Children with value

Three days later.

Aldric sat in the study of House Kirlinghalm, a stack of ledgers freshly delivered by a servant spread before him.

After Cassian took Lathel away from the family, Reinhardt had ordered a thorough inspection of the room and every item he had once used. The official reason was to search for clues related to the fire, but in truth no one in House Kirlinghalm genuinely believed anything of value could be found in the small room of an adopted child who had been neglected for years.

Aldric thought the same.

He had barely flipped through a few pages before losing patience.

Most of it was just receipts for medicines purchased for Leviana, minor living expenses, and the pittance of an allowance Lathel received each month. No treasures, no secret arts, nothing that could explain why an Extra who should have been insignificant kept appearing at the center of every recent change.