Chapter 22: Part (1): Almsgiving

How strange…

That was the feeling Millie had had since early this morning.

Ever since returning from the Central Tower last night, Seraphina hadn’t appeared at all.

She had clearly promised to take Millie out today, to see the people in the Outer District…

But no matter how long she waited, approaching the appointed time, the woman hadn’t even shown a trace of herself.

Sure, without someone constantly watching her every move, even just breathing felt a little lighter.

But instead of feeling relieved, Millie’s heart grew anxious, as if she were stepping on clouds with nothing solid beneath her feet…

Cuddled up on the soft sofa in her pajamas, hugging a pillow, her gaze wandered aimlessly around the room.

Could it be…

She changed her mind?

She didn’t want her to show up?

But then again—

If she didn’t go out, there was nowhere for her to wander besides the backyard. That would still be boring, right?

And someone like Seraphina shouldn’t be late…

So where was she?

As Millie was lost in her thoughts, there was a sudden knock at the door.

It was uneven, almost casual.

Seraphina didn’t knock… she floated in like a ghost, silently appearing without warning.

“P-please… come in.” Millie straightened nervously.

The door opened.

The person who entered wasn’t the expected Seraphina.

—Nor was it her cold-faced adjutant.

It was a…

A stranger woman Millie didn’t even have words for.

Her appearance was extraordinary.

Tall and athletic, with sharp brows and a straight nose, her skin smooth and honey-colored, a head of wavy hair fading from jet black to gray-white casually draped over her shoulders.

Several thin braids decorated with tiny colored beads dangled from her hair, jingling softly as she moved.

Her outfit made Millie stare:

A deep brown leather corset hugged her full curves, belts crossing at her chest and waist, exposing a flat, toned stomach and defined abs.

Her lower half was loose cargo pants, patched at the knees and sides, but with a light, golden-patterned white scarf tied around her waist, flowing elegantly as she walked.

Intricate crimson totems were drawn on her bare arms and abdomen. Wide leather bracers studded with polished turquoise adorned her wrists…

She looked like a priestess straight out of an ancient Egyptian mural, yet mixed with the ruggedness of an American cowboy, like a scorching whirlwind blowing in from a distant desert…

“Yo, little saint!” the woman waved and grinned, showing two rows of white teeth.

Millie froze, unsure how to react as she strode confidently into the room.

She walked straight to the sofa, sizing Millie up without ceremony.

“Tsk… you are indeed delicate, no wonder that person likes you so much.”

“Uh…? You are—?”

“Me?” The woman pointed at herself, her lips curling into a crescent:

“You can call me Kaya.”

“I’m a senior operative of the Silent Merchants, hired by your queen. Today, I’m your nanny and bodyguard.”

Millie’s eyes widened.

Silent Merchants?

Wasn’t that the organization Seraphina had said would literally put her up for sale?

“Y-you… where’s Seraphina?” Millie awkwardly pushed her pillow aside, feeling uncomfortable under Kaya’s gaze.

“Oh, she had some urgent matter to handle,” Kaya shrugged casually. “I don’t know the details—it’s the employer’s privacy…”

“Anyway—that means you’re with me today!”

She began wandering around the room, inspecting everything as if it were her own house.

“Don’t be so nervous, little girl.” Noticing Millie’s stiff posture, Kaya waved dismissively.

Then, like it was nothing, she flopped onto the sofa, grabbed an apple from the fruit plate, and bit into it:

“Whoa! Delicious!”

“….”

“Hic—but don’t worry. Even though we’re like… mercenaries, we’re totally professional.” She chewed the apple, mumbling incoherently, and pulled a neatly folded piece of paper from her waist pouch:

“This is a letter from your queen. Read it and you’ll understand.”

Millie took the note and unfolded it. The handwriting was neat and familiar:

‘Today’s activities will be followed by Kaya; otherwise, proceed as originally planned. —S.K.’

Below was an elegant signature and the queen’s personal seal. It was definitely authentic…

“Hic! Oh heavens… uhmmmmm—!! Delicious…”

She glanced at Kaya, who was sprawling across the sofa, stretching lazily, looking even lazier than Millie herself.

“Finished reading? Ready to go?” Kaya tossed the apple core into a distant trash bin with precision, clapping her hands.

“Um…” Millie spoke carefully:

“The Silent Merchants… are they really like the rumors?”

“What do you mean?” Kaya tilted her head curiously, sliding over lazily.

“You know…”

“Profit above all? Can sell anything…”

“Hah!” The woman suddenly laughed heartily. “Of course!”

“Money makes the world go round!”

“As long as the price is right, anything can be bought! Any service provided!”

Millie was stunned by her brazen reaction.

“Little girl, do you know what’s most important here?” Kaya swung a leg over the sofa arm, leaning toward Millie, pointing a finger:

“—Survival!”

“If you want to live, you need money! Resources! Intelligence!”

“That’s what we do!”

“Where there’s demand, there we are!”

“Whoever offers the highest price, we serve them! No cheating, no lying~”

Millie hesitated.

She had expected Kaya to deny or explain herself.

But instead, Kaya was bluntly matter-of-fact…

“T-then… what if someone wanted to buy… a person?”

“Human trafficking?” Kaya reclined lazily, blinking as she thought. “It’s happened.”

“…”

“But we have principles! We only buy and sell willing participants, or criminals?”

“We generally don’t force anyone—at least I don’t touch that business; it ruins the reputation…”

Kaya extended her arm toward Millie; she leaned back to avoid it. Kaya didn’t mind:

“Don’t think we’re heartless, but our reputation is the best around here!”

“Agreed price—never raised!”

“Guaranteed service—never discounted!”

“We live off this, you see…” She laughed, then lowered her voice:

“And do you know why your queen built such a huge empire?”

“Wasn’t it because of us, providing intelligence and scarce resources?”

“We’re important, got it?”