Mama suddenly released her embrace and walked toward Papa.
"M-mama....." (I said in a low voice)
Mama stood in front of Papa and faced straight toward Count Brigend.
"What's with that look in your eyes, huh?" (Count)
Papa suddenly grabbed Mama's clothes.
"Mama... stop—"
Before Papa could finish his sentence, Mama immediately hugged Papa.
"Papa..." (Mama said as she started crying again)
The nobles started their habits again,
"That woman... still cares about her husband?"
"Isn't she supposed to hate her husband?"
"That means the two of them—"
BRAKK
Count Brigend slammed a table beside his chair.
"Anyone else wants to continue?" (He said)
The house became quiet again, but also even scarier.
I could only stand from afar, I was too scared to go near Papa and Mama.
"Today is over.... lock the two of them in prison." (Count)
"Yes, sir!"
Men wearing armor started taking Papa and Mama away, disappearing from my sight.
"Papa, Mama....." (Me)
SRUP
Suddenly, my consciousness began to fade, my vision started to blur and I collapsed to the floor.
———
I woke up in a strange room I had never seen before.
The room was very spacious, wider than my house. The bed was so large and soft. Where am I?
KREK
The door opened, and a man entered.
"Anna.... you're awake?" (He asked)
I got up from my sleep and tried to sit. Then, I saw that man's face—
"M-Marc-san.....?" (Me)
The man smiled and stroked my head.
"You still remember, huh?" (He said)
I focused my sight again, and it really was Marc-san.
Marc-san, Papa's old friend from when Papa was young. I met him about a year ago.
The last time, Marc-san lived in a house only slightly bigger than mine.
"Marc-san.. where is this..?" (Me)
"This is my house... earlier I saw you faint during the event...." (Marc-san)
I immediately remembered earlier, I quickly got up from the bed and walked to the door.
"Anna!" (Shouted Marc-san)
I finally reached the door, but my body felt so weak. My legs also felt like they could no longer move.
Meanwhile, Marc-san hurriedly came to me, then crouched down and looked into my face.
"Anna, where are you going?" (He asked in a gentle voice)
"I have to go to Papa and Mama—" (Me)
My hand slipped from the door, my body almost fell. But this time, Marc-san caught me and carried me back to the bed.
"William—.... they're both prisoners in Count Brigend's mansion." (Marc-san)
"I-I have to save them..." (Me)
I'm still a child, but if there's anything I can do..... then I'll do it.
"Anna... I know how you feel.... I'm also sad hearing this news... but Anna, there's nothing we can do..."
Does Marc-san also... support Papa and Mama's death?
"Marc-san you also—" (Me)
Marc-san immediately cut off my words, maybe he knew what I was about to say.
"No, no... I believe in William..." (Marc-san)
"I've known him for a long time and there's no way William would do such a thing."
"Especially since he already has you, Anna...."
"I really want to help but I don't know what I should do...." (Marc-san)
I thought for a moment, thinking about what I could do.
"How about trying to go to the guild?"
I was confused hearing Marc-san's words. He just invited me to the guild, and that has nothing to do with this, right?
"We're going to complete a mission?" (Me)
Marc-san chuckled a little.
"Why are you laughing?" (I asked with a slightly annoyed look)
"No, no... there's a guildmaster in the guild, right? Back then I and William were quite close with him." (Marc-san)
"As for now well....."
"Marc-san, please help me!"
Anna made a request to Marc (N)
For Marc, there was nothing he could do anymore, but when he saw Anna who didn't want to give up and stayed optimistic, Marc-san decided—
Suddenly Marc-san's expression became very serious,
"I'll ask you once more, Anna.... Are you ready to bear the risks of your actions?"
I swallowed my saliva, feeling a bit worried.
I've always wanted to do something.... but I never thought about the consequences of what I did.
But this time, I've made up my mind!
"I'm ready" (Me)
Marc-san's expression returned to normal.
"If you recover, then we'll go to the guild" (Marc-san)
"Most likely tomorrow we can already leave, so just sit quietly here for now."
——
"William and your mother, they still get one week in prison... do you know what that means?" (Asked Marc-san)
If I can go tomorrow, while Papa and Mama still have one week... That means—
"We can still save them!?" (I said too excitedly)
"You're quick to understand." (Marc-san)
Marc-san walked to the door to leave the room, but before he left—
"WAIT!! Marc-san...." (I shouted)
Marc-san turned to look at me.
(Already about to leave but got called again, does this Marc have patience level 999 or what?) : (N)
"Marc-san, why are you willing to help me?" (I asked)
Marc-san leaned against the door—
(If you think about it, Anna is still a child, but her mind is already too broad) : (N)
"For some reason, when I see your face... I remember William back then" (Marc)
"One time, William and I were trapped in trouble, I was really panicked back then."
"But, he just smiled and said to me (Don't worry!)" (Marc)
"I never thought that trait would pass down to his child.."
I looked at Marc-san with slight confusion. Honestly, I didn't understand what he meant.
"If you don't understand, that's fine.... but someday, you'll understand."
Marc-san left the room and closed the door slowly.
On the other side of the door, Marc leaned against it and lowered his head.
"William..... you're really lucky, you know..."
I'm still sick, but tomorrow I'll save Papa and Mama!
———
The next morning arrived, the warm sunlight entered through the ventilation above the window.
I woke up with a body that felt healthier than yesterday.
Beside the bed, there was a small table. On it, a warm soup had been prepared by Marc-san.
Since yesterday, Marc-san has been the one taking care of me while Papa and Mama were imprisoned.
One thing I knew, Marc-san must be someone very wealthy. I just thought of it last night before sleeping.
The room I slept in was already this big, what about the other rooms?
Yesterday, I only slept in bed all day and couldn't move anywhere.
———
While I was enjoying the warm soup, the room's door opened.
"Anna, are you done?" (Asked Marc-san)
I immediately finished the soup, and walked toward Marc-san.
———
Marc-san told me to bathe first, he said so that I'd feel fresher.
Well then, in Marc-san's house if you want to bathe, you have to enter a small pool behind the house.
Bathing here felt kind of.... too luxurious for me.
After that, only then did I and Marc-san go to the guild on foot... or so I thought.....
"Marc-san, is this your carriage?" (Me)
I was forced to ride this carriage by Marc-san.
"So? Nice, isn't it?" (Marc-san)
"This is the newest carriage model from my business."
Marc Leiwenz, William's friend when they were young. Once, William invited Marc to become an adventurer (N)
But Marc refused William's offer. He preferred to become a small businessman.
And as a result, Marc's shop is now one of the biggest in Necvalion. And Marc's wealth is already extraordinary (N)
(Hope the author becomes successful too : [N] )
A few minutes later, I and Marc-san arrived at the guild.
Marc-san immediately brought me upstairs to the second floor of the guild, to the guild master's office.
In front of the door before entering, I trembled a little,
"M-m-Marc-san.... the guild master isn't scary, right...?" (Me)
Marc-san laughed seeing my behavior.
"At least he's not a bad person." (Marc-san)
What kind of answer is that? For some reason, I had a bad feeling.
CKLEK (We both entered)
"Nals-san, mission...." (Marc-san)
We both had entered the guild master's office, but the only one there was an old man sitting on a long chair.
I tugged on Marc-san's clothes.
"Marc-san... the person isn't here?" (Me)
"There, that's the person." (He said while pointing at the old man)
"EEHHHHHH!?!?" (Me)