It wasn’t as if Ciela knew everything. She only vaguely remembered the story that followed Ken’s explanation.

‘Seventeen years ago. A revenant who, after losing his family, founded a guild to hunt down the culprit.’

Ken’s smile, as if lost in thought, seemed ready to fade at any moment.

“Instead of having no chance at all, it’s lucky that at least you have the chance to find your real family.”

When his voice suddenly dropped, as if drenched in grief, it became hard to sit still.

‘For me, it’s just that I don’t want to waste what the deceased left behind.’

There was no need to discuss such personal matters. Choosing her words carefully, Ciela stood up.

“I’m going now.”

“Already?”

“Yes. There’s someone waiting for me outside.”

“Don’t tell me… it’s that guy?”

Ken’s lips immediately turned downward. Ciela shrugged in confirmation. It was obvious who he had in mind, considering how openly he showed his dislike.

“It’s a long journey. To deceive the Marquis of Arcel and his wife, it’s better to travel together.”

She had already informed the Marquis of Arcel that she was on her way to Calix’s villa.

“I see…”

Ken’s face was hidden behind his hair, but the air around him was palpably tense.

“Shall I come with you? No matter how I think about it, just the two of you seem dangerous.”

“No need. From what I’ve heard from Fabian, you’ve been busy lately. And besides, with Calix around, what could possibly go wrong?”

“That’s exactly why it’s more dangerous.”

Who knows what that guy is capable of?

Ken rubbed his face with his hands and let out a deep sigh that seemed to sink into the floor. Jumping to his feet, he opened a drawer and started rummaging through it.

“Take these.”

“What are they?”

Ciela asked, staring at the small, palm-sized rods he handed her.

“Simple magical tools for self-defence. They’re enchanted to knock out an adult male. If it’s just the two of you, you’ll need something like this.”

Ken grinned smugly as he explained how to use them.

‘If he offers, there’s no reason to refuse.’

Ciela tucked the black staff into her cloak and turned to leave.

‘It’s late, isn’t it?’

The explanation had slowed her down quite a bit. As she started to leave, thinking of Calix who must be waiting, she suddenly stopped. She remembered something she’d forgotten.

“Oh, could you buy me a glowing ore mine?”

“A glowing ore mine? Why? I can buy it for you, but that’s rubbish.”

Glow Ore, like Magic Stones, was a mineral that contained magical energy but was not refined. Often mistaken for Magic Stones due to its magical reaction when buried, it was mined only to be disappointed.

Despite years of research into its potential as a second magical stone, no one had managed to refine it. Now its owners, burdened by taxes, were eager to sell it, even at a loss.

” That stuff is valuable. I can’t explain it now, but trust me.”

Ken’s mouth fell open for a moment before his lips curled into a grin. He nodded, his thumb and forefinger making an okay sign.

“I’ve never seen you lose money on a deal before. Good. How much shall I secure?”

“Of course… as much as you can. All of it.”

—

After a long journey, Ciela stepped out of the carriage. Her appearance was a little different than usual. Her wavy blonde hair was hidden under a wig as dark as the night, and her clothes were made of the kind of material worn by commoners. She pressed the brim of her wide hat tightly with one hand and turned to face Calix.

“I can handle this myself. I’m sorry to inconvenience you by making you wear a wig as well.”

Calix had hidden his ebony hair under a golden wig and, like her, had changed into simpler clothes.

“It’s no trouble. I insisted on coming, after all.”

Before coming, they had asked Ken for basic information about the orphanage. They learned that it was one of the orphanages supported by the Marquise of Arcel’s family. Revealing their true identities was out of the question.

‘I have to meet the deputy director.’

The late Marquis Arcel must have foreseen this situation, as he had made preparations for her visit. The deputy director of the orphanage was someone who was indebted to the former Marquis. Following the instructions in the will, she planned to meet him, conclude her business and leave immediately.

“Calix, from now on please call me Ciel in front of others.”

“Understood. Then please call me Lix.”

As the two entered the orphanage, they were greeted by the sound of pure, unadulterated laughter.

“Giggle!”

The children played happily in the small courtyard, some throwing a ball, others playing house. But then, one by one, they noticed Ciela and Calix. Surprised at the sudden appearance of strangers, they stopped playing and looked at the newcomers.

“We should hurry.”

The children seemed wary of them, so Ciela tugged at Calix’s sleeve and whispered to him. But when she looked around, she realised that there were no adults in sight. With no choice, she approached the nearest child, a little girl clutching a ball.

“Hello, sweetie.”

Ciela said, deliberately curving her lips into a warm smile, worried that the child might be frightened.

“Wow, so pretty…”

“Huh?”

“I know who you are!”

The girl exclaimed, her innocent eyes sparkling as she spoke with all her might.

“You’re an angel! The angel who granted me my wish yesterday!”

An angel?

Ciela stood there, her mouth agape, unable to form an answer. Meanwhile, the children who had called her an angel began to swarm around the first girl like a herd of sheep.

“Ailee, you’re silly! There’s no such thing as an angel without wings!”

“Maybe she lost them!”

“Has she?”

“Yes! And even without wings, isn’t she so shiny and pretty?”

“You’re right!”

The children’s innocent chatter left Ciela stunned and at a loss for words. At that moment, a deep chuckle came from beside her.

It was Calix, of course.

“The children seem to have a good eye for people.”

“You’re teasing me, aren’t you?”

“I’m being sincere.”

Calix spoke with a slight squint in his eyes, the laughter in his voice unmistakable. Ciela blinked at him in mild annoyance before turning her gaze back to the child she had first called Angel – Ailee.

“I’m sorry, but I’m not an angel. I’m just a human being.”

“Even angels lie sometimes!”

Ciela tried to deny it several times, but Ailee’s face showed no sign of believing her. Finally, exhausted from the back and forth, Ciela rubbed her face with her hands in frustration.

“Well then, could you promise not to call me an angel in front of other people?”

“Not to call you an angel?”

“Right.”

“Okay!”

Ailee agreed with a firm nod.

Having secured this promise, Ciela pushed her bangs back from her face and, concentrating on her original purpose, finally brought up the reason she had called Ailee in the first place.

“Aren’t the adults here?”

For the first time, the talkative Ailee pressed her lips together. Instead, the other children answered for her.

“No, they’re not. Hugo has disappeared and everyone is looking for him.”

“The teachers haven’t let us out lately, so he must have sneaked off to play.”

“I heard the teachers saying earlier that it could be something dangerous. What was it? Oh, they mentioned that he might have been kidnapped.”

The children eagerly shared what they knew, speaking all at once. It was overwhelming, but Ciela managed to piece together why only the children were left at the orphanage.

“Thank you for telling me, children.”

It seemed she would have to wait for the deputy director to return. Faced with this unexpected time gap, she was momentarily at a loss.

“What if we went to the villa first? There’s a lake there – it wouldn’t be a bad place for a bit of boating.”

Calix didn’t miss the opportunity to lean down and whisper in her ear. His suggestion wasn’t a bad one, considering the free time they suddenly had. After a moment of feigned consideration, Ciela nodded and his eyes brightened noticeably.

But just then –

A tug. Ailee grabbed the hem of Ciela’s dress.

“Angel! If you’re waiting for the teacher, can’t you stay with me until then?”

“Yes, play with us!”

Following Ailee’s lead, the other children began to clamour for her to play with them as well. Their expectant gazes, like chicks following a mother hen, were hard to refuse.

If she refused, it could end in a flood of tears.

Feeling trapped, Ciela looked to Calix for help. Before she could speak, he spoke first.

“We can go boating later. If the kids start crying, it’ll only complicate things.”

Although Calix said he didn’t mind, there was a clear note of disappointment in his tone. Smiling faintly, Ciela patted him lightly on the shoulder before crouching down to meet the children at eye level.

“What would you like to play?”

The children’s faces instantly lit up.

“Let’s play ball!”

“How about playing house?”

“Tag!”

“I want to play hide and seek!”

One by one, the children raised their hands and called out their preferences. In the chaos, Ailee quickly dropped her ball and clung to Ciela’s leg.

“I prayed to the angel at night and she came for me, so the angel is mine! You can play with that one over there!”

“That’s not fair!”

“If you don’t like it, start praying today!”

Ailee snapped, bristling like a kitten, while the other children grumbled in response.

Ciela tried to diffuse the tension and comforted Ailee gently.

“Let’s not fight, let’s play together instead.”

Ailee puffed out her cheeks in displeasure, clearly not happy with the suggestion, but eventually relented.

“Fine. I’ll do it because the angel said so.”

“Could you stop calling me angel?”

“What should I call you then?”

“Just call me Ciel, like an older sister.”

“Okay!”

Finally free of the title “Angel”, Ciela let out a small sigh of relief.

“Let’s play!”

“Alright.”

The more active children ran around with Calix, laughing and shouting as they played. Thanks to this, Ciela ended up entertaining the less energetic children in a way that wasn’t too physically demanding.

‘I thought she liked active games,’ Ciela thought, glancing at Ailee, who stayed firmly by her side. When they first arrived, Ailee had been playing with the others using a ball. Even now, it seemed she couldn’t stay completely still, occasionally shifting and twisting her body as if restless.

“If you want to play with the others, you’re free to go.”

“No! I like being here with you, unnie!”

Ailee clung to Ciela’s hand with her tiny fingers and shook her head. No matter how many times Ciela encouraged her to join the other children, Ailee’s answer remained the same. Finally, Ciela decided to stop pushing the issue.

‘What could make her so adamant?’

Then she remembered – when Ailee had first called her an angel, she had mentioned a wish she had made yesterday.

Ciela put the leaves the children had brought to one side and looked at Ailee.

“Is there anything you want to tell me?”

Ailee’s shoulders flinched, a visible sign of discomfort.