Chapter 9
Sweat gathered in Bella’s clenched hands.
Her voice shook as she stammered,
“P–Principal, I didn’t do anything…”
“I know,” Ida cut her off coldly.
“I know you wouldn’t do something like that. But everything points to you. You understand what that means, right?”
Bella blinked, confused.
‘Everything points to me?’
She tried to remember the day of the theft.
That day, all the teachers went out shopping, leaving Bella alone with the kids.
It wasn’t unusual—something like that happened all the time.
But now, Ida was using that to accuse her.
“I was just in the break room with the kids,” Bella said with trembling eyes. “That’s all, really.”
But Ida shook her head.
“Bella, let me ask you one thing.”
“Yes, Principal.”
“Do you still have no intention of marrying my brother?”
Something snapped inside Bella’s head.
‘What does that have to do with this?!’
It made no sense.
How could her marriage choice be related to a stolen donation?
“Of course not,” Bella said firmly.
Ida’s eyes narrowed. Then she turned away and said,
“I see. Maybe I was too hasty to blame you.”
“Th–thank you—”
“But,” Ida interrupted again, “we can’t just let it go.”
She looked out the window.
“You’ll take responsibility… and find the thief yourself.”
***
Outside the office, Bella let out a huge sigh.
“Mom… seriously…”
She pressed her forehead against the cold wall.
Ida’s words echoed in her head:
‘I’ll give you one week. You must find the culprit yourself.’
“How am I supposed to do that…?”
Ida had basically dumped the whole investigation on her.
If the royal guards got involved, they’d find out that Ida had secretly used part of the royal donation money.
If Bella failed to find the thief, she’d be blamed for everything—and end up in prison.
“So basically, she’s sending me to jail but pretending she’s not…”
Ida couldn’t fire her (Bella knew too much), and she wouldn’t dare kill her.
So instead, she gave Bella a fake ‘chance.’
“Ugh… wait!”
An idea suddenly hit Bella.
She looked around, then crouched and opened her Oracion book.
But soon, she sighed and closed it again.
Her grandmother’s voice echoed in her mind:
‘Bella, Oracion magic flows from the memories of our ancestors. It can do anything—except interfere with life or death.’
The problem was, Oracion only worked based on what she had seen or experienced.
If the thief was someone she didn’t know, it wouldn’t help.
And worse—if it was someone she knew…
It reminded her of that painful day when she used Oracion to expose the traitor who betrayed Simone to the Empire.
She sighed again—
“Bella!”
“Eek—!”
She turned stiffly.
A bald head shining under the sun, a round belly like a tropical fruit, and sharp purple eyes full of mischief—
It was Froc, Aida’s brother.
“Well, well. What’s our little miss doing here?”
His breath reeked of alcohol—he’d clearly been drinking since morning.
Bella stood up quickly, forcing a polite smile.
“Ah, h-hello, Mr. Froc.”
“Heh. Everything fine, my little princess?”
She grimaced inwardly.
Whenever he spoke, everyone suddenly got promoted in rank.
“Yes, of course! You look… very healthy. More, uh, round than before!”
‘Why now, of all times…’
Since Ida had brought up her brother, Bella felt even more uncomfortable facing him.
Froc leaned closer, eyes glinting.
“So, I heard from my sister you got yourself in trouble, hm? Our little thief?”
‘Wow. The gossip travels fast in this family.’
Bella puffed her cheeks, full of frustration.
“I–I have to go now—”
“Go? Where to—hic!”
He hiccupped and clutched his stomach.
Bella took that as her cue to run.
But then he muttered, wiping his mouth,
“Hmm… If you’d just marry me, there wouldn’t be any problem, you know?”
Bella froze.
“…What?”
Those words made a chill run down her spine.
‘If you marry me, there’s no problem.’
‘Wait… could it be… him?’
She looked at him closely.
He was dressed much better than usual—wearing expensive clothes, even a jeweled necklace.
“No way…”
But the more she thought about it, the more it made sense.
The missing donation money. The sudden silence about the case. His new fancy look.
Froc grinned. “So? What do you say? Marry me and—”
Bella couldn’t bear to hear more.
Then, a voice flashed through her mind:
‘I must secure my place here soon, since I’m to be this beautiful lady’s husband.’
She didn’t know why that memory came to her—but she knew what to say.
“I already have someone I’m going to marry,” she said.
Froc blinked.
“What?”
“I–I already have a fiancé!”
“Pfft! Who’d marry a broke little orphan like you, huh? Don’t make me laugh!”
He clutched his belly and laughed cruelly.
But Bella, tears stinging her eyes, shouted back like a small angry cat,
“I do! I really have a husband-to-be!”
Her eyes were watery, but she didn’t back down.
Then—
“B–Bella!”
She turned to see Sui, one of the children, running toward her with a flushed, excited face.
“Bella! The prince is here!”
“The… prince?” Bella blinked.
Sui tugged her apron.
“Hurry, come see!”
Ignoring Froc’s mumbling, Bella ran toward the front gate.
Everyone at the orphanage had gathered in the yard.
And above the crowd, a small boy waved enthusiastically.
“Oh, my fiancée is finally here!”
It was Acares.
