"Are you sure you didn't want to announce your pregnancy?"
"It is fine. I know how much of an impact it would bring if I tell them the news, it is not something you should worry about, darling. Also, as long as you are with me, all is fine."
Mina hugged Colt's arm as she had her head gently patted by her beloved. Colt looked at her and also smiled. He said nothing for words was not needed.
The carriage ride to the Orphanage was nerve-wracking. Two carriages set out, one for Colt and Mina, and the other was for Lyra and Risa.
Around 1:00 PM, two carriages stopped in front of the hill where the Light Orphanage was situated. Colt and Mina stepped out of their transport.
"The Light Orphanage? So it was across town. You've taken measures, Older Brother."
Colt turned to Risa, who stated the obvious. A sigh escaped Colt before nodding his head, "Yeah, sure."
He took a step forward, and from here on, he is no longer sneakily entering the premise as he tries to avoid others' eyes.
He is no longer in fear of him being there will implicate his daughter.
With a heart freed from fear and guilt, Colt walked with confidence and reached the peak of the hill. On the summit, Filla and Hylda were playing.
Filla turned her head as she heard footsteps coming from the below, and when she saw Colt, her face lit up, "Big bro! I mean, Father!"
With a broad smile, Filla ran over to Colt. She jumped and held onto Colt's body like a koala.
Lifting her head, Filla's broad smile was beaming, "You came back!"
"Of course, I promised you, didn't I?"
Colt ruffled Filla's golden hair. Finally, her father had returned from somewhere so far. Her laughter echoed about, and then more footsteps echoed.
Filla anticipated the appearance of the "Pink Witch". She looked over, and there she was, the Pink Witch. Glaring at Mina, Filla didn't like her one bit, for she too vied for Colt's attention.
However, what caught her attention some more is the fact that there are two more people with her. There were two young girls, one who was around her mid-teens and the other someone who seems not that older than Filla.
"Who are they!? AH! Are they also your mistresses!?"
"NO, they're not! Wait, where did you learn that word?"
"From Big Sis Hylda?"
Colt looked over at Hylda who turned the other way and avoided his gaze. Colt felt a headache creeping from behind his head, "No, they are not. Those girls are your aunties."
"Aunties?"
"Yes, I'm going to bring you home with me."
Filla looked at Colt, she cried and laughed at the same time. After some time, Filla stopped her tears as she calmed herself, Colt introduced her to his sisters.
"Filla, this blue-haired tall girl is aunt Risa, and the little one is Lyra."
Filla looked at the two new arrivals and smiled before introducing herself to them, "I-I am Filla, daughter of Colt Edgeworth, hello aunty aunties."
"Awwww, she's cute and smart to boot. I don't think most girls her age acts like this."
"Well, she is my daughter, so what did you expect?"
"Nah, that can't be, mother said you were bad in almost everything other than the sword and horseback riding. This lass' smarts should have been from somewhere else…"
While the Edgeworth family was fawning over Filla who had shown some impressive and unnatural smarts, Mina looked back and saw Hylda watching in silence. She had a smile on her face, but sadness was radiating from behind it.
Hylda stared at Filla, gaining a family, and finding her place was indeed a good thing. She was happy for her.
However, from deep within, something crept up, and then she shook her head then entered the church. Filla looked back to find Hylda. She wanted to introduce her to her newfound family, but she was nowhere to be found.
"Um, big bro…I mean, father…Big Sis Hylda, she's missing. I want to introduce her to aunty, she's my older sister, after all."
Colt looked at Filla's pleading eyes and then nodded his head. He looked at her and showed a soft smile.
"Go, you don't have to worry."
Filla turned to her aunties and bowed, "If you would excuse me."
Filla left, leaving Colt, Mina, Risa, and Lyra in the front yard. The three girls could not be bothered by Colt as they were too busy gossiping their topic...him. Both good and bad were uttered.
Risa was mostly were fishing for information on what else Colt had told her. Lyra was just there listening.
'Well, at least they're not speaking behind my back.' Colt then turned to one side of the chapel, where he saw a lady wearing the tunic of the Dracian Fate.
Colt left the three and walked over to Sister Mary.
"Are you going finally getting that darned red folder torn to pieces?" Sister Mary jokingly asked.
"Yeah, I am. But… I've been thinking about this for a long time…do you think you can process it by the end of the day?"
"You seem serious, what is it?"
"I want to take care of my dear benefactor this time around." Colt smiled.
===
In dimly lit damp place, there was the raggedly breathing of a man with no arms. With both legs chained. Blood was coming down from the cut on his forehead. His body almost shriveled from the lack of nutrients.
He was in a cell, where iron bars separated him from two people wearing butler uniforms. One was a middle-aged man, and the other was a young girl.
The middle-aged was calm and collected. The girl only looked calm but was slightly trembling.
It was apparent that she was not used to this kind of sight before.
She was about to hurl when she heard a voice only she could hear, "If you are to be Butler Go's successor, then you must not be fazing by this mere sight. Something far worst will eventually show itself to you. Be strong."
"Yes." She answered with a robust whispery voice.
"Then I shall begin."
Neun nodded his head and then opened the doors to the cell. Sera remained outside, watching what he will do, trying to learn what it is she must do in the future.
Standing before the man with no arms who kept his head down was Neun, who asked, "Who sent you to go after the young master?"
"….."
No answer.
Neun snorted and then brought out a knife and then threw it at the man's leg.
"AAAAAHHHH!"
"It appears that you still have your senses. Now, why don't you tell me who sent you?"
"I can't …they'll kill me…"
Pang!
Neun delivered a kick across the man's face.
"Stop saying bullshit. You don't fear death. If you did then you would have already told me everything three weeks ago when you arrived here, what you fear is not your death but your family's..."
"BASTARD! DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH THEM!" the man who had been acting all meek suddenly tried pouncing at Neun before he can even finish his sentence, but he couldn't even touch Neun's coattail.
Neun continued to speak, unflustered by his reaction, "We look up your information. Real name, Farlo, a citizen of the Reglaus Kingdom. Your family is located at Harlow Village. I won't threaten you using your family, because your children are already dead."
"…? Y-you're lying!" The man finally raised his head and looked at Neun with widened eyes.
"I do not lie; I only speak of truth. We were going to use them against you, but when we got to your village, your children and everyone else was already dead. It seems like your employer was both a lunatic and an idiot who acted out without thinking. Did he take your failure upon your family? It was quite tragic; your daughter's head was put in a stake, and your son's…"
"Enough! Please…enough." The man pleaded.
"Are you ready to talk now?"
"...yes."