I won't fall for the queen who burned my world-Chapter 73: They are not well treated

Elysia knelt down beside the little girl who had tugged at her cloak, her violet eyes soft with warmth. The child, clutched a ragged doll to her chest, her wide eyes filled with a hesitant sort of hope.

"Alright," Elysia said, tucking a loose strand of silver hair behind her ear as she shifted to sit more comfortably in the dirt. "What game are we playing?"

The children erupted into excited chatter, their small voices overlapping in a cacophony of ideas.

"Tag!" shouted a freckled boy with a missing front tooth."Hide-and-seek!" a girl with unruly curls chimed in, bouncing on her toes."Marbles!" called out a shy-looking boy with pointy ears, holding up a handful of smooth wooden spheres.

Elysia chuckled, raising her hands in surrender. "One at a time, one at a time! Hmm, why don't you all decide together?"

The children huddled into a messy circle, whispering and giggling. But even as they laughed, Elysia's keen gaze caught something beneath the excitement—a flicker of wariness in their eyes, a hesitancy in the way they glanced toward the orphanage's entrance.

As if this kind of joy was something fleeting. Something they weren't used to.

"Ma'am?" The girl with the doll tugged at her sleeve again. "Can we play chase?"

"Of course!" Elysia grinned, rising to her feet and cracking her knuckles. "But be warned—I'm very fast!"

A chorus of giggles broke out as the children scattered, shrieking with delight as Elysia gave chase. She let them outrun her at first, allowing the little boy with pointy ears to squeal in triumph as he slipped out of her grasp.

Then, with a playful growl, she darted after a boy named Kael, scooping him up effortlessly and spinning him in the air. He howled with laughter, his tiny hands clutching at her shoulders.

"You got me! You got me!" he gasped between giggles.

Elysia set him down and ruffled his hair. "Next time, you'll have to be quicker!"

Nearby, the marble game had begun. She knelt beside the boy who had suggested it, watching as he carefully flicked a wooden marble with his thumb. "That was a good shot," she praised, making him beam with pride.

A girl with sun-kissed skin and a makeshift skipping rope called out, "Look, look! I can do three jumps in a row!"

"Show me!" Elysia clapped along as the girl skillfully hopped, her bare feet kicking up dust. She stumbled on the fourth jump but grinned, undeterred.

Through it all, Elysia's sharp gaze flicked toward the orphanage caretaker.

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The woman stood rigidly by the entrance, hands clasped before her, her golden eyes scanning the scene like a hawk.

Her too-perfect smile remained, but it no longer reached her eyes. There was a tightness in her jaw, a stiffness in her posture—as if something about Elysia's presence, and perhaps the laughter of the children, had unsettled her.

She doesn't like this, Elysia thought, keeping up her playful act. Why?

The orphanage was luxurious—too luxurious. Everything was pristine, the floors polished, the furniture carved from expensive dark wood.

The tapestries on the walls were embroidered with gold thread, the rugs so thick and soft that Elysia's boots nearly disappeared into them. Even the caretaker's dress was made of high-quality silk, with delicate lace trimming.

And yet... the children had nearly fought over the food.

Where is the money going? Elysia's gut twisted. Because it's certainly not being spent on them.

She took a moment to sit with a few of the children, watching them carefully as she spoke.

"You must all have so much fun here," she said lightly. "I bet you get to play outside all the time."

There was a pause. A hesitation.

The little girl with the skipping rope looked down. "We... don't go outside."

Elysia's smile didn't falter, but her pulse quickened. "Oh?" she tilted her head. "Why not?"

"The lady says it's dangerous," the girl muttered, eyes darting toward the caretaker before quickly looking away. "So we have to stay inside."

Elysia's mind whirled. They're never allowed outside?

She turned to Kael, who was sitting beside her. "Is that true?" she asked softly.

Kael hesitated, glancing at the other children before nodding. "Yeah."

"And what about when you get sick?" she pressed gently. "They must take good care of you, right?"

Another pause. Then a small boy, no older than five, shook his head. "We don't get medicine."

Elysia's stomach dropped.

"They say it's too expensive," Kael whispered. "But... but sometimes kids don't get better."

Elysia's fingers clenched against her knee, the warmth she had felt earlier replaced with cold anger. No medicine?

She turned back to the caretaker, who was still standing by the door, her eyes watching too closely.

Elysia took a deep breath, reigning in her emotions. This isn't the time to act. I need more information first.

But one thing was certain—this was not a safe place for these children.

As the sun began to set, the time came for her to leave, and she turned to Kael, who immediately latched onto her cloak.

"Can I come with you?" he asked, his voice small.

Elysia felt her heart squeeze. "Kael... I—"

"I'll be really good! I promise!" His small hands tightened their grip, desperation creeping into his voice. "I don't want to stay."

Elysia knelt down, resting her hands on his shoulders. "Kael, I can't take you with me. Not yet."

His eyes filled with unshed tears. "But—"

One of the soldiers crouched beside them, offering Kael a reassuring smile. "Listen, kid. If you just disappear, they'll notice. And we don't want them to get suspicious, right?"

Kael swallowed hard but nodded.

Elysia sighed, running a hand through his messy black hair. "I promise I'll come back."

Kael sniffled, wiping his nose with his sleeve. "You promise?"

"I do." Elysia squeezed his hands gently before standing. "Now be strong for me, okay?"

He nodded, though he didn't look happy about it.

With one last glance toward the children, Elysia and the soldiers made their way out of the orphanage, stepping into the cool evening air.

They walked in silence for a while, making their way toward the teleportation point.

"That place gives me a bad feeling," one of the soldiers muttered.

"You're not the only one," Elysia admitted, her gaze dark. "Something is wrong there."

"Agreed," another soldier grunted. "Those kids looked starved. In a place that fancy? That doesn't make sense."

Elysia's jaw clenched. "I'll figure it out. I won't let them suffer."

The soldiers nodded, their respect for her clear in their eyes.

As they reached the teleportation point—a quiet clearing just beyond the village—the soldier leading the group raised his hand, activating the spell.

A soft hum filled the air as magic gathered around them, the familiar tingling sensation of teleportation settling over Elysia's skin.

But then—something went wrong.

A strange, thick smoke began to curl around them, dark and heavy, its scent oddly metallic.

Elysia frowned. "What—"

One of the soldiers coughed violently, then staggered.

Another dropped to his knees.

"What's happening?" Elysia gasped, her vision starting to blur.

The soldiers were collapsing one by one, their bodies hitting the ground with dull thuds.

Poisoned smoke? Elysia's mind screamed. A trap? But how—

Her knees buckled. The world spun.

The last thing she saw before darkness consumed her was the hazy outline of a shadowed figure just beyond the smoke.

And then—nothing.