Years of court life had taught Angelina well how to deal with strangers, and these children, whose minds were somewhat abnormal to begin with, seemed to instinctively believe that everyone was Mother's children, so there was no need to be wary of one another.
Furthermore, Angelina looked the oldest, so the children all told her about themselves. These children of "Mother" all came from the Arcadia Region. The first child to arrive had come here with Mother yesterday morning.
But the child calling herself Little Marika was certain that she had not been the first child brought here by "Mother," because there had already been many children here when she arrived.
"Then where are the children who arrived before you?"
Angelina asked.
"Mother called them away, and they returned to Mother's embrace. I envy them so much. I don't know how much longer I'll have to wait."
The girl who looked about twelve answered. She wore patched old clothes, and a small bamboo basket sat beside her. Inside were several wilted flowers. It seemed Mother had found her while she was out selling flowers.
"After Mother called them away, she never let them come back?"
Angelina felt that something was wrong, but the girl shook her head.
"Since they've happily returned to Mother's embrace, where they don't need to think or work, and don't need to worry about going hungry or cold, why would they come back? Mother will protect all of us. That is the final destination for every child who longs for love and Protection."
Angelina blinked. Those were not the sort of words a flower-selling girl from the streets should have been able to say. She felt that the situation was becoming increasingly wrong, yet she also felt that the girl's logic made sense. "Mother" was simply