Chapter 172: The Girl Who Met A Fairy
Her small shoulders shook as she broke down. "I’ve asked that guard every day and even went to the magistrate to file a complaint, but it’s been two weeks, and they still haven’t found her."
At that, Eve’s eyes softened with sympathy. She gently moved closer and began patting the girl’s back in comfort.
They all remained silent, giving the pitiful child time to calm down. After a while, it was Cece who gently asked, "Do you have any idea why they haven’t been able to find her yet?"
"I don’t know..." Heidi replied in a trembling voice. "But the guard said there are too many complaints about missing women, even from before my sister disappeared, so they’re overloaded with cases."
Eve and the others exchanged knowing looks before Eve asked softly, "Heidi, if you don’t mind me asking, do you know when these disappearances started?"
"I’ve heard people say that ever since the king fell ill, the city has been cursed," Heidi said, her voice barely above a whisper. "That’s why women keep going missing every other day."
It was then that Ivan, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke in a quiet voice, "When the king fell ill...in other words, when the queen began ruling."
Heidi’s eyes widened in alarm at his words. She quickly looked around to make sure no one nearby had heard, then leaned in close and whispered urgently, "Milord, I must ask you to please don’t speak of such things. It’s dangerous."
Ivan looked at the little girl and asked calmly, "Why?"
Heidi leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "It’s because the q-queen doesn’t take it lightly when anyone speaks against her rule. If the royal guards hear someone saying anything she might dislike, they arrest them and take them to the castle to face judgment, either by the queen herself or the prince."
Ivan’s brow arched slightly at this new information, while the others exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions darkening at the thought of such tyranny.
"I see," Ivan murmured. Then he asked, "And what of the prince? What’s his reputation?"
Eve’s eyes shifted toward Ivan, only to find him already watching her, while waiting for the girl’s answer. The silent exchange between them went unnoticed by Heidi, who hesitated before replying in a hushed tone.
"He...I’ve heard my mother warn my sister to stay away from the royals. There have been rumours," she whispered, pausing to glance around the room nervously.
It was Damien who spoke next, his tone light but reassuring. "Don’t worry, little one. If anyone’s listening, I’ll know. You can speak freely." He gave her an encouraging smile.
Heidi looked at him for a moment, then nodded slowly before continuing in a whisper, "I didn’t understand what she meant, but I heard my mother tell my sister that the prince likes to take women for himself."
Silence fell over the table once again. Everyone understood what those words implied.
They had all heard the rumours that Prince Valon was a notorious womaniser, but to realise that the locals genuinely feared for their daughters’ safety because of him was something else entirely.
Normally, gaining the prince’s attention would be considered an honour, an opportunity most families would eagerly seize. Men of power, like Ivan or any other noble, were highly coveted to gain the favour of the powerful. But for the people of this kingdom to warn their daughters to avoid the royals altogether...that was something deeply unusual.
The more they thought about it, the more it reeked of something foul. The missing women, the queen’s tyrannical rule, and the people’s fear for their daughters, all of it was beginning to fit together, even if they didn’t yet have the evidence to prove it.
Heidi’s quivering voice broke the silence once again. "M-my mother warned my sister before she left to deliver the cake. My sister said she’d be back in a jiffy, just as soon as she delivered it. But...but she never came back."
Her small hands covered her face as soft sobs escaped her, drawing looks of pity from everyone at the table.
Eve and Cece both reached out, placing gentle hands on the trembling girl’s shoulders. Cece spoke softly, "I’m so sorry your sister is missing, but I promise we’ll do everything we can to find out what happened to her."
The girl lifted her tear-streaked face, eyes wide with surprise. "M-Milady...you will?"
Cece nodded reassuringly. "Yes. We’re not here for long, but while we are, we’ll do our best to find your sister."
Heidi turned toward Eve, as though seeking confirmation from the fairy herself. Eve smiled warmly and added, "Yes, we will. Do you have any pictures of your sister that you can give us? It would help us identify her."
Heidi could hardly believe her ears — these beautiful, kind strangers were willing to help her when she had spent days begging the officials in vain to find her sister!
Fumbling through the pocket of her dress, she pulled out an old piece of parchment and handed it to Eve. "H-here, Milady! It’s a portrait of my sister. I carry it with me whenever I ask around about her."
Eve took the parchment carefully and unfolded it. The drawing revealed a young woman with soft features, strikingly similar to Heidi’s. She laid it gently on the table so the others could see.
Then she turned to Ivan. "Ivan, can you pass me my purse?"
Understanding immediately what she intended, he instead slipped a hand into the inner pocket of his coat and retrieved a small purple velvet pouch. Its faint clinking of coins inside gave away its contents.
He handed it to her without a word. Eve arched a brow at him in mild surprise, but he only let the corner of his lips curl in that subtle, knowing way before taking another sip of his tea, as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
Eve sighed softly, knowing it was pointless to argue with him, especially in front of the already emotional child. Taking the pouch in her hands, she turned to Heidi.
"Heidi, thank you for sharing everything with us. We’ll do everything we can to find your sister. Until then..." she gently took the girl’s small hand and placed the heavy pouch of coins in it, "....please accept this to help treat your mother, or for anything else you’ve been struggling with."
Heidi’s eyes widened in disbelief. "No! I-I can’t accept this, M-Milady! It’s far too much!" she stammered while trying to push the pouch back toward Eve.
But Eve placed her other hand firmly over Heidi’s and pushed it gently back, and spoke in a gentle voice. "Please, accept it. Consider it a gift from me. It would give me peace of mind to know that your mother is being cared for properly."
Heidi’s eyes filled with tears, and overcome by Evelyn’s and everyone else’s kindness, she broke down, clutching the pouch tightly. Bowing her head, she said through trembling lips, "T-thank you...thank you so very much for helping me and my family. I-I will never forget this kindness."
As Heidi cried harder, Eve gently wrapped her arms around the little girl, holding her close until her sobs began to ease. The others watched the scene with soft smiles on their faces.
Meanwhile, Ivan’s molten-red eyes shifted to the portrait lying on the table. For a brief moment, darkness swirled within their depths before it slowly faded away.
Once the girl had calmed down, it was time for them to leave. One of the students sent by Professor Dante arrived to summon them back to the meeting point to head back to the hotel. The sun was already beginning to set, painting the streets in warm, orangish hues.
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[Music Recommendation: Dimensional Drift (Meditation)]
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Eve and the others rose from their seats and bid farewell to Heidi. Before leaving, Eve gently took the girl’s hands and said softly, "We’ll come find you if we discover anything. Until then, stay strong." She gave Heidi’s hands a light, reassuring squeeze.
"I will, Milady! Thank you again for helping me!" Heidi replied earnestly, her hazel eyes filled with gratitude.
She bowed to all of them once more before Ivan stepped forward, wrapping an arm around Eve’s waist and guiding her back toward where they were supposed to meet the others.
Heidi stood frozen for a moment, stunned by the realisation that her first love was, in fact, her fairy’s partner. She could only sigh wistfully while staring at the breathtaking couple departing.
When they were finally out of sight, Heidi looked down at the pouch in her hands. Curious about how many copper coins it held, she loosened the drawstrings and peeked inside, only to gasp as the orange rays of the setting sun caught on the shimmering gold coins within.
Shocked by just how many there were, she realised it was enough to take care of her and her mother for years to come. Quickly, she tied the pouch shut, hiding it from any prying eyes, then turned back toward the direction where the graceful pair had disappeared.
"She really was a fairy...and her prince, after all," she whispered in awe.
Clutching the pouch close to her chest, the little girl hurried home, her heart light for the first time in weeks. That evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, the people of the market spoke of a young girl who swore she had met a fairy dressed as a lady and her handsome prince who walked beside her.
And as for Heidi, that day would forever remain the moment when magic stepped quietly into her world.
