This Goblin Won't Give Up!

Chapter 16

Three more weeks had passed in a flash. I think that today was my birthday, but I didn't really know. I guess that in one of her good moments, Sola told the director about it, but it didn't matter to me. Tully was gone, and Sola had bottled herself up. She barely talked anymore or even visited me.

The orphanage did its best to get me a cake, but it was more so for them than it was for me. In a few days, I would be out of their hair and taken away by that fat old man. There was nothing to celebrate. I should have died back with my mother and uncle.

After the small party, I was brought back to the director's office and placed into my crib. I had officially turned one year old, and there was no one that I could celebrate it with. I didn't know the other kids. I only knew Sola and Tully. They were the only ones that mattered to me.

"Well, that wasn't so bad, now, was it?" the director said, entering the office. "It is a shame that your friend couldn't be there with us, but you're both going through a lot. ...Please don't stare at me like that~."

Ever since that day, I haven't smiled or laughed. I lacked the care to show them any emotion. Most of the time, I would just blankly stare back at them. The only time that I acknowledged the director and the other caregivers was when they fed me.

I couldn't stand that he allowed this to happen. The things that the fat old men man and his men were doing to these kids. It doesn't matter that he was being threatened. He could have fought back.

"I didn't mean for your friend to be taken away," he said to me. "It was her choice, not mine. I did what I could to keep them safe for as long as I did. Ugh, what does telling you this even do? You're just a baby. Though I guess venting my anger to someone does help a bit."

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

"Come in," the director said, hearing several knocks on the door to his office.

Upon getting permission, a male caregiver entered the room, carrying what looked like a letter in his hands. "It's from Lord Vst," he said, handing it over to the director, who opened it as fast as he could. I watched his face change from calm to worried in a matter of seconds as he read the letter.

"Sir, what's wrong?" the male caregiver asked the director, seeing that he was sweating nervously.

"The Lord is coming here to visit the same day that... "he" will be coming to visit," the director said in disbelief.

"But sir, Lord Vst never comes to visit the kids. He usually says that there is no need to," the male caregiver said, confused as well. "At most, he drops off a few kids from time to time."

"Yes, I know that," the director said back to him, sounding somewhat displeased. "He even says that he has a surprise for the kids as well. If he comes here, then all the kids will be put at risk. Replay to him and tell him not to come on that day."

"Sir he sent his niece to make sure that the message is given a proper response. She said that she has also come here to see the three elf children that were brought here," the male caregiver said.

"Tell her that the children are resting," the director said, most concerned since Tully wasn't here.

"How can you say that when that one clearly looks awake?" Sara asked, standing in the doorway.

"Miss Vst, y-you're here!?" the director yelled, rising to his feet.

"Well, I was impatient to see those three lovely girls again after all this time. Lord Vst said that he wanted to make sure that they were okay himself, but I just couldn't help myself," she said to them.

Upon seeing her, I couldn't help but feel hope. Even after everything that the humans have taken from me, she was still here. There was no way that she could be fooled by these guys... right?

"Miss Vst, please, the child is tired. It would be best to go back home for now and come back another day," the director said, trying to block me from her.

"Nonsense, she's clearly awake, and her name is Illya," Sara said. I was surprised that she actually remembered my name.

"Now move aside, or should I tell Lord Vst that you were being uncooperative?" Sara said, insistent on seeing me.

"Of course, you may see her," the director said, moving aside for her. "As you can see, she is in perfect condition."

"Well, I have to say she... she looks fine," Sara said, pausing for a second before picking me up and holding me in her arms. Her warm embrace made me want to forget about everything that happened, but I knew that I couldn't.

"She doesn't seem too happy," Sara said to them.

"Well, it's late, and all the excitement for the birthday party must have worn her all out," the director said, trying to make an excuse for why I wasn't as happy as I should have been to see Sara.

"Birthday? Whose?" Sara asked them, wanting to get some more information.

"It is her birthday party," the director said to her. "We were told by the one called Sola that today was her first birthday. She had so much fun."

"Hmm, if you say so," Sara said in a skeptical tone. "I didn't see any decorations in the dining hall when I came here. Is Lord Vst not sending you enough money?"

"Well, it's only her first birthday. There was no need to go all out since she won't remember it." Upon hearing him say that, I could have sworn that Sara expressed a look of disgust, but when I blinked, she was back to normal. I guess that I must have been seeing things.

"Of course, it's only just the first, and I doubt that this one will matter," Sara said, agreeing with him, with what looked like a forced smile across her face. "So where are the other two, Tully and Sola? Why is Illya in your office?"

"The other two are sleeping right now in their rooms," the director said, lying to her. "As for her, she's her because there is nowhere else to put a baby, so keeping her here with me is enough for her until she gets a bit older."

"Alright, if you insist. Sara said to him. "Well, I had best be going then. Though my uncle will expect to see all three of them on the date he specified in his letter."

"Of course, and may you have a nice trip back," the director said, trying to get her to leave as soon as he could.

No! Please don't go! Please! I had to do something to get her to help me.

"Tu-we! Tu-we!" I tried to yell out Tully's name, though thanks to my lisp, it was a bit messed up. "Tu-we no! Tu-we no!" I couldn't say "here," but luckily enough, I made enough noise for Sara to stop and turn around to look at me again.

"What's that? Tully, no?" Sara asked, a bit confused. "What about Tully?"

"Miss Vst, she is just saying words that she knows to get your attention. Pay it no mind," the director said, looking back at me with an angry glare.

"You're right. I have seen many kids act like that when they want attention. Perhaps you should try to give her some more attention from now on. Babies need a lot of attention, so just consider giving her a tad bit more of your time~."

Sara left almost as quickly as she arrived, leaving a tad bit of uncertainty in the air. Did she notice that something was strange, or was she foolish enough to believe that everything was alright? I was just more confused that she came to see us. I didn't think that she cared that much.

"Sir, what are we going to do?" the caregiver asked him.

"Well, thanks to that brat almost spilling the beans to Lord Vst's niece, there is no telling if he won't come here with his army. Despite not wanting this, you and I are criminals. We have to tell him, and maybe he'll forgive us and deal with Lord Vst for us. I will not lose my life just because of some brats!"

In this moment of desperation, the true nature of the director came out. Humans only care about helping themselves. If they had to sacrifice others, then so be it. I have seen that way of thinking many times before arriving in this world.

"Send word to him now. It's time that The Lord of the North is replaced."