"How dare you-"
The Matron was going to launch a full-scale blast at Vivia when she found Zerath standing right in front of her.
"My lord…"
Zerath walked in slowly followed by Lucian, both staring squarely at Vivia.
The Matron fell on her knees, tremblingly holding her cheek. "I urge justice, my lord. I've been humiliated and accused!"
"...I see that."
He locked onto Vivia's eyes for a long moment before it settled on the little girl standing behind her. His eyes narrowed once. It fell back on Vivia, and he focused back on the Matron.
"What happened here?"
The Matron told her tragic story right from the beginning when the coachman Ril just barged into her office and began hurling curses against her. Then out of nowhere came the unexpected slap.
Zerath eyed Vivia next. "Is that the whole story, Ril?"
"Not even half of it, my lord," Vivia said with a detached voice. "She forgot to mention the important part about embezzling the orphanage funds and beating and locking up this little girl..for a crime I'm sure she hasn't done."
Vivia proceeded to tell her part of the story of everything that had transpired until now.
"That's not true!"
"Which part isn't true, Madam? I can see the girl hurt and bruised. She's still standing in the same room where you had punished her. Are you saying that you never hit her or locked her up?"
"I-I…"
Zerath shot a piercing stare at her assistant Ruri. "Who locked her up here?"
Though she sat frozen like a block of ice, her hair stood upright on the back of her neck. Such was the pressure of the Crown Prince mounted upon her.
"Sh-she made a mistake so Madam Matron…"
"Thought it was okay to beat up and punish a child without properly investigating the matter?"
"Of course I did, my lord!" She said with quickened breaths. "It was just a lesson for her to not steal anymore…"
"Which begs the question, doesn't it Madam?" Zerath tilted his head. "She was punished because she allegedly stole some fruits. The real question is why was there a need to steal fruits in the first place? Was she hungry? If so, why was she hungry? Because as far as I understand, there has been no lax in sending you the necessary funds by the treasury to run the orphanage."
Right on the cue and without Zerath needing to call out, Lucian stepped forward, opening a scroll.
"Considering that the average citizen in Bellor is a hearty eater indulging in heavy portion sizes, where children and women, too, regularly exercise and train to build their strength - a generous sum of fifty gold coins are given to the orphanage by Rudaheim every month. This includes nutritious meat at dinner, warm blankets, new clothes and medicines, staff wages and expenses for the building's maintenance."
Zerath smiled an unfeeling smile. "I think it's a good time to take a look at the ledger that I asked for before."
"...Please forgive this humble servant, my lord, but we're still preparing the ledger."
"Why? Don't you keep a track of the monthly expenses? That's your administrative duty. It shouldn't take much time to hand those scrolls over."
He watched the color slowly drain from her face and an urgency in her eyes to think about her next move. He bent on one knee, closing the gap between them that dropped the temperature by a few degrees.
"Where have you been spending the money, Madam Matron?"
She bowed deeply. "I beg you, please don't fall for this coachman's words, my lord..! I don't know what enmity he has with me, but every coin is being used towards this orphanage's welfare only."
"The head of Bellor's Property Registry office doesn't say so."
She froze.
"I came across an interesting rumor that on account of your noble work towards the orphanage and raising the helpless children who have nowhere to go, the head wanted to name a nice villa in your name at the outskirts of Bellor as a token of respect."
"...Ah, that rumor? It's nothing, my lord. He is just too gracious. Naturally, I rejected his intentions."
Lucian handed a scroll over to Zerath, which he unfolded before her.
"So why is the villa's deed with your name all set and ready for your seal, Madam?"
The Matron stared at the property deed, stating her name in clear, bold ink.
The smile on his lips vanished, and his golden eyes felt like they held an icy blue hue. "Because the deed is not a thoughtful gesture but the outcome of your corruption. You've been using the money to feed his pockets instead of the children's stomachs here. While the children lived here in poor conditions, you were dreaming of owning a comfortable villa for yourself."
She paled. "N-No, my lord! I don't know anything about this deed or when it was made! It's definitely a conspiracy against me!"
"Including the fact that you've been abusing the children here? You make them do servant's work all day, they sleep hungry and cold and you physically torture them. You run this place, Madam. Who is doing all this if not for you? Or you want to say that the children are lying too?"
He didn't allow any more pointless defense from her side and said, "Take them away, Lucian. The Matron, her assistant and the Head have some answers to give."
The knights marched in and despite the Matron's resistance and cries, none were moved. They simply followed their lord's orders and took them away.
Zerath then walked over to the child's side and knelt before her with a sunshine smile. "Lucian will take care of your bruises. Please forgive me that you suffered."
He gently placed his hand on her head, his gaze turning glassy at the thought of his own difficult past. The cuts and wounds on her skin reminded of how he wasn't any different once upon a time.
"You have my word. This won't happen again. I'll personally overlook the appointment of the new personnel here. They'll take good care of you and everyone here," his eyes looked resolute, asking her to place her trust in him.
The little demoness burst into tears and jumped to hug Zerath. His crisp shirt got messed up from the dirt and tears, but it didn't bother him one bit. He simply smiled and patted her head. Lucian bowed and took the girl away for treatment, leaving Zerath and Vivia alone.
Now that the tumultuous atmosphere had settled, Vivia anxiously clasped her hands together. An apprehension glinted in her troubled eyes.
Then came Zerath's voice, calm and measured. "Shall we head outside for some fresh air?"
Vivia knew that more than a pleasant walk, he wanted her time for some serious conversation. She breathed out.
"Yes."