If You Leave Without a Word - Chapter 233

‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.

Cain vaguely sensed that the reason for Esther’s unusual attachment to the children was not just that alone.

He had heard about Esther’s harrowing experience—how she, trying to make a living by selling smiles to passing men, suffered through unwanted pregnancies and agonized in unbearable pain. Unwanted pregnancies, forced miscarriages, and resulting infertility.

Her life was a nightmare at every turn. Yet even she had one single happy memory.

At the moment she was ready to give up everything, weighed down by self-reproach and despair, she met her destined partner. Despite knowing all her ugly past and secrets, this person whispered to her, not with blame, but softly said, “You must have been through a lot.”

That small phrase made Esther feel that her painful life had been somewhat compensated even if just a little.

From that moment, Mobishi and Esther became inseparable to each other, bonded by something stronger than love—they promised to spend their lives together.

Cain sincerely celebrated their union. Regret holds no power. The past cannot be undone.

Through countless realizations, Cain learned that the only way to overcome past pain was to let go of memories and fill the future with love.

Seeing Esther and Mobishi, he truly believed that wounds stained with death could be healed by love.

But then…

Creak.

The door was pushed open. Ash and dust rained down from above. Charlotte quickly raised her hand to shield Agatha’s face.

How long had the door been closed for all this ash to accumulate? Agatha hurriedly moistened her drying lips with her tongue.

Once the ash had mostly settled, the group began to move again.

Cain led at the front. Right behind him stood Agatha and Charlotte, followed by Liana and Lehman guarding the rear.

Inside, darkness enveloped everything.

Unlike outside, the smell of explosives was faint. Instead, the overwhelming stench was of dry, rotting wood.

No—it wasn’t just rot. It was the foul stench of old blood soaking into the wood, rotting together.

Agatha pulled her sleeve over her nose. Charlotte and Lehman did the same.

Cain continued forward. He moved slowly out of consideration for those behind, but never hesitated.

“…Esther?”

In the pitch-black hallway, Cain spoke for the first time. Rather than calling out in hope of finding someone, it seemed more like a desperate plea for any response to his voice.

“Esther!”

Agatha joined in, calling out the name as Cain did, and soon Lehman and Charlotte added their voices.

“Esther, please answer us! Esther!”

A collective wish united as one:

Esther, please be safe. Please come out whole and respond to this call.

After about an hour, voices echoed from within the orphanage again.

“Sir, we have completed the search of the entire area.”

Contrary to everyone’s hopes, no survivors were found inside the orphanage.

“There were no survivors.”

If there was one small relief, it was that among the many bodies, Esther’s face was not found—but in this sea of death, one possible survivor was little comfort.

Confirming Esther’s absence, Cain ordered a thorough search for any remaining enemy threats. Loyal vassal Lehman led the knights in a detailed sweep around the orphanage.

Since no signs of life were found, it was certain that the cruel invaders who had done this to the poor refugees were also gone.

“No suspicious individuals were found.”

That was strange.

“To have driven so many to death, there must have been some resistance.”

“Yes. I find that strange as well.”

“Why is there no sign even of anyone suspecting the enemy?”

“Not even the Kristin knights stationed here were seen. Had they been present, surely some armed conflict would have caused casualties.”

“Yet the dead were only the refugees of Amasril and war orphans…”

Did the knights abandon their posts without permission? Had an unknown enemy invaded and slaughtered countless vulnerable people?

Thoughts tangled in Agatha’s mind, her face involuntarily contorting despite trying hard to stay calm. Veins bulged on Cain’s forehead.

Unable to find answers, Cain finally called Agatha. Whether the knights had disappeared into the heavens or sunk into the earth, he hoped that by finding them, answers might be found.

“Did you instruct the knights where to retreat in case of emergency?”

“No. There was no designated evacuation site…”

Although ordered to protect the children at Arta, Agatha never expected any real threat to come, so she had not prepared any evacuation plans.

The bewildering situation happening repeatedly left Agatha’s mind a complete mess.