HCYPBTKIRWO Chapter 6

'That much money?'

It was said that the children of the Duke had disappeared, and the Duke was going crazy.

“Is he still alive?”

“Could they be kidnapped by the imperial family?”

"Shh! Lower your voice. You’re not supposed to say that!"

Oh my gosh.

He lost his kids and his blood will run dry day by day. It was nice to see the Duke, who I had never seen before, become a scoundrel, completely abolishing his food and drink, and looking for children.

Shall I use my abilities to find them?

“Hey, what do those kids look like…"

It was the moment when I stuck my head out the door and asked the ladies.

"There!"

Luna suddenly exclaimed in her voice.

"Huh?"

"Isn't that just a rabbit?"

“Oh, that’s right.”

What's the sudden commotion? Luna pointed out a rabbit suddenly and then pretended it never happened.

'What's wrong...'

I smiled and turned my head again, then frowned. The seats where the ladies were sitting were empty. They ran away while I wasn’t paying attention for a while.

'I guess it can’t be helped.'

I took the children to the next store, the dressing room. I was thinking of buying clothes and shoes while I was already out.

Of course, because it looks like we'll be together for quite some time.

It’s fun to feed, but it is no less fun to dress up. I wanted them to try on something prettier and more luxurious than the ones I made.

“Welcome…”

As soon as I opened the door of the dressing room, the owner who greeted me became sad.

It was a face I saw with the ladies a while ago.

You ran away, but you must be surprised thinking that I chased you.

Moreover, I have never stepped into the dressing room. My clothes were always made by myself, and shoes were made by fairies who sometimes visited me.

So the owner must have been more embarrassed. I opened my eyes on purpose and smiled kindly.

“I’m going to buy some children’s clothes and shoes.”

The owner took her gaze from my face and widened her eyes even more.

The girl standing next to me with her arms crossed and the boy hiding behind my skirt were the first to catch her eye.

“Can you show me some things that fit the kids?”

I slipped a pocket of gold coins around my waist to show that she shouldn't worry about the money.

From a distance, the owner's face was in full bloom again, perhaps it looked quite heavy.

"Oh, of course. Of course."

The owner poked the clerk's side standing vaguely next to her.

"She’s a witch."

The clerk stepped back with a white face.

"If she brought the money, she’s a customer. Hurry up and sell it and send it.”

"Why me?"

"Why did you turn all of us into frogs just because you were upset?"

"I feel bad already. You treat customers rudely in the countryside."

Luna, who was looking at the red shoes on the shelf with her arms folded, was interjected.

‘Oh, my...’

Although Luna had to speak formally to adults, they did not listen.

I think she and I should have a talk carefully after this, but it wasn't a good idea to do it in front of other people now.

I quickly covered up the situation, promising to have only the three of us.

"She’s into playing princess these days, haha."

That's why I'm talking informally. Hahaha...

But my clumsy efforts were useless.

"Hazel, make them frogs right away.”

When Luna's finger headed to the two women standing behind the counter, the women crouched in surprise.

“No, don’t do that. Don’t do that.”

“If you give me what I want, then I won’t… "

"Fine. Just go."

One child pulled me in to pick flowers from a vase on the shelf, and the other pulled me to go out.

Was my embarrassment with the kids un-witchy and humane?

An old woman who was sitting in an armchair in the corner watching me with pitiful eyes came up to me and showed me her things.

She said, "I don't think she’s a bad person, seeing that the kids are clean and well-rounded...”

The grandmother, who saw the clerks whispering that I was trying to get fat and then eat them, was the mother of the dressing room owner.

“The little girl’s hair resembles the night sky…"

The grandmother, who was choosing a dress of a suitable color for Luna, stopped.

“Your eyes are purple…?"

Luna, who was looking at the dark green dress, bowed her head as if the grandmother's gaze was burdensome.

I tapped Luna's shoulder, who was timid like Luca, and responded to the grandmother.

“Right, it’s really pretty, isn’t it?”

Purple eyes were not common, but they were not nonexistent at all.

In the old days, it was said that it was the color of the royal family, but I heard that it is often seen among commoners because of the fact that it is mixed with blood. It seems that there was an imperial family member among Luna's ancestors.

I bought several pairs of clothes and several pairs of shoes. In addition to that, after buying a headdress and a hat, I was really short on my hands.

I think I'll have to move my luggage in the hut, but not food and meat. Daisy and Lady will eat it up while I'm away.

“I will take this.”

Did you like it? It was just that moment when Luna took the red shoes.

“Isn’t that kidnapping?”

The owner and the clerk standing behind the stand whispered.

This... I don't know if they misunderstood the witch had kidnapped children, and if they report it to the police, it’ll get annoying.

“It’s not like that.”

I turned around and tried to explain, but I stopped.

What do I say? Shall I call them my children?

Anyway, the villagers don't know what I'm doing in a hut in the woods. Besides, who will remember what my body looked like six or eight years ago? It's before the possession, so I don't know.

If I say it’s my child, it'll be easy to avoid annoying gazes and questions.

'But…'

I looked down at the kids. Children know the truth. It is not good for their education to tell plain lies in front of others.

“These children…”

In the end, I told the truth and left the dressing room. Fortunately, the owner and clerk are nodding their heads, so I don't think they will report it.

The last stop was a toy store. Although nature is a playground and animals can be their friends, I wanted to buy them something.

Above all...

"Luca, what about this? Does it look like Lulu?”

I was thinking of buying Luca a replacement for the attached doll he left at home.

He looked like a big and fluffy rabbit doll in the basket, but the child was disappointed.

Doesn't it look like it?

"Is this rabbit similar to Lulu?"

I lifted the white rabbit doll next to me and showed it to him. Luca shook his head, sucking his thumb.

"Lulu is Lulu. This isn't Lulu."

I stroked silver hair as soft as silk, blocking his thumb that was about to enter his mouth.

"Then should I buy you a real rabbit?"

"A real rabbit?”

"Yes. A rabbit jumping around."

The child's blue eyes shone like a lake where sunlight poured in.

"Luna has never raised a rabbit..."

There was no one in front of the wooden doll shelf where Luna was standing a while ago. Even when I looked around the store, I couldn't see a girl with black hair.

"Where is she?"

I grabbed Luca's hand tightly and walked out of the store.

I had no idea who took her. Because no human being is strong enough to kidnap a child in broad daylight in public.

Unlike Luca, who never leaves me, Luna is independent and fearless. That's why she often walked around alone.

I paused as I walked around the market calling for Luna. Luna was standing across the street in the shop.

'What are you doing?'

Luna was standing on top of a box of apples, tearing off a paper from the wall.

“Luna! What are you doing?”

"Ugh!"

I approached her and she hid the torn paper behind her back as she turned around. I knew what it was without even asking.

In the corner of the piece of paper protruding from the back, it was written 'Respectful to those who seek it'.

It was a vicious criminal wanted flyer.

“You can’t tear it apart.”

People would usually post flyers in the downtown area when there was an announcement from the magistrates' or duke's house. You could have to pay a fine if you did something wrong to it.

“Why did you rip it? Give it to me.”

“No, I don’t know what it is, but I don’t have the paper. I thought I could take it with me because it was just stuck.”

Luna waved her hand as she approached me.

“Do you need paper? You want to paint?”

"Yes!"

"Then you should've said it. I'll buy you paper. Crayon, too.”

"Yes, I like that!"

"Ask the fruit store owner to put it back on."

"Yes!"

After stopping by an unscheduled store, dusk was already falling.

"Let's go home now."

The way back home was fun, talking about what to eat for dinner. It was really hectic, but it was a fruitful day.

***

Rumors that the Duke was crazy were not true.

Until now.

‘If you don't find the children in the end, false rumors will become true.’

The man on the bed, where the miserable moonlight fell, was far from the usual perfect appearance.

Sitting on the edge of the bed reminded him of a person standing on the edge of a cliff. The shirt collar, which was un-tied as if representing the frustrating feeling, was also not neat.

The worried purple eyes looked down at the object on the hand.

The owner of the largest territory in the empire, the commander of the army, who makes the monsters and enemies tremble just by hearing his name…