Chapter 46
Javania racked his memory. Though their exchange was brief, her impression was deeply etched in his mind.
"If I may be so bold, she resembles a god."
"Lord Rahel? She resembles Lord Rahel... No wonder the knight commander is so smitten."
Marik did not rebuke the irreverent words. Instead, she issued a command to Javania.
"But first impressions may differ from true nature. Since you regard the knight commander as your own child, I'm worried too. Shouldn't we check Lady Rohanson's character with a parent's heart?"
"I'll look into it personally."
Marik patted Javania's shoulder as if trusting his pledge. Javania would surely do his utmost not to disappoint her.
After Marik and Javania vanished underground, once the footsteps faded, Gabriel entered Merai's cell.
The haggard woman, drained of vitality, lifted her head at the door's creak.
Her face was deathly pale, as if on the verge of dying. Locking her in the basement alone after sharing it with the children must have been grueling.
Merai's suffering stemmed from resurfaced childhood trauma. Before catching the director's eye, she too had been just another tool to amuse the demons, like the other children.
"Have you eaten?"
The everyday question seemed absurd in a prison, drawing a hollow laugh from Merai.
"For Grand Temple fare, it was truly meager."
A single loaf of bread and a bowl of soup. She knew it was more than enough for someone slated to die soon, yet sarcasm spilled out automatically.
"At least you'll get one hearty meal of your choosing."
Merai grasped the implication. It referred to the special last meal for the condemned before execution. She accepted her fate calmly.
"So, it's the death penalty."
"Yes. You'll be handed to the guards at dawn."
Her emotions barely stirred, less than expected. With her death date set, Merai felt an odd calm settle over her.
"The children you sold—Lady Rohanson will retrieve them."
"Buying them back? No different from me."
"It's entirely different."
News of Merai and the priest's arrests spread swiftly; dozens of letters arrived in that short time. Some begged not to report to the palace, others offered refunds and child returns.
Evangeline gladly paid and reclaimed the children, though buying people wasn't pleasant.
Of course, most feigned ignorance. They'd claim it was employment, not purchase—just an introduction fee.
Those who'd dealt with Merai long ago or had reputations for cruelty stayed silent. Their victims were already dead or too ruined to show.
When Gabriel relayed this, Daisy burst into tears.
"Stop crying. Remember what you asked for?"
"Yes. To find the children."
"Exactly. In exchange for you, she'd find them all."
Evangeline Rohanson acted out of character. How much that gruff promise comforted Daisy was obvious.
Daisy knelt, praying in gratitude. Gabriel's presence didn't faze her at all.
The terrified woman who'd once branded Evangeline a demon was gone; Daisy submitted sincerely now. It evoked devotees praying before Rahel's statue.
The difference: unlike Rahel, Evangeline Rohanson could respond to her follower.
A pale hand rested on Daisy's head. Awkward, as if she'd never comforted anyone or needed to.
Gabriel couldn't tear his eyes from the clumsy gesture. Was that hand still cold as it soothed Daisy?
Gabriel shook off the thought, focusing on Merai.
Evangeline had promised to retrieve every child. Merai's ledger proved invaluable for the list.
"Your ledger will help."
It would also heighten her punishment. No murders, and selling commoner orphans wouldn't warrant severe noble penalties. But the ledger—detailed with dates, amounts, locations, methods, brokers—provided proof.
One buyer, the priest, faced exile to a warring nation instead of mere defrocking, thanks to the ledger. It meant serve and die, never to return.
"Why keep the ledger?"
Like someone clinging to regrets.
"Figured it'd come in handy later. Flash it, and requests get granted."
Yet buyers acted clueless, learning of it only now.
"I see."
Gabriel didn't press for truth. No reason to contradict her. Even if faint guilt prompted the ledger, it erased no crimes, overturned no sentence.
"Tomorrow, the investigator's interrogation."
Instead, he stated his purpose.
"They'll ask about Lady Rohanson."
Gabriel instructed her answers: Evangeline occasionally volunteered at the orphanage. Avoid linking Daisy to the case.
Merai laughed hollowly. Defend the angel who cornered her, claim noble support?
Nobles visited only to buy children. True charity would've spared her selling them.
"Threatening false testimony? Knights are damn righteous paragons."
Gabriel remained unmoved by her barbs. Unlike his pious reputation, he didn't see himself as pure; sharp words didn't wound.
"Think I'll comply?"
"Yes. If you remember what Daisy said."
Merai froze. When? Right—Gabriel had kindly allowed her last words with Daisy.
In memory, Daisy spoke.
"Director. I could never see you as a mother."
Of course not. Merai wasn't her mother.
Daisy wasn't even a cherished child. She'd heard reproaches from her son and others too. But Daisy's words lingered.
"I did love you once, sincerely."
Daisy, unable to fully let go, hugged Merai and whispered.
"Lady Evangeline will take us in. So never speak of her or the demon. If you feel any guilt toward us, if you ever cared even a little, never say a word."
Merai felt no guilt, so Daisy's plea fell flat.
"You heard that?"
"I have good ears."
Merai fell silent thereafter. No promise to testify as asked, but Gabriel left as if done.
The next day, as Gabriel said, Merai was transferred to the execution grounds.
Condemned spent their final day there. Interrogation came as foretold. Post-questioning, the investigator shuffled papers.
"Anything you want to eat before dying?"
Last supper.
"Can't believe they feed scum like us. Use that gold for my bonus.... Spit it out quick."
Merai hesitated; the investigator prodded.
"Potato soup. Mashed potato soup."
"Potato soup? Modest.... Fine."
The investigator scrawled it down. Unseen, but obviously 'Merai – potato soup.'
Before execution, as others chewed wine and meat, Merai alone ate potato soup.
Potato soup was the orphanage staple. Once, a child said they'd miss Merai's food upon adoption, requesting soup. Thereafter, she fed them soup before sales. Why? She didn't know.
"Enjoy your last meal?"
Meal done, guards led her. A cloth hooded her head; she sat. Somewhere, a blade scraped.
Merai closed her eyes.
Utterly, disgustingly tasteless.
***
"Nice weather."
"Really. Cool breeze, like flower scents riding the wind."
At Evangeline's words, Kanna opened the door. Unlike Kanna, Daisy caught a fishy tang in the floral breeze from the window.
"Perfect dying weather."
Evangeline brushed back wind-tossed hair.
Daisy knew whose death it meant. Today was Merai's execution day.
