Without saying a word, Victor leaped down from his horse and gestured for the knights to wait.
Then, as though possessed, he slowly walked into the orphanage.
Sensing something unusual in his demeanor, Angoulême also dismounted from Amber and followed her leader into this place overflowing with happiness.
They crossed the landscaped outdoor play area, passing children running about and laughing, before the witcher stopped beside the main building.
From there, the bright windows offered a clear view of the clean indoor recreation area. The dormitory beyond was furnished with soft mattresses and thin blankets suitable for summer.
Angoulême slowly came to stand beside her leader.
After passing seesaws, swings, slides, a merry-go-round, and animal-shaped stone sculptures, the girl could not help thinking that this was the sort of childhood she had never known.
From her perspective, every child here seemed genuinely happy. Even after sweeping the grounds with Eagle Eye, she found no sign of danger.
Yet for some reason, her instincts continued to whisper that something was wrong.
"Vic..."
Just as Angoulême was about to speak, Victor raised a hand to stop her, then pointed toward his ear, indicating that he was listening with his extraordinary senses.
To his heightened hearing, a conversation was taking place in a room on the third floor of the building.
One voice belonged to a young boy, trembling and tearful.
The other was a woman's, warm and affectionate.
The boy choked out, "...Mother Orianna, don't you want me anymore?"
The woman answered softly, "Silly child. You've grown up. It's time for you to have a life and a place of your own. Leaving the orphanage is the beginning of a new life. You should be happy."
"But Mother, I don't want to..."
"Shh. Be good. Good children listen.
"The older boys and girls who left before you will take care of you and help you. Learn from them, work hard, and become someone useful to the world. Then all the care I've given you will have been worthwhile."
"Sniff... sniff... I understand, Mother. I'll work hard. I promise!"
The boy continued sobbing for some time.
Only after a door opened and he left did the sound gradually fade away.
A few minutes later, Victor saw a boy of around fifteen emerge from the orphanage.
Tear tracks still marked his face, and his eyes remained red and swollen.
He walked away reluctantly, glancing back at the third-floor room every few steps, seemingly hoping the window would suddenly open and Mother Orianna would call him back.
Unfortunately, even after he left the courtyard, his wish never came true.
Having watched the entire scene, the witcher stroked the stubble on his chin.
Then another door opened in the third-floor room.
Someone else had entered.
This time, a hoarse, timid male voice sounded from within.
"R-Respected Lady Orianna... may I ask why you wished to see me?"
The speaker was clearly an adult man, and he was plainly terrified of the woman the children called Mother.
The gentle voice Orianna had used with the boy vanished, replaced by an authoritative tone.
"Arnaud, listen carefully. I don't care if turnips are the cheapest option. My children are not eating that sort of cheap vegetable."
"Y-Yes, my lady."
"I've told you countless times that money is not an issue. Stop trying to save coin at every opportunity, or I'll begin wondering whether you're putting the difference into your own pockets.
"My children are to eat well, and they are to eat their fill. They are also to receive dessert after every meal. I didn't bring you all those sweets for decoration."
"U-Understood."
Her commanding voice grew even colder.
"And one last thing. If I ever see bruises from beatings on any of those children again, you are going to regret it.
"Do you understand me? Deeply regret it."
"I-I'm terribly sorry, my lady."
The man's fear and panic were obvious even from his voice.
"I... I swear it won't happen again."
"Good. They're good children. I pay you generously because I expect you to care for them properly."
Her voice was icy.
"Remember, you must move them with affection. When children understand that you love them, when they truly feel that affection, they'll return twice as much love to you.
"Do not forget my warning. This is the third time I've warned you, and it will be the last. Make good use of the chance I'm giving you."
Victor listened as the male caretaker repeatedly swore that he would obey.
At that moment, he noticed someone tugging on the hem of his clothes.
Looking down, he found a little boy of about eight years old standing beside him.
"Sir, miss, who are you? Your clothes are so pretty. Did you come to see Mother Orianna?"
Looking at the adorable, well-fed child before him, Victor's expression became complicated.
Then he asked softly, "Tell me something, kid. Do you like eating turnips?"
The question left the boy momentarily stunned.
But he quickly came up with an answer and pressed one finger against his lips.
"Um... no. Mother doesn't tell stories to children who eat turnips!"
Upon hearing his answer, Victor murmured, "I see... So that's how it is. That's how it is..."
He reached down and ruffled the little boy's hair.
His gaze swept across the courtyard full of happy children.
His fist tightened slightly.
Then, with sudden decisiveness, the witcher turned around and walked away.
Angoulême had no idea what was going through his mind, but she immediately followed her leader.
Just as they were about to leave the courtyard, a third-floor window suddenly opened.
A mature beauty with red hair appeared behind it.
Dressed in an elegant black gown, Lady Orianna folded her arms across her chest and watched the departing backs of the Phantom Troupe, deep in thought.
...
They reunited with the knights waiting outside and continued toward Beauclair.
Yet everyone could tell that the witcher had grown unusually quiet.
The others assumed Victor had been saddened by the sight of the orphans, perhaps reminded of his own past.
So Horace guided his horse alongside the young man.
"Vic, you really don't need to dwell on it. Every land inevitably has orphans.
"And those children are unquestionably among the fortunate ones. I've seen plenty of other orphanages, and Lady Orianna's children are by far the happiest."
Guillaume slowed his horse as well until he was riding beside Victor.
"Besides, once the boys and girls reach fifteen, they return to Beauclair and find work. I've heard they've even formed a small mutual-aid association to look after one another. Most of its members live fairly decent lives."
Victor shook his head with a bitter smile.
Their attempts to comfort him were completely ineffective because neither had come remotely close to the true source of his unease.
Still, they succeeded in distracting him.
Victor suddenly remembered that they would soon reach Beauclair.
When he met Her Enlightened Ladyship, how exactly should he discuss the matter of the Beast with her?
Should he use his prophetic knowledge to reveal part of what was coming, thereby securing greater support?
Or should he investigate first and search the underground crypts for Regis?
After rapidly considering his options, Victor decided against revealing the future for now.
He would find Regis first.
At the very least, he could ask Regis for a spar and find out whether, after downing every potion he could safely handle, he was capable of suppressing a higher vampire.
After all, the combat strength of these fantastical creatures remained an unsolved mystery.
Judging by what the books claimed, they were absurdly powerful, almost as though they were cheating. A witcher should have virtually no chance against one.
Yet in Victor's memories of his previous life, Geralt had still managed to fight Dettlaff on roughly equal terms in the end.
No matter what, Victor needed to determine just how wide that apparent gap in strength truly was.
The last thing he wanted was to charge confidently into battle one day only to discover, in utter despair, that he had walked straight into a game over.
As for what had troubled him back at the orphanage, the reason was actually very simple.
His memories from his previous life had just delivered an extremely important reminder.
Orianna was a bruxa.
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