Chapter 5.2: Freedom

"..."

The Duke looked taken aback by the immediate refusal.

"If I am to agree, I have a request."

"Ah, so it comes with a request. Then name it." He seemed determined to take me with him enough to accept any request. However, he seemed decent enough that if I had actually refused, he wouldn't have tried fervently to persuade me to choose another path.

Though it was a little shocking that he seemed to readily accept it. I could ask for anything, you know??

I swallow a frustrated sigh and began to name my demand. "Save us. And I mean all of us."

"To use the word 'save'... I did expect this place to be corrupted, but... I didn't realize it was to that extent." The Duke says, a brow raised at my words.

"You should know, Duke, this place was built so that these crooks can easily execute their human trafficking business. Ah, but their crimes do not even stop there." The Duke places his teacup down at once as he heard these words, getting serious. He seemed absolutely furious at the mere mention.

"Tomorrow was supposed to be the day I was to be transported."

"Pardon?" He had the most incredulous expression as he continued to listen to what I had to say.

"Whenever we turn 6, they send us to another location. My transportation was delayed because of some problems they haven't told us about but my birthday, or rather, my D-day, has already passed." I explain, thinking about what extent I should reveal it all. "That is why I'm here. Otherwise, we probably wouldn't have even met."

His face looked as though I kept throwing rocks at him one by one. With every phrase I uttered made him livider. "Thus, what that ultimately means is that, if I hadn't arrived here today, you would've been in the process of being sold?"

I simply take a sip of my own cup of tea, my silence serving as an answer. The aura about the Duke became much more menacing at my implication though his expression was calm. I doubt anyone else could sense it even barely unless they had susceptible training in martial arts.

I mean, of course I had an escape plan. But there's no need to tell him that. His anger serves in my favor after all. He was a Duke; his help could be her lucky break.

If I could get him to save me, save my siblings. Then I can finally be at peace. "If you want me to come with you, this is the best way to persuade me that you are fitting for that role." I said before I stood up to leave, having already spent quite too much time here.

"Well, then. I'll be taking my leave." My small feet take big steps toward the door. "Call me back in a few hours, I'll bring all the evidence and more information. I'm sure it'll be enough to arrest these people on the spot and conduct investigations in their other locations."

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"...Your Grace."

A person appears behind Duke Castedras' seat. They didn't say anything else but that seemed to send a secret message.

The Duke nods. "We had originally planned to bring this place down anyway because of the tax evasion. We had no idea they were hiding other crimes... so their punishment should increase tenfold." The mysterious person nods and disappears just as swiftly as he had appeared.

"...This can also additionally serve as Nia's first accomplishment. They should be glad they're contributing." The Duke sighs as he crosses his legs. "...She's much like you, Meriessa. So much resemblance."

A number of melancholy emotions fills his heart, burying his face in his hands as he lets his cold façade crumble in his lone presence. "I've finally found her, Meriessa. You can rest in peace."

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A few hours later, I was back in the office, left alone with the Duke once again.

His silky, threads of blonde locks were pushed back just like it was yesterday. 'He seems older than he looks. Perhaps in his 30's?'

I lift my skirt a little and take out an assortment of papers I had hidden underneath it. "These are all the evidence you'll need." I place the papers on the table in front of him and look back to see the surprised look on the Duke's face.

I point to each paper as I speak, "This one is about tax evasion. These are about accidental murders, and from then on it should be about r*pe, sexual assault, harassment of all kinds, kidnapping, robbery, human trafficking, and a bunch of others."

I sit down on the couch in front of him and sip the tea his maid offered, scoffing as I look at the papers. 'All these were so easy to find. Such stupidity from these criminals... but I suppose it was only so easy because of Mr. Monarch.'

The fluttering of papers end after a little while when the Duke finishes going through them all. "...Shall we arrest them now?" He asks and I look at him incredulously. "...is that possible?"

Her question was answered by his silent, fiery gaze.

'...what an ally I've received.' I think, amused, my head tilted slightly as I stare at my uncle.

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After establishing a proper plan and discussing the details, I leave the office and head to my room. '...He should be getting here by now.' I smile inside as I walk to my destination, excited to see her plan that was constructed on the predictable actions of those around her fall into place.

Our retribution was just beginning, kids.

"Nia‼"

'There we go.' Satisfied, I lift my expressionless face up briefly on purpose before bowing to the Director who was stomping like a child towards her, huffing and puffing.

"You!" He slaps me, his multiple rings scratching the delicate skin on my face. I hold in a sigh as he began to throw a tantrum. "I told you not to look up at me, you scruffy half-wit!" He yells, his already ugly, greasy face contorting to become even uglier than usual.

I do my best to contain the eye roll that begged to escape. I mean, I was getting tired of his behavior; praising himself as if he was a noble, applying their rules to himself. I was glad I got to exact revenge much earlier than planned. "If you had embarrassed me in front of the Duke, then I would've-"

He didn't get to finish his sentence as a bunch of people swarmed into the hallway, seeming to be knights.

"Wh- what-" The knights grab the Director and pins him down. "What do you think you're doing? How dare you touch me!?"

The knights could care less about his babbling as they continued with their orders. "Mont Redon. By the order of the Imperial family, you are hereby under arrest."

The words of the knights made the Director red with anger. "What!? Don't you know who I am!?" He yells as he struggles against the strength of the knights, thrashing about disgracefully, his ugly face contorting further.

I decided to answer his question for him, stepping closer slowly. "A criminal. Ha. That's what you are." I say with a snort, my own face contorted with disgust as I watched him thrash about. I had no remorse, no guilt as I watched him struggle for what would I need those emotions for when I was giving what a despicable person such as him what he deserved? Rather, this wasn't even enough to make him pay for what he put multiple children through.

"...Nia!?" The Director looks up at me and I feel a sense of exhilaration. Not a good thing, what if I develop some weird kink?

I take a look down at his terrified face that managed a scowl and suddenly couldn't help the burst of laughter that escaped me. Both the knights and the Director looked at me with bewilderment but I couldn't help myself. How could I, when...

"...The man who had traumatized me and my friends... my family.... the man who had made me so terrified with the ways of this disgusting place that calls themselves an orphanage..." I step in front of him and grab his face violently, forcefully turning it towards me, grinning from ear-to-ear. "How could I when that same man is in this state?"

The moment I waited oh, so long for...

"Seeing that man in this state is making me feel so pathetic! Ha!" I scoff in his face, my face contorting to disgust and disdain. Emotions I couldn't show in fear of my family getting hurt... emotions that had been bottled up for so long flooded my expression.

The Director looks at me incredulously but his gaze soon changed. Some sort of energy was exuding my body that cause caution within everyone in that hallway. "I had been planning on ending this place myself, but the sooner the better, no?"

The Director was so confused. 'Has this brat always been this way...?' Terror mingled into his confusion. 'How can a mere snotnosed brat make me feel...'

"I was always grateful that I had food, clothes and a warm bed to sleep in, don't get me wrong..." I grab his hair to disrupt whatever stupid thoughts he was having and yank his hair. "But I don't suppose abuse and mental trauma is something I have to be grateful to you for, no? Shouldn't it be repaid tenfold?"

I didn't realize just how silent the hallway had become what with everyone holding their breath. It was only when I sighed at the pitiful sight that was the Director that the disgusting man had grit his teeth and glared at me.

I let go of his hair rather forcefully and clean my hands with a handkerchief. Wouldn't want to get sick now, would we? Disgusting fuck.

"Nia! After all I've done for you...!" I don't even spare him a glance. He was simply babbling away because he can't do anything else. I sigh as I stare at my now clean hands leisurely and check my nails dismissively. "Shut up. You're going to taint my ears too."

At my words, a knight made the Director get onto his feet and bowed to me. "We shall take him away now." I throw one more disgusted look at the Director's direction and leave, giving the knight a nod.

Finally. I've achieved freedom for you, my siblings.

There's still one thing left...