Divorce The Duke, Marry The King!
Chapter 124: Adopt

Chapter 124: Adopt

"Did you just say ’sell the babies to the witches’?" The man inquired, now wavering in his resolve. The disappearance of the pregnant women was one matter, but the handling of the babies, where they were taken, and how they were cared for sounded altogether too suspicious.

"They are lying! Pay no heed to their falsehoods! I sent them to an orphanage, just as we all agreed upon!" The man cried, crawling toward him in a desperate bid to convince him otherwise.

"Agreed upon? It was your suggestion alone, and we merely went along with it," the man said, now piecing things together. It had always seemed suspicious how he was the one who first spoke of the orphanage, the one who arranged everything, and the one who insisted they never speak of the village’s affairs to outsiders.

"Yes, but you selfish lot agreed to it! Why act now as though the blame rests solely upon me?!" The man bellowed, rousing the villagers’ ire.

"At last, you show your true nature! I always suspected you were up to something. And why should we heed your words when all you do is burden us with endless dues? You restrict us from speaking with our neighbors, claiming it is for our safety, yet what decisions have we ever truly made for ourselves?!" The young lady from earlier stepped forward, her fists clenched as she spoke with rising fervor.

"Yes!" The villagers cried out, their voices ringing in agreement with hers.

"I gave you homes when you had nowhere else to go! Yet you ungrateful wretches refuse to acknowledge how I bettered your wretched lives!" The man retorted, rising to his feet.

"No! You granted us shelter only to serve your own gain, just as those before you did! You selfish, wicked, loathsome creature!" The young lady spat, drawing forth another round of cheers from the villagers.

"Enough! This is no time for quarrels! We must uncover the truth before we descend into further discord," the man declared, and at his words, the crowd fell silent.

"I found this baby in an alley and sought to reunite him with his kin. That was how we came upon his home. He deceived us at first, but my hus..." She halted abruptly, drawing Quinn’s attention. He watched her with a knowing smile, awaiting the words she struggled to voice.

Clearing her throat, she pressed on. "My friend saw through his lies, and when we used a little force, he confessed the truth. He lures pregnant women here with false promises of refuge, only to slay them in the night and bury them before dawn, so it appears as though they fled, abandoning their child. He then leaves the baby in the alley, knowing that one of you will find it first and bring it to him, ensuring no one questions his hand in the matter." She revealed it all in full.

"Here, bring the child," Belle instructed one of the guards, to whom Quinn had entrusted the babe while he intervened in the fight.

"Wait..." A woman’s voice rose from the crowd. She stepped forward, her breath catching as her eyes fell upon the baby boy.

"I know him! I was the midwife at his birth. I remember his mother well and she spoke of beginning anew in this village. How could she have abandoned him?" The woman’s words struck deep, and at last, the villagers began to believe the strangers, their gazes turning upon the village head with growing disgust.

"I suppose matters are clearer now," Quinn said with a shrug. He released the man, only to suddenly seize his right arm and snap it without hesitation. "Ahhh!!" The man cried out, clutching onto his broken arm. Though the villagers were shocked, they knew he deserved it and didn’t bother defending him.

"Forgive me," he said, his tone utterly devoid of remorse. "I do not take lightly to attacks against my wife." With that, he turned on his heel and walked away.

"We owe you an apology for our rash attack," the man from earlier said, stepping forward. "But do try to understand, any village would be quick to defend their leader when faced with an assault. Still, we are grateful to you for uncovering the truth." He bowed his head slightly, a gesture of genuine regret.

"It is fine," Belle replied, though her voice carried little warmth. "But he could not have acted alone. There must be others aiding him. You would do well to find them and put an end to this monstrous practice."

"We shall see to it at once," the man assured her. Then, glancing at the child in her arms, he hesitated before asking, "Would you consider adopting him? You seem quite taken with him."

Belle’s eyes widened at the suggestion. Adopt a child? She could not even protect her own. How could she possibly safeguard him amidst the perils of war?

"I do not think I can," she admitted, the weight of her fears pressing upon her. "We are not bound for a safe place, and he deserves a home with a parent who can offer him more than I ever could." Her life was not guaranteed, how could she risk dragging an innocent child into such uncertainty?

"I am certain he would be safe with you," the young lady interjected, drawing Belle’s gaze. There was something knowing in her expression.

"And he seems to want you as well," she added, nodding toward the baby, who clung to Belle’s cheek, his tiny fingers grasping her as though he had already chosen her.

"I..." Belle started, her eyes lowering to the baby, who gazed up at her with an affectionate smile. How could she refuse him? From the moment she had found him, she had felt an unexplainable bond, a connection she could not bring herself to sever.

"Very well," she sighed, resigned yet oddly at peace with her decision. "I shall adopt him."

A round of applause erupted from the villagers, startling her into laughter. Their enthusiasm was unexpected. Was this truly something so grand? She still feared she might fail him, but perhaps the young lady was right. So long as she lived, he would be safe.

"Unfortunately," Quinn, who had been watching the entire exchange with evident boredom, finally spoke, "We came only for provisions and shall now take our leave." He cast a glance at Kay and signaled for him to move to Belle’s side.

"Once more, we thank you," the man said, offering a respectful nod. "Should our paths ever cross again, we shall not forget what you have done for us."

The villagers bid them farewell, waving as they departed.

"No! Wait! You must let me explain! You cannot do this to me!" The village head’s frantic cries rang through the air, but Belle did not turn. The villagers had now turned on him, yet she continued onward, walking beside Quinn and the others without looking back.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.