check and he had his own work to do as well, while Miller didn't get home from his meeting with his father.

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With a straight spine and a straight look at the man sitting in the chair, Ferion was standing in front of his father. He got permission to enter as soon as he reached the door and was waiting for the man to finish signing the last document he was looking at. It wasn't something that was urgent or should be done quickly, it was just a task report from him, and he knew it was always good to finish what you do before starting another one.

Count Ivan signed the document that was in his hand and put down the pen that was next to it. The paper and pen lay side by side in the center of the table and in front of him. The gaze and black irises that were practically mirrors of Ferion's looked at his son professionally. Ivan wasn't just looking at Ferion as his son, but as an heir and a subordinate, until he becomes head of House Miller.

"How was the evaluation?"

"I did a discreet and superficial assessment, but that was enough to conclude that the orphanage is not well managed. The building is precarious, the front part is almost sterile and the interior is old." Ferion said. Using the same tone as his father. "The director, Ivor by name, doesn't seem to worry too much about it and wears well-tailored clothes. The children are in old clothes and look slightly thin. And I didn't see any other staff on site other than the director."

Ivan frowned at what his son said. It wasn't good news. It was just a visit to see if everything was going well and the money was well spent, but it turned out not to be the case. As far as he knew, since he takes care of that part, his wife donated a good amount to the county welfare institutions and this orphanage is including among them.

"It's embezzlement." He commented. It was obvious what was going on the moment he heard that the infrastructure was terrible and the director was wearing nice clothes.

"Yea." Ferion confirmed. "Also, it looks like the children are being abused by the principal."

"What? Are you sure about that?"

The earl asked seriously. His expression deepened into a frown. One thing he disliked was child abuse. Having children and even though they were small, even James was still smaller, was not something he took lightly and let go of. If he had known about this or just a tip had come to him, he would have investigated and acted quickly.

"I have. They were nervous, but not with us strangers, more with the director, like they were scared. The attention was almost entirely on him. There were also some with long-sleeved clothes in a place that in summer. I believe this was chosen to hide the bruises of abuse."

Ivan didn't say anything, waiting for his son to continue. The man who went to war and lived an experience that even he, his father, had must have much more to say. Even more knowing your son.

"There is also something that got to me. One of our riders, who accompanied me to the orphanage with Brandon, said that he came from there and told what happened there. The director fired all the staff and abused the children slowly, so as not to attract suspicion, until everything was under his control." He said. "From beatings to imprisonment, but I don't think there is human trafficking, as the children were not frightened by our presence."

"Did that knight not think to report?"

"He was adopted years ago by a soldier in the territory and had no idea if it was still happening. He left during Principal Ivor's first year, shortly after the former director of the orphanage passed away."

The earl let out a loud sigh. It was a valid reason, after all, he spent time away from where he was and had no news or idea what would happen. However, that doesn't mean he couldn't have reported it to the police station or even to the barracks, which is under his control.

"I want to talk to him after this." He had to hear an explanation of why such a problem had not come to him. Although he had some ideas why.

"Right."

"And have you prepared a plan to deal with the situation? Need my help? I hope you remember that there are rules we must follow."

"I have an idea. But I am awaiting your orders or permission to act." Ferion looked like a soldier waiting for his commander's next lines to immediately act. The habit he picked up in the army still hasn't completely disappeared.

The Count reflected for a moment. The report was unexpected, but something had to be done. And Ferion was more than capable of deciding how to handle the situation. So, he decided to allow him to act as he wanted, without his intervention. So was the future chief, anyway, it was good that he could handle the county's problems without his supervision.

"You can deal with this problem however you like. However, try to resolve it in a way that our intervention is unquestionable."

"Of course, father." Ferion agreed.

"There is something else I would like to talk to you about." The Count began. "A letter arrived from the capital. The Victory Celebration ceremony will take place soon and they have summoned you for participating and they will distribute prizes for contributions."

Ferion's expression remained unchanged. "When?"

"In three weeks, on the tenth of February."

"Hm." Only a murmur was heard from the son.

"And we all will. It's a good time to go to the capital and find out what has changed and remained unchanged after the war. I also need to talk to the second prince's faction and find out what they intend to contain Duque Santos and his faction." The earl pauses for a moment. "It would also be good for your mother and your brothers. She and James barely left the county after the war started, with the exception of a few mandatory events."

"You will also find out about the mercenary the king has his eye on, correct?" Ivan smiled at his son who discovered part of his intentions.

"Of course. From the moment he was discovered, everyone will have to be careful in dealing with him and he will be watched by everyone too. You can't piss off people like him. It will be even better if he doesn't get involved in politics, but… If he sides with us, it's better for us." The earl finished and soon changed the subject when there was nothing more to say. "One last thing, I want you to tell me about your plan before you implement it and after you execute it. The man's punishment, if what I was told is proven, will be up to him as well."

"As you wish. Excuse me."

Ferion shook his head and left the room. He left his father and thought that he would have to go to the capital and what to do with the orphanage. Well, he had an idea and it was simple in a way, so all he had to do was get a few details right.