Chapter 87
Leroys family and the Schmitz were close enough that they often spent vacations together.
However, that year only Viviana was with them because the busy count and countess had left their daughter under the care of the dukes family.
Escaping the watchful eyes for the first time in a long while, it was a foregone conclusion that Viviana would act out, like a fish that had found water.
Nobody had heeded Leroys gloomy premonition, which turned out to be the cause of the current tragedy.
Even though they were the same age, Leroy, who had a dignified personality, was already burdened with many responsibilities.
When it was discovered that Viviana had disappeared while they were out together, it was clear who would bear the blame.
Considering his young age, it was only natural for Leroy to come to this conclusion:
I must find her before the adults do.
Leroy took a quick glance at the guard waiting outside the store and headed straight for the back door.
It hadnt been long, so Viviana couldnt have gone too far.
If he could just return his erratic fiance to her rightful place, everything would proceed without a fuss.
Yes, as long as I find her quickly.
The main road he had passed when entering and the alleyway behind the store presented quite different scenes.
Leroy cautiously scanned the directions where Viviana might have disappeared.
She probably headed towards the shopping district, hoping to enjoy her freedom.
Just as Leroy was about to exit the dark alleyway, he spotted a girl rummaging through a trash can not far away.
Is she a pauper searching for food?
For Leroy, who grew up as the only son of a dukes family with no deficiencies, it was a sight he had never seen before.
Despite knowing that it was rude, Leroy couldnt help but have his gaze drift towards the girl.
She might have felt his eyes on her, yet the girl was solely focused on finding something to eat.
The moment came when she pulled out a discarded bone from the trash.
Unable to bear the sight any longer, Leroy approached her.
Wait a moment.
He wasnt intending to offer any presumptuous sympathy, but being a noble since birth, he couldnt stand to watch such an unsanitary scene.
And yet, he couldnt simply ignore the hungry child either; he thought of buying her some decent food.
But as Leroy reached out to grab the girls wrist, the world turned upside down.
Bang!
The moment his body hit the ground, bright lights flashed before his eyes.
In the next instant, Leroy realized he was lying on the ground.
Everything had happened so suddenly that he couldnt make sense of the situation.
All he did was try to stop a girl from eating garbage, but why was she now on top of him, pinning him down?
If you try to take me back there, Ill kill you.
She couldnt have been more than ten years old.
The girls young face stared fiercely at him, her red eyes gleaming with menace.
Her hesitant pronunciation, mismatched with the gravity of her words, sent a chill down his spine.
It seemed she had misunderstood his intentions.
Ive seen her.
Leroy found a clue in the most unexpected place.
He inwardly praised himself for his patience and asked again, Do you know where she went?
She came out about this far. I dont know after that.
The girl responded, swallowing the bread without chewing it properly.
Given that Leroy had only seen the dining habits of young noblewomen his age, her manner of eating left a deep impression.
Having obtained the information he needed, Leroy handed all the change he had received back to the girl.
Take it.
Why are you giving this to me?
As payment for the information.
Leroy responded and then added with a hint of an afterthought, Next time youre hungry, dont knock down passersby. Use this to buy something to eat.
He didnt know how long shed be able to survive on that money, but that was the best Leroy could do.
He couldnt take responsibility for the girls life just because he felt pity for her hunger.
As Leroy prepared to leave, the girl suddenly grabbed his sleeve.
He tensed a bit, recalling the previous incident, but then she brightly complimented him.
You... are nice.
What?
You gave me food, so now I have to pay for it. Ill help you.
Feeling a strange vibe from the girl, Leroy promptly declined without much thought.
No, I dont need help.
Ill help.
I can do it on my own.
But they said if I dont pay back for the meal, Im a freeloader. Im not a freeloader.
First of all, Leroy wanted to point out that the food was not obtained through extortion.
However, what was the point in conversing more with someone he couldnt communicate effectively with?
With a baffled look on his face, Leroy tried to refute the girls words but quickly closed his mouth.
He decided to ignore her entirely and turned on his heels.
He felt her following behind him, but thought if he didnt respond, shed eventually leave on her own.
Contrary to Leroys expectations, she was persistent.
Even after walking continuously for several hours, she didnt seem tired and didnt fall behind in the slightest.
Unintentionally, Leroy found himself accompanied by a tag-along as he roamed the streets.
Opening what felt like the umpteenth clothing store door, he repeated the same question.
Excuse me, maam. Has a child with brown hair and a yellow dress come by here?
--- End Of The Chapter ----
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