Arche returned home in the evening.
That two-story building, located on the edge of the Imperial Capital's slums, was once the residence of the Fielde Family.
The world inside the door still maintains that false facade of respectability.
The floor was polished to a shine, the tableware was exquisite, and the family portraits hung on the wall.
It's as if as long as these things remain, they will still be that illustrious noble family.
The moment she pushed open the door, she smelled a familiar fragrance.
The aroma of toasted bread, creamy soup, and some kind of spice.
Everything seemed normal. But Arche's intuition told her that something was wrong.
"Arche, you're back?"
The mother's voice came from the kitchen, carrying a hint of unnatural lightness.
"Perfect timing, dinner will be ready soon. Go wash your hands."
Arche didn't wash her hands. She stood in the middle of the living room, her bright green eyes looking at her father.
"Where are Ureirika and Kuuderika?"
The father did not look up.
"They've gone out."
Where did you go?
"Going to a friend's house."
Arche's fingers clenched tightly at his sides.
"What friend?"
Her father put down his newspaper and looked up at her.
Those once sharp eyes now gleamed with a evasive light.
"Arche, you don't need to know that much. They're just going to stay for a few days, they'll be back in a few days."
"How many days will you stay? Where will you stay for how many days? Whose friends are you?"
The father's lips tightened slightly.
"Arche-- "
Where are they?
How could you--
Seeing Arche's eyes red with anger, her father finally told the truth.
"I sent them to work as maids for other nobles. I received three hundred gold coins, which I used to pay off my loan sharks."
Arche's voice trembled, not with fear, but with anger.
"Being a maid... is that... selling yourself?"
The father fell silent.
He looked at Arche, at the burning rage in those emerald green eyes.
He opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end, nothing came out.
"Yes."
My mother's voice came from the kitchen doorway.
"Yes, we sold them."
Arche turned to look at his mother.
"Why?"
"Because we need money. Your father owes us three hundred gold coins at exorbitant interest rates. If we don't pay, they'll kill us."
"So you sold Ureirika and Kuuderika?"
"We—we have no other choice—"
"Is there no other way?"
Arche's voice suddenly rose.
"I give you ten gold coins every month! Ten! What do you do with them? Buy vases? Buy tableware? Buy those useless junk pieces that are only good for displaying on shelves?"
The mother's lips were trembling.
"Arche, listen to me—"
I won't listen!
Arche's tears finally welled up.
"You sold them! You sold your own daughters! All for your pathetic pride!"
She turned around and looked at her father.
Who did you sell it to?
The father lowered his head.
"Have no idea."
"Have no idea?"
"I don't know. It was handled by a middleman. We were only responsible for collecting the money and handing over the person."
Arche's tears flowed even more fiercely.
She stood there, her hands clenched into fists, her nails digging into her palms, blood seeping from between her fingers.
"Arche-- "
Don't call me!
She turned around and walked towards the door.
"From this day forward, I am no longer your daughter. You are no longer my parents. Your affairs are none of my concern."
"Arche!"
My mother's voice sounded behind me, choked with sobs.
You can't do that--
Arche didn't turn around. She pushed open the door and went out.
The door closed behind her.
The night breeze blew, stirring her golden hair and her long robe.
She stood on the steps, gazing at the crescent moon in the sky, tears silently streaming down her face.
"Ureirika... Kuuderika..."
She whispered the two names, her voice hoarse.
"Your sister will definitely find you."
She strode forward and disappeared into the night.
The Foresight's hideout was in an inconspicuous tavern. Hekkeran, Imina, Roberdyck were waiting for her there.
Upon seeing Arche walk in, the three of them stood up simultaneously.
"Arche, what's wrong?"
Hekkeran frowned.
"Your eyes--"
"My sister was sold."
The three of them were stunned at the same time.
"Sold?"
Imina's voice was shrill.
Who sold it?
My parents.
Arche walked to the table, sat down, placed his hands on the table, and lowered his head.
"They owed usurers three hundred gold coins. They sold Ureirika and Kuuderika. We don't know who they sold them to."
Hekkeran slammed his fist on the table.
"Damn it--"
"Calm."
Roberdyck's voice was steady.
"The most important thing now is to find them. Arche, do you really not know who your parents sold them to?"
"I don't know. It was handled by an intermediary."
Roberdyck was silent for a moment.
"Then let's start with the middlemen. There aren't many middlemen in the Imperial Capital; we can investigate them one by one until we find them."
Hekkeran nodded.
"Yes. We'll split up. Imina, you go to the East District. Roberdyck, you go to the West District. I'll go to the North District. Arche, you go to the South District."
"Good."
The four men stood up at the same time and walked out of the tavern.
Moonlight spilled onto the streets of the Imperial Capital, bathing everything in a silvery white glow. The four figures disappeared in four different directions.
The search lasted for two full days.
On the morning of the third day, Hekkeran brought news.
"Found it. The twins were sent to the Singing Apple Garden and given to that black-haired man, Higashino Makoto."
Arche's pupils contracted slightly.
"Higashino Makoto?"
"Yes. It's the person who tried to dissuade us from giving up the commission."
Arche paused for a moment.
I'm going to find him.
We'll go with you.
"Need not."
Arche shook his head.
"This is a family matter, I'll handle it myself."
Hekkeran looked at her for two seconds.
"No. We're comrades. Your business is our business."
Imina nodded.
"Yes, let's go together."
Roberdyck nodded as well.
Arche looked at them, tears glistening in his emerald green eyes.
"Thanks."
Let's go.
The four men left the tavern and headed towards the Singing Apple Garden.
In the hall of the Singing Apple Garden, Higashino Makoto was sitting at a table in the corner, talking to a blond man.
The man was wearing a dark robe with the hood pulled low, obscuring most of his face.
But Arche recognized him immediately.
It wasn't because he revealed any flaws, but because she had seen him before.
I caught a glimpse of it from afar at the magic academy.
Jircniv Rune Farod El Nix, Emperor of the Baharuth Empire.
Arche paused for a moment.
Is the emperor here?
Disguised, he sat in the hotel lobby, having tea with Higashino Makoto?
She took a deep breath and continued walking.
Higashino Makoto.
Her voice echoed in the quiet hall.
Higashino Makoto looked up at her, then at the three people behind her.
His expression remained unchanged, as if he had known she would come all along.
"Arche. Did you need something?"
"My sisters, Ureirika and Kuuderika, are with you."
"Exist."
Arche's fingers clenched tightly at his sides.
Give them back to me.
Higashino Makoto looked at her for two seconds.
The smile on his face vanished, replaced by a coldness.
"On what grounds?"