-Chapter 8-
It would’ve been perfect if only I could have gone with Saintess Melodia alone—but, of course, the director insisted on tagging along, hovering behind us like a shadow.
And, as expected, she kept glaring daggers at me the entire way.
‘Once the saintess leaves, I’m dead.’
That thought flashed through my mind, but I kept my smile bright and innocent—like a happy little child enjoying a walk.
“Yes, ma’am~!”
The cause of all this misery—the most despicable woman alive.
When I smiled at her, she gritted her teeth so hard I could hear it.
“I’ll overlook this once, Aisha,” she said tightly. “But don’t ever throw tantrums again.”
“Yes, Director!” I chirped cheerfully.
Still beaming, I tugged Saintess Melodia’s hand and led her onward.
We walked for a long time. Long enough that my legs started to ache.
“Where exactly are we going?” Melodia asked, tilting her head. “Is this the orphanage’s back path?”
That was when the director’s face suddenly drained of all color.
Because at the end of this path, there was only one thing—the shed where the twins were hidden.
“W-wait! Stop right there!”
The director grabbed my shoulder, forcing me to stop.
Her grip was strong enough to make me stumble, and the saintess frowned.
“What’s the matter, Director Seril Sandra?” Melodia asked.
“T-there’s nothing this way.”
“Nothing?”
“Nothing at all. Aisha, don’t bother the saintess. Let’s go back.”
Her face twisted with barely controlled anger, as if she could strike me at any second.
“That’s not true! There’s something there!”
“What?”
“I saw them! I saw children! There are kids there!”
Right then, the shed came into view—and Melodia’s expression froze.
“Children?”
“There are no children,” the director said quickly. “Aisha must be mistaken.”
“No! Saintess! Please believe me! I really saw them! Please, I met them myself!”
“You must’ve been dreaming, dear,” the director said smoothly. “You haven’t been sleeping well, have you? That must be why you’re seeing things. You’ve grown so thin lately… Come, let’s get you to a doctor.”
Her words were fake-sweet, but her body language screamed threat. She stepped toward me, clearly about to grab me—and I instinctively stepped back.
Before she could touch me, the saintess moved between us, her hand raised protectively.
“It seems,” she said calmly, “that you’re hiding something.”
“N-no, of course not!”
“Then let’s at least hear what the child has to say.”
“That’s not necessary. It’s just an old shed! Full of garbage!”
“It’s not! There are kids in there!” I shouted.
And right on cue—
BANG! BANG! BANG!
From inside the shed came the sound of something hitting the metal door.
Just like I’d told them to do. I’d told the twins: if they ever heard my voice from outside, they should make as much noise as possible.
Thank goodness—they’d listened.
Melodia’s eyes went wide, and before the director could stop her, she ran toward the shed.
“I heard that! I definitely heard that! Aisha was right—there’s something inside!”
“N-no, you must have misheard!”
“Are you saying I’m hearing things?” the saintess said coldly. “Did no one else hear it?”
The paladins following us quickly shook their heads.
“No, Saintess, we heard it too.”
“So did I.”
“It seems,” one said, “that the only one who didn’t hear it… is the director.”
The woman’s face turned deathly pale.
“I-it must’ve been wild animals! There are beasts around here that make noise—”
“Enough nonsense,” Melodia cut her off sharply. “We’ll check for ourselves.”
“No! There’s nothing in there! I told you!”
The director’s voice rose to a shriek as she grabbed my arm roughly, squeezing so hard I thought my bones might snap.
I bit my lip, holding back tears.
It hurt so badly I could barely breathe.
“Ow… Director…”
“Quiet, Aisha. I’ve been far too lenient with you. You’re getting too bold.”
“I-I’m sorry… but I really heard voices…”
Her grip only tightened, and I had to fight to speak through the pain.
“You should have told me first,” she hissed.
“I just… thought you wouldn’t believe me…” I stammered, pretending to sound scared and confused.
That did it. Melodia quickly intervened, prying the director’s hand off my arm.
“Enough, Director Sandra,” she said firmly. “You’re hurting her. A child should never be treated this way. Is this how you behave normally? Is this why it seems so natural to you?”
“N-no, never! I take care of them with love, of course!”
“I find that hard to believe,” Melodia said, eyes narrowing. “But we’ll discuss that later. For now, we’re opening that door.”
“W-wait! There’s nothing inside! Just a bad smell!”
But the paladins were already moving.
Without hesitation, they kicked the lock and chain, breaking them easily.
The director’s scream echoed behind them.
“Wait! Stop!”
Melodia ignored her and rushed inside.
A moment later, she stopped—and gasped.
Her face went white as she covered her mouth with trembling hands.
“There… there really were children…” she whispered.
I followed her, trying my best to look nervous and uncertain—like a scared little girl who didn’t know what to do.
The director was too busy panicking to notice me anyway.
The twins were standing just inside the doorway, hesitant, too afraid to come out.
Melodia stepped closer carefully. Normally, someone as kind-hearted as her would have immediately embraced them—but this time, she didn’t. She just stopped a few steps away, voice shaking.
“How… how did you end up here?”
The twins said nothing—just as I’d told them not to.
If they revealed too much now, it could ruin everything. We had no protection yet—no power, no allies.
And even if this discovery led to an investigation, that would probably be the end of it.
No one truly cared about orphans. Not really.
The saintesses preached compassion, but only Melodia actually visited. The others saw the orphanage as a nuisance—something that didn’t bring money or prestige.
‘That’s why only Melodia or her successor ever come now,’ I thought bitterly.
Even if the abuse was exposed, nothing would really change.
Still, this much was progress.
‘We’ll take what we can get.’
Melodia, unable to bear the silence, tried again—waving gently.
“It’s okay, little ones. I’m not a bad person. I’m a saintess.”
“…”
“…”
The twins’ eyes darted around, but they didn’t speak.
Melodia’s face fell. She looked utterly heartbroken, as if she couldn’t comprehend what kind of cruelty had made children this afraid.
“Oh, heavens…” she murmured. “What could they have gone through to be this terrified of people…?”
She turned, her expression hardening for the first time. Her voice trembled—not from fear, but fury.
“Director Sandra… just what have you been doing to these children?”
