The Beginning of Despair 5

[Beneath hope and beauty, filth always lingered]

Griseo sat on the riverside railing near the scratch-card kiosk in Lumina Square, humming an unfamiliar song as she swung her little feet.

Behind Griseo, Meflor stood quietly. He had been waiting for quite some time, but did not dare disturb her.

At that moment, Griseo had a natural, unpolished innocence about her.

Whether she was tapping her white-socked feet against the railing or reaching out a small hand to try to catch the sunlight, she inspired the same thought—what an adorable little girl.

But Meflor knew that if Griseo went berserk, New Eridu would probably face another catastrophe.

"Mr. Mayor, are you afraid?" Griseo turned lightly to look at Meflor.

Resting her hands on her knees, she began humming a different tune. The breeze brushed her calves, pressing her white socks against her skin and tracing the faint outlines of her ankles, like hazelnuts hidden in ice cream.

Meflor bowed his head slightly, his manner respectful. "Your Highness Griseo, I am deeply sorry about what happened to Morel and his daughter."

Griseo's response was unexpectedly calm. She tilted her head, ripples stirring in her purple eyes.

"Mr. Mayor, have you misunderstood something?"

Meflor froze in confusion.

"Mr. Mayor, to you, TOPS, or all of New Eridu, Uncle Morel and little Claire's deaths hardly matter, do they?"

Meflor fell silent for a moment, then nodded frankly. "That is correct."

His sixth sense told him not to lie at a time like this.

"Likewise, whether you, TOPS, or all of New Eridu live or die doesn't matter to me. You understand that, don't you, Mr. Mayor?"

Meflor raised his eyes to meet that purple gaze.

He could not discern a trace of emotion—he did not know whether Griseo hid her feelings too well or