"Ah, you're here. Please have a seat." Seth said as he quickly dropped the papers on his desk to accommodate the two. Emma and Rose looked at one another, uncertain whether to take the offer or not. "Tea? Crumpets?" Seth asked as the two shook their heads in resignation, taking their seats across from him.

"Straight to business then... I would be direct with you sisters; I have many questions that need to be answered." Seth said as the two eyed him warily. "I have expected something is wrong with her but... it is worse than I thought." Seth said as he let out a sigh.

"...I need your help sisters. I barely know her, and I can't help her without your help." Seth whispered as his fingers drummed against his leg. The two looked at each other as if they were mentally trading words with one another. Seth patiently waited, silence slowly weighing the room. After several painful minutes, Emma finally opened up to reply.

"Why are you doing this?" His fingers stopped mid-air as he was met with the wary gazes of the two. Seth felt his frustration rise, but he quickly stowed it down.

"I know you have already explained sir Seth... about your hobbies. But this... this is no simple hobby is it?" Seth did not react as he waited.

Emma meets his gaze as she continues to speak in a low voice. "I would have understood if you simply wanted to know Lucy's past and her story... but the way you handled Lucy... it was no simple thing.” An undertone of accusation filled the sister’s voice, but Seth let it slide.

“You handled her so calmly... it is as if you are experienced in this... used to it even." Emma trailed off as she waited for his answer.

"I have my fair share." Seth replied as he let out a sigh. "But I do not see how is this related to my inquiry?" Seth said as he tried to keep the frown from showing.

"...I just don't understand why you are so willing to help us..." Emma said in a dejected tone. "We have done nothing for you. We have nothing to pay you with. We are even a liability considering-"

"Stop." Seth cuts her off as he raises his hand. "Please just stop. There is no need to be so glum. I am simply trying to help those I could reach." Seth replied.

"...But why help us exactly?" The older nun asked.

Seth's brows furrowed; his patience was running dry. "What kind of man would I be to let children and women starve in the freezing streets when my belly is full and a warm hearth in my abode?" Seth grunted as the two blinked.

"Penniless? Liability? What does that have to do with helping others? I could not care less if you were the ruler of this realm or a pauper. I just want to help, is that too hard to believe?" The two blinked in surprise at his answer before a small smile crept up on Emma's face.

"I am glad to see there are still others out there like you sir Seth. Thank you... truly, from the bottom of my heart, thank you." Seth awkwardly avoided her gaze as he could feel his ears redden in embarrassment.

"A-anyways, let's go back on topic." Seth forcefully coughed as he turned his attention to Rose.

"Sister Rose, can you tell me what happened before Lucy panicked? Important details will do but word for word would be most desirable." Seth said as Rose stiffened for a moment.

She turned to look at Emma for support as her eyes shifted uncomfortably. "...Sister Rose, your friend is in grave condition." Seth snatched the two's attention as he whispered in a heavy tone.

"She suffers from an illness that can be mostly found in mercenaries and soldiers alike. Though I do not know what this illness is called, I am certain at the very least that Lucy is not in her right mind." Seth continued as Rose's eyes widened in shock.

"What do you mean 'in right mind? Lucy is-"

"Does sister Lucy sleep well at night?" Seth cuts off as Rose seals her mouth tight.

"How about her eating habits? Does she eat alone or with others?” There was still no answer. Feeling a well of unease slowly creeping from his chest, he pressed onward. “Did she at least talk about herself? Anything about her for that matter?” There was still no reply.

Seth needed no confirmation as their silence was more than enough. “Then it is as bad as I feared it to be… no, maybe even worse.” Seth muttered to himself as the two finally reacted.

“I-is it… is it that bad?” Emma asked as Seth nodded.

“Aye, met some poor lot with that description… didn’t last long in the coming years.” The quiet implication caused Rose to snap back.

“Lucy isn’t going anywhere. We would be there for her!” Rose agitatedly replied as Seth pinched the bridge of his nose. Sometimes, Emma finds it strange how such a young man acts like an adult.

"That is not the point. Don't you see sisters? Lucy is not in her right mind." The two frowned at the wording but Seth did not care. He needed to drive it home. "She is not normal. Lucy must have suffered something so traumatic to make her like this.

She might look fine now, but inside she is slowly rotting away. Decaying from the inside without you even knowing... sister Lucy is dying, and we cannot save her if you're not even willing to share her burdens. So please, tell me something, give me anything that I can work with."

Seth said as he did meet their gaze. He did not let go nor break any contact as he eagerly waited for an answer. After an agonizing five minutes, Rose finally relented as she carefully answered with a whisper.

"She... she always hated talking about her past." Rose replied as Seth nodded.

"Very common, but please go continue." Seth said as he grabbed a small notebook and began taking down notes.

"Well, we don't really know much but the things we saw.” The younger nun hesitated, but Seth did not push forward. They were willing to share, no need to make them rush.

“Lucy had always been quiet. She never complained when we gave her chores, she rarely even spoke up when we tried to approach her." Rose answered as Seth continued taking notes. "But... whenever we talk about monsters, Lucy... it's... it's like something within her clicked."

Seth suddenly stopped writing as he met Rose's gaze. "Snapped? What do you mean by that? Does she lash out violently or the likes?" Seth inquired as Rose shook her head.

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"She goes quiet... eerily quiet. Lucy would also suddenly disappear at night and come back at dawn."

Rose answered as Seth briefly wrote something within his notes. "Do you know where she goes? Any location she’s regular to?" Silence permeated the room for a moment before Emma replied.

"She... she would go to the forest. I sometimes caught her going there..." Rose's eyes widen as Seth writes it down.

"You didn't tell me?" Rose turned to face Emma who looked so small despite being older.

"I didn't have the chance to tell..." A flash of betrayal briefly flashed across Rose's face before Seth broke the heavy atmosphere.

"Is there a reason why she would go there?" Seth asked.

"She... she told me that she had to keep an eye out for the monsters..." Emma replied as Rose shouted.

"And you didn't tell anyone of us? We could have helped her, sister! I could have been there!" Emma turned bitterly in regret.

"I... I thought I could talk her out of it... I didn't know those things would attack on the same day." Emma replied softly as Rose closed her mouth.

"...Excuse me sisters but whatever that is that you have to fight over, can you please do it later? I still need to diagnose sister Lucy." The two glared at Seth as he simply flipped through another page.

"Isn't it enough?" Rose grumbled as she sat back down.

"Almost, just one more thing that I need to ask." Seth paused as he waited for confirmation. Rose looks displeased but Seth insists otherwise.

"Well go ahead then." Rose whispered as Seth replied.

"There is just one more thing that concerns me. Why did Lucy suddenly break down yesterday?" Rose stiffened like a statue as Seth continued. "Did you say anything that might have provoked such a reaction?" Seth narrowed his eyes on Rose as she mulled over the question seriously.

"Not that I remember- wait, there might be something actually." Seth immediately perked up as his senses screamed for a clue.

"And that is?" Seth whispered as Rose uncomfortably whispered back.

"When I have mentioned the Larum heir, Lucy suddenly paled." Surprise fills the room as Emma and Seth did not expect this answer.

"What does the heir of the dukedom have to do with anything with it sister Rose?" Emma asked as Seth also nodded back in reply.

"I don't know. She simply paled thereafter and began to... well." Rose replied with much confusion.

Seth leaned back in his seat as he utterly felt stomped. "Why would she fear someone so high in the chain?" Seth mumbled to himself as his brain racked up for all the possible answers he could possibly get. From history to politics to news and even rumors, unreliable as they may be.

“She doesn’t look like one to commit a crime... then again, she is capable of killing. But I don't see why she would fear the heir himself. It's not like she has anything to do with him and... wait..." Seth's eyes widen as he slowly raises his gaze.

"...Excuse me sister Rose, sister Emma, but may I ask when did you find sister Lucy?" Seth asked as his mind was already puzzling the pieces. White hair, blue eyes... could it be?

"If we're counting till now, then a month at most." Emma replied. A month?!

His eyes were frighteningly wide as Seth could feel his muscles tremble. "I-is something wrong sir Seth?" Emma asked as Seth hurriedly gathered his composure back.

"I... I might know something... but I could be wrong..." Seth carefully explained as the two looked back eagerly.

"Before I answer, I had to ask. Have you ever heard of the Larum dukedom's children?" The two nodded their heads in reply.

"The daughter has white hair, and the son has ebony. Both have cobalt eyes" Seth carefully explained as the two's eyes widened at the realization.

"You're not implying that Lucy is lady Emma Larum are you, Sir Seth?" Emma carefully asked as Seth's face turned gravely serious.

"I'm not saying it's entirely impossible..." Seth whispered as Rose jumped to her feet.

"Aristocrats know nothing of hard work unlike us common folks" Bitterly reply, her voice dripping with venom. "I doubt that lady would even know the meaning of work, yet Lucy does them all diligently." Rose angrily replied.

"...Lady Emma suddenly disappeared one month and two weeks ago..." Seth explained as Rose froze like a statue. "...It takes 11 days from the main estate all the way here if we walk on foot..." Seth continued to explain as Rose profusely shook her head in disbelief.

"B-but that's impossible! Are you saying a lone noblewoman walked all the way here for two weeks without escort? They hated to even walk a mile without a carriage. Let alone barefoot."

Rose said as Seth buried his face in his hands. "But the days matched up."

"A coincidence then!" Rose hurriedly snaps back.

"And if it's not?" Seth calmly replied.

Rose slowly seals her mouth close as Seth continues to whisper. "One month, silver hair and blue eyes... I don't think anyone in this town could match the specifications more than Lucy has..." Rose slowly sinks back in her seat as silence fills throughout the room.

"...But how did she get those scars?" Emma breaks the silence as the two turn at the same time.

"Isn't lady Emma a noblewoman? Of duke at that... but if Lucy truly is lady Emma, then how does she receive those scars?" Emma turned to Seth for answers as he whispered.

"...Could be abused..." Disbelief washed the two's faces as they hurriedly replied.

"Why would the duke do that to his own daughter?” Emma hissed.

“Even for aristocrats, that is barbaric." Rose supported as Seth let out a sigh.

"You truly don't know those guys, do you sisters?" Seth said as he recalled his memory. "The duchess of Larum died of labor. The child survived but... well, you know the rest." Seth replied as Rose and Emma looked mortified.

"A-are you saying they abused Lucy of a fault she has no control over??" Emma whispered painfully as Seth frowned. A shadow flickered for a moment within those emerald eyes as if he was forced to see a memory he loath, before he replied coldly.

"Would not be the first time I tell you. Though it is a first time coming from someone so high." Seth replied as Emma stumbled back to her seat.

"Oh Gods... why?" Emma meekly cried as the memory came rushing back to her mind. It makes sense... It all makes sense now... Emma thought in pain as she recalled Lucy's nightmare. All those words... oh by the gods... Tears escaped from Emma as Rose let out a growl.

"Those bastards..." Rose sneered disdainfully at the floor as if it were their faces. Old grudges slowly come back to life, raging at the injustice to such a young girl has to endure.

The abuse Lucy must have endured, at such a young age at that, left them astounded. The maddening loneliness and indifference added in the physical abuse must have been agonizing before finally reaching the breaking point and escaping in pure desperation.

No wonder she was so quiet. Rose thought in heartbreak as she recalled every interaction she had with her. How reserved and quiet Lucy had been all throughout her stay. The anger Rose has for the nobles comes roaring back to life as understanding graces her mind.

'Help me! Please... help me...' Lucy's faint cry echoed in their minds as they felt an indescribable loathing for the dukedom. Seth seemed to realize this as he quickly added in.

"This might be a possibility, so I could be wrong... but if in the slim chances I was right, then please don't do anything rash." Seth whispered as the two met his gaze.

"I know you two love Lucy very much, but it is not worth it. Fighting the entire dukedom is madness. It will only invite trouble." They frowned as Rose snapped back in reply.

"Then are you suggesting we let this thing go??" Rose hissed as Seth calmly replied.

"Yes. It is simply not worth the risk." Rose slammed the table hard, but Seth did not even flinch.

"I don't have to listen any more of your words you-"

"Then are you risking the entire children for one person?" Rose flinched as Seth snapped back.

Silence fills the room once more as the two nuns seethes with frustration as they did not know what to do.

"...Sisters, I know I am stepping beyond the line for saying this, but I don't think revenge is what Lucy wants." The two blinked as Seth continued to explain.

"For all the victims I have met over the years, most of them simply wanted to forget the past. I don't think pursuing vengeance would be the best course of action..." Seth paused for a moment as he let the words sink in.

"...What she really needs, in my most humble opinion, is a fresh start." The two eyes widened as Seth continued. "Lucy needs someone, anyone to heal the scars in her soul. She wants to forget, to move on from her painful past and I believe only you guys could help her."

The two did not say a word as Seth slowly stood up. "Give it some time and you will know the answer. Besides, I may be wrong after all, and she might be someone else entirely. Either way, Lucy needs help. Your help, to move on whether she is a noble or not."

With that, Seth stealthily vacated the room as there was something else more important running through his mind. Won't we be convicted of kidnapping if this goes out?... I better make some preparations just in case...