"Ten to eleven years ago? That sounds like around the same time Kay Warner—the previous residential doctor of the town—moved here and settled down," the chieftain said, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "If I'm not mistaken, didn't he also adopt two boys during his travels across the nations?"
Orion immediately nodded. "That's right, Chieftain. My adoptive father is Kay Warner, the previous town doctor who had to retire because of a sudden illness that made it impossible for him to continue his work."
The chieftain gave a slow nod, his expression softening with a flicker of nostalgia. Kay Warner's reputation had always been one of quiet excellence. As one of the most respected healers in the region, he had been invited to the chieftain's home countless times to treat illnesses or injuries that plagued members of the household. It was only natural that the chieftain would remember him with a degree of fondness.
Because of that long-standing relationship, Kay's home had been the only one in town pardoned from paying taxes. It had been the chieftain's personal way of showing gratitude to the man who had once treated a very serious ailment of his. Without that pardon, Orion and his brother Eden would have struggled immensely— more than already were anyway— as their small earnings barely covered food and medicine for Kay, whose health remained fragile.
Ironically, neither Orion nor Eden had known about the tax exemption for years. As teenagers with little understanding of how the town's politics worked, they had simply assumed they were getting away with not paying it. They often joked about their "good luck," not realizing it had been granted by the very man who now sat before Orion with a dark and brooding expression.
"So that's who you are," the chieftain muttered, the lines on his face deepening as recognition fully settled in. "Tell me, how is your father's health these days?"
"It's been the same for the past three years," Orion replied earnestly. "But he's shown some recent signs of improvement. We're hoping it means he might recover soon."
The chieftain nodded slowly. For a moment, his stern demeanor eased into something resembling warmth. "That's good to hear. Young boys need a father figure in their lives. Without one, it's far too easy for them to lose their way."
"You're right, Chief—" Orion began, but the chieftain cut him off mid-sentence.
"A perfect example," the older man continued, his tone turning cold, "of a young man who's lost his way due to a lack of guidance… is you."
Orion froze, his words dying in his throat. "What?" he mouthed in disbelief, his expression shifting from confusion to unease. The sharpness in the chieftain's gaze told him that whatever was coming next wouldn't be pleasant.
"After you spoke respectfully a minute ago," the chieftain said, leaning back in his chair, "I was taken aback. For a brief moment, I forgot you're the same boy who disrespected me—disrespected my family—in the worst way imaginable. But now that I know you're the son of someone I once welcomed into my home, my anger burns even hotter."
Orion's heartbeat quickened. His fingers twitched at his sides as he frowned in confusion. "Disrespected you and your family? Me? When did I—?"
"You dare stand there and feign ignorance?" the chieftain snapped, slamming his palm against the armrest of his chair. "You look me in the eye and call me 'sir,' but behind my back, you take what I cherish and tarnish it."
Orion blinked, genuinely at a loss. "Chieftain, I'm sorry, but I don't understand what you're talking about," he said, his tone turning desperate. "Tarnish what's precious to you? When did I ever do that?"
"Oh, shut up!" the chieftain barked, his voice echoing through the room. "Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about."
"I honestly don't!" Orion protested. "I was at home when these men from the Supplementary Military Corps barged in and dragged me here. I asked why, but all they said was that I'd find out once we arrived. And now I'm being accused of something I don't even understand! If someone could just explain what's going on—"
"So you're going to keep pretending, huh?" the chieftain said, his tone dripping with disdain. "Alright then. Let's see how well you deny this."
He turned to his right, toward the door that had remained open since his arrival. "Come in," he said coldly.
Orion stiffened. His heart beating heavily as he turned his head in the direction of the doorway. From there, two figures entered—a young woman in a finely woven gown, and beside her, a taller woman dressed in a servant's attire.
Orion's eyes first landed on the servant, who carried herself with the quiet obedience expected of her role. But when his gaze shifted to the other woman, his breath caught in his throat. Her delicate features, soft brown eyes, and smooth complexion bore an uncanny resemblance to the chieftain's own.
The chieftain's daughter? Orion thought, his brows furrowing. Both women walked gracefully toward the older man, stopping by his side. Though Orion could only see their side profiles at first, something about the younger woman seemed strangely familiar.
And then, as she turned to face him, the familiarity struck like a bolt of lightning.
"Wait a minute… you?" Orion blurted, his eyes widening in disbelief.
The young woman's expression mirrored his shock. Her mouth parted slightly, her gaze flickering with recognition.
"That expression says it all," the chieftain said darkly. "You two know each other. That alone proves what Alexander of the Supplementary Military Corps told me before he left to fetch you."
Orion's head snapped toward Xander, then back to the chieftain. "And what exactly did he say?"
The chieftain's eyes narrowed into slits. "He said you are the one who defiled my daughter. You took her virginity."
For a heartbeat, silence consumed the entire room. Then Orion's voice erupted like thunder.
"I did what?!" he exclaimed, his shock so immense it sent a chill crawling up his spine. He was even more stunned now than he had been the day he died and woke up in this strange, alternate world.
"Azalea," the chieftain said, turning toward his daughter. "Is this the one? Is he the man who took your virginity?"
Orion's breath quickened. His entire body tensed as his eyes locked on the girl—Azalea, the chieftain's daughter. She hesitated, her gaze flickering between her father and Orion.
Orion silently begged for her to deny it, to tell the truth, to say no. Because he knew—he knew—that he wasn't the one they were looking for.
For one, he was still a virgin himself. And even though he appeared as a teenager in this world, he carried the memories of his previous life—an adult who had died at eighteen. Mentally, he was older, mature enough to know better. The idea of touching someone Azalea's age—seventeen—felt wrong. Disgusting, even.
So why was he standing here being accused of something so vile?
From what the chieftain had said, it seemed Xander was the one who'd fed him this lie. But how could Xander have done that? They'd only met earlier that day, when Orion stole his carrier. There had been no time for Xander to fabricate something so elaborate—or had there?
Then it hit him. The trade.
Eden.
He remembered the look on his brother's face when Xander handed him that strange bottle in exchange for something Orion hadn't yet understood.
A terrible thought began to form in his mind—an idea so sickening that his stomach twisted into knots. *Did Eden know about this?* Had his own brother turned him in to Xander as a scapegoat—to take the fall for whoever the real culprit was?
'What the hell is going on?' Orion thought, his heart hammering in his chest.
And then, like a dagger through his chest, came Azalea's quiet, trembling words.
"Yes, Dad," she said softly, her voice quivering but firm. "He's the one."
The world around Orion seemed to collapse in that instant. His heart dropped straight into his stomach. Every breath felt heavier, slower—as if the very air had thickened with disbelief.
He stood there frozen, unable to speak, unable to move, unable to understand how a lie this monstrous could possibly be unfolding right before his eyes.