The morning light filled the area, the sun having risen just a while ago, with the sounds of birds chirping filling the air.
"Edda."
As I walked through the deserted streets, surrounded by green trees and plants, I mumbled, calling out to my system.
[Yes?]
"What do you think about Valeria?" I asked, recalling yesterday's events.
[What are you asking?]
"I'm asking about what you think her role was in the meeting between my mother and the queen," I replied with a sigh.
I knew my mother was hiding something from me because she didn't allow me to attend the meeting.
I'm not stupid enough to not understand that. Even last time, when she sent me out and I immediately found Zaira outside, it was more than enough for me to realize that my mother knew about it beforehand.
[It's up to you, Eden, what you want to believe.]
"...yeah," I mumbled as I arrived in front of a big tree that I remembered from my first day of school.
For now, let's not think about it.
It must be something big that my mother didn't want me to get involved in.
I hope that's the case.
After all, she is my mother; the least I can do is believe in her.
[But, Eden, be careful with Emily.]
"I know," I replied, understanding that I can't be too overly friendly with her.
Even though she never shows it, she still harbors a lingering hatred for the nobles.
Even if that hatred has lessened over time, it doesn't mean her trauma has ended.
She is a complicated case, and that's why even though I talk to her daily, I don't try to flirt with her.
And the reason for her hatred is what happened to her mother.
"I can't mess it up, now can I?" I chuckled as an old-looking orphanage came into view.
But as I approached the orphanage, an oddly familiar figure also came into view.
To be more specific, she is the girl who likes to get on my nerves.
"Seriously?" I said as I arrived in front of her.
"Seriously," she replied, grinning with her hand folded under her breast, highlighting them.
She wore a blue full-circle skirt and a simple white T-shirt that fit perfectly to her body.
"Can't let you have a good date with Emily, can I?" She said as she stood beside me with a haughty expression.
"Why are you doing this?" I asked, looking at her as I let out a frustrated sigh.
"I can't let go of a powerful ally and let you seduce her with your stupidly handsome face," she replied honestly, as we both understood how powerful she will be when she awakens.
"I don't plan to seduce her," I replied as I walked towards the door of the orphanage.
"Yet, right?" She rebuked as she came closer to me, "right?"
"Shut up, idiot," I replied in annoyance as I knocked on the door.
"Oh...so you're not going to deny it, huh?" Aeloria mumbled as she stood beside me, "heh, men."
"Then what's up with you being here? Are you into women or something?" I rebuked as I waited for the door to open.
"Huh? No! I am straight, I don't swing that way," she replied, clearly uncomfortable with my words, "The only reason I am here is because I want to be friends with her."
"Yeah, I don't think she will like you if you come unannounced," I replied, as I knocked again on the door.
"I talked to her yesterday; she knows I will be here."
"Tch."
"What was that?"
"Nothing," I replied as I poked her between the ribs.
"Ah~"
Click.
As soon as a moan left Aeloria's mouth, the door opened, and a woman in her fifties looked at us weirdly.
And then... she slowly started to close the door.
"Aunt Tina, it's me, Aeloria," grabbing the handle of the door, Aeloria said.
"I know, but this is an orphanage. Take your boyfriend to a hotel or something; don't come here," she replied as she tried to close the door.
"But he's not my boyfriend!" Aeloria shouted as the woman looked at her suspiciously.
"Really?"
"Really!"
"Then come in," saying so, she opened the door and let us in.
Glaring at me, Aeloria walked in, hiding her sides from me and I followed behind her.
"So who is he?" Tina asked as she led us somewhere.
"Our classmate, mine and Emily's," Aeloria replied on my behalf.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," I greeted her with a light bow, to which she raised her brows.
Then she looked at Aeloria, pointing at me. "Emily's—"
"Just a friend, nothing more," Aeloria replied before she could complete her sentence.
"Where is she?" Ignoring her disappointed look, I asked.
"She's at the backyard; I'm taking you there," she replied, smiling as we arrived at an open space inside the orphanage.
I walked into the backyard, looking at the girl sitting in the middle of the group of children.
"Emily!" Aeloria called out to her, and the girl with gray hair and eyes looked at us.
She quickly got up from the ground, followed by the children of the orphanage.
She slowly walked towards us, but the children were faster, arriving in front of us in no time.
"Whoa, who are you?" one of the boys asked, his eyes sparkling as he looked at me and the rest of the children were same as well.
"I'm Emily's friend," I replied, taking out some chocolates that I brought from home.
"Thank you!"
"Me too!"
"Me too!"
The children quickly crowded around me as I passed the chocolates to them one by one.
"Okay, leave him alone now!" Emily arrived close to me, quickly shooing the children away, each holding chocolates in their hands.
"Hi," she waved awkwardly as she greeted me.
She wore a simple blue dress without any makeup but even than she looked beautiful.
A jade beauty at her finest.
"You look good," I complimented her with a smile, and she shyly looked away.
"Thank you," she whispered softly while playing with her fingers.
"Ahem," a light cough brought us back as we both looked at Aeloria, "you know I came to see you as well."
""Why are you here?" I asked, showing my index finger, which quickly made her move back while hiding her sides.
"Hello to you as well, Aeloria," Emily greeted her with a smile as she moved towards her, leaving my side.
"You guys can move in; I will take care of the children, Emily," Tina said as she walked towards the children.
"Let's go," Emily took the lead as we moved through the corridor of the building.
"Anyway, Eden, you never said why you wanted to come here?" Aeloria asked as she walked with us.
"Emily," I called her, and she looked at me. "Can I meet your mother?"
"Why?" She asked, taken aback by my words as she looked at me.
"I want to talk with her," I replied, but before she could say anything else, I interrupted her. "It's important."
"Hey, Eden, why?" Aeloria's interest also piqued as she asked.
"Never gonna tell you," I replied, still looking at Emily.
"But Eden—"
"I just want to talk to her, Emily. I promise I will not say or do something that will hurt her or you," I reassured her as she had a conflicted face.
"Hah... Fine," Emily replied as she took us to a different place at the end of the corridor.
"Eden—."
"I am not gonna say anything until I myself confirm it, so don't ask me anything," I quickly stopped Aeloria from asking as she looked at me.
"But—"
"No."
"Please—"
"No."
"Fuck you!"
"No— wait, what—"
Did she just curse at me?
"Ahem, Eden," but before I could 'politely talk' with Aeloria, Emily called me.
"Yeah."
"Please be mindful of her condition," Emily said as she looked at me sincerely.
"I will," I replied with a smile.
"Anyway, I should cover my hair or something," I mumbled as I took out a cap from my pocket.
"Wait, why?" But before I could, Emily stopped me.
"Ugh... you do know that the boy Eden with white hair is hated all over the kingdom," I replied with a chuckle as I tried to wear the cap.
"No, it's fine," Emily said as she snatched the cap away from me.
"You look fine this way, and don't worry about my mother's reaction; I already told her about you," Emily replied, smiling at me as she fixed my collar.
"Pervert seducer," and of course, Aeloria can't be quiet even for a second.
Even Emily felt ashamed as she quickly moved away from me with a pinkish hue on her cheeks.
"Give me some time to talk with her," I replied as I knocked on the door.
It's time to solve the problem of Emily Michel.
Before the tragedy that happened in the game happens again.