《The Fake Madam Disappeared》 Vol. 1 - Prologue ¡°You will take her as your wife.¡± It was an intense first meeting. The reaction was reasonable considering this had been the first time he was informed in such a manner after receiving so many marriage proposals. ¡°¡­ Wife?¡± Bam Edmund barely stopped his hands from banging his fist hard on the desk. ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re talking about Marquis Bled.¡± Taking his eyes off Daphne and turning his head, he saw an old man holding a cane looking at him with wide eyes. As evidence of his involvement in treason was revealed, Marquis Bled, who was in financial decline, offered Edmund a deal. But it was a ckmail rather than a deal in reality. He talked about Edmund''s weakness and told him to take his daughter as his wife. ¡°You would be in a lot of trouble if I open my mouth. Would that be alright with you, Your Excellency?¡± Alec, the captain of the ck Knights, flinched as the marquis kept on provoking them with a grin. But Edmund¡¯s sharp eyes kept the captain¡¯s mouth shut, preventing him from taking action. It would be impossible to reject someone as cunning as Marquis Bled who confidently asked for a meeting knowing only one of Edmund¡¯s weaknesses. He could have already done something in advance to harm Edmund and killing him on the spot isn''t worth considering. Edmund stopped Alec and asked back with a calm face. ¡°Although I have no idea what secret about me that you know, I don¡¯t think anyone will believe a sinner¡¯s words, right?¡± Marquis Bled¡¯s wrinkled face contorted but he just shrugged his shoulders. ¡°Is that a big deal? Can¡¯t this old man grant his only daughter¡¯s wish? I have to do something about it.¡± A wish. Edmund¡¯s gaze shifted to the side. She was the only daughter among the sons of the Bled family, and the source of all these troubles ¨C the woman who had not raised her head ever since she appeared here. ¡°Raise your head.¡± The woman slowly lifted her head when she realized his words were directed to her. Her bangs revealed her features as she lifted her face. He had a dull first impression of her, finding it impossible topliment her beauty. The bones of her thin face stood out as much as her exposed shoulders, making it very natural for one¡¯s gaze to be drawn to her most prominent feature ¨C her eyes. She was still looking down. When he met her green eyes, ¡°I am Daphne Bled.¡± Those eyes left a strangely intense impression of Daphne. That day, the deal was done. The news of marriage alliance between two families standing on opposite sides, let alone to a close battle, stirred up the high society for a while. Everyone knew that the unattractive bride, Daphne Bled, must have yed a part in it. People spected about the reason behind the marriage. That is, until a fancy wedding in the capital happened. The wedding of a war hero and the daughter of a rebellious family drew a crowdparable to that of a national wedding. The splendid and beautiful wedding ceremony led many to believe that there was more to this marriage than what people were led on to. It was Daphne as expected. [¡°Please make the wedding as grand as possible.¡±] Daphne and Edmund only went out twice before getting married. Except for their first meeting, the two meetings were for the painting for their wedding, and for Daphne toe to say this ¨C that was all. Edmund didn¡¯t see anything wrong with it and readily went with Daphne¡¯s request. This wedding should be painted as a perfect union of beautiful true love without any ws. Because otherwise, it was impossible for two families close to enemies to form a friendship out of the blue. Five years had passed after that marriage. ¡°Madam has disappeared.¡± Daphne was gone. ¡°¡­ Daphne.¡± She was finally found. She blinked her wide-open eyes. Holding Daphne in his arms, Edmund quickly scanned her face. Why did I forget this face? The small body in his arms trembled. ¡°Edmund, why are you¡­.¡± Edmund couldn¡¯t helpughing at her embarrassed face as if he hade to a ce he shouldn¡¯t have. ¡°Why? You¡¯re asking as if I shouldn¡¯t havee here.¡± Daphne bit her lips. She was silent as always. ¡°Did you think I would just let you go?¡± Edmund¡¯s hand rested on Daphne¡¯s stomach. ¡°You dare?¡± And with that force, he hugged Daphne, feeling through her thick clothes. Daphne¡¯s eyes slightly trembled when she realized what he meant. ¡ã??©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤??¡ã The Madam vanished. To be more precise, she suddenly disappeared with only ten days left until the Young Master¡¯sing-of-age ceremony. The maids who first noticed her absence didn¡¯t worry, thinking she¡¯d return soon as she always did. The Madam would asionally disappear for a day or two, then she would appear again. Initially anxious, they no longer took it seriously after five years. Their day went about the same way even after their Madam disappeared. Because to them, it was worse to have a Madam than to have none. Time passed just like that. First day, second day. The Madam didn¡¯t return. Third day, fourth day. Still, the Madam didn¡¯t return. Fifth day, sixth day. Little by little, dust started to umte in the room of the owner who hadn¡¯t returned yet. The maids just wanted the Madam to return before the Duke and the Young Lord''s return. No matter how much of an empty shell their fake Madam was, they couldn''t bear the consequences for her disappearance. Seventh day. Madam was still missing. Sensing the unusual situation, the maids finally reported their Madam¡¯s absence to the Chambein and the Chambermaid. ¡°Things like this happen often.¡± Unaware of the Madam¡¯s disappearance, they remained calm. Rather, they scolded them for wasting their time on this kind of thing amidst the hustle and bustle. The Madam wille back anyway. Those worried about facing punishment felt relieved. They focused on organizing the gifts to celebrate theing-of-age of the Young Lord, who was to arrive. Eighth day. A message arrived at the break of dawn through the blizzard. Receiving the news of the return of those who had left a month ago to subdue monsters, the mansion moved busily in preparation for the return of their masters. Their return was much earlier than nned. Because of this, the dyeding-of-age ceremony proceeded without a hitch, and the servantspletely forgot about the fact that the Madam still hadn''t returned as they were busy moving around. Ninth day. With the Madam still gone, the owners of the Winter Duchy located in the north returned. It was the day before theing-of-age ceremony of the Young master. The servants nervously swallowed their saliva at the strong smell of the monster¡¯s blood wafting from far away. The ck Knights, who protected the entire empire from monsters and the North, were feared and respected at the same time. Their intense presence kept the servants at edge. Soon, the people adorned with long ck cloaks appeared through the harsh blizzard. The most notable among them were the dark-haired man and boy. ¡°Congrattions on your return.¡± The servants bowed and spoke in unison. Duke Winter, the master of the mansion, passed by them and stood still for a moment. Those who were relieved to see him and were about to leave as usual, quickly looked back on the Duke¡¯s demeanor. ¡°My wife?¡± The Duke was looking for Madam ¨C the Madam who still stood tall to greet them when they returned from subjugating monsters even though she received cold stares. The Chambein came upon the harsh realisation that the Madam still hadn¡¯t returned. Damian, the only heir of Duke Winter, looked around, trying to catch a glimpse of his mother. But the person Damian was looking for wasn¡¯t there. ¡°Where is Mother?¡± The Chambein involuntarily avoided his gaze and lowered his head when he was asked by the young heir, with a face resembling the Duke. ¡°Th, that¡­.¡± Seeing his evasive manner, Damian lifted the corners of his mouth and let out a dry sarcasticugh, understanding. Does this mean you won¡¯te out [and greet us] anymore? ¡°She¡¯s out again.¡± ¡°Yes? Ah, yes, that¡¯s right.¡± Well aware of the rtionship between the Young Master and the Madam, the servants broke into cold sweat. They expected Damian to make a fuss as usual, but he walked up to the stairs and went to his room. When the Duke disappeared, the maids rushed to the Chambein and Chambermaid. ¡°What should we do? Wepletely forgot about Madam.¡± When someone suggested that they should tell the truth now, the Chambermaid looked at her with her blue eyes wide open. ¡°Anna, did you forget that tomorrow is theing-of-age ceremony of the Young Lord?¡± The maid who was at the receiving end of the Chambermaid¡¯s sharp gaze, shrank. ¡°And it¡¯s not like we lied. Everyone knows that the Madam often goes out.¡± Of course, this was the first time that the Madam went out without saying anything like this. The maid, overwhelmed by the Chambermaid¡¯s aura, said nothing more. ¡°Even though a banquet was already held at the capital a few months ago, you all knew very well that this is an officialing-of-age ceremony and how important this is.¡± The maids answered ¡®yes¡¯ in hushed tones. ¡°It¡¯s not toote to talk about it after theing-of-age ceremony had been safely held.¡± It was only a day difference after all. In any case, the people in charge of the mansion already said it, so those of lower positions had nothing more to say. After dismissing the maids, the Chambermaid massaged her throbbing temple. The situation wasn''t too serious but it felt ominous for some reason. It still bothered her. Duke Winter¡¯s vassals would gather at the ce where theing-of-age ceremony would be held, so it would be too embarrassing to show the Madam at such a ce. Hoping that the Madam wouldn¡¯t appear until the next day, the Chambermaid busied herself again to prepare for theing-of-age ceremony. Tenth day. The morning of theing-of-age ceremony finally dawned. Vol. 1 - Chapter 1 Duke Edmund went to the capital and held a separate grand banquet a few months ago, so there were no guests in theing-of-age ceremony except for the family heads of his close associates. The Duke stared intently at the room visible through the window of his office. The Duchess, the mistress of the mansion. Something felt strange. The Duke couldn¡¯t shake off the thoughts from yesterday. It kept repeating in his head, swirling around to find an answer. A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. ¡°Come in.¡± He thought that it was the Chambein or one of his close associates, but it turned out to be one of the mansion¡¯s maids. She didn¡¯t look familiar, so he assumed that she was not working in the main building. The maid with freckles bowed her head in surprise when the Duke narrowed his eyes. ¡°I-I greet Your Excellency!¡± ¡°What is your business here?¡± ¡°Uh, that¡­¡± At that moment when the nervous maid opened her mouth, someone knocked on the door. ¡°Your Excellency, everything is ready.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± By now, it was time for theing-of-age ceremony. The Duke took out a pocket watch, checked the time, and passed by the maid. The maid, who still hadn¡¯tpleted her task, quickly turned around in panic. ¡°Y-Your Excellency, I have something I must tell you¡­¡± ¡°More important than Damian¡¯sing-of-age ceremony?¡± The maid¡¯s mouth snapped shut. Without even looking at the maid, the Duke left the room and went to where theing-of-age ceremony was being held. The ceremony began as soon as the Duke entered. The family heads, gathered at a distance from the Duke, looked around. ¡°By the way, I don¡¯t see the Madam.¡± ¡°She should show up at theing-of-age ceremony no matter how bad their rtionship is. Tsk, tsk.¡± ¡°Moreover, there hasn¡¯t been any news of a child since they got married. Could the Duchess have some problem? How about we go to the Godmother and tell her about it?¡± On such important days like this, they would usually reserve a seat for her even if she couldn¡¯t attend. However, there was no space for the Madam here, and no one thought it was strange. Contrary to what was widely known, the vassals were aware of the strained rtionship between the Winter family and the Duchess. So they would gather in small groups, quietly criticizing the Duchess andining about her shorings where the Duke couldn''t hear. And so, theing-of-age ceremony ended as the sun began to set. Damian caught up to the Duke heading back to his office after having a light meal with the family heads. ¡°Father, I have something to tell you.¡± ¡°Come up to the office in a little while.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The Duke also had something to say. He was thinking of expanding the authority of his heir now that he had hising-of-age ceremony and officially became an adult. When he arrived in front of his office with the Chambermaid and Chambein, he noticed an uninvited guest loitering around. The Chambermaid was flustered when she recognized the guest¡¯s identity. ¡°Anna? Why are you¡­ .¡± The Duke let out a light sigh when he realized that it was the maid he met before theing-of-age ceremony. Sensing the meaning behind his sigh, the Chambermaid dragged the maid out with a stern face. ¡°What are you doing? Come here.¡± ¡°Wait a minute, Chambermaid! I have something to tell to His Excellency!¡± ¡°You''re not not going away! ? How dare you, in front of His Excellency¡­¡± ¡°Your Excellency! Madam has disappeared!¡± The maid being dragged by the Chambermaid tightly shut her eyes and shouted. ¡°You¡­¡± As the Chambermaid¡¯s grip loosened, the maid immediately ran in front of the Duke and knelt down. ¡°S-something serious happened to Madam!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think this is the first time this has happened.¡± Hesitating for a moment, the Duke replied in a dry tone. The maid was surprised by his response, but quickly continued. ¡°But, this is the first time the Madam hasn''t returned for a long time.¡± ¡°How many days has it been?¡± Holding back her tears, the maid answered, ¡°It¡¯s already been ten days¡­¡± The Duke nced at the Chambermaid and Chambein. Even with his expressionless face no different than usual, with their long experience of serving him, the two servants could sense that he was in a bad mood. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± It had been so long since they had seen the Duke show other emotions that they could only stand there, trembling and unable to respond. The maid continued to talk. ¡°This isn¡¯t like Madam at all¡­ She didn¡¯t even use a carriage nor left a word with the maids.¡± Ignoring the maid¡¯s tearful voice, the Duke left and headed somewhere else. ¡°Father?¡± The Duke didn¡¯t slow down even when he passed by Damian. His steps only quickened until he abruptly stopped in front of his destination. Standing before the room he had never visited in years, the Duke opened the door without hesitation. What greeted him was a neatly organized room covered in a thinyer of dust, as if waiting for its owner to return. The pile of papers on the desk stood out especially because of the few pieces of furniture. Ignoring the thinyer of dust, the Duke opened the letter. It contained a brief message in neat handwriting. ¡°¡­ Ha.¡± The Duke let out a wryugh. ¡°Father, why is Mother¡¯s room like this? What exactly is going on?¡± Damian, who had followed the Duke, entered the room through the thick dust. ¡°¡­ Damian, bring Alec.¡± Damian was still figuring out the situation when he was suddenly told to call the ck Knights¡¯ Commander. He couldn¡¯t make sense as to why his father suddenly walked to his mother¡¯s room, why the room was covered in dust, and why he suddenly asked him to call Alec. Damian noticed the letter in the Duke¡¯s hand at that moment. With his keen intuition, Damian confirmed that his hunch was correct. The Duke, looking at the letter and the signed divorce papers left behind, finally spoke, ¡°Daphne has disappeared.¡± ¡ã??©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤??¡ã ¡°It¡¯s impossible,¡± Alec firmly said. The reason why they couldn¡¯t release a search party to find the missing Madam was simple; the blizzard intensified overnight, making travelpletely impossible. They could use teleportation, but it could only be used in the presence of high-level magical beasts or on the battlefield. They had no choice but to wait until the blizzard subsided. Edmund lowered his gaze to the letter, which he had been staring at since Alec entered. Been through all sorts of hardships with him, Alec noticed that Edmund was subtly different than usual. The aura that Edmund normally controlled so well now felt shaken and unstable. ¡°If it were a normal knight, he would disappear in the blizzard before he could even find the Madam.¡± ¡°Alec, I¡¯m talking about the ck Knights.¡± ¡°... Yes?¡± Alec asked with a dumbfounded face. He expected him to give the search order to regr knights, but the ck Knights? The ck Knights, forged through countless life-and-death situations with Edmund, were a legendary undefeated order. And now Edmund wanted to use such an elite force to search for one person, and only the Madam at that. Though the loyal members of the order would search for the Madam withoutint, Alec couldn¡¯t just stand by and let it happen. ¡°Your Excellency,¡± Alec called Edmund with urgency. He hurriedly continued as he feared the Duke would issue an order to the ck Knights right away, ¡°This is going too far.¡± ¡°Going too far?¡± One of Edmund¡¯s eyebrows twitched slightly. Not noticing Edmund¡¯s reaction, Alec feltpelled to say something now that the matter has been brought up. ¡°The blizzard would die down in a day or two, so I meant let¡¯s wait a little longer.¡± Given that the blizzard had started so abruptly, there was a high chance it would stop soon. ¡°Even you wouldn¡¯t be able to survive ten days in there.¡± Edmund gestured to the window. The snow was swirling so fiercely that there was almost zero visibility. Alec was speechless at the sight. Not only could he not refute Edmund¡¯s words, but the situation presented itself was embarrassing. ¡°Form a search party with the ck Knights.¡± ¡°This situation might actually be a good thing,¡± Alec didn¡¯t even know what wasing out of his mouth, ¡°You must be angry because Madam broke the contract. But this is an opportunity. It has been five years since you suffered.¡± Even thinking about that time still makes Alec shudder. Once, Marquis Bled was at the pinnacle of power, almost surpassing the Emperor, but now he was just a scheming old snake, full of greed and no longer wielding any real influence. Alec could still vividly remember how Marquis Bled grinned while pushing his daughter onto the Duke. The whole mess started with the woman who always acted demure and kept her head down. She fell in love with his master, and her father used his weakness to arrange their marriage. ¡°Do you know how much it pained me to see that old fool¡¯s daughter be the Duchess? Yes, Your Excellency, you¡¯re right. I wouldn¡¯tst a week in that blizzard, let alone ten days. If Madam was out there in that storm, she would have met with disaster long ago¡­" ¡°Alec.¡± Alec, who started saying all the things he had been holding back, instantly came to his senses. His entire body stiffened when suddenly exposed in an unimaginable amount of murderous intent. It spread quickly, as if it was about to engulf himpletely. Cold sweat ran down Alec¡¯s back, his spine tingling with fear, facing Edmund¡¯s bloodlust. ¡°Start the search, now.¡± After being frozen in ce for what felt like an eternity, Alec finally copsed to the floor as Edmund reined in his killing intent. Panting heavily, Alec heard a dry voice from above. ¡°Don¡¯t make me say it twice.¡± Move. ¡°¡­ I¡¯m sorry. I was presumptuous.¡± Under Edmund¡¯smand, Alec staggered out of the room, his strengthpletely drained. Once the door closed behind him, Edmund tried to focus on the paperwork, but he soon shut his eyes tightly, pinching the bridge of his nose and let out a slow, weary sigh. The timing couldn¡¯t have been worse, and dealing with his aura had be even more challenging. Edmund sank deeply into his chair, rubbing his tired face with exhaustion. ¡°You must be angry because Madam broke the contract.¡± Edmund was a little dazed when he recalled Alec¡¯s words, as if he didn¡¯t realise that he was angry. He awkwardly touched the stiff corners of his mouth. Edmund lowered his gloved hand and picked up the letter he had been rereading all day. Vol. 1 - Chapter 2 It was nothing special. It was so unremarkable that once he looked away, he couldn¡¯t even remember its contents. And yet, it was the reason he couldn¡¯t put it down. With a sharp turn, Edmund put the letter inside the drawer and closed it. The longer he looked at it, the more he felt uneasy and sick in his stomach. He quickly scanned his surroundings hoping to distract himself. Almost immediately, the document on the desk caught his eyes. The document used such a low-quality papermoners used. It felt even more out of ce between the fine parchments. Fortunately or unfortunately, it was a divorce paper with all the formalitiespleted, save for one signature space left nk. Edmund checked the date written on the paper. It was from a month ago, when he went to the capital. The sheer audacity of assuming he would ept the divorce without question, with everything prepared in advance, left him speechless. He truly hadn¡¯t seen iting. Of course, Edmund didn¡¯t care about this marriage. It was unwanted. He just thought that he would have to live his entire life like this bound by a contract, vulnerable and trapped. But with just a signature ¨C a mere flick of the wrist ¨C everything would be over. Such a shallow rtionship. Edmund immediately picked up the quill and ced the nib on the paper. All it would take was a small movement of his wrist to sign the same way he mechanically did on documents every day. And then it would all be over. But suddenly, as if time had stopped, Edmund froze. He watched as the empty signature space slowly became stained with ink, without making a single move. ¡°¡­ Ah.¡± Snap. The quill broke with a dull sound. Edmund only moved again after the ck ink from the broken quill had stained his fingers. He watched the sticky ink drip before opening his hand. The quill, now broken in two, had vanished, leaving only ck ash and ink behind. It was a curse that never failed to unnerve him. This was also why Edmund, a Sword Master, had never once revealed his aura to the world. For some inexplicable reason, Edmund¡¯s aura was soot ck and turned everything it touched to ash. Whenever he lost control orposure, only ck ashes remained around him. This was his only weakness and the reason he got married, which was never part of his ns. Edmund took off his gloves, now stained with the ash and ink. Even with the bracelet wrapped around his wrist,yered with multiple sealing spells from a Grand Mage, there were times when it still seeped out. He crumpled the gloves and tossed them aside before taking out a cigarette from his coat, lighting it, and taking a few drags. Unlike a regr cigarette, this one was made from leaves that had a calming and sleep-inducing effect. The nausea he had felt while looking at the letter quickly subsided, almost unnervingly so. Edmun blinked his eyes in that strange tranquility, his vision blurry. For some reason, it seemed like he wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep tonight either. ¡ã??©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤??¡ã ¡°Sir Alec.¡± ¡°... Young Master.¡± Alec was startled when he saw Damian as soon as he came out of the room with trembling legs. For a moment, he mistook him for Edmund with their striking resemnce. ¡°If you¡¯vee to see His Excellency, now might not be a good time.¡± ¡°Oh, I see,¡± Damian answered absentmindedly. Alec, who had barely managed to gather his strength and leave the room to rest, subtly turned his head when he noticed Damian wasn¡¯t moving. ¡°That¡­ what¡¯s going on with the search for Mother?¡± he asked hesitantly. Recalling what happened inside the room, Alec rubbed his arms of the goosebumps as he answered, ¡°It seems we will be forming a search party with the ck Knights.¡± Damian¡¯s face distorted slightly. Seeing his expression, which seemed to question whether he''d heard correctly, Alec nodded. He found the situation just as bewildering, but disobeying orders wasn''t an option. ¡°Is there¡­ anything I can do to help?¡± Alec¡¯s eyes widened at his unexpected offer. Despite being mature for his age, it was only natural that Damian would be concerned about someone who had been his mother under the same roof for several years. ¡°You needn¡¯t worry, Young Master.¡± All the matters would be resolved soon, so there was no need for the future heir to worry. Damian had aplicated expression at Alec¡¯s words, but it quickly returned to its usual calm. ¡°Then, thank you for the hard work.¡± Turning his back to Alec, Damian walked anxiously to his room. Suddenly, he realized what he was thinking and stopped in his tracks. He shook his head with a frown on his face. ¡®Me? Worried about that woman?¡¯ That woman whom I¡¯ve never thought of as my Mother? No. It wasn¡¯t because deep in his heart, he considered that woman as his mother, or because he btedly realized her value, nor was it due to some newfound understanding. It was a deep,plex emotion, difficult for him to understand. Standing still, Damian ordered his aide, Vent. ¡°Vent, bring that maid who reported Mother¡¯s disappearance.¡± Something simple and straightforward _¡°My wish? It¡¯s for you to disappea_r.¡± ¡­It was just anxiety_._ ¡ã??©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤??¡ã A month ago, the night of a grand celebration. The atmosphere was lively, with guests intoxicated with wine, engrossed in their chatter. They had gathered to celebrate theing-of-age ceremony of the Young Lord Winter, a month earlier than usual, and eagerly awaited the arrival of the guest of honor. ¡°I can hardly wait to meet His Excellency Duke Winter in person.¡± A youngdy murmured, her cheeks flushed with excitement. The Winter family. The renowned protectors of the northern region bordering the empire, were famed throughout thend. Seven years ago, Duke Winter had brought a swift end to the Great War that had ravaged the empire for decades, seeding in just two years. As a result, he was revered by the Emperor and the people alike, earning their trust, admiration, and respect. However, what was particrly famous was the stunning beauty of both Duke Winter and his son. The youngdies and even the noblewomen in attendance were abuzz with anticipation at the thought of seeing them in person. Moreover, with the Young Lord still unwed at hising-of-age, many in the room harbored secret hopes. At that moment, the door opened and the main characters of the banquet appeared. The Duke, appearing in public for the first time in five years since his marriage, was a sight to behold, as if stepping out of a masterpiece painting. His jet-ck hair, swallowing all of light, and his eyes, reflecting an enigmatic moonlight,manded everyone¡¯s attention. No one could look away. In a sea of elegantly dressed guests, his striking appearance drew quiet gasps of admiration. Yet, his cold demeanor intimidated those who dared hold his gaze, forcing them to look away. While the Duke was indeed captivating, the Young Lord was equally so. Bearing an uncanny resemnce to his father, the Young Lord shared the same piercing eyes that could send shivers down one''s spine. After the Duke and his son had taken their seats, a woman with neatly styled brown hair entered the room. She moved calmly, though her green eyes darted around nervously. Her in and unassuming appearance was a stark contrast to the brilliance of the men of the Winter family, making her look even more out of ce as she approached them. A youngdy nearby was startled by the sudden appearance of this woman, who had a beautiful but somber appearance which kept others around from approaching. ¡°She seems like a youngdy from a humble family. Shouldn¡¯t someone stop her?¡± The noblewoman standing next to her shook her head and swayed her fan, ¡°... There¡¯s no need. She¡¯s Duchess Winter.¡± ¡°What?¡± The youngdy¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. It was well-known that the Young Master wasn¡¯t born between the current Duke and Duchess. The youngdy never heard of the rumors about the Duchess, so she simply assumed that the woman who married the handsome Duke was equally beautiful. Standing among the gorgeous men of the Winter family, the Duchess paled inparison. The Duke and Duchess exchanged a few words. ¡®I heard they were in love¡­.¡¯ The youngdy blinked as she watched the two. Their faces were so expressionless that the nearby people strained to listen, wondering if they were fighting. Just as Daphne turned to leave, Edmund gently wrapped an arm around her waist and ced a chaste kiss on her hand. ¡®Of course, they couldn¡¯t possibly be fighting.¡¯ The marriage between the Duke, a key figure in the Royalist faction, and the Duchess, from the Noble faction, had once been the talk of society. Their love story, oveing many obstacles to unite against all odds, was famous as a tale of true love. Having grown up on such fairy tales, the youngdy never doubted the couple¡¯s bond. After a brief exchange, the Duke stepped forward, signaling the formal start of the celebration. The banquetmenced. ¡ª ¡ª ¡ª ¡°Mother?¡± Damian frowned without realizing it. Though the balcony was dark, it wasn¡¯t difficult to recognize the figure standing there. Halfway inside, Damian hesitated, torn between returning outside to face the crowd or staying here with his estranged mother. He quickly made up his mind. ¡°Have you seen the Young Master?¡± ¡°I was looking for him too.¡± Hearing voices from behind a curtain, Damian quickly stepped fully inside the balcony and closed the door behind him, narrowly avoiding detection. He sighed in relief, not wanting to get discovered so soon. He had anticipated that his appearance would cause a stir in society, but it was far more overwhelming than expected. Unlike his perpetually stoic father, his slight smile had attracted an evenrger crowd. The moment he finished speaking with one person, ten more would be waiting for him, wearing him down. Moreover, he couldn¡¯t ignore the obvious intentions of the noblewomen escorting eligible youngdies around his age. The overpowering perfume they wore was so strong that it made his head spin. The only noblewoman nearby was his mother, yet the faint, almost scentless fragrance she wore was a stark contrast. ¡°You seem rather worn out.¡± Damian narrowed his eyes at her unusually breezy way of speaking. The idea that the Young Master, who could y a mid-level monster without batting an eye, would be avoiding people like this seemed to amuse her, and a faint smile lingered on her lips. Startled by her sudden smile, Demian stiffened. But he quickly understood the reason behind his mother¡¯s different behavior ¨C her slightly flushed cheeks and the faint scent of alcohol carried on the wind. It was shocking to find her here, in the corner of the ballroom, drinking, after she had spent the first three days of their arrival in the capital out of the house, only showing up just in time for the banquet, pale and iming exhaustion. Moreover, her usually tightly bound hair hade undone, strands blowing gently in the wind. As he followed the movement of her hair against the night sky, he unintentionally locked eyes with her bright green gaze. Vol. 1 - Chapter 4 ¡°¡­Why are you here?¡± Caught staring at Daphne, Damian retorted sharply, feeling an inexplicable pang of guilt. The wind stopped blowing. Daphne kept her gaze at him as she gathered her disheveled hair. ¡°Mother, isn¡¯t this the ce you longed for so much?¡± The North, where snow resides for three of the four seasons, was beautiful to look at, but also bitter cold. Sudden blizzards weremon and monsters frequently appeared, making it dangerous to venture out of the castle without permission. The woman who lived under the name of his Mother seemed to hate the North. She spent her time staring out of her window at the endless snow, always bored, always wanting to escape. When he was very young, he wished that her gaze would be directed at him. Those were foolish days. Damian silently acknowledged that the ce she desperately wanted to go was theplete opposite of the North. A ce with a warm and bright atmosphere, a paradise of greens and gold. A ce she yearned for five years without stopping. ¡°Are you happy?¡± When asked if she was happy to live at the cold empire, Daphne only stared at Damian, her face went devoid of warmth and color. ¡°... It¡¯s cold.¡± He couldn¡¯t help but let out a bitterugh at her evasive response. He had made the wrong choice. It was better to be surrounded by those who wagged their tongues in the front and barked like sharp knives in the back than being with Daphne. Regretting his decision, Damian turned to leave the balcony. ¡°Youring-of-age ceremony is just around the corner.¡± A slightly desperate voice reached his ears, trying to hold back. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± No longer willing to listen to Daphne anymore, he firmly gripped the doorknob. ¡°Is there any gift you wish to receive?¡± Damian¡¯s movements suddenly stopped. As he turned his stiff body, he watched Daphne continue talking without noticing his actions. ¡°No, no, I supposed you¡¯ve received all kinds of gifts.¡± Daphne muttered softly, her expression one of embarrassment. Deep in thought, she soon found a solution and raised her head. ¡°What about a wish?¡± ¡°A wish¡­¡± Her bright green eyes, glowing in the darkness, blinked at him, disappearing and reappearing with each blink. ¡°I¡¯ll grant you anything I can. It¡¯s youring-of-age, after all, so that¡¯s the least I can do for you.¡± Suddenly, it felt as though something heavy had dropped inside him. His heart raced. He felt his blood drain from his fingertips, his body turning cold. ¡°My wish?¡± Though they were not standing particrly close, Damian was in front of Daphne in an instant. Time had passed, and he realized that the woman he always had to look up to was now at eye level with him. The realization was strangely new. His thought process made him believe that he could only watch her from afar, afraid that if he reached out, his hand would be pushed away. ¡°It¡¯s for you to disappear.¡± It was easier to say the words he kept hidden in his heart than he had imagined, his thoughts swirling around like an apple getting poisoned. ¡°¡­ I see.¡± But it wasn''t as satisfying as he had thought. The wind blew through again, a wind that had seemed light just moments ago, but now it felt chilling to Damian, biting to the bone. ¡ã??©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤??¡ã ¡°Y-you called for me, Young Master?¡± Anna trembled as she looked at the displeased expression on Damian¡¯s face. Unimaginable things had been happening these past few days. She, who had only caught a glimpse of him from afar once, dared to block His Excellency directly and raised her voice? Was that why she was summoned by the captain of the ck Knights, whom she had never even seen before, and now by the Young Lord? Anna wiped her sweaty, damp hands against her shabby maid uniform. ¡°I heard you were a close maid to my mother.¡± As she expected, it was rted to the Madam. Anna knew she had to stay sharp since it was rted to her. ¡°I, I¡¯m a mere lowly maid; I cannot serve as a close attendant.¡± Demian¡¯s brows furrowed when it was something different he heard from his subordinate. ¡°Then who is my mother¡¯s close handmaid?¡± ¡°That¡­ Madam doesn¡¯t have a close handmaid.¡± ¡°What?¡± Anna flinched at his sharp question. Damian doubted his ears. For Daphne, who he had been with since he was very young, he couldn¡¯t understand why she hadn¡¯t had a single close servant. Could he really not have known it? Anna hesitated before speaking when she saw Damian flustered. ¡°Madam said she didn¡¯t need one, but more importantly¡­ no one volunteered.¡± She could vividly recall how, as if on cue, not a single one raised their hand and giggled among themselves. Even the Chambermaid joined in. ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do. We can¡¯t force anyone.¡± And so, five years passed without her having a single close handmaid. ¡°What about the handmaid Mother brought with her?¡± Damian suddenly recalled someone who used to be by Daphne¡¯s side. ¡°Ah, Marinda¡­¡± Marinda was the handmaid brought over from Marquis Bled when Daphne got married. Unlike her mistress, Marinda had a lively and carefree nature, which helped her quickly adapt to the North. For some reason, however, she had never served as the Madam¡¯s close handmaid and instead worked as a regr maid in the castle. ¡°Two weeks before Madam disappeared, that is¡­ when His Excellency and Young Master left for the expedition, Marinda went on a trip.¡± ¡°Trip?¡± ¡°Yes. Thanking her for her hard work, Madam sent Marinda on a trip.¡± Although why she was suddenly sent on a trip that time was odd, that wasn¡¯t what was in the priority right now. Damian slowly exhaled, trying to control his ragged breathing. ¡°... Why did no one volunteer to be Mother¡¯s close handmaid?¡± Anna felt ashamed with his question. For no one to volunteer to be the close handmaid was like everyday matters. It wasmon for the maids to deliberately prepare her spoiled food, make excuses to not do herundry, forcing the Madam to wear the same chemise for days, and even neglecting the heating in her room, iming ack of magic stones. Whenever that happened, Madam would eat the moldy food withoutint, get frostbite in her hands while doing herundry in the cold weather, and shiver in the cold room ¨C waiting for the Duke and Young Master''s return. _¡®These things only happened when the two of them were away.¡¯ _ The intentions behind were painfully clear. ¡°That¡­¡± Anna was at a loss on how to exin this. What saved Anna from that awkward situation was the sudden, unannounced entrance of a visitor. Waiting for Anna¡¯s answer, Damian noticed his subordinate and was about to scold him. ¡°Young Master!¡± His subordinate was sweating profusely, evident of how he hade out of urgency. ¡°Vent, what is this¡­¡± ¡°They¡¯ve found her!¡± Vent blurted out urgently, not even pausing to catch his breath, ¡°Madam¡­ they found her!¡± ¡ã??©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤??¡ã Gulp. Alec swallowed. He didn¡¯t know how much time had passed. The only thing he was certain of was that his Master was in a foul mood. He also knew that the reason had to do with what the search party found yesterday morning. ¡°... Say it again.¡± How many times had it been now? He had lost count after the fifth one. Out of habit, Alec swallowed his saliva even with apletely dry mouth. The dry gulp painfully slid down his throat. Forcing his heavy mouth open, Alec spoke, ¡°We found this in their of a mutated monster.¡± A mutated monster. A creature altered by dark magic, muchrger and stronger than a typical beast. That was why, a year ago, after an unusually long six-month expedition, all of the mutated monsters in the North had been eradicated, save for a few that managed to survive. Not cutting them down at the root back then had nowe back to haunt them. ¡°And this¡­ is presumed to be the Madam¡¯s.¡± What Alec had received from the search party was none other than a robe ¨C tattered beyond recognition and soaked stiff with blood. The real issue was that it had been found in their of one of the mutated wolves, and it was the Madam¡¯s robe. ording to the servant whost saw her, this was indeed the robe she was wearing just before she disappeared. The robe, crafted specially from the fur of a white leopard ¨C a rare specialty of the North ¨C had been a wedding gift from the head of a close family five years ago. In short, it was undoubtedly the Madam¡¯s. But Alec couldn¡¯t bring himself to say this aloud, fearing what might happen if he did. ¡°Are you certain?¡± He had asked countless times. ¡°We are certain.¡± ¡°What about her body?¡± ¡°... The search party reported that there were already human bones inside the wolf den, and the blood on the robe was indeed of a human¡¯s. Furthermore, this robe was at least from a week ago¡­¡± ¡°Find it.¡± Alec raised his head. ¡°Her body. Bring it to me.¡± ¡°Your Excellency...¡± The room, dimly lit by a single flickering me felt suffocating. Shadows obscured Edmund¡¯s face, making it impossible to discern his expression. ¡°Scour every inch and bring me even a fragment of her body to me.¡± In an instant, a silent lightning sh struck. Edmund¡¯s face was briefly illuminated, then vanished back into darkness. But in that fleeting moment, Alec saw enough to lower his head hurriedly, his face pale. He stammered as he spoke. ¡°Y-yes, I understand. Your Excellency, please do not move.¡± Around this time of year, when winter¡¯s chill reached its peak, Edmund¡¯s aura always became dangerously vtile. Long ago, when higher-ranking monsters had appeared, Edmund had been forced to join the hunt, nearly losing control and causing a catastrophe. Though he was young then andcked mastery over his aura. Even now Edmund didn¡¯t trust himself, isting himself every time this season came. Alec¡¯s plea for Edmund to remain still was purely instinctual. Had he hesitated even a moment, Edmund might have gone out to search for Daphne himself. It was an unlikely scenario, but Alec couldn¡¯t shake that feeling. It was at that moment. ¡°Father!¡± Vol. 1 - Chapter 5 Suddenly, the door swung open and Damian burst in. He had rushed immediately after hearing Vent¡¯s words, without having time to think of anything else. Only thing he saw was the firmly closed door. Unable to bear the seemingly endless conversation between Edmund and Alec, he just burst inside. ¡®Even an eight-year-old wouldn¡¯t do this.¡¯ Damian ignored feeling ashamed of his actions and continued walking inside the office. He was about to admit how his actions had been rude and ask for his father¡¯s forgiveness when he noticed the strange object on Edmund¡¯s desk. ¡®A rag?¡¯ He was curious as to why there was a rag on Edmund¡¯s desk, but froze when he realized that what looked like a pattern from afar were actually bloodstains. He felt his blood turn cold. At the same time, his subordinate¡¯s words echoed in his mind. ¡°Madam¡­ they found her!¡± There was no need to ask what had been found, as there was only one person the Duchy had been looking for ¨C his mother. He had no doubt it was his mother. ¡®Then that¡­¡¯ The answer was clear. ¡°... Is it Mother¡¯s?¡± There was no direct response, but Damian could tell ¨C that unidentified piece of cloth was hers. ¡°Is she alive?¡± When he received no answer again, he asked a different question, ¡°Then, is she dead?¡± ¡°Damian, this isn¡¯t something you should be involved with.¡± His answer was evasive, but Damian immediately understood what it meant. He hesitated and took a step back. ¡°Are you saying she¡¯s dead?¡± Damian let out a hollowugh. A strange feeling surged within him, a feeling he couldn¡¯t control, and he clenched his fists as he muttered, ¡°That¡¯s nonsense.¡± Dead? ¡®That woman?¡¯ Damian wavered and faltered back, this time speaking with more certainty and in a louder voice, ¡°Mother is not dead. Never.¡± It was true that he wished for her to disappear ¨C sometimes, yes ¨C but he never wished it to happen like this. Damian turned around and ran off somewhere. He didn¡¯t realize how fast his heart was racing. ¡ã??©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤??¡ã After Damian ran away and Alec was sent away, Edmund was left alone, lost in thought. He couldn¡¯t deny it ¨C Daphne was on Edmund¡¯s mind. ¡°Have you ever thought of me as your wife?¡± Edmund knew well that this concern was tied to the events just before she disappeared. Daphne disappeared. Despite Alec¡¯s report, Edmund refused to believe that Daphne was dead. Moments earlier, he¡¯d dismissed the obvious evidence, demanding they bring back even a scrap of her remains. It was a ridiculous request, even by his own standards. Yet, Edmund had no intention of reversing his decision. Though he was relying solely on intuition, he had an uncanny certainty that his choice was not wrong. If Daphne had truly fallen victim to a mutated monster, her remains would have beenpletely devoured ¨C flesh, bones, and all. The fact that even her robe remained intact was a stroke of luck. ¡°...¡± As he forced himself to look away from the documents, his gaze naturally drifted toward the window ¨C to Daphne¡¯s room. Edmund pondered why he was so concerned with Daphne. He was certain that this feeling would not disappear and bother him until he didn¡¯t sort out his thoughts. Finally, Edmund set the documents aside. First, he and Daphne were bound by a contract. Was he angry because she broke the contract? The thought made Edmund recall the contract. Knowing Edmund¡¯s secret, Daphne wasn¡¯t allowed to meet or contact outsiders without his permission. That means her disappearance was a clear vition of their contract. Moreover, Daphne had already disappeared once for three days just a month ago during a banquet in the capital. ¡®Or was it because she was afraid that the secret was leaked?¡¯ Both were usible reasons. Even if the contract could be terminated with mutual consent, Edmund had nothing to lose. That left only one possibility ¨C leaking his secret. Having finally found the answer, Edmund realized that he had to find Daphne to rid himself of this unsettling emotion. He immediately called for his aide. ¡°Johann, bring a painter.¡± ¡°Painter, Your Excellency?¡± Johann was taken aback by Edmund¡¯s sudden order. ¡°I need someone to paint Daphne¡¯s portrait.¡± ¡°Are you¡­¡± Johann¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°We can¡¯t do that.¡± Johann quickly added, ¡°If Marquis Bled learns that Madam disappeared, he won¡¯t sit idly. He¡¯ll definitely seize any excuse to cause trouble.¡± Johann¡¯s objection was valid. Marquis Bled still has some power in the capital although he was in prison. ¡°Moreover, the timing is terrible.¡± It had been less than a week since Damian¡¯sing-of-age ceremony. Before the contract, five years ago when Edmund was still unmarried, the Emperor had grown increasingly wary of Edmund¡¯s rapidly growing power. The Emperor¡¯s n was to marry Edmund to the Imperial Princess, thereby absorbing his strength. But just as this marriage was being arranged, Edmund suddenly announced his own marriage. Yet, the Emperor did not give up. Despite the initial shock of Edmund¡¯s sudden marriage, the Emperor had be desperate over the past two years to marry Edmund to the Imperial Princess, especially with no children born from his marriage. If the Emperor heard of Daphne¡¯s disappearance, he would stop at nothing to force a divorce and have the Imperial Princess marry Edmund. In such a case, the Emperor and Imperial Princess would make sure that their bloodline can inherit the Duchy, even if it means driving Damian out. ¡°It will only bring harm if news of Madam¡¯s death is known. Unless Young Master Damian¡¯s position is more stable, it is impossible right now.¡± It was an open secret that Damian, the sole sessor, was an illegitimate child. ¡°Johann,¡± listening to Johann in silence, Edmund rasped in a low voice, ¡°Daphne is not dead.¡± ¡°Your Excellency¡­!¡± Edmund released an aura that silenced Johann¡¯s voice. Realizing the shift in the atmosphere, Johann closed his mouth. ¡°Only her robe was found, but her body was nowhere to be found.¡± Johann bit back the words he was about to say, ¡®That¡¯s exactly the problem.¡¯ ¡°Don¡¯t make me say it twice. Bring the painter.¡± ¡°... Yes.¡± Johann immediately followed Edmund¡¯s orders. ¡ª ¡ª ¡ª Fortunately, there was only one painter in the sparsely popted territory, and he arrived as soon as the blizzard subsided. The painter, who had been dragged in without exnation, was startled to see Edmund seated in the room. ¡°I-I greet Your Excellency!¡± ¡°Sit down.¡± The painter, visibly nervous, took a seat. Soon, a canvas, brushes, and paints were set before the painter, who hesitantly picked up a brush. ¡°Y-Your Excellency, will you please maintain that pose?¡± At the moment, Edmund was half-turned toward the window. As the painter decided upon the posture, Edmund turned to face him, fully revealing his face. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not going to paint me, but my wife." ¡°Then, where is the Duchess?¡± ¡®Is she about toe down?¡¯ The painter tilted his head in confusion. Only the Duke and his closest aides were in the room. ¡°I heard you can draw people based on description alone.¡± It was a worthless ability that had never been used before. The painter, who had spent many years in obscurity, instinctively nodded. ¡°Please describe the Duchess in detail.¡± ¡°She has brown hair and green eyes. And¡­¡± The painter quickly scanned the paints, looking for ones to mix brown and green. It was best to hear the full description first. But no more words came after the mention of her hair and eye color. The painter, knowing that people often struggled with initial descriptions, prompted Edmund on what to say. ¡°Please describe specific details, like her expression, cement of her moles, length of her eyebrows, height of her brow arches ¨C those kinds of things.¡± Edmund broke his silence, ¡°And¡­¡± his lips moved but no words followed. ¡°Your Excellency?¡± The painter¡¯s voice brought Edmund back, but he was already sinking into confusion. How could this be? He couldn¡¯t remember the face of the person he had lived under the same roof with for five years. ¡ã??©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤??¡ã Philip was an unknown artist. A talent he discovered by chance in his youth earned him significant attention in his small vige, leading his family to fully support his move to the capital. However, in a city where only the best of the best gathered, Philip was nothing but a small, insignificant figure among the crowd. He endured fifteen years in the capital, thinking of the family that had supported him, but eventually, he ended his life as an obscure artist and returned to his hometown. That was already two months ago. Just when he was nearly giving up on his life as an artist, he was given the chance to paint the portrait of the Duchess Winter. Philip swallowed hard as he looked at the top-quality canvas, brushes, and paints delivered to him. ¡°Please take it.¡± Philip received a check from the servant. ¡°Th-thousand gold?!¡± Startled, Philip jumped up from his seat. A thousand gold was enough to support his family of five for a year without needing to work. ¡°His Excellency said the remaining thousand gold will be paid uponpletion of the painting.¡± A total of two thousand gold. The unimaginable amount made Philip¡¯s head spin. Even the highest-paid artist in the capital, excluding the royal painters, would earn at most a thousand gold per painting, yet here he was, being offered two thousand. His heart raced. ¡°But until then, you must live in this mansion.¡± ¡°Y-yes, of course. That¡¯s no problem at all.¡± Philip, who was naturally quick with his hands, felt confident he couldplete the painting within a month, even if it meant working through the nights. He just needed to dedicate himself to the painting for a month. With excitement, Philipid down on the bed in the room where he was given his amodation. His Excellency had said he would call him again tomorrow, so the real work would begin then. ¡®He was really beautiful.¡¯ The painter shuddered at the thought of Edmund¡¯s face. Vol. 1 - Chapter 6 It was as exactly as the artists who had seen Eddmund praised in unison. With Edmund¡¯s perfect facial proportion, he was truly a muse for every artist. The rumor that most artists dreamt of seeing Duke Winters face before they die was not unfounded. ¡®Come to think of it¡­¡¯ Why did His Excellency dismiss me instead of describing the Duchess? He looked as if he encountered an unexpected obstacle. ¡®But what could someone like me do about it?¡¯ Quickly shaking off his thoughts, Philip went to bed early and prepared for the hardships he would face. ¡­¡­. ¡°Your Excellency.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Your Excellency?¡± Only after several calls did the focus in Edmund¡¯s eyes return. Edmund looked at the empty chair in front of him and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s the painter?¡± ¡°Your Excellency sent him away.¡± Edmund was so lost in thought that he had forgotten he sent the painter away. And again, Edmund fell into thought again, rendering Johann¡¯s patient calls useless. Edmund was confused by the situation, and rightfully so. He couldn¡¯t remember anything ¨C just her in brown hair and in green eyes ¨C nothing else. ¡®I¡¯m going crazy.¡¯ Pressing his throbbing temples, Edmund let out a faint sigh. It wasn¡¯t that he had a poor memory, but he couldn¡¯t remember anything about Daphne. Even though they only see each other once a month, they had been living under the same roof for five years ¨C a whole five years. Edmund tried to recall Daphne¡¯s face again, but all he could remember was her hazy green eyes ¨C nothing more. It was as if someone deliberately messed with his memories, specifically with Daphne¡¯s appearance. ¡°... Before the wedding,¡± Edmund suddenly remembered something, ¡°There was a painting I drew five years ago.¡± That painting was something he drew before the wedding to hang in the hall. Although he hadn¡¯t taken it out since the wedding and couldn¡¯t guarantee its condition, it will at least help him recall what Daphne looked like. ¡°I¡¯ll bring it right away.¡± Johann suddenly recalled that painting as well and headed straight to the basement, but returned empty-handed. ¡°I apologize, Your Excellency. I¡¯m also trying to find out what happened.¡± ¡°The painting¡­ disappeared?¡± The only painting of Daphne that no one had touched vanished into thin air. ¡ã??©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤??¡ã It was quiet in the northern castle. While it was never particrly a lively and vibrant ce, the castle¡¯s people were more reserved and hushed than before. However, when the Master was away, they would whisper to each other of rumors they had heard. ¡°Madam was found in the den of beasts?¡± ¡°But I heard it was Madam¡¯s robe that was found in the den.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that the same thing? Madam is not His Excellency nor the Young Duke, so how could she survive alone in the den of beasts? The point is, Madam¡¯s dead.¡± Listening quietly to their conversation, Anna bit her lips. Anna wasn¡¯t originally from the North. Her family, who were merchants for generations, headed North to conduct business. However, they were attacked by beasts during their journey, and Anna was the sole survivor, saved by a knight of the Winter family who happened to pass by. It took two full years for Anna to adapt to the northern castle, which was a tight-knitmunity. Having grown ustomed to the warmth and beauty of the capital, Anna found it hard to endure the coldness of the North. That was until she met the Lady of the house. ¡°You do it.¡± ¡°Ang, are you pushing this to me?¡± ¡°Then are you telling me to go to that woman? Are you kidding me?¡± Ang¡¯s sharp voice made Anna, who was wiping the window frame, raise her head. It was Ang Murry who was in charge of cleaning the Madam¡¯s room today. _¡®I wonder what kind of person the Madam is.¡¯ _ Anna had yet to properly see the Madam¡¯s face even though she had be a servant of the Winter family. Being always ostracized by other maids, Anna was always too busy doing other maids¡¯ work instead. ¡°Anna, you can do this for me, right?¡± Just like now. Anna rolled her eyes at Ang¡¯s words and nodded. No one who crossed Ang, the Chambermaid¡¯s niece, ever came out unscathed. Strictly speaking, as an outsider and not particrly skilled, Anna was well aware she was a thorn in the Chambermaid¡¯s side. Thus, Anna was left to clean the Madam¡¯s room. She gathered her cleaning tools and arrived at the door. All she knew about the Madam was that she also came from the capital and wasn¡¯t very well-liked by the servants. But it had been so long since she met someone from the capital. With a mix of anticipation and half nervousness, Anna knocked on the door. It wasn¡¯t long before she heard a small voice. ¡°Come in.¡± Anna walked in with quick steps and her head down. Having been doing odd jobs such asundry and hallway cleaning, Anna had no idea how to clean the room. Naturally, no one was kind enough to teach her. Just as she was fumbling with the cleaning tools, unsure on where to start, someone approached her. ¡°You¡¯re not from the northern castle, right?¡± The Madam approached Anna. A faint but pleasant scent emanated from the Madam. Anna tried to discern what it was, but the fragrance quickly faded. As Anna felt a pang of disappointment, the Madam knelt down and began cleaning. Shocked, Anna hurriedly spoke up. ¡°M-Madam, this is something I should do¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that I am tired of being inside my room all day.¡± Facing the Madam, Anna found herself unable to stop her. After that, their seemingly secret yet not-so-secret meetings continued. Perhaps due to homesickness, the Madam enjoyed hearing Anna¡¯s stories about the capital. Even though it had been only two years, the Madam listened as if she were hearing about it for the first time, her eyes sparkling. Anna thought those green eyes were truly beautiful. Anna, who had no close friends in the northern castle, and the Madam, who was not well-received, grew close. Others sneered at the Madam for not caring for the Young Master, her nominal son, even though they shared no blood. However, Anna trusted Madam. Contrary to rumors, the Madam¡¯s personality was not entric, and her face, which others found in and unremarkable, seemed delicate and lovely to Anna. After the Madam disappeared, Anna became a much busier person, albeit in a different way. It was only after the Madam¡¯s disappearance that it became known Anna had been close to her, and she was dragged around for questioning. At first, Anna was simply d to be of help to Madam. Buttely, Anna had begun to doubt her actions ¨C all because of the Young Duke. ¡°Is¡­ Young Master asking what Madam usually did?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Anna found herself thinking the Young Master was really shameless. Shocked by her own impudent thoughts, Anna quickly suppressed the thought. The Young Master deserved respect. Even if he wasn¡¯t gentle, he possessed extraordinary swordsmanship skills, enough to join in the beast subjugations at a young age, and was highlypetent in assisting His Excellency with paperwork, and yet... _¡®He really doesn¡¯t know anything about Madam.¡¯ _ It would be more urate to say he had never been interested. Madam would send a gift for the Young Master''s birthday every year. Although he refused the gifts with the Madam¡¯s name, since three years ago, she had no choice but to send them anonymously, and the Young Master used them well. The quill on his desk, the pocket watch, the gloves for sword training ¨C all the items he used in his daily life without realizing it were gifts from the Madam. This meant that the Madam had always been watching over the Young Lord from the beginning. The Madam¡¯s days began and ended by the window. Frankly speaking, the Madam¡¯s room was far from what one would expect of ady of the house. In the castle, shaped like a ¡®?,¡¯ the Madam¡¯s secluded room, where even maids would rarely reside, barely received sunlight and was poorly ventted. Anna had often wondered why the Madam had chosen this room instead of the Mistress¡¯s chamber, but the Madam seemed to like it, saying it was quiet and peaceful without people. The only things visible from the window in the Madam¡¯s room were the training grounds and the dense forest. Every time His Excellency or the Young Master used the training grounds, the Madam would sit by the window, watching outside for hours without moving. ¡°¡­ Madam loved to look at flowers.¡± Not the ones beautifully cultivated in the greenhouse, but the wildflowers growing in cracks between the walls. Sometimes, on days with good weather, the Madam would leave the window open. Then, wildflowers growing between the walls woulde into view. She would gaze at the flowers intently, and Anna once asked, ¡°Shall I pick them for you?¡± but the Madam shook her head. ¡°Everything is most beautiful when it is in its ce.¡± Was what she said. ¡°And?¡± ¡°And¡­¡± She felt a wave of nausea. Anna bowed her head. ¡°My apologies, Young Lord. I can¡¯t seem to think of anything else.¡± Her heart pounded violently as she lied to her master for the first time. Not expecting much, Damian looked down at Anna before dismissing her. Anna, trying to hide her sweaty hands, moved quickly to leave the room. ¡°Wait.¡± Even though she knew the lie hadn¡¯t been discovered, her heart sank. Anna cautiously lifted her head slightly. To her surprise, Damian wasn¡¯t looking at her but out the window. After blinking a few times, he suddenly stood up and walked to the window. And then Damian muttered, ¡°... Mother?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Ignoring the puzzled Anna, he headed straight for the mansion¡¯s entrance. The Mistress¡¯s carriage was parked there, and as he got closer, his heart began to race. He had never run through the mansion like this before. ¡°Young Master?¡± He ignored the servant calling out to him and finally reached the carriage. Just as the carriage door opened, Damian forced himself to take a deep breath. The moment he swallowed dryly, someone took a step and emerged from the carriage. ¡°!¡± Vol. 1 - Chapter 7 ¡°I¡¯m telling the truth,¡± Marinda protested her innocence. ¡°So Marinda, what you¡¯re saying is Madam lent you her carriage, her clothes, her jewelry, and even gave you money?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s exactly what I am saying.¡± The Chambermaid sighed deeply, unsure how to handle this difficult situation. Marinda, quick-witted as she was, had always maintained a good rtionship with the Chambermaid, who was generally tolerant of her mistakes. But this time, the issue was a bit different. When Marinda returned in the carriage that she imed the Lady of the house had lent her, the Young Lord mistook her for the Madam herself. Upon realizing she was merely a maid, he became furious, using her of mocking the Duchy by treating it lightly. With the Young Master and the Duke involved, there wasn¡¯t much the Chambermaid could do. ¡°I¡¯ll take your word for it, but it would be different with the Young Master.¡± Running out in a hurry because of themotion, it was the first time in a long time that the Chambermaid heard the future heir raise his voice. Thest time he raised his voice was when the Madam broke the only thing left by the histe mother. Meanwhile, Marinda felt wronged. She hadn¡¯t lied about anything. It was true that Madam had lent her everything. True, the Madam hinted to her that only the Mistress¡¯s carriage could safely brave the blizzard, but still, it was the Madam that lent it to Marinda. _¡®That¡¯s expected.¡¯ _ Can someone even me for her actions, being trapped in this dreary northern region for five years? Daphne¡¯s change of attitude from being cold initially caught Marinda off guard, but it only gave her confidence. As soon as she returned from her joyous trip, it was Damian who greeted her. Marinda blushed at Demian¡¯s handsome appearance, reminding his striking resemnce to the Duke. ¡®Why is he out here?¡¯ ¡®Could it be¡­ for me?¡¯ But Marinda¡¯s expectations were quickly shattered. As soon as he saw Marinda, his face twisted in anger. ¡°Did¡­ something happen while I was away?¡± Marinda cautiously asked. ¡°Marinda, don¡¯t be surprised. Madam disappeared.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°It had already been two weeks ago.¡± The search party had been scouring and retreating through the blizzard for five days already, but all they found was a piece of blood-soaked robe. The Chambermaid told Marinda everything that had happened over the past few days. ¡°They found Madam¡¯s robe in a mutated monster¡¯s den? Madam is dead?¡± Marinda blinked nkly. ¡°We can¡¯t be sure¡­ but that¡¯s what everybody thinks. The search party is not looking for Madam anymore, but her body.¡± ¡®I¡¯m sure that had been a big shock.¡¯ Although Marinda wasn¡¯t the Madam¡¯s personal handmaid, she was the only person in the mansion who still cared for her. When all the servants turned their backs on the Lady of the house, Marinda was the only one who sympathized with her. ¡°Does this mean¡­ His Excellency is remarrying?¡± The Chambermaid caught the underlying meaning in Marinda¡¯s question. _¡®She¡¯s nning to send a message to the Bled Family.¡¯ _ Bled ¨C one of the founding families of the empire, renowned for its first patriarch, who was a saint. Though the divine power had long faded, the family¡¯s reputation endured. However, since evidence of their involvement in a rebellion was uncovered five years ago, the family had been in decline. Daphne, the esteemed daughter of the Bled family, narrowly avoided the family¡¯splete downfall by marrying into the Winter family. Although the Marquis of Bled was imprisoned on a remote, heavily guarded ind, there would be a way tomunicate, and news of his daughter¡¯s death would reach him. If the Marquis had been sent to Ruvuz Prison as originally intended, this wouldn¡¯t have been a concern. Ruvuz Prison is unlike any other. It¡¯s where those who threaten the safety of the Imperial Pce are confined ¨C a ce where neither money nor power has any influence. But Daphne¡¯s brother, Sergei, the heir to the Bled family, had volunteered to take his father¡¯s ce in Ruvuz, allowing the Marquis to be imprisoned elsewhere. Thus, the Marquis would inevitably hear of events outside. ¡°I don¡¯t know either. What matters the most is the Duke¡¯s decisions.¡± The Chambermaid ambiguously answered. But despite this vague answer, the Chambermaid knew that the Duke would surely remarry. With the disappearance of his wife he wasn¡¯t on good terms with and his young age, countless women would eagerly throw themselves to the Duke like moths, even with a history of previous marriage and a son. ¡®Perhaps a noblewoman? The Imperial Princess even?¡¯ Even without considering his outstanding achievements, there were many who had been infatuated with the Duke solely for his looks. Among them were the flowers of the high society, Lady Vevelokh and the Imperial Princess. ¡°In any case, I¡¯ll let you know once a decision is made. Stay out of trouble until then.¡± The Chambermaid added, looking weary. Marinda realized that the Chambermaid¡¯s worries stemmed not only from the Madam¡¯s disappearance. ¡°Is something else the matter?¡± ¡°Of course, there is.¡± The Chambermaid answered vaguely again, recalling what happened a few hours ago. Although the Duke was generally even-tempered, he had always been an ufortable presence, making it difficult to serve him, So, it was only natural that the Chambermaid felt more anxious than usual when her Master, now even more on edge since the Madam¡¯s disappearance, summoned her. The reason the Duke called for the Chambermaid was rather unexpected. ¡°Why? What¡¯s the matter?¡± The Chambermaid sighed deeply, ¡°Well, the thing is¡­¡± ¡ã??©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤??¡ã It was deste. Edmund thought as he looked around Daphne¡¯s room. Except for when he found out a few days ago about Daphne¡¯s disappearance, this ce rather felt unfamiliar, as he had not visited it ¡®even once¡¯ in the past five years. Sparse furniture and a thickyer of dust. To put it nicely, the room was neatly arranged; but to speak the truth, there wasn¡¯t a single trace that suggested someone had stayed there. A letter and the divorce papers ¨C that was all. It was as if she decided not to leave her traces behind. Edmund stood still in the middle of the dusty room, rooted in ce. After staring at this room through the window all day, he came inside as if he was possessed by something. Edmund took a deep breath. There was no trace of her scent, as if there was no existence of her presence. Feeling suffocated, Edmund pulled out a cigarette. Just before lighting it, he looked up and surveyed the room. The scent of the cigarette was strong, and even one puff would likely fill the entire room. ¡°...¡± Edmund shoved his cigarette back into his pocket, closed his eyes and tried to remember the owner of this room. Nothing came to mind. It was only natural ¨C Edmund knew nothing about Daphne. ¡°I never thought of you as my wife.¡± Edmund slowly opened his eyes, searching through his memories. ¡ã??©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤??¡ã A month before theing-of-age ceremony, the celebratory banquet held in the capital continuedte into the night. The lively atmosphere, buoyed by the rare public appearance after five years and the banquet¡¯s purpose of celebrating the future Duke Damian¡¯sing-of-age, showed no sign of waning even past dawn. After the banquet ended, Edmund massaged his stiff neck. ¡°Phew¡­¡± He was more tired from dealing with people than from doing his work. ¡°Your Excellency has worked hard.¡± ¡°Benjamin.¡± At that moment, Benjamin, the butler of the vi in the capital where the banquet was held, appeared. Benjamin, like Vent¡¯s family, had dedicated his life to Duke Winter¡¯s household for generations. ¡°Thank you for the hard work.¡± The Lady of the house was usually the one in charge of the banquet. But upon hearing the words from Edmund, Benjamin quietly prepared for the banquet in such a tight schedule. ¡°I heard from Johann that you will be returning to the main estate.¡± ¡°Yes, I n to return before I get any older.¡± Benjamin cast a fond nce around the mansion. This vi, which he had taken care of since his youth, held great significance for him. That was why, five years ago, he chose not to leave with Edmund when he got married and left this vi. But now, it was time to let go of his attachments. ¡°Then let¡¯s go back together.¡± ¡°Yes, understood. Your Excellency.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Did Madam¡­¡± ¡°Daphne?¡± ¡°Ah, forget about it. Your Excellency might be tired. Please go in and rest.¡± Hesitating, Benjamin shook his head in the end. As he retreated, Edmund, weary, made his way to his room. When he reached the door, someone was crouching in front of it. ¡°... My Lady?¡± Her head buried between the knees raised. With the hallway dark making him unable to see her expression, he knew it was Daphne. As he resumed walking after a momentarily pause, Edmund wondered to himself. Why is someone, who imed to be unwell and left the banquet early, here? Moreover, Daphne arrived at the capital she had missed so much and had been out of contact for three days, even staying out overnight. Daphne staggered to her feet as Edmund approached. Edmund¡¯s hand twitched, but Daphne managed to steady herself by leaning against the wall before he could react. Edmund stopped. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± There was a long silence. Fatigue washed over him. Edmund nced at her disheveled hair and sighed. The room was full of documents that needed to be handled. Even if he started now, he wouldn¡¯t finish until dawn. Edmund tried to pass by Daphne, who still hadn¡¯t said a word, to enter his room. ¡°Edmund,¡± but a desperate hand grabbed his sleeve. The grip was so weak that he could shake it off if he wanted to. ¡°I have something to tell you.¡± Vol. 1 - Chapter 8 Edmund turned and stared intently at the hand gripping his sleeve. Oddly, the hand clinging to his sleeve as if it were a final lifeline, exuded a sense of desperation. ¡°Let¡¯s talk tomorrow.¡± ¡°We need to talk now.¡± Her stubborn tone made Edmund pause for a moment. Even though they lived under the same roof, they rarely saw each other. Moreover, it had been a long time since they¡¯ve exchanged words. There was no particr reason for not talking nor any reason to start a conversation. That¡¯s why it felt rather unfamiliar for Daphne to actively ask for a conversation. Edmund smelled the scent of alcohol carried by the light wind. That exined why her demeanor was so different from what he was used to. At that moment, Edmund realized something was wrong with his body. There were times when his aura surged unexpectedly, outside of the usual periods when controlling it was difficult. But it had nevere on so suddenly like this before. If Edmund made even the slightest mistake, those around him, especially Daphne, standing right in front of him¡­ ¡°It will only take a moment. I¡­¡± ¡°Do as you wish.¡± ¡°What?¡± Edmund cut off Daphne¡¯s words as he shook off her hand holding his sleeve. Then, looking at her staring at him, he said, ¡°Anything. Do whatever you want, my Lady.¡± Edmund slowly exhaled, trying to suppress the raging aura inside him. ¡°No matter how we are as a married couple,ing to me while intoxicated is inappropriate.¡± His voice came out calm. Edmund bit the inside of his cheek, doing his best to maintain an unaffected demeanor. ¡°Please go back, my Lady.¡± Edmund impatiently turned around and grabbed the doorknob. ¡°Married¡­ couple?¡± He would¡¯ve entered the room if not for the voice behind him. ¡°Have you ever thought of me as your wife?¡± His head ached, and his mind felt foggy. Without fully understanding what Daphne meant, Edmund responded thoughtlessly. ¡°I¡­ never thought of you as my wife.¡± His stomach churned. His head throbbed. He hid his emotions behind various excuses. So when he turned around, Edmund deliberately erased from his memory the faint bruises on her shoulder faintly visible beneath her shawl. ¡ã??©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤??¡ã ¡°Is that you, Marinda?¡± Marinda abruptly stopped in her tracks at the sound of someone calling her. ¡°Ang.¡± She forced a smile, turning around to find Ang standing there, as expected. A maid standing behind Ang poked out her head. ¡°Did youe back today? I¡¯m so envious of you. I wonder when I will ever get out of the North.¡± ¡°Well, it was all thanks to Madam.¡± ¡°It¡¯s still something to be thankful for.¡± Pfft. Ang, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, covered her mouth with her hand as an involuntaryugh slipped out. But Marinda¡¯s face had already hardened, having heard the mocking tone in Ang¡¯sughter. Marinda lifted the corners of her mouth. ¡°Ang, did something good happen?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s just that of all people, you are saying such things that it made meugh without knowing.¡± Ang lowered the hand that had been covering her mouth, but the faint sneer remained there. ¡°Uhm, I don¡¯t really understand what you¡¯re saying. Ah! I need to go now. I bought so many souvenirs that it would take me a while to unpack them.¡± ¡°Souvenirs?¡± The maids standing beside Ang¡¯s eyes sparkled with interest. Most of them were ordinarymoners who had been born and raised in the North. Even when the blizzards subsided, the region was still infested with monsters, so aside from the merchants who visited once a month, few ventured into the North. Because of this, the less affluent maids had rarely, if ever, left the North. ¡°I¡¯ll go and help you!¡± ¡°Hey, you¡¯re busy today! I¡¯ll help her! I have a lot of time today!¡± The mention of souvenirs was enough to make their eyes turn, eager to assist. ¡®Idiots.¡¯ As Marinda observed them eagerly volunteering to help with her luggage, she mocked them internally while outwardly maintaining a broad smile. ¡°Then, let¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°Have you all forgotten what the Chambermaid said?¡± That was when Ang¡¯s sharp voice cut into their conversation, ¡°She warned us not to make any scene as things have been unsettling in the mansiontely. Besides, who would want to go against the Young Master tsk.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, but¡­¡± ¡°Ang, don¡¯t be so strict. Do you want toe too?¡± Marinda and Ang¡¯s eyes shed in mid-air. _¡®Stuck in a ce like this.¡¯ _ Ang looked down on Marinda. ¡®Where do you think a thief like you can escape?¡¯ Ang scorned at Marinda¡¯s hypocrisy. As the war of nerves between them continued, the maids began to sense the unease and quietly retreated. They were tempted by the souvenirs Marinda had brought back, but they knew better than to get on the bad side of Ang, who was rted to the Chambermaid. ¡°Sorry, Marinda. I¡¯ll go next time.¡± ¡°What? Wait, let me see what I bought for you¡­¡± ¡°I heard an interesting rumor, by the way.¡± Ang interrupted. ¡°Do you remember His Excellency and Madam¡¯s portrait from five years ago? The one painted by the royal artist? It¡¯s gone missing.¡± Marinda, who had been trying to stop the retreating maids, froze in ce. ¡°And they say that the thief who stole it works in the mansion.¡± Whether by coincidence or not, Ang¡¯s gaze lingered on Marinda as she said this. Smiling sweetly at the now-stiffened Marinda, Ang turned and walked away. ¡°Let¡¯s go. We have a lot to do, right?¡± ¡°Oh, yeah.¡± Marinda was left alone in an instant. ¡®Thief.¡¯ As she recalled Ang¡¯s parting words, the image of Ang¡¯s mocking expression shed in her mind, causing her to clench her fists tightly. ¡®Dn it! Dn it!¡¯ Marinda stormed into her room, checking the hallway thoroughly before locking the door behind her. Without even taking off her coat, she moved arge frame that covered one wall of the room. A small hidden space was revealed, and Marinda quickly entered. At first, she had considered taking it with her on the trip, but the risk was too great, so she had abandoned the idea. It had been left untouched for so long that Marinda¡¯s movements were frantic and unfocused. The room was cold and pitch-dark, with not a single beam of light prating. In the center was a painting draped with a cloth. Marinda knelt in front of it, her eyes half-closed in ecstasy as she stared at the painting. ¡®Finally.¡¯ ¡®My chance hade ¨C the chance to make himpletely mine, the one I had always admired from afar.¡¯ ¡®Of course, we were destined to be together!¡¯ She could still vividly recall the thrill that had shot through her head and reverberated down her spine the moment they first met. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve endured a lot for the past five years.¡± Though she knew that their rtionship was worse than that of strangers, the thought of Daphne being called ¡°Madam¡± always made her really... she had to suppress the urge tosh out at Daphne. But now, all the obstacles between her and him have vanished. Marinda smiled, her heart brimming with anticipation. At that moment, the cloth, covered with umted dust, slipped slightly. Half of the painting was now visible. It depicted a man with ck hair, dressed in an attire he rarely wore ¨C a tailcoat ¨C looking straight ahead. ¡°Haa¡­ I really missed you, Your Excellency.¡± It was Edmund. ¡ã??©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤??¡ã ¡°... Your Excellency!!¡± A sudden gasp burst forth as if someone had pulled him up from underwater. ¡°Huk, huk¡­¡± Edmund panted heavily, clutching his shirt near his chest as though he might tear it apart. Cold sweat soaked his back and forehead. He roughly wiped the sweat from his brow, his shoulders rising and falling sharply. By now, the sun had set, and thick twilight was rapidly swallowing the world. ¡°Are you alright, Your Excellency?¡± Johann asked urgently, handing him some lukewarm water. It was only after receiving the water that Edmund realized his throat was parched, and he gulped it down in one go. ¡°I knocked on the door many times, but there was no answer so I came in. My apologies.¡± As the time drew nearer, Johann¡¯s concern for Edmund grew. Thus, risking reprimand, he had entered the office. What Johann saw was Edmund, hisrge form curled up tightly on the sofa, fast asleep. Since Edmund suffered from insomnia, Johann had nned to quietly leave, but when he noticed cold sweat pouring from Edmund¡¯s forehead like rain, he couldn¡¯t help but wake him. ¡°Painter¡­¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°Call the painter.¡± Johann hesitated, straightening his bent back. ¡°Right now!¡± At Edmund¡¯s shout, Johann snapped to attention. Edmund ran his hands through his sweat-drenched bangs as Johann hurried out of the room. Although the dream was hazy, Daphne¡¯s face lingered like an afterimage. It was the most vivid he could remember of her. Edmund abruptly stood up and began pacing the office, thinking and thinking again, fearing he might forget even this afterimage. ¡°I-I heard you summoned me, Your Excellency!¡± In the meantime, the painter rushed in, barely having time to change out of his night clothes. His sses seemed to have been lost somewhere along the way. ¡°Arched eyebrows, eyes slightly drooping at the corners. Her nose and isn¡¯t big, her face is slender, and her lips are¡­¡± Edmund fumbled with his own lips, ¡°Her lips are about this thick¡­¡± Philip, who had been rudely awakened, stood dazed for a moment before quickly realizing that Edmund¡¯s ramblings were about the Duchess. He hurriedly took out a notebook he had grabbed in a rush. Though Edmund¡¯s descriptions fluctuated at times, after a lengthy exchange, a rough semnce of a human face began to take shape. Sweat dripped from Philip¡¯s forehead onto the notebook. He was so focused that he forgot to wipe it away. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard.¡± Only after the deep darkness had settled did Edmund dismiss him. His throat was parched from speaking continuously. ¡°You, too, have worked hard, Your Excellency.¡± Philip, afterpleting several dozen sketches for Edmund¡¯s approval and revising them based on feedback, finally produced the most urate sketch. Crumpled papers were piled high at Philip¡¯s feet. ¡°Go back and rest.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Philip rose up from his seat after hours. With a haggard face, Philip cradled the final sketch like a precious treasure and staggered out of the room as Johann entered. Edmund leaned his forehead against his sped hands. ¡°What about the painting?¡± ¡°My apologies. We¡¯re still looking for it.¡± Which meant there was no progress. Edmund knew as much. He was well aware of how slim the chances were of finding a painting when they didn¡¯t even know when it had been stolen. ¡°But as soon as word got out that Your Excellency was looking for the missing painting, a rumor surfaced that one of the servants had stolen it.¡± Edmund, who had been leaning deeply against the back of the chair, immediately straightened his posture. ¡°That rumor. Find out more about it.¡± Vol. 1 - Chapter 9 ¡°Yes, understood. Also¡­¡± Johann reported on what happened this morning. ¡°Who was it?¡± ¡°Her name is Marinda,¡± Johann added, ¡°She was the handmaid that came with Madam when she got married.¡± Edmund could vaguely recall Marinda from his memory, the maid standing next to Daphne. ¡°So, the Young Master wants to personally carry out the punishment.¡± ¡°Tell him to do as he pleases.¡± After a brief silence, Edmund asked, ¡°But is it true that Daphne truly extended such kindness to that handmaid?¡± The incident was puzzling to Edmund. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then this handmaid¡­¡± Edmund¡¯s lips quivered, ¡°Is she close to Daphne?¡± ¡°I also find it odd that she wasn¡¯t Madam¡¯s personal maid, but I guess she was.¡± By the words ¡®I guess¡¯ meant they didn¡¯t know for sure. Even after interrogating every handmaid who had attended to Daphne, the answer was always the same: ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± No one knew anything about Daphne. Despite having served her for five years. Despite being their Madam for five years. There was nothing they knew. Just as Edmund was recalling the maid who had reported Daphne¡¯s disappearance to him¡ª ¡°Your Excellency, I have something to say.¡± ¡°Speak.¡± As soon as Edmund said that, Johann responded without hesitation, ¡°We must withdraw the search party.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I think The Emperor will soon notice.¡± His reason was devoid of any personal sentiment. With no results to show, the number of search party members kept increasing as time passed. No matter how quietly they moved, it was inevitable that they would catch the Emperor¡¯s attention, who was keeping an eye on the North. If the Emperor heard about the Madam¡¯s disappearance, the situation they had feared would undoubtedly unfold. There was no reason to reject the proposal. Yet Johann felt tense under Edmund¡¯s unwavering gaze. ¡°Alright, tell them to withdraw.¡± ¡°Your Excellency, if we don¡¯t withdraw¡­ pardon?¡± But Edmund¡¯s words were not what Johann had expected. epting Johan¡¯s suggestion, Edmund added, ¡°Withdraw the search party. And bring Nick Archer to me.¡± Johann involuntarily raised his head. Nick Archer ¨C the king of the Empire¡¯s underworld, controlling gambling, the ve market, and the guild of mercenaries. There was nothing he wouldn¡¯t do for money. However, Nick was currently imprisoned, used of an attempted assassination of the Emperor. In other words, Edmund was ordering him to break Nick out of prison. ¡°Your Excellency, I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°I already overlooked the fact that you joined forces with Alec, so don¡¯t argue with me any further.¡± Johann flinched, his shoulders trembling. He then lowered his eyes and gulped. Alec hade to him this morning and asked Johann to tell His Excellency that the search was meaningless. Johann agreed, and there was the convenient excuse of the Emperor. Of course, that excuse wasn¡¯t a lie. As the search expanded, the likelihood of catching the Emperor¡¯s eye increased. Though Edmund epted Johann¡¯s opinion, he issued an unexpected additional order that was almost impossible to execute. Realizing that further persuasion would be futile, Johann decided not to argue any more. ¡°It would take at least a month to get Nick Archer out without anyone noticing.¡± ¡°Three days.¡± ¡°That¡¯s Ruvuz Prison, Your Excellency.¡± Johann mentioned where Nick was being held, not because he doubted Edmund¡¯s memory, but because the task seemed impossible. Ruvuz Prison was an infamous fortress in the middle of a desert, known for having no sessful escapees in its hundred-year history. ¡°It would take more than one month to n for a perfect escape.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you get caught,¡± despite Johann¡¯s plea, Edmund was firm, ¡°So, get Nick out in three days.¡± ¡°... Understood.¡± Johann had no choice from the start. Realizing this toote, Johann bowed obediently and left the office. One of Johann¡¯s subordinates, who had been waiting, approached him. Johann, as if steeling himself, quietly gave his order. ¡°... Are you serious?¡± Even though his subordinate questioned him, Johann¡¯s resolve did not waver. ¡°Bring him here as soon as possible. Without The Emperor¡¯s knowledge.¡± ¡®All of this is for His Excellency¡¯s sake.¡¯ Johann suppressed his anxious feelings and reminded himself. ¡ã??©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤??¡ã ¡°Young Master, please calm down.¡± Vent tried his best to calm down his Master, but it only irritated Damian even more. ¡°Calm down? Vent, do you really think this is the time for me to do that?¡± Vent rolled his eyes, ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to get worked up.¡± ¡°What?¡± Vent began to exin one by one. ¡°It¡¯s not like she stole it, and besides, didn¡¯t the Madam lend it to her herself?¡± Damian was rendered speechless. Vent¡¯s words were spot on, but why was he so angry? No one could conjure up an answer to this feeling. ¡°Oh, His Excellency passed on the word that you can give her the punishment as you want.¡± ¡°Just do it yourself.¡± ¡°What? Me?¡± Now that his anger had subsided, Damian passed the responsibility to Vent. Though Vent grumbled about already having too much to do, Demian casually ignored him. ¡°You''re asking me to handle something you could easily pass on to His Excellency? That¡¯s too much.¡± ¡°Vent.¡± ¡°No, but frankly, you can do it yourself, Young Master. You were the one that mistook that handmaid for Madam¡­ gah!¡± ¡°Get up.¡± Damian grabbed Vent by his cor and lifted him up. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since we had a sparring session.¡± ¡°You¡¯re joking, right?¡± Vent¡¯s awkward smile faded when he realized his Master wasn¡¯t joking. ¡°Are you serious?¡± Instead of answering, Demian changed into his sparring gear and headed to the training grounds. Vent reluctantly followed after him, his body trembling. ¡°Young Master, you knew very well that you¡¯re on apletely different level than a normal human being like me, right? I don¡¯t want to leave this world at my tender age. Please be understanding, Young Master.¡± ¡°Shut up and pick your sword.¡± He immediately lunged forward. Soon after the sparring session began, Vent was sprawled like an eagle on the ground, gasping for breath. While Vent was on the verge of passing out, Damian, who hadn¡¯t even broken a sweat, sat on a rock, calmly tending to his sword. Damian had inherited his swordsmanship skills from his father and had been recognized by renowned masters across the continent by the age of twelve. They even said there was nothing left to teach him. In contrast, Vent was a schr through and through. He barely knew enough swordsmanship to protect himself, so he was never a suitable rival for Damian. ¡°Y¡­ Young Master¡± Vent dragged his body as he crawled over. As Vent¡¯s hot breath puffed right in front of him, Damian used his sword¡¯s sheath to create some distance. ¡°Stay right there. Don¡¯te near me.¡± ¡°Who do you think¡­ put me in this state¡­ pant.¡± Despite grumbling, Vent obeyed Damian¡¯smand and stayed put. ¡°Huh? I¡¯ve never seen that sword before.¡± After catching his breath, Vent¡¯s eyes widened as he looked at the sword Damian was polishing. ¡°It has a preservation spell. Did you get it as aing-of-age gift?¡± ¡°It was mixed in with the other gifts.¡± ¡°Wow, this is so expensive¡­! Who gave it to you?¡± Though Vent was a schr, he had a keen interest in swords, and the sword brought a sparkle to his curious eyes. ¡°This is an exceptional sword. It¡¯s enchanted with both preservation and enhancement magic. It¡¯s worth as much as an entire noble family¡¯s fortune.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Damian raised the sword, examining it closely. Among the many gifts piled up in the corner, this one stood out the most. It felt as if it was custom-made for his hand. The sword even seemed toplement Demian¡¯s swordsmanship, which Edmund often critiqued, as if it had been made by someone who knew Damian well. ¡°It must have been the Duke. No one else knew you this well.¡± ¡°... Is that so?¡± ¡°His Excellency is a mystery. He seems so cold and emotionless, like there¡¯s no one else in the world as detached as him.¡± The young heir felt uneasy. He had already received aing-of-age gift from Edmund. However, he thought it was just another gift. ¡°Oh, Young Master, I recently heard a rumor.¡± Vent told him about the missing painting. ¡°Well, I doubt they¡¯ll find it. How could they, when they don¡¯t even know when it was lost?¡± Vent shrugged. ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s really unfortunate¡­ that Madam is missing. No one works harder than her¡­¡± Vent mped his mouth shut like a m. Damian, who had been half-listening to Vent¡¯s words, turned his head, puzzled. ¡°Why did you suddenly stop talking?¡± ¡°Huh? D-Did I?¡± ¡°Yes, you did.¡± Ventughed yfully, ¡°Oh,e on, when did I ever? Oh, by the way, did you hear this? So¡­¡± As the conversation naturally shifted topics, Damian narrowed his eyes. ¡®Madam?¡¯ The word he overheard caught his attention. But Daphne and Vent had no significant interactions. ¡®I must have misheard.¡¯ Damian dismissed it casually. ¡ã??©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤??¡ã Ssszzzz. Edmund lit a cigarette. As it began to burn, he took a deep drag, filling his lungs with heavy smoke. Hoooo. He exhaled just as deeply, and thick smoke blurred his vision. Even as the smoke clouded his sight, Edmund didn¡¯t blink an eye. What truly caught his gaze were the ink-stained divorce papers and the letter beside them. Taking another deep drag from his cigarette, Edmund suddenly picked up the letter and examined it closely. The contents of the letter were brief and concise. There were no words of confession or sentiment ¨C only matters concerning the divorce papers. The letter was unusually thick for such a short message. With a sense of urgency, Edmund crushed the cigarette into the ashtray and hastily opened the letter. He removed the note inside and, with a knife, tore open the back of the letter paper. Vol. 1 - Chapter 10 ¡°... Haa¡­¡± Another letter was revealed. Though he was certain that it wouldn¡¯t be any different than the letter she had written about the divorce papers, his hands refused to move and only flinched. Edmund nervously pulled out another cigarette and lit it. Ssszzzz. _¡®One more.¡¯ _ One, two, three and four. It wasn¡¯t until four cigarette butts were ced on the ashtray that Edmund finally found himself tightly grasping an empty cigarette case. Without knowing what is causing his hesitation, Edmund stared at the letter, as if he was in a staring contest with it. _Knock, knock. _ A knock on the door broke the long silence. ¡°Your Excellency, a handmaid named Marinda insists on meeting you.¡± Daphne¡¯s handmaid, Marinda. Just as he wondered why this maid was wandering about, he realized that it had been less than a few hours since he had left her punishment to Damian. ¡°Do not let her in.¡± Edmund cut off his long train of thought and ced the letter and the divorce papers back into the drawer. Just as he was about to part his lips at themotion outside, a woman¡¯s shout echoed through. ¡°Your Excellency! Painting! I have something to tell you about the painting!¡± Edmund immediately stood up and opened the door. As he expected, the handmaid was already struggling from his subordinate. ¡°Let her inside.¡± As he returned to his seat, the handmaid broke free from the subordinate¡¯s grip and entered the office. ¡°What were you going to say? Speak in detail.¡± ¡°Oh, y-yes.¡± Impulsively visiting Edmund, Marinda found herself sweating with nervousness, her body bent forward. She had momentarily lost herposure when Ang provoked her outside her room. By the time she regained her senses, she had already done it and inside Edmund¡¯s office. _¡®This is the only way.¡¯ _ Instead of continuing to live in anxiety, constantly wary of others, it was better to get rid of the problem first. Marinda took a deep breath. ¡°I heard the rumor. That you¡¯re looking for the Madam¡¯s painting from five years ago. I know where that painting is.¡± ¡°... Can you take responsibility for your wods?¡± ¡°Yes, of course.¡± Despite the bait she had thrown, Edmund showed no noticeable reaction. Marinda nervously bit her lip. ¡°Johann!¡± Edmund called Johann after a brief silence. Not long after, Johann hurriedly entered the office. ¡°You called for me, Your Excellency?¡± ¡°This handmaid ims she knows where the painting is.¡± Johann¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°That¡­¡± ¡°Lead the way.¡± Rising from his seat, Edmund walked past Marinda and out of the office. Johann and Marinda quickly followed. ¡°Isn¡¯t this the maids¡¯ quarters?¡± The ce they arrived at was none other than the maids¡¯ quarters. Despite Johann¡¯s confusion, Marinda walked straight to the first door and flung it open without answering. ¡°Marinda?¡± It was Ang¡¯s room. Ang, who had been resting, awkwardly stood up, startled by Marinda¡¯s sudden appearance. ¡°Sir Aide? Y-Your Excellency?¡± Seeing Johann and Edmund follow behind, Ang hesitated. ¡°It¡¯s time to stop now, Ang.¡± ¡°Wh-what?¡± Ignoring the bewildered Ang, Marinda pushed past her and entered the room. ¡°What are you doing!¡± Ang tried to stop Marinda¡¯s sudden action, but Marinda was faster, pulling something out from under the bed. ¡°This is¡­¡± It was a painting covered with a cloth. ¡°Sir Aide. Here is the painting.¡± ¡°W-Why is that here¡­ .¡± ¡°Ang, you¡¯ve already been caught! Stop lying now!¡± As Johann received the painting from Marinda and was about to turn around, Edmund quickly stepped forward and snatched it from him. Edmund pulled off the dust-covered cloth. It was the painting he remembered. Edmund in a tailcoat, something worn only on special asions. But there was one difference from his memory. ¡°¡­ Oh my.¡± Despite Johann¡¯s muttering, Edmund couldn¡¯t take his eyes off the painting. More precisely, off the part where Daphne¡¯s face, adorned in a wedding dress, had been torn to shreds. ¡ª ¡ª ¡ª ¡°There¡¯s nothing I can do.¡± The art restorer Johann had hurriedly brought shook his head. ¡°But you must still try.¡± ¡°The painting could be damaged even more if touched unnecessarily. You need a more experienced art restorer than me.¡± Despite Johann¡¯s plea, the restorer remained resolute. The damage to the painting was so extensive and old that the canvas would crumble at the slightest touch. After examining it without attempting any restoration, the restorer concluded that they needed to bring in someone with more experience. Watching the situation unfold, Edmund issued an order to Johann. ¡°Contact the capital, and the artists who painted this painting.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°And I will personally conduct the interrogation of the maid who stole the painting.¡± It had been nearly five years since Edmund hadst conducted an interrogation. Moreover, the individuals Edmund had previously dealt with were influential figures, not someone as insignificant as a lowly maid. There was only one reason Edmund was taking on this interrogation personally. ¡®Madam¡­¡¯ Because of the missing Madam. Edmund stepped forward because this involved the missing Madam. Johann anxiously bit his lips. But knowing that provoking Edmund by trying to dissuade him would do more harm than good, he swallowed back the words that rose to his throat. ¡°... I will make the preparations.¡± Edmund looked back to the painting. Its preservation wasn¡¯t terrible. Considering it had been shoved under a bed, it almost seemed like it had been taken care of. Whether by fortune or misfortune, the damage to the painting was concentrated solely on Daphne¡¯s face. Her face had been shed so severely by a sharp object that it was unrecognizable. The mystery surrounding Daphne¡¯s face only deepened. After the restorer left, Johann approached Edmund, who was lost in thought. ¡°There are unusual movements in the temple, Your Excellency.¡± A faint crease formed in Edmund¡¯s brows at the mention of the temple. ¡°They suddenly began deployingrge forces all over the continent.¡± ¡°When did you discover this?¡± ¡°It has only been a few hours, but I don¡¯t know exactly when they started. The Imperial Family doesn¡¯t seem to have noticed it yet.¡± The temple is an independent entity, unaffiliated with any nation. Long before the Empire was established, when the heavenly, demonic, and human realms weren¡¯t yet separated, the world was in utter chaos without order or rules. Among the three races, humans were the weakest and suffered the most, so they prayed to the demon god. Hearing their desperate pleas, the demon god sent down five humans created from his breath ¨C a wizard, a spirit summoner, a swordsman, a saintess, and an unknown entity. Each of the five possessed immense power, and they intervened in the battle between the heavenly and demonic races, waging a bloody war for a century without rest. During this time, the wizard, spirit summoner, swordsman, and saintess had descendants, spreading their abilities far and wide, and as time passed, humanity¡¯s strength grew. Ultimately, the demonic and heavenly races were overwhelmed by humanity¡¯s growing poption. The unknown entity, who never bore descendants, sacrificed themselves to be the guardian of the demonic boundary. However, a few hundred years ago, monsters ¨C creatures born of demonic energy ¨C began to appear, casting doubt on the very existence of the ¡®unknown entity,¡¯ about whom records were already scarce. The role of guarding the heavenly boundary fell to the saintess. During her life, she bore only two children. One of them, who inherited the saintess¡¯s bloodline strongly, was revered as the second saintess and left with others to seek a newnd, while the remaining child settled in the country founded by the swordsman, merging with humanity. That is the origin of the temple and the Bled family. But the reality of the temple, which is said to be noble and beautiful, was far from what was known. Human corruption has long since tainted the temple. ¡°The High Priest¡¯s movements are also unusual.¡± The temple and Edmund held each other''s weakness. They had agreed, through a contract, not to reveal these weaknesses or interfere with each other, but now, of all times, suspicious movements within the temple have been discovered. ¡°They¡¯ve even deployed their personal troops.¡± ¡°The reason? You haven¡¯t found it yet?¡± ¡°No, but it¡¯s reported that some of the ck Knights who were on a mission happened to capture a holy knight.¡± This was good news. Holy knights were fanatically loyal, but there were plenty of ways to extract the truth from one. ¡°Prepare the drugs. Also¡­¡± Edmund habitually pulled out his cigarette case. Noticing it was empty as he opened it, he continued speaking, ¡°Two days left.¡± ¡°... Everything has been prepared.¡± To meet the deadline Edmund mentioned, they needed to start the operation today if they were to bring Nick Archer to the North within two days. Edmund tucked the cigarette case back into his inner pocket. ¡°Let¡¯s start the interrogation right away.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll send the person up as soon as you¡¯re ready.¡± Johann left the office, heading for the basement, when he encountered someone in the hallway. ¡°Ah, Sir Aide!¡± ¡°Do you need something?¡± It was Marinda, the handmaid who said about the whereabouts of the painting. ¡°How will Ang be punished?¡± Marinda¡¯s voice trembled as she spoke. Then, she broke into sobs, burying her face in her hands. ¡°That¡¯s for His Excellency to decide.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ I see¡­¡± Marinda murmured, her voice teary. ¡°If I had known a little sooner¡­¡± ¡°If you¡¯re finished, be on your way.¡± It was an urgent situation, and Johann needed to get Nick out as quickly as possible. Narrowing his eyes, Johann brushed past Marinda. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Marinda nervously bit her nails as she watched Johann¡¯s retreating figure. She had intended to ask Johann about Ang¡¯s punishment but hadn¡¯t been able to bring herself to do so. As rumored, Johann was a loyal hound who only cared about his master. _¡®There¡¯s no way they would give her a light punishment for stealing from the Master, right?¡¯ _ Shaking with anxiety, Marinda murmured, ¡°I must¡­ I must act quickly¡­¡± For her n to be perfect, Ang, the sole witness, had to die. Vol. 1 - Chapter 11 The mansion, which had been quiet for the past few days, was unusually noisy. The Chambermaid knew very well that the reason for this was her niece, Ang. As the Chambermaid mulled over the stories she had heard from her subordinates, mes of anger engulfed her. Ang''s parents had disappeared shortly after her birth, leaving the Chambermaid with no choice but to take her in and raise her. As a child, Ang had been nothing but a troublesome and useless burden, but as she grew older and prettier, the Chambermaid had thought of grooming her to be the concubine of a wealthy nobleman. But then, out of the blue, she caused a scandal. ''She must be really crazy.'' How else could she have stolen and damaged the portraits of the Madam and His Excellency? She had no feeling of attachment with her blood rtive, but there was another reason why the Chambermaid was anxious. ''Could she be nning on dragging me down with her?'' The Chambermaid had worked her way up from a mere maid to her current position. She had devoted her entire life to this mansion, and had a solid understanding of Edmund''s character. With the Madam gone and the household in disarray, there was no way Ang could escape severe punishment for causing such trouble. The Chambermaid knew that Edmund would surely interrogate Ang, and that cunning girl would stop at nothing to reveal everything she knew in order to save herself. If the Chambermaid had nothing to hide, this would be of no consequence. But that wasn''t the case. Edmund was meticulous in his work, yet surprisingly indifferent to certain matters. The Chambermaid had first manipted the ledgers tounder money seven years ago, when Edmund had gone off to war. But she couldn''t do it alone. That was why she had involved Ang. ''Should I take action?'' She was calmly plotting her next move, as if she was used to this kind of situation. "Chambermaid, are you inside?" "Marinda?" The Chambermaid was startled by Marinda''s sudden appearance. Marinda had been confined to her room for two weeks for using the Mistress''s carriage. But now, here she was, suddenly appearing. The Chambermaid''s surprise quickly turned to anger. She had heard that it was Marinda who had reported Ang. Marinda was smart enough to know that if something happened to Ang, the Chambermaid herself could be in danger. The Chambermaid couldn''t forgive her for that. "How dare youe here..." "Chambermaid, I''m sorry. I''m really sorry..." Marinda immediately burst into tears. ''Did she really think I would fall for such an act?'' The Chambermaid narrowed her eyes and raised her hand, ready to punish Marinda for her betrayal. "The fact that I reported Ang... I won''t say anything in my defense because you may not believe me. But this is real!" Just before the Chambermaid could strike, Marinda pulled out a crumpled note from her pocket. It was hastily scribbled, but legible. The Chambermaid recognized it as Ang''s handwriting. ''If you want to live, work with me. Tell His Excellency that the Chambermaid was the one behind this, otherwise, I''ll expose everything.'' "Th-this ungrateful wretch...!" The Chambermaid leaped from her seat after reading the note. Her heart pounded furiously. She was terrified that Marinda might actually follow through. Since Marinda had already gained trust by reporting Ang, His Excellency would surely believe her, and the Chambermaid''s life would be ruined. She looked at Marinda with anxious eyes. Marinda, however, seemed to beforting the Chambermaid with a concerned expression. "Please calm down, Chambermaid." "Did you tell His Excellency?" "Of course not!" Marinda shook her head, her eyes wide with disbelief at the mere suggestion. "Ang bribed me to deliver this to you, but how could I possibly betray you?" Marinda imed she hade as soon as she received the note, evading her guards. The Chambermaid sighed in relief and sank into her chair. "But... I still feel uneasy." "About what? Everything will be fine as long as you keep your mouth shut." "I of course would do that, but how about the other maids?" Marinda''s face darkened as if she were contemting this difficult situation. "As long as Ang is alive, she''ll keep threatening us." "As long as she''s alive... As long as she''s alive, you say." The Chambermaid muttered Marinda''s words. Then, as if she had found the answer, she smiled calmly. "Marinda, I''ll take care of this. Just stay put." Marinda quickly covered her mouth with her hand to hide a wide smile. Then, in a trembling voice, she replied with her head bowed. "Yes, Chambermaid. I only trust you..." Everything was going exactly ording to Marinda''s n. ¡ã??©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤??¡ã The Winters had dinner together for the first time in a long time. As usual, the dining room was quiet, with only the asional clinking of cutlery breaking the silence. It was the same as always, yet somehow different. "I heard that you''re bringing an art restorer expert from the capital." At Damian''s words, Edmund''s hand paused briefly. But it was only for a fleeting moment that no one noticed. Edmund resumed moving his hand naturally. "Yes, it was severely damaged." "I see." Silence ensued. "When will the search party leave again?" "They''re still preparing." "When exactly do they..." "Damian." Instead of answering his question, Edmund called his name. Damian, who was unable to concentrate the whole meal, suddenly raised his head. Edmund looked at the face that resembled him, still with its youthful vigor. "Stop worrying about that matter and focus on your sessor training." "But... Yes, I understand." The dining room fell silent again after the short conversation. Damian forced himself to pick up his cutlery, but the food never reached his mouth, while Edmund only drank his wine. As the meal ended and Demian prepared to return to his room, he recalled what had happened earlier that day. "Oh, Father, thank you for theing-of-age gift you got me. I like it." Upon receiving his thanks, Edmund wondered if he liked that gift that much. "But why did you send it anonymously?" "Anonymously?" "I almost didn''t notice it because it was mixed with the other nobles'' gifts." He noticed that Edmund seemed to be confused, so Damian shifted his body. Only then did Edmund notice a sword he had never seen before hanging on his son''s waist. "I''m talking about the seconding-of-age gift you got me, this custom-made sword." Edmund responded with a puzzled expression, "That sword... wasn''t from me." Late at night, Damian couldn''t fall asleep. He usually stuck to a strict schedule, knowing that if he stayed awake like this, it would affect the next day''s ns. But he couldn''t sleep at all. The cause of his restlessness was that mysterious sword. He sat on the windowsill, staring at the sword lying on the table. Despite having eaten well, he felt a tightness in his throat, as if the food was stuck. Overwhelmed, he returned to his bed and immediately summoned someone. It was Summer, a former cksmith now working as a gardener. The moment Damian took out the sword, Summer gasped in admiration. "I''ve never seen a sword like this before." Summer''s eyes sparkled. "Can I touch it?" With his permission, Summer vigorously rubbed *her already clean hands on her clothes until they turned red before carefully epting the sword. She examined the sword with the delicate touch one might use with fragile ss, being very cautious. (T/N: On the assumption that Summer is a woman, I''ll use the pronoun ''her''. Unless I''m sure, then I wille back here and change it~) "With my limited knowledge, there are only preservation, enhancement, and defense spells." " ''Limited''? Do you mean there''s more?" "Yes, there are a few more, but these are all I know of." Summer added that the cost must have been astronomical,paring it to carrying around several diamond mines. "Moreover, while the magic is impressive, the sword itself is also of extraordinary quality." "Can you identify who made this?" "The markings on this sword are unique, and this is my first time seeing them." In other words, finding the person who made it was nearly impossible. With her skill level, Summer should have recognized such a master craftsman. "Young Master, why don''t you hold the sword?" Following Summer''s suggestion, Demian grasped the sword and stood up, causing Summer to cover her mouth in awe. "I''ve never seen such perfect custom craftsmanship. This level ofpletion is impossible without having the Young Master hold it at each stage of the forging process." The sword managed to impress Summer, who had retired due to age and injury but was once a cksmith coveted by all warriors, so much that Damian was taken aback. "Wasn''t this a gift from His Excellency? I should ask him to introduce me to the person who made this right now." Before Damian could stop her, Summer quickly left the room. Demian lowered the hand he had awkwardly extended to stop her. At first, he had no doubt that the sword was from his father. But turned out it wasn''t. Edmund, for once, had shown a rare look of bewilderment and firmly denied it was from him. ''Then who could it be?'' A sword perfectly tailored to his body, as if crafted to fit him at every strike of the hammer. A sword made with a staggering amount of money. It was only natural for Damian to suspect Edmund. There was no one else who knew him so well or would invest so much in him. He examined the sword that Summer had carefullyid down. The handle bore a small engraving. Somehow, it felt familiar. To calm his uneasy heart, Damian had the habit of touching the back of his ne. The small ne that fit in his hand was so in that it seemed unworthy of a Duchy''s sessor. Yet, the blue gem emitting a subtle light was beautiful enough to overshadow its crude appearance. This ne, the most precious thing Damian owned, was the only keepsake left by his deceased mother. "... Mother." Demian mustered the courage to call out to the mother he never knew by name. As if in response, the blue gem glowed more beautifully. The gem''s brilliance was even more pronounced whenpared to its charred frame. ''Mother.'' He thought of the woman who was currently his mother as he looked at the charred frame. The scorched mark was made by that woman, Daphne. From the moment Damian received the ne, he had never let it out of his sight. But three years ago, he had to leave it for once. While on a monster subjugation mission, Damian was severely injured due to his inexperience and the sudden influx of monsters. During the treatment, he was forced to part with the ne. And that very day, Damian''s room caught fire. All the testimony and evidence pointed to one person -- Daphne. Vol. 1 - Chapter 12 The raging fire only subsided after Damian¡¯s room had been reduced to ashes. Fortunately, he was receiving treatment in another room, so there were no casualties. But as soon as he discovered that the frame of his ne was burnt, Damian simply couldn¡¯t contain his anger. Furious, he immediately sought out Daphne and unleashed all his wrath upon her. His anger, fueled by his still-recovering body, was uncontroble, and eventually, he crossed a line with his words. ¡°Why are you even upying the Duchess¡¯ position when you are not even my biological mother?! Are you so eager to be Duchess Winter?¡± In the wee hours of the morning sitting on the edge of her bed, Daphne¡¯s eyes widened as she slowly raised her head. What met him were her green eyes reminiscent of a deep, eerie swamp rather than a lush forest. Lost in thought as he recalled that moment, Damian saw the blue gem turn green in the moonlight, ovepping with Daphne¡¯s eyes. ¡°!¡± Startled, he barely managed to catch the ne slipping from his hand. Upon closer inspection, the gem sparkled blue like always as if it had never been green. Thinking of that fleeting moment, his heart raced as he jumped up from his seat. The only way to rid himself of thisplicated state of mind was to exhaust his body. Damian was about to leave his room in a hurry even without changing his clothes, when something suddenly caught his eyes. The sword, now elegantly gleaming more under the pale dawn light, stood alone, drawing his gaze. ¡®Could it be?¡¯ Damian nkly stared at it. ¡°No, no way.¡± It couldn¡¯t be. He shook his head, muttering to himself. ¡°Mother, I heard today is your birthday.¡± Memories from his childhood started to wrap around Damian¡¯s ankles, engulfing his body. That day, he had snuck out of his training to pick up flowers from the roadside, offering them to his mother. It was insignificantpared to the gifts his mother had received, but this was all he could prepare on such a short notice. As he waited, his heart was filled with nervousness and excitement. Smack! A sharp sting spread across the back of his hand. Damian¡¯s gaze was instantly drawn to his mother¡¯s distorted face, rather than to the flowers that had fallen on the floor. ¡°You¡­ where did you¡­ get this¡­¡± The memory he had tried so hard to erase blurred again with Daphne¡¯s voice. Breathing heavily, he bolted out of the room as if something were chasing him. It wasn¡¯t until Vent discovered him running tirelessly through the training grounds that Damian finally stopped. ¡ã??©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤??¡ã ¡°Your Excellency.¡± Only when Edmund was handed a handkerchief by his subordinate did he realize his hand was stained with blood. He didn¡¯t even notice it as the basement was filled with the smell of blood. He took the handkerchief but the dried blood was already difficult to clean. Just then, the subordinate that continued the interrogation after Edmund left appeared. ¡°Did you get anything?¡± Faced with Edmund¡¯s question, Johann¡¯s subordinate was lost in thought, unsure how to navigate the difficult situation. He had received a specific instruction before Johann left: under no circumstances should he reveal anything to His Excellency if the interrogation led to any mention of the Lady of the house. At first, he didn¡¯t take the instruction seriously. But as the interrogation progressed, the maid began to spill strange tales ¨C moldy meals, cold rooms, neglect, and disdain. Unaware of the household¡¯s inner workings due to his frequent participation in interrogations and missions, he instinctively knew that revealing what he had heard would upend the entire estate. Johann was worried this would alle to light in his absence. ¡°... She confessed.¡± He chose to sacrifice the smaller truth for the greater good. It wouldn¡¯t be toote to tell about the Madamter. ¡°She confessed that she stole the painting.¡± It wasn¡¯t entirely a lie. The maid had confessed, though her words were slurred and uncertain. She admitted to everything, though it was half-extracted through exhaustion from continuous torture. But that wasn¡¯t the main concern. ¡°... What else did she say?¡± The subordinate broke out in cold sweat as if his Master knew there was something more. He had been dragging out the meaningless interrogation for more than a day, but now his task was clear: conceal the truth as much as possible until Johann returned. ¡°I¡¯ll try harder.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Meanwhile, Edmund couldn¡¯t shake off this uneasy feeling. Though he participated in the interrogation, Edmund never tortured them himself. One of Johann¡¯s skilled subordinates conducted it, but there had been no satisfactory results. Perhaps because today was thest day to bring back Nick. Edmund pressed his throbbing temples. ¡°Your Excellency.¡± Just then, one of the subordinates hurried over, prompting Edmund to turn his head. ¡°They¡¯ve arrived.¡± Johann had sessfully captured Nick and returned. ¡ª ¡ª ¡ª ¡°Johann.¡± As they left the basement and entered the office, the worn-out figures inside bowed at Edmund¡¯s entrance. All except one. ¡°Duke, what is the meaning of this?¡± ¡°Nick Archer.¡± Edmund gestured to Johann and the others as he called Nick. As they made their move to leave, Nick shouted in rm. ¡°Hey, you said you¡¯d release me once we got here! Where are you going!¡± Nick pointed to his neck. It was a thick shackle ¨C an aura suppression cor, fatal to a swordsman. ¡°I¡¯ll release you once you¡¯vepleted my request.¡± ¡°What? Hey! That¡¯s not what we agreed on!¡± At Edmund¡¯s words, Nick leaped up and lunged on Johann. ¡°I told you to wait. I never made that promise.¡± ¡°Ugh, you¡­!¡± ¡°Enough.¡± Edmund stopped their standoff. Meanwhile, Johann and the other subordinates left, leaving only Nick and Edmund. ¡°Do you n to rot in prison for the rest of your life?¡± ¡°Duke, that¡¯s how lowly people like us live their life.¡± Nick muttered, ¡°I only let them capture me because they were so persistent.¡± Edmund nced at Nick before speaking softly. ¡°I know it¡¯s because of your family.¡± Nick and the Imperial Family had some kind of contract. But in reality, it was more of a threat than a contract. Taking Nick¡¯s younger sister as hostage in order to restore the order of the nation, they used her as a leverage to publicly capture him, a notorious criminal. In order to save his sister, Nick was falsely used of assassinating the Emperor and was imprisoned nearly a year ago. At the mention of his sister, Nick¡¯s eyes turned cold. ¡°How do you know about that, Duke?¡± He looked ready to attack at any moment, but Edmund didn¡¯t even flinch. Instead, he threw a document at Nick¡¯s feet. ¡°I only found out recently.¡± Nick read the document with a skeptical expression. The more he read, the harsher his breathing became. His vision began to blur. Nick had searched the entire continent for his sister, who had disappeared long ago, but he never found her. It made sense ¨C she was serving as a maid in the Imperial Pce, held as a hostage. He was allowed to visit her once a month, and she was afforded the privileges of as a royal handmaid, but Nick spent the rest of his life confined to prison. At first, the visits were consistent, but due to various circumstances, it had been six months since hest saw her. Nick¡¯s subordinates, aware of the prison¡¯s inner workings, had attempted to track down his sister, but Nick stopped them. He had been warned that any attempt to investigate would result in her death. Although he hadn¡¯t seen her for months, he assumed she was living well as a royal handmaid¡­ ¡°Why¡­ did my sister go to the temple?¡± ¡°I don''t know about the details. I just found out about this by chance.¡± His sister was no longer working for the Imperial Family, but was already sent to the temple half a year ago. Nick gritted his teeth. He was a fool to believe in the Imperial Family¡¯s words, appearing outwardly noble but full of deceits. Edmund seized the moment to ask, ¡°Will you ept my request?¡± It didn¡¯t take long for Nick to make a decision. ¡°I will, on the condition of my sister¡¯s safety.¡± ¡°Agreed.¡± ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± Nick suddenly grew curious. He had connections to the underworld but had never touched the Imperial Family or high-ranking nobles. After all, there were plenty of people willing to assassinate the Emperor for the right price. ''What kind of request could Edmund have that he sought out Nick? Assassinate the Emperor? Eliminate Duke Vevelokh, who was at odds with Duke Winter?'' Nick couldn¡¯t help but feel tense, wondering what a noble of Edmund¡¯s stature could want from him. After a long silence, Edmund finally spoke words that Nick had never expected. ¡°¡­ Find my wife.¡± ¡ã??©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤??¡ã Daphne blinked her eyes several times, her vision still blurry. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re finally awake.¡± A sudden unfamiliar voice made her eyes snap open. Daphne quickly sat up. She distinctly remembered spotting a mutated beast and throwing her robe into the snow, as a decoy. She had curled up to conceal herself, holding her breath, praying that the beast would mistake the robe for a person. She must have lost consciousness from hypothermia after being in the snow for so long. The one who saved her was the owner of a shabby house at the edge of the vige. Fortunately, they didn¡¯t recognize her face. Thendy, who couldn¡¯t have imagined that Daphne was the Duchess Winter, asked her what had happened, mentioning she had been unconscious for several days. Daphne told a convenient lie. ¡°You were separated from your party¡­ and you were supposed to meet at the border vige?¡± Daphne nodded. ¡°I needed to head there as well, but let¡¯s wait for a few more days before traveling. The atmosphere around the castle has been tensetely.¡± ¡°The¡­ castle?¡± Thendy lowered her voice, ¡°Rumor has it that the Order of the Knights have been seening and going from the castle several times in the past few days.¡± At the mention of the Order of the Knights, Daphne¡¯s shoulders trembled. Edmund was looking for her. Daphne touched her chest, feeling her heart race. Was it anxiety of being caught? Or was it¡­ anticipation? Whatever it was, one thing was certain. Daphne had to leave North as soon as possible. If she didn¡¯t, she was certain that this opportunity would nevere again. Vol. 1 - Chapter 13 At the Winter Duchy¡¯s basement. ¡°Ugh¡­ ugh¡­¡± In one of the deep, dark rooms, intermittent groans of pain echoed. Ang slowly opened her eyes, then closed them again, panting heavily. She didn¡¯t need to look to understand the condition of her body. Even though she could barely lift a finger, Ang focused all her remaining strength on her legs. ¡®I can¡¯t¡­. move my legs.¡¯ All she felt was despair. A sickening crack, followed by the sound of bones twisting, and she passed out again without even a scream. She wanted to believe it was just a dream. It had to be. But when she opened her eyes again, nothing had changed. Ang rolled her eyes to look at her legs. ¡°Ah, ahh¡­!¡± She found her legs grotesquely twisted, sending her into a violent convulsion. What was even more unbearable was the deafening silence of the basement despite her sharp cries. There were others there, breathing, but not a single person responded to her screams. As if they were nothing more than lifeless bodies. ¡®No, no!¡¯ She shook her head, squeezing her eyes shut, but nothing changed. Desperate, she scratched at her legs with her fingernails, which were already worn down to the nub. But she felt nothing from her lifeless legs. Even if she started treatment right away, she would be crippled for life. Exhausted, Ang copsed after screaming until her voice broke. Blood dripped, blurring her vision, and with unfocused eyes, she stared nkly at the ceiling, thinking. ¡®Why am I being treated like this?¡¯ Ang searched through her memory, the time before she was dragged here. ¡®Marinda¡­!¡¯ A few years ago, Ang had identally caught Marinda stealing a painting. She couldn¡¯t sleep that night, so she got up to get some water. That¡¯s when she noticed Marinda sneaking around, tiptoeing with shifty eyes. Marinda was someone no one particrly liked, brought in by the Madam herself, so Ang had been keeping an eye on her for a while. Sensing something suspicious, Ang quickly followed Marinda. She only managed to see Marinda enter the basement before she was caught by the Chambermaid and had to return to her room. A few dayster, Ang sneaked into Marinda¡¯s room and confirmed what she had taken from the basement. ¡°This is¡­¡± It wasn¡¯t jewelry or anything of the sort. It was a painting of His Excellency and the Madam, painted by the royal painter. The Madam¡¯s face was torn to shreds. Ang stared at the scissors lying next to the painting, then back at the ruined image. Only then did she realize Marinda¡¯s feelings toward His Excellency. Marinda was in love with His Excellency, her Madam''s husband. Ang thought Marinda hadpletely lost her mind. She was about to report it to the Madam, but then she decided to use it to her advantage. She toyed with Marinda, using the painting as leverage, but like a boomerang, it all came back to her. ¡®What did I¡­ what did I do wrong?¡¯ Ang sobbed. She felt wronged and that made her fume with anger. ¡®I won¡¯t stay still either.¡¯ Her bloodshot eyes red with determination. She gritted her teeth and crawled closer to the iron bars. The only fortunate thing was that they believed she still had something left to reveal. So, they kept her alive and continued to bring her meals. Ang swallowed hard as she heard footsteps approaching. As the maid lowered the te, Ang seized her wrist. ¡°!¡± ¡°W-wait.¡± The maid flinched and tried to pull away, but Ang quickly pressed a jewel into her hand. It was something the guards had overlooked, hidden deep in her pocket. Her desperate efforts to keep it hidden for such a moment hadn¡¯t been in vain. ¡°I¡¯ll give you this¡­ p-please bring¡­ the Ch-Chambermaid¡­¡± Her words were slurred due to her chattering teeth, but she managed to make herself understood. The maid stared at the jewel for a moment, then nodded. Ang, anxiously watching for the guards, finally rxed. The maid turned to leave, but in her haste, she knocked over the te, spilling the food. Ang didn¡¯t care. ¡®I can live now.¡¯ Once she tells the Chambermaid everything, it wouldn¡¯t be her in this ce, but Marinda. Clinging to that hope, Ang curled up, waiting for the maid to return with the Chambermaid. T/N: Neither Ang nor Marinda was better than the other ?? E/D: Yeah I hope they just punish each other and disappear before Daphnees back. Also the guards are pretty ipetent if they can''t even search her pockets properly. ?? ¡ã??©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤??¡ã ¡°Young Master.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Young Master!¡± Damian¡¯s eyes finally focused after repeated calls. Vent poked out his head from behind the stack of documents. ¡°What were you thinking about so deeply that you¡¯re not even answering my calls?¡± Ignoring Vent¡¯s questions, Damian snatched the documents from him. ¡°You¡¯re a little weird today, Young Master.¡± Instead of going back to his seat, Vent looked Demian up and down, his suspicions unshaken. ¡°Just look how haggard you look. Why were you wandering around the training ground early in the morning?¡± ¡°Move.¡± Damian frowned, pushing away Vent¡¯s face, which hade too close to his liking. ¡°Well, at least your personality is the same as usual.¡± Relieved, Vent returned to his seat but soon looked back again. ¡°Speaking of, did you find the person who gifted you the sword? Was it really His Excellency?¡± ¡°... Why are you asking that all of a sudden?¡± The scowl on Damian¡¯s face deepened even more at the mention of the matter that had been troubling him. Confused by his reaction, Vent stepped back in surprise. ¡°What? I was just curious.¡± ¡°Just do your job.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Vent grumbled as he went back to his seat, only a few steps away from his Master¡¯s seat. ¡°I¡­ have something to ask.¡± Vent raised his head. But instead of looking at Damian, he nced around the room, puzzled. Of course, there was no one else, so he tilted his head in confusion. ¡°Where are you looking?¡± Vent, who had just shifted his gaze to the documents, finally met Damian¡¯s eyes and realized he hadn¡¯t misheard. The Young Master was asking him a question. Blinking in disbelief, Vent stared nkly as Damian hesitated. ¡°This is¡­ about a friend of mine.¡± ¡°Ah, yes. Yes, of course.¡± Snapping out of his daze, Vent focused on his question, forgetting the fact that Damian had no friends. ¡°There¡¯s someone my friend really hates. But this person suddenly disappeared and my friend received a very nice gift. It seems like it was sent by the person my friend hates. What do you think?¡± ¡°Are you sure it was sent by the person your friend hates?¡± ¡°Well¡­ almost sure.¡± ¡°Then are you sure your friend really hates that person?¡± ¡°I¡¯m certain.¡± Damian spoke firmly. Vent furrowed his brows. ¡°This is tricky.¡± ¡°Is there any way to resolve this?¡± ¡°The quickest and surest way would be to find the person who disappeared and ask them directly.¡± ¡°Is that so¡­¡± Damian suddenly rose from his seat. Vent checked the time, but it wasn¡¯t yet time for the next scheduled event. Out of habit, Vent stood up to follow him. ¡°Where are you going, Young Master?¡± ¡°To my father.¡± ¡°His Excellency¡­?¡± These father and son duo were neither close enough to visit each other without a specific reason, nor the type to have tea together. ¡°Your schedule is not finished yet.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Then what business do you have with His Excellency¡­?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to find her.¡± His words came out of nowhere. ¡°Pardon? Who are you going to find?¡± ¡°You told me to find the person who disappeared and ask.¡± Vent froze in ce as realization dawned on him, his mouth slowly falling open. ¡°No way¡­¡± ¡°So I¡¯m going to find her, Mother.¡± *To ask. * ¡ª ¡ª ¡ª ¡°No, you can¡¯t.¡± The response came without hesitation. ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°You¡¯re still young.¡± Edmund rejected Demian¡¯s request with a simple reason ¨C he was still young. ¡°I¡¯m not young anymore. I¡¯m already 15 years old and have be-of-age¡­¡± ¡°And can you defeat me?¡± Damian shut his mouth. Anyone who heard Edmund¡¯s question would find it absurd. Being asked if he could defeat one of the continent¡¯s top swordsmen. Even though Damian was often called a genius, it was obvious he couldn¡¯t even graze Edmund¡¯s sleeve. Knowing this, he couldn¡¯t question Edmund''s authority easily. ¡°... It¡¯s impossible right now. But in ten years, I¡¯ll definitely surpass you, Father.¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s impossible right now.¡± Edmund repeated exactly what Damian said. But his son didn¡¯t give in easily. ¡°Not everyone in the search party can defeat you, Father. But if I win against all the members of the search party, please grant my request.¡± Edmund stared at Damian in silence. Damian, who had never made any requests until now, hade asking to join the search party for Daphne. Edmund found this situation perplexing. He couldn¡¯t include him in a search party that had already been disbanded. Even if it hadn¡¯t been disbanded, he had no intention of granting Damian¡¯s request. If he were to mention the disbanding of the search party, he would ask for the reason, and Edmund had no intention of revealing anything about Nick. But Damian, inheriting his father¡¯s stubbornness, showed no sign of giving up. If he didn¡¯t make it clear, his son might go off on his own. ¡°They¡¯ll find Daphne soon.¡± ¡°How can you be so sure? The search party hasn¡¯t moved since two days ago.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll distribute Daphne¡¯s portraits.¡± ¡°Portraits, you mean¡­¡± ¡°Damian.¡± Edmund called his name in that familiar low voice. Damian, lost in thought, raised his head. ¡°Why are you suddenly interested in finding Daphne?¡± Vol. 1 - Chapter 14 ¡°That¡­¡± His tone wasn¡¯t questioning. Yet, Damian felt his toes curl and his hands became damp. ¡°That¡­ I need to ask¡­ mother something¡­¡± He stammered, trying his best to continue speaking. Edmund called his son again, ¡°Damian.¡± ¡°... Yes.¡± ¡°Do you remember what Daphne looked like?¡± ¡°...¡± Damian remained silent. His lips moved but he couldn¡¯t say a word. Demian was perplexed. ¡®How could it be?¡¯ Why can''t I remember my mother¡¯s face? ¡°You may leave now.¡± He wasn¡¯t sure how he managed to speak until then. ¡°Young Master?¡± Vent, who had been waiting outside Edmund¡¯s office, spoke to his Master, but kept his gaze fixed straight ahead and continued walking. Even though Vent kept pestering him, demanding to know what had happened, it all sounded distant, like ringing in his ears. Then something caught Vent¡¯s eye. A building visible through the window, a bit away from the castle. ¡®... The greenhouse.¡¯ ¡®Madam loved looking at the flowers.¡¯ ¡°Vent, don¡¯t follow me any further.¡± As if drawn by a force, Damian headed toward the greenhouse. The moment he stepped inside, his body, which had been briefly exposed to the cold, quickly regained its warmth. The greenhouse, which he hadn¡¯t visited in a very long time since childhood, looked just like it did in his memories: warm, with beautiful flowers blooming. Damian wandered towards one of the many flowers. Mother¡¯s favorite flower. He had no idea that Daphne liked flowers. No, he didn¡¯t really know what his mother liked at all. ¡®Did Mother miss the capital while she was in this warm greenhouse? Did she hate this ce so much? Is that why she left?¡¯ Damian sat down on the floor without even caring about his clothes getting dirty. ¡°Do you remember what Daphne looked like?¡± He couldn¡¯t answer. He couldn¡¯t give an answer. Because he couldn¡¯t remember. ¡®... I just need to ask her.¡¯ *¡®I¡¯ll find Mother and ask her one question. Why did you give me that sword? Just that one question.¡¯ * Damian lifted his head. The blizzard was raging outside the greenhouse. ¡®Where in the world is Mother now?¡¯ ¡ª ¡ª ¡ª ¡°Your Excellency, I brought the painter.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Your Excellency?¡± Edmund raised his head. ¡°Let him in.¡± The door, which had just closed, opened again. The painter, Philip, entered. Having been holed up in his room for days, Philip looked much more gaunt than thest time Edmund had seen him. ¡°I greet Your Excellency.¡± Philip, his body slouched, offered what he had been carefully carrying in his arms. It was a small portrait, along with another painting that Edmund had specifically requested. ¡°This is a rough draft. The final version to be mounted on paper will have refined lines and added color.¡± Edmund turned the canvas over. ¡°...¡± There was a picture that wasn¡¯t fully finished. A face staring straight ahead with a faint smile. ¡°... Surprising.¡± It was the most urate depiction of Daphne that Edmund had ever seen in Philip¡¯s work. He reached out and caressed her lips in the painting. The upward curve of the lips disappeared, revealing a face that looked exactly like Daphne¡¯s. Of course, it did. Daphne had never looked at Edmund with such a bright smile, so this version was more urate. And so, Edmund stared at the canvas, feeling an odd sense of awkwardness. Philip, who had been cautiously observing, noticed that Edmund had covered the mouth. ¡°Shall I fix the lower part of the face, Your Excellency? Perhaps, make her more expressionless¡­¡± ¡°No.¡± Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Edmund dismissed Philip¡¯s suggestion. He didn¡¯t want to see a cold, expressionless Daphne, not even in a painting. ¡°... I will send you the additional 1,000 gold through my subordinate.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Excellency.¡± Philip swallowed hard upon hearing about the extra thousand gold coins. Three thousand gold. A simple painting had just earned him an additional thousand gold. The desire to copse onto his bed vanished the moment he heard about the extra gold. He could sleep all he wanted after he was dead ¨C what did it matter? Three thousand gold was right in front of him. Philip, now eager to pour his soul into perfecting the painting to earn his three thousand gold, reached out to retrieve the canvas, but even after a while, it wasn¡¯t returned to him. Surprised, he slowly looked up, only to find Edmund still gazing intently at the painting. Just when Philip began to worry if he had made a mistake in the painting, Edmund spoke. ¡°I¡¯ll take this painting.¡± ¡°But the lines are still messy. If you can give me some more time, I can make it perfect¡­¡± ¡°No, I want this one.¡± Puzzled by Edmund¡¯s sudden strange insistence, Philip had no reason to refuse. ¡°Yes, Your Excellency.¡± It wasn¡¯t a problem for Philip to recreate the painting since he already had Daphne¡¯s features fixed in his mind. After the painter left, Edmund couldn¡¯t tear his eyes away from the painting until Johann arrived with Nick. ¡®Was this really what Daphne looked like?¡¯ The vague image of Daphne from his dreams was nowplete. ¡°Your Excellency, it¡¯s Johann.¡± ¡°... Come in.¡± Edmund, a beat behind, responded as he set the canvas down. Johann and Nick entered. Seeing the snow on their shoulders and heads, it was clear they had returned immediately after meeting with the informant. Before they began discussing the mission, Nick posed a question. ¡°First of all, before we talk, is this office trustworthy?¡± Edman understood Nick¡¯s words right away. ¡°The person who built this office is dead.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief, then.¡± Nick, who had been looking around the office for some reason, let out a relieved sigh. ¡°There¡¯s someone in the mansion who¡¯s in contact with Marquis Bled.¡± Edmund frowned at the mention of Marquis Bled. ¡°I told you to find my wife¡­¡± Edmund stopped mid-sentence when he finally understood what Nick was implying. Edmund slowly closed and opened his eyes. ¡°So¡­ my wife had been in contact with Marquis Bled.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± With that, Nick handed something to Edmund. It was an ordinary note, but what stood out was the unusual way it was folded. ¡°It was handmade, so it would tear if any pressure was applied.¡± Edmund inspected the note. Just as Nick had said, it looked like it would tear if he tried to open it. ¡°I found this beneath the wall outside the Duchess¡¯s room.¡± ¡°How do you open it?¡± ¡°I sent a replica to my subordinate. We should get a response by tomorrow at thetest.¡± Nick, feeling ufortable, fiddled with his aura suppression cor as he continued speaking. ¡°But we did find something.¡± ¡°Theory of Daphne¡¯s disappearance?¡± The assumption that Bled must have had a hand in Daphne¡¯s disappearance. ¡®And the possibility that Marquis Bled kidnapped her.¡¯ Though thetter seemed far-fetched. But Edmund decided to consider all possibilities. ¡°Marquisate Bled likely provided assistance. It¡¯s been nearly four weeks since the Duchess disappeared, so we need to expand our search beyond the North.¡± All the time spent searching the North now felt like a waste. If they couldn¡¯t find Daphne within the next week, they¡¯d have to search the entire continent. If Marquis Bled was determined to keep her hidden, it might already be toote. ¡°I¡¯ll lend you the ck Knights.¡± ¡°Your Excellency!¡± Johann urgently stopped Edmund. ¡°If the ck Knights are involved, it will attract too much attention. They¡¯ll notice immediately. Besides, the Emperor is already suspicious about Nick¡¯s sudden death.¡± To help Nick escape, Johann had found a corpse with the same body size as Nick¡¯s. They had concocted a story that the body was unrecognizable due to severe swelling and damage inflicted by prisoners who harbored grudges against him. However, the Emperor remained suspicious of Nick¡¯s sudden death. ¡°Daphne¡¯s portrait will bepleted by then.¡± ¡°... One week. If we don¡¯t find the Madam in a week, then we will deploy the ck Knights. It won¡¯t be toote.¡± Edmund crossed his arms and slowly drummed his fingers on his forearm. Having known each other since childhood, Johann understood that even if he could convince Edmund to listen to him once for every ten times he spoke, Edmund¡¯s actions were still unpredictable. Johann anxiously awaited Edmund¡¯s decision. ¡°Very well.¡± Johan was relieved. The time was short, but Nick¡¯s subordinates were fast and numerous. It wasn¡¯t impossible. As Nick left, grumbling about how the aura suppression cor was twice as exhausting, Johann finished his report and was about to leave as well. ¡°Johann. Bring me a frame that fits this size.¡± Edmund took out Daphne¡¯s portrait. Even with the messy lines, Johann could easily tell that it was the Madam. ¡°Yes¡­ right away.¡± The office was filled with silence once Johann left. Unconsciously, Edmund¡¯s gaze drifted back to the canvas before he opened his desk drawer. He intended to store the canvas inside. But when he opened the drawer, he froze at what he saw. There, lying in the drawer, was a hidden letter from Daphne. A letter he hadn¡¯t yet read. ¡°...¡± ¡®Where on earth are you Daphne?¡¯ ¡ã??©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤??¡ã Whoosh. A fierce, biting wind swirled violently. Someone was struggling up the snow-covered mountainside. As their thick robe pped in the wind, a slender hand grasped it tightly. Haa, a breath escaped, visible in the cold air. The northernmost border stretched out right in front of them. Lost in thought, their grip weakened. Whoosh! Seizing the moment, the wind blew even harder, flipping the robe and sending the brown hair fluttering into the air. ¡°¡­Finally.¡± The green eyes flickered through the strands of hair. But the slender hand quickly pulled the robe back on, tucking the hair in carefully. Only after drawing the robe tightly over her green eyes did Daphne move again. Vol. 1 - Chapter 15 ¡°... We n on increasing the number of surveince personnels.¡± Johann concluded his report. By now, whether it was approved or not should have been given, but there was only silence. Raising his head, he saw Edmund, as expected, staring off at a distance. Precisely, at Daphne¡¯s portrait. Even in the middle of Johann¡¯s report, Edmund would be distracted by the portrait several times. And whenever that happened, Johann would quietly call him. ¡°Your Excellency.¡± ¡°... Approved.¡± Fortunately, his ears were still open even when his mind was elsewhere. ¡°Sir Benjamin mentioned that he would stay at home for a few more days beforeing back.¡± ¡°He¡¯s back in his hometown after many years, so let him spend time with his family.¡± ¡°Your Excellency, there¡¯s something I need to tell you¡­¡± Just as Johann¡¯s lips moved, the door burst open and Nick entered. ¡°I¡¯ve figured out how to unwrap the paper.¡± Edmund immediately handed him the note he had been holding. Nick boldly unfolded theplexly twisted paper. The note was fully unfolded after quite some time. ¡°This is¡­ a secret code.¡± Johann muttered as he looked at the note filled with unknown characters. It was impossible to know what was written on the note, since the characters were only known by the people involved. ¡°Decoding this would take time, but that¡¯s not what¡¯s important right now.¡± Johann shook his head at Nick¡¯s words. ¡°We need to decode the contents of this note in order to know why they exchanged letters.¡± ¡°I¡¯m saying that¡¯s not what¡¯s important right now.¡± ¡°Then what is?¡± ¡°Phew¡­ someone from Bled will arrive in two days.¡± This was the information Nick got. The Duchess and the people from Bled had been exchanging letters roughly every month. Given that there had been no other movements from Bled, it seemed the Duchess had sent a letter just before her disappearance. ¡°And it has been a month since the Duchess disappeared. If someone from Bled shows up, it means that they¡¯ve helped the Duchess on her disappearance, but if no one shows up¡­¡± ¡°That means Daphne also deceived Bled.¡± ¡°It¡¯s unlikely, but it¡¯s possible.¡± Edmund was left alone in his office after Johann and Nick left, tapping his fingers on the table while staring at Daphne¡¯s portrait. He reached out to the portrait but stopped at a hair¡¯s breadth. ¡®If Daphne received help from Bled¡­¡¯ ¡®What should I do? Should I let her go? Or should I search for her?¡¯ Edmund asked himself. ¡®Which do I truly hope for?¡¯ He lowered his hand reaching out for the portrait. An unanswered question suddenly came to his mind. Suddenly, a scene from an old memory resurfaced in Edmund¡¯s mind. ¡ã??©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤??¡ã It had been less than a month since Daphne had demanded a wedding as grand as a royal marriage. Whenever Daphne and Edmund met, it was always for a clear purpose. ¡°How long do you think it will take?¡± Edmund asked as he put his arm inside the tailcoat he hadn¡¯t worn in a while. ¡°An hour. You won¡¯t bete for the meeting.¡± Dressed in a tailcoat, Edmund opened the door and saw Daphne sitting on the sofa with the painter in front of her. ¡°I greet Your Excellency,¡± the painter, who was arranging his supplies, bowed deeply. ¡°You came,¡± Daphne raised her hand naturally, which Edmund took and left a light kiss on the back of her hand. They were obviously two people who were about to get married ¨C if not for their painfully stiff expressions. When people learned that the painter was going to paint Daphne and Edmund, many people asked him to confirm if the two people were really in love. No matter how stiff their expressions were, the painter had to admit that they were truly in love. After all, it was none other than Edmund who tenderly kissed her hand. ¡°Let¡¯s start.¡± The painter, who had been quietly watching their exchange, was stunned at Edmund¡¯s words. ¡°Will you stay in that position?¡± Daphne remained sitting while Edmund stood next to her. Naturally, with Edmund¡¯s strikingly handsome appearance, simply standing didn¡¯t seem out of ce, but the inexplicable distance between them ruined the harmony. ¡°Your Excellency, could you move a bit closer to Lady Bled?¡± At those words, Daphne raised her head while Edmund lowered his. Their eyes met. Edmund took a step closer to Daphne. Now, they were significantly close to each other. ¡°Lady Bled, could you also move closer?¡± Edmund flinched. He was holding his breath. The strong scent of perfume from any woman who passed by always gave him a throbbing headache. Ever since he started using cigars as a way to take sedatives and painkillers, he had be particrly sensitive to the smell of perfume. This distance should be fine, but he would need to breathe if he didn¡¯t want to hold his breath for the entire hour. If she moved any closer... ¡°Haa¡­ .¡± Edmund blinked a few times. It wasn¡¯t him that let out a sigh but Daphne. She slightly shifted her body closer to Edmund. As he inhaled, reaching his limit, Edmund furrowed his eyebrows in anticipation of the familiar throbbing pain. Instead, what greeted him wasn¡¯t a harsh perfume or a headache but a faint, soft scent of skin. ¡°Your Excellency, could you ce your hand on Lady Bled¡¯s shoulder?¡± Pausing at the unexpected scent of skin, Edmund reached out his hand. With her long hair flowing down her shoulder, the soft strands slipped through his fingertips when he did so. He initially thought that her brown hair was nearly ck. But he realized that it was because all their previous encounters were in dimly lit ces. Seeing Daphne¡¯s hair for the first time in a bright ce, it wasn¡¯t just a dull andmon color ¨C it was as soft as cotton as he felt it in his hands. When his hand moved, the hair nestled between his fingers slid and slipped. Edmund¡¯s gaze involuntarily shifted to Daphne¡¯s face ¨C a forehead with a gentle dip, her softshes blinking slowly, a nose that was neither high or low, and lightly colored lips. Thump. His heart thumped, just like the first time they met and made eye contact. He stared at her for a long time before the painter spoke again. ¡°Your Excellency, will you continue to look at the Lady like that?¡± Edmund quickly averted his gaze when he noticed Daphne¡¯s head move at the painter¡¯s words. With her movement, the hair in his fingers slid down. Too bad. ¡®Too bad?¡¯ Realizing what he was thinking, Edmund flinched as if he had been struck by lightning. ¡°... Lady Bled, let¡¯s stop here for today. I have urgent matters to attend to.¡± Edmund quickly turned away before Daphne could fully turn her head and make eye contact with him. The painter¡¯s flustered voice calling out to him grew distant, like a ringing in his ears, but what he couldn¡¯t ignore was the gaze that followed him until the door closed behind him. ¡°Is it finished already, Your Excellency?¡± Johann, who had been waiting for him outside the door, closely followed him. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Once inside the carriage, Edmund looked out of the window trying to catch his breath. His heart was racing even though he didn¡¯t run. His heart, which only ever raced when he exerted himself, was now beating rapidly in apletely unexpected situation. Edmund frowned. *This feeling is really¡­ unpleasant. * ¡ã??©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤??¡ã ¡°Wh-what?¡± Ang asked in an agitated voice. ¡°You want¡­ more jewels?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± In contrast, the voice answering Ang was unnervingly calm. If only her body were in working order, Ang would have loved nothing more than to tear out the maid¡¯s hair and feed her to the beasts. Not satisfied with having taken a ne adorned with a jewel the size of a thumbnail, the maid was now demanding more. ¡°You¡¯re locked up in prison now. I am taking a huge risk by helping you, and yet you think a small ne would make up for it?¡± ¡°Y, you¡­¡± Ang trembled in anger, but there was nothing she could do. Seeing Ang¡¯s reaction, the maid turned away without hesitation. ¡°You don¡¯t want to? Then forget it.¡± ¡°Wh-when did I!¡± Ang hurriedly grabbed the maid. ¡®I have no choice.¡¯ A few jewels wouldn¡¯t be enough to bribe a guard, and this maid was her only way out. Ang anxiously bit her lip. ¡°I-I¡¯ll give it to you. I¡¯ll give it to you, o-okay?¡± Only then did the maid step closer to Ang. ¡°B-But there¡¯s a problem.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I-I don¡¯t have any jewels with me n-now.¡± Ang had no intention of getting swindled. ¡°I-I¡¯ll give when I get out safely.¡± Ang¡¯s n was simple. It was true she didn¡¯t have any jewels with her now. She would use this as an excuse to meet with the Chambermaid first, clear her name, and get out of prison. Then, she would tear this maid to pieces. ¡°You want me to believe that?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°You could just tell me where the jewels are.¡± The maid even said that it was so simple so what could be the problem. ¡°Y-You might betray me.¡± ¡°Hah.¡± The maidughed in disbelief. Then, she took a step closer and looked down at Ang. ¡°Hey. It doesn¡¯t seem like you understand what situation you¡¯re in now. Right now, you should be begging me, and even then, I might not even help you.¡± ¡°What¡­?¡± ¡°You¡¯re making meugh.¡± Bang! ¡°Ack!¡± The maid roughly kicked the iron bars. Ang, clinging to the bars with her immobile legs dragging, was thrown backward by the force. Vol. 1 - Chapter 16 ¡°Wh-what are you doing¡­?¡± ¡°Still haven¡¯te to your senses, right?¡± The maid muttered and looked down on her. ¡°You¡¯re not being interrogated, right?¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Naturally, since you¡¯ve already confessed. So now that the interrogation is over, what do you think will happen to you?¡± It was just as the maid said. On the first day of interrogation, she feared that she might die so she gave a false confession. She thought that she still could get out, catch the real culprit Marinda, and reveal the whole truth. ¡°Except for the guards, I¡¯m the only one whoes in here.¡± Ang suddenly realized the gravity of her situation. If even this maid turned her back on her, she was as good as dead. ¡°W-wait, what do you mean? Wh-what will happen to me!¡± Ang frantically clung on the bars. ¡°I-I¡¯ll give you all the jewels. So, p-please¡­¡± ¡°You should have done this sooner,¡± the maid clicked her tongue, ¡°Tell me. Where did you hide the jewels?¡± ¡ª ¡ª ¡ª ¡°Gosh, how much is all this?¡± Marinda opened the jewelry box and smiled widely, covering her mouth in delight. Inside, there were far more jewels than Marinda had expected. Among them were the jewels that had been taken from her. As she gazed at the sparkling treasures, Marinda tightly hugged the box. Unable to contain herself, she burst intoughter. ¡°Pfft! Hahahaha!¡± Ang¡¯s disheveled appearance while locked inside the filthy prison cell was more exhrating than she had imagined. She had never expected to stumble upon such a windfall when she went to the prison to poison Ang. Marinda carefully held the jewelry box in her hand. ¡°I almost missed out on all these jewels.¡± It was a stroke of luck that she insisted to the Chambermaid that she would take care of it herself. She volunteered just to see Ang¡¯sst moments but never expected toe across such a fortune! Seeing her covered in filth, with twisted legs and missing teeth, it was a sight Marinda would never forget. Marinda hummed as she put on her robe. After a week of confinent, Marinda swiftly climbed the stone wall and entered her room through the window. She changed her clothes and hid the jewelry box just as the timing was right for the guard to enter. ¡°Is something the matter?¡± Feigning innocence, she blinked her eyes. The knight scanned the room. Marinda barely managed to suppress a scowl forming on her face. It was baffling how her beauty doesn¡¯t work on these Northerners at all. Marinda prided herself on her attractive appearance. However, it didn¡¯t work on either the Duke, his aide, the knights, or anyone else. The fact that her charms worked not with important people but only with unimportant pests was starting to get on her nerves. ¡°What were you doing just now?¡± ¡°I was just¡­¡± ¡°Sir?¡± The knight and Marinda both turned to the person who suddenly interrupted. It was the Chambermaid. ¡°You must be tired. Have you had lunch?¡± ¡°...¡± When the knight didn¡¯t answer, the Chambermaid immediately understood the meaning of his silence. ¡°I¡¯ll stay here for a while, so you can have your lunch ande back.¡± ¡°That¡­¡± ¡°It will only be for a moment. Besides, I have some talk with this girl.¡± The guard exchanged nces with the other guard standing outside the door. He had been growing increasingly frustrated, having to stand guard all day without a proper meal, all because of one maid. Moreover, since it was the Chambermaid who said so, the guards didn¡¯t think twice. ¡°Ahem, then we¡¯ll be back in an hour.¡± As soon as the guard left and his footsteps faded away, the Chambermaid wiped away her gentle smile and sat down urgently. She lowered her voice as much as possible. ¡°What are you doing? Why haven¡¯t you killed Ang yet!¡± ¡°Just wait a little more, Chambermaid. I have a n.¡± Marinda whispered her n to the Chambermaid¡¯s ear. Soon, the Chambermaid¡¯s lips drew into a deep smile. ¡°Good. Very good.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll proceed as nned.¡± Thoroughly satisfied, the Chambermaid patted Marinda¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Ah, Chambermaid, I need to go somewhere for a bit. Could you cover for me?¡± ¡°Alright, but be back in half an hour. The knights might return any time.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be quick.¡± The Chambermaid readily agreed on her request in a good mood. Marinda immediately left the room and headed to the Madam¡¯s room at the far end of the third floor. ¡®Let¡¯s see what you can do this time.¡¯ Marinda entered the door after staring at the door for a long time. She covered her mouth as she entered because of the thick dust umted inside, and left the room shortly after. After Marinda left the room, Anna, who had been hiding, appeared from behind the curtain. ¡®What was she doing?¡¯ Anna tilted her head. She had been busy working here and there and hadn¡¯t been able to clean the Madam¡¯s room. As a result, she barely had time toe and clean. But just as she just started cleaning, someone came in and Anna instinctively hid behind the curtain. ¡®That was definitely Marinda.¡¯ Although the dust made her vision blurry, she was certain it was Marinda. Anna found it odd for Marinda to be wandering around like this despite not havingpleted the two weeks confinement, and stepped out behind the curtains ¡°She was definitely standing around here somewhere¡­¡± Anna paced around the spot where Marinda had been standing. She didn¡¯t know where she was exactly as she didn¡¯t dare to peek out of fear of being caught. Not finding anything strange, Anna gave up. As she opened the window holding the dusty window frame, the floating dust was carried away by the wind. ¡°Cough, cough!¡± Anna covered her mouth with her sleeve and sniffled. Looking around the room, she resumed cleaning. It was a simple room with only a bathroom and a tiny dressing room. She had been eagerly waiting for the Madam toe back. But as she recalled all the things the Madam had gone through, she began to wonder if it was truly right to wish for Madam''s return. ¡®Maybe for Madam¡­¡¯ This ce must have been hard to endure. Her grip on the broom unconsciously tightened. ¡®No, forget it.¡¯ Anna shook off her unnecessary thoughts and started cleaning, something she had grown ustomed to. She dusted off the bed and curtains, swept the floor, and cleaned the small table. There wasn¡¯t much to clean, given how sparse the room was, so it didn¡¯t take long. As she was wiping down the empty table, she noticed dust caught in the gap of the drawer. Pausing for a moment, Anna hesitated. ¡®... Just clean it quickly without looking inside.¡¯ Despite deciding to ignore it, Anna found something strange among the familiar objects as soon as she opened the drawer. It was a half-burned piece of paper. Anna had been in charge of the Madam¡¯s room so she immediately knew that she had never seen that before. She picked up the paper, inspecting it closely. It was charred and the few visible words were not of the imperialnguage. Having only a basic knowledge of the imperial script, Anna tilted her head in confusion. ¡®Is this foreignnguage?¡¯ Since Madam is a nobledy, she would know manynguages. Though of course, I haven¡¯t heard the Madam speak in anothernguage before. Anna didn¡¯t think much of it. ¡°Ah!¡± But as she was about to put the paper back, Anna was startled by a sudden burning sensation and quickly withdrew her hand. Rubbing her stinging hand as if she had touched something hot, she stretched her neck to get a better look, but the paper wasn¡¯t burning ¨C it was just lying there as it had been. Anna wanted to inspect it further, but the end of lunchtime was marked by the ringing of the bell. Soon the corridors would be bustling with people, so Anna hurriedly left Daphne¡¯s room. Fwoosh. And deep inside the dresser, the paper caught fire again and disappeared in an instant. ¡ã??©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤??¡ã ¡°Vent.¡± Damian habitually called Vent as he sheathed his sword, ¡°Do all women love flowers?¡± It was more of a mutter as if talking to himself. Vent was busy catching his breath to answer. Damian¡¯s gaze was fixed on the wild flowers that had managed to bloom despite the cold weather. ¡°Ugh, it seems so. The bigger, ugh, and rarer the¡­flower is, the more they seem to like it¡­¡± Sprawled on the floor, Vent barely managed to answer. Big and rare flowers. He repeated Vent¡¯s words in his mind and pulled his gaze away from themon wild flowers. Then he clicked his tongue at the sight of Vent, who looked as if he was on the brink of copse. Understanding the meaning behind that sound, Vent barely lifted his head to refute. ¡°Please don¡¯t judge by your standards, Young Master. If you do, more than half of the continent would be weak.¡± ¡°Get up.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not telling me to go one more time, right?¡± Vent pointed to his face that had lost all of its color. ¡°Young Master, don¡¯t you see this? My baby skin is on the verge of withering away.¡± Vent¡¯s appearance had changed over the course of a few days. Unlike Edmund and Damian who were naturally gifted in appearance, Vent was an ordinary person who usually had to take extra care of his skin during this time of year when it tended to crack. But now, Vent¡¯s once plump face was blemished with his eyes sunken to eye bags. This was all because Damian suddenly crammed all his schedule in two days and used the remaining time sparring. What was just a light warm-up for Damian was enough to nearly push Vent to the brink of copse. ¡°Young Master, you¡¯re acting like this because His Excellency turned down your request, right?¡± Vent figured it out right away even if his Master didn¡¯t say anything. Edmund had tly rejected Damian¡¯s request. It was the expected oue. ¡°To be honest, His Excellency is right. I think so too.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Before Damian* could say anything, Vent firmly continued. ¡°What¡¯s more important is for you to secure your position as the sessor.¡± Damian was currently the sole sessor of the Winter Duchy. But as an illegitimate child, his standing was somewhat precarious. This made it crucial for him to meet as many vassals as possible, to strengthen and solidify his position. One never knew when or where a rival might suddenly emerge. The Duke was still young, so he might have yed with fire, and as a result of a past mistake, some woman could show up with a child around Damian¡¯s age. Of course, Vent knew the Duke would never do such a thing. But in noble families, these things happened frequently enough that it was wise to be prepared. ¡°Young Master, you know it very well.¡± Vol. 1 - Chapter 17 ¡°I know that very well.¡± Vent¡¯s eyes widened when Damian calmly responded. ¡°So let¡¯s do one more round.¡± ¡°Ugh.¡± Because he was going to do this. Vent nced at Damian¡¯s outstretched hand in front of him and shut his eyes. ¡®Right, he¡¯s holding back, trying to be considerate for me. A few sparring matches in a day shouldn¡¯t be too much to ask.¡¯ ¡°Yes, yes, let¡¯s do it.¡± Vent grabbed Damian¡¯s hand and used it to pull himself up. Then he noticed the sword hanging at Damian¡¯s waist. Come to think of it, his Master hadn¡¯t used the sword he¡¯d been given as a gift in some time. ¡®Why isn¡¯t he using that fine sword?¡¯ ¡°Young Lord, why are you using your old sword instead of the one you were gifted with?¡± The current sword wasn¡¯t bad, but the gifted one was iparable. Maybe it was because of Vent¡¯s question, or maybe it was just coincidence, but Damian suddenly stopped. Vent realized what he¡¯d just done toote. ¡®Damian thinks that the sword came from Madam.¡¯ ¡®Paper?¡¯ Meanwhile, Damian found a crumpled piece of paper. ¡°Uh, Young Master, about what I said earlier ¨C ugh!¡± Vent, who had been relying entirely on Damian''s hand for support, suddenly found himself sitting on the ground when he unexpectedly let go of Vent''s hand. Ignoring Vent, Damian reached for the piece of paper as if he were drawn to it. A drawing was revealed when he unfolded it. ¡°... Mother.¡± It was Daphne. Damian spotted another crumpled piece of paper in the distance and walked over to pick it up. It was another drawing of Daphne, this one from a different angle. A few steps further, there was yet another, and then another, as if they were guiding him along a path. Realizing that the trail led to the incinerator, Demian broke into a sprint. ¡°Stop!¡± ¡°Y-Young Master?¡± Vent called out urgently when he saw the pile of paper being shoved into the fire, but it was toote; the mes had already caught. He quickly grabbed a water bucket that had been ced nearby for fire emergencies and doused the mes. The fire was extinguished, but smoke still lingered in the air. Without hesitation, Damian began carefully unfolding the singed and soaked papers. Though nothing was left intact, he collected everything and returned to his room. The only things in decent condition were the three drawings he had first picked up. However, two were severely crumpled and torn, leaving only one that was rtively unharmed. They were probably the ones drawn by the painter Edmund brought. The servant must have identally dropped it on the way to the incinerator. Damian unfolded the remaining drawing as delicately as possible, afraid it might tear. It was Daphne, her head tilted slightly downward, her gaze averted. Damian stared at the image of Daphne, who wouldn¡¯t even look at him in a drawing. He studied every detail of the picture as if he didn¡¯t want to miss a single stroke, engraving her face in his memory. He didn¡¯t blink until his eyes were red, determined not to forget her features. ¡°Young Master!¡± It was then that the door opened and Vent came in, panting. Vent shook his shoulders as he caught his breath. ¡°Your-your Godmother is here!¡± ¡°What?¡± He shot up from his seat and hurried to the window. He saw the carriage passing through the main gate. He quickly made his way down the corridor and descended the stairs, straightening his disheveled hair and smoothing out his wrinkled clothes as he went, arriving just in time as the carriage door opened. ¡°Godmother.¡± Damian bowed and held out his hand with perfect courtesy. ¡°Young Lord.¡± The elderly woman who emerged from the carriage gracefully ced her hand in Damian¡¯s. Sophia, his Godmother. The former Duke¡¯s mother, who had appeared as soon as the previous Duke ¨C who had banished her ¨C had died. She then imed her rights and the title of Winter Family¡¯s Godmother. Once just a mistress, she was now a woman of considerable influence. And at the same time¡­ ¡°¡­ Wee.¡± The only person who made Damian nervous. ¡ã??©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤??¡ã ¡°Did youring-of-age ceremony go well?¡± ¡°Yes. Despite the tight schedule, Father dealt with most of the monsters so we were able to proceed in time.¡± Sophia quietly set down her teacup and called Damian. ¡°Young Lord.¡± ¡°Yes, Godmother.¡± ¡°Have you not broken the habit of calling His Excellency ¡®Father¡¯?¡± Damian realized his mistake toote. The only saving grace was that he had raised his teacup at that exact moment. He pretended not to be flustered as he brought the cup to his lips. He took his time, savoring the tea as much as he could. He had barely ten seconds toe up with an excuse. Cold sweat trickled down his back. Sophia, who had been silently watching Damian without any reaction, suddenly smiled. ¡°It must have been a slip of the tongue.¡± Damian hesitated for a brief moment before setting down his teacup and forcing a smile. The corners of his lips curled up, and his eyes crinkled gently. ¡°Ah, yes, it seems I misspoke.¡± ¡°Of course. I did correct that habit before I left.¡± Indeed. Damian replied in a barely audible voice. Sophia seemed pleased with the refreshments, prepared within such a short time, as she remained focused on her tea for a while. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you¡¯ll still have my favorite tea leaves.¡± ¡°I always keep them ready for you, Godmother.¡± ¡°You¡¯re bing quite adept at managing things, aren¡¯t you?¡± Sophia, aware that his words were merely ttery, couldn¡¯t help but show her satisfaction. After thoroughly enjoying her tea, she ced both hands on herp. ¡°It¡¯s a pity I couldn¡¯te to youring-of-age ceremony. I should have been there.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright. Your health is more important, Godmother.¡± Sophia was not originally from the North and had grown frail as old age took over. Three years ago, after discovering her illness, she had moved to the warm South, and unfortunately, she had been suffering from a high fever during Damian¡¯sing-of-age ceremony, preventing her from attending. ¡°Are you feeling alright now?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve gotten a lot better.¡± Sophia added that she could still take trips to the North without any trouble, reassuring him not to worry. Her eyes quickly scanned the living room. ¡°But the mansion is quite a state.¡± ¡°His Excellency has been very busy these days, so he hasn¡¯t had the time to attend to the mansion.¡± ¡°No, managing the household is the responsibility of the Lady of the House. Speaking of, where is the Duchess?¡± Sophia clicked her tongue. ¡°She¡¯s not locked herself in her own room again, has she? She¡¯s the Duchess and doesn¡¯t even bother herself with the household affairs¡­¡± She then sighed and touched her forehead. The Duchess had not changed in thest five years. It infuriated her that Daphne shirked her duties and responsibilities from the beginning. Even more so that she didn¡¯t show her face, despite Sophia¡¯s arrival. ¡°Young Lord, go and tell the Duchess toe down immediately.¡± Damian¡¯s heart sank. He had a strong feeling that it would be a big problem if Sophia learned that not only was Daphne negligent of her duties of the mansion, but had disappeared. ¡°Godmother, Mother is not feeling well¡­¡± ¡°Godmother.¡± At that moment, the door opened, and Edmund appeared. Sophia rose from her seat and bowed deeply. ¡°I greet Your Excellency.¡± In that brief moment, Edmund signaled to Damian with his eyes. Not missing the cue, Damian naturally stood up and took Sophia¡¯s hand. ¡°Godmother, I¡¯m afraid I must go now for my lessons.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s your sessor ss, go at once.¡± Sophia gave him a gentle push on the back. Damian lightly kissed her hand and left the room. Only after he had left did Edmund take a seat. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Your Excellency.¡± ¡°Godmother.¡± Edmund got straight to the point without further pleasantries. ¡°Why have youe?¡± Already expecting this, Sophia calmly lifted her teacup, ¡°Johann sent me a letter.¡± Edmund flinched when Sophia suddenly mentioned his subordinate¡¯s name. ¡°He pleaded for me toe urgently.¡± Edmund unconsciously suppressed the urge to reach for the cigarette in his inner pocket. With her gaze fixed on her teacup, Sophia asked in a low voice, ¡°There¡¯s nothing untoward going on at this time, is there?¡± Sophia was one of the few who knew Edmund¡¯s secrets, having watched over him since childhood. Under normal circumstances, Sophia might have ignored Johann¡¯s letter. However, her visit had another purpose ¨C ¡®that time¡¯ was fast approaching. ¡°I trust there¡¯s been no action that could threaten the Winter Duke¡¯s standing.¡± Her words were a clear warning not to do anything that could endanger the Winter Duke¡¯s position. Edmund remained silent. Sophia stood up from her seat. ¡°The Lady of the House¡¯s room is still empty, right?¡± Sophia naturally inquired about the Lady of the House¡¯s room. It had been her quarters from the time she became a Godmother until she left for the South. Though the Duchess had moved in during her absence, the room still belonged to her. ¡°Sitting in the carriage for a long time has worn me out.¡± Sophia held Edmund¡¯s hand tightly, ¡°Please don¡¯t disappoint me, Your Excellency.¡± For the sake of Winter Family. And for everyone¡¯s sake. ¡ã??©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤??¡ã Johann, who had been guiding the restorer from the capital, was not particrly surprised when he heard the news about Sophia and then received Edmund¡¯s summons shortly afterward. ¡°I have nothing to say, Your Excellency.¡± Johann immediately bowed his head. ¡°Why?¡± Edmund didn¡¯t exude an aura or act coldly. On the contrary, he seemed even calmer. That only made Johann more uneasy. ¡°Why did you send a letter to my Godmother?¡± ¡°...I sensed that Your Excellency had changed.¡± Johann, realizing that Edmund¡¯s question wasn¡¯t meant to corner him, answered honestly. ¡°Your Excellency had never paid attention to Madam all this time.¡± Johann revealed his true feelings. ¡°A dog follows its master. If the master looks down on someone, so does the dog.¡± Johann felt he had reached his limit. Edmund hadpletely changed due to the Madam¡¯s absence ¨C something that he found strange. He couldn¡¯t understand why Edmund was so deeply affected by the absence of someone who he never cared for all along. ¡°I have worked for you until now, Your Excellency. I believed that guiding you on the right path was also my duty.¡± He acknowledged that he might have overstepped. However, he did not regret calling for Sophia. Vol. 1 - Chapter 18 Hoo... The sound of the wind cut through the thick cloud of smoke that covered Johann¡¯s face. The cigarette¡¯s smoke was so thick that his vision blurred. Edmund continued smoking without a care. ¡°Johann.¡± Hiss Although the fire was being directed elsewhere, it felt as though his own flesh was burning. Johann noticed the mist of aura rising from beneath his feet. It was only then that Johann realized. His Excellency wasn¡¯t calm, he was simply unable to contain his anger. As Johann watched the writhing aura that seemed ready to consume him, he swallowed dryly. ¡°This will be thest time I overlook this. Send your subordinate who contacted my Godmother to the basement.¡± Johann shut his eyes, ¡°... Yes.¡± Edmund didn¡¯t let it go easily. Upon Johann¡¯s confirmation that everything was ready, he headed to the basement. ¡ã??©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤??¡ã Faint screams woke Ang up. She instinctively scanned her surroundings, rxing only after confirming there were no signs of anyone having been there. ¡®Not today either.¡¯ Ang bit her dry, chapped lips anxiously. Despite two days passing, the maid had not brought the Chambermaid. ¡®Could it be that she had taken the jewels and run?¡¯ Ang bit her lips until they bled. That¡¯s when she heard footsteps. She hurriedly clung to the iron bars. It seemed like the maid wasing to bring food. But the person carrying the food was not the maid. ¡°You¡¯re still alive?¡± The guard tossed the bread toward Ang, who recoiled in shock. Only after the guard had left did Ang stretch out her hands and devour the bread hungrily. Even though the bread was dry enough to choke on, Ang, who had grown ustomed to it, finished it in no time, even without water. Ang was licking the crumbs off her fingers when she noticed a strange taste and quickly withdrew her hand. She had sensed something off earlier, but was too focused on eating. ¡®I¡¯m hungry.¡¯ Still unsatisfied, Ang leaned on the iron bars. Step, step. With the sound of footsteps, Ang hid herself in the corner, trembling. Shaking in anxiety for fear that it was the guards again trying to kill her, she didn¡¯t notice the ovepping sound of footsteps. ¡®Please, please...¡¯ Ang desperately hoped that the footsteps would pass her by, but her wish was not granted. She was left in stunned silence as the footsteps stopped directly in front of where she was imprisoned. ¡°Ang.¡± ¡°Chamber¡­ maid?¡± Ang¡¯s eyes widened when she heard the familiar voice calling her. Turning her head, she saw the Chambermaid wearing a robe standing next to the maid. ¡°You¡¯ve been through a lot.¡± ¡°Chambermaid¡­¡± She tried to suppress the tears about to spill out. ¡°So, you¡¯ve been falsely used?¡± ¡°Y-yes. I really didn¡¯t steal anything.¡± The Chambermaid warmly held Ang¡¯s hand covered in filth. Though their rtionship had deteriorated into one of mere business partners after Ang discovered the Chambermaid¡¯s intention to sell her off as a nobleman¡¯s concubine, blood was indeed thicker than water. As the Chambermaid looked down at her with such warmth, Ang regretted having treated her coldly. ¡®Why did I do that?¡¯ She regretted everything aftering back from the brink of death. ¡°Chambermaid, p-please get me out of here. I-I know who¡¯s the real criminal.¡± ¡°Chambermaid, the guard will be back soon. We need to leave quickly.¡± The maid suddenly urged the Chambermaid, saying time was running out. But the Chambermaid, having heard Ang¡¯s words, restrained the maid and listened closely. ¡°The real criminal? Who is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­ cough!¡± It happened in an instant. In a blink of an eye, her eyes turned bloodshot and she found herself lying on the floor. ¡®What¡­ is this¡­?¡¯ Ang couldn¡¯tprehend the situation,pletely oblivious to the malicious intent of her own blood. ¡°Ah, she¡¯s finally dying.¡± Even when the maid ¨C no, Marinda ¨C took off her robe and revealed herself. ¡°Tsk, it seems like I¡¯ve arrived toote.¡± And even when the Chambermaid, who had been smiling warmly at her, wiped her hands clean after touching Ang¡¯s hand. ¡°Marinda, didn¡¯t I tell you to put in the right amount?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but at least we get to watch her die.¡± Ah. It was only then did Ang realize ¨C the strange taste from the bread she had eaten, the maid¡¯s identity, and the Chambermaid¡¯s words. It only meant one thing. ¡®I¡¯m¡­ dying.¡¯ Ang finally realized that the dampness in her mouth was because of the blood she had vomited. Pain surged through her, her throat and stomach burning as if they were on fire, while a cold sensation flushed her fingertips. Her body convulsed slightly, and her eyelids couldn¡¯t help but flutter uncontrobly. ¡°Ga, grrgh¡­¡± Unable to scream, Ang¡¯s tongue curled inward as she twisted in agony. ¡°What do you think about my n?¡± ¡°Perfect. Watching this wretch die in such pain brings me peace of mind.¡± Despite her torment, Ang did not avert her gaze from them. ¡°Indeed. Why didn¡¯t she just die quietly instead of dragging me into this?¡± The Chambermaid clicked her tongue at Ang¡¯s foolishness. Though she felt a grim satisfaction at watching Ang die, the unease in her chest made her frown as she stepped back. ¡°Let¡¯s go now, Marinda.¡± ¡°Yes, just a moment.¡± The Chambermaid turned around without hesitation. Marinda knelt down in front of Ang. ¡°Look at you now.¡± Ang¡¯s eyes rolled back. ¡°I won.¡± You lost. Marinda smiled. ¡°Goodbye.¡± All Ang could do was shed tears as she felt her body gradually stiffening. Watching the two figures fade into the distance, Ang clenched her teeth. And shortly after, her body, now rigid, lost its warmth, growing cold forever. ¡ã??©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤??¡ã Damian suddenly turned his head. The crimson sunset, just beginning to fade, enveloped him through the swirling snowstorm. It wasn¡¯t just the unexpected arrival of Sophia that had the entire mansion in disarray. The servants, usually more visible, were oddly absent, creating an atmosphere that was both quiet and tumultuous. ¡®Is something going on?¡¯ As he stood in the hallway staring nkly at the raging blizzard, someone appeared in front of him. ¡°Young Lord.¡± ¡°Count Wiesz.¡± Count Wiesz, one of the vassals, bowed. ¡°Please take this.¡± The Count wiped his half-bald, glistening forehead with a handkerchief, repeatedly. ¡°Are you returning from your lessons?¡± ¡°Yes. What brings you here, Count?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t attend youring-of-age ceremony. As an apology, I¡¯ve brought a small gift.¡± The Wiesz family had long been in the business of mining magic stones, amodity simr to gemstones that could be extracted from mines. However, magic stones were unique in that they could contain a swordsman¡¯s aura, the wizard and spirit mage¡¯s mana, and even holy power. Magic stones had many uses. Inserting a magic stone imbued with aura, mana, or holy power into a machine could instantly heat a room, making them indispensable in the northern regions. In addition to their versatility, magic stones were so valuable that over half of the empire¡¯s supply came from the Wiesz family, known for the high purity of their stones, making everyone eager to acquire them from Wiesz. But all of this was a mere shadow of the past. Within just ten years of assuming the headship, Count Wiesz had ruined his family¡¯s once-prosperous empire, which had been one of the financial pirs of the Empire. The Wiesz family found itself buried in debt, and all their property, including the mines and magic stones, was confiscated. The reason he hadn¡¯t attended Damian¡¯sing-of-age ceremony was because he was on the run from creditors. Although he imed to have brought the remaining magic stones, he had risked his life to hide from being seized. Damian was unimpressed. ¡°I¡¯ll have my subordinate take care of it.¡± ¡°Young Lord, why don¡¯t you take a look? Just once?¡± Count Wiesz would normally obey Damian¡¯s orders, but he clung to him, seemingly desperate. ¡°A rare magic stone hase into my possession.¡± Count Wiesz looked around nervously, lowering his voice, ¡°Big and rare.¡± Big and rare. Damian, as if entranced by those words, nodded but quickly regained hisposure. Count Wiesz, as if expecting this, swiftly guided him to the prepared reception room. The magic stone Wiesz had brought was indeed no ordinary one; each had been crafted with the meticulous care of a master artisan. ¡°This one was made by Liconas, the third master of R¨¹band¡­.¡± But Damian, who hadn¡¯t even had the intention of examining the magic stones, let Count Wiesz¡¯s words go in one ear and out the other. Seeing this, Count Wiesz, sweating profusely, immediately yed his trump card. ¡°In fact, it¡¯s no exaggeration to say that I prepared this meeting just to show you this.¡± Count Wiesz presented an ordinary wooden box, unlike the previous magic stones, where the box wasvish but the contents were mediocre. When the lid of the unassuming box was opened, a small locket was revealed. Count Wiesz opened the locket. This time, the magic stone inside was different. The stone, uncut, was arge piece about the size of half a fist, with a mysterious green hue. ¡°It¡¯s the Tear of the Mermaid.¡± Count Wiesz instantly recognized that this stone had caught Damian¡¯s eye. ¡°It¡¯s deliberately uncut. As you know, the Tear of the Mermaid is a magic stone so rare that it might only appear once in a century. It can hold mana, aura, and even holy power¡­.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take it. Vent.¡± Count Wiesz beamed with satisfaction. ¡°As expected, the Young Lord has an exceptional eye! The Tear of the Mermaid is¡­.¡± ¡°Take it. Don''t lose it.¡± Count Wiesz¡¯s words trailed off as his mouth hung open in shock. It was no wonder. Damian had extracted the Tear of the Mermaid from the locket, tossed it to his attendant standing beside him, and kept the locket for himself. Count Wiesz¡¯s face turned pale as he watched millions of golds worth of magic stone fly through the air. ¡°Y-Young Lord, please handle it with care¡­¡± ¡°Tell Vent what you want.¡± Damian rose from his seat. ¡°He¡¯ll grant most of your requests.¡± Caught off guard, Count Wiesz stood up and tried to reach for Damian, but stopped abruptly. The young heir had been aware of Count Wiesz¡¯s intentions from the start. But he chose not to say anything about it. ¡°Well then, I''ll be off.¡± Vol. 1 - Chapter 19 ¡°Well then, Count. You can speak to me¡­¡± The door closed as Vent finished his words. Damian headed straight back to his room. He opened his drawer and took out a drawing. ¡°... Perfect.¡± Daphne¡¯s portrait perfectly fit into the locket he had been staring at. Demian stared at it for a long time before putting the locket in his pocket. Just as he turned around, he noticed the fountain pen rolling across his desk. Damian¡¯s eyes widened at the sight of the pen. It had the familiar pattern engraved on it. ¡ã??©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤??¡ã Dawn had broken, casting shadows over the room. Edmund sat in his study. Creak, creak. The only sound was the window rattling in the fierce wind. It was silent, but far from peaceful. Edmund set down the documents he¡¯d been reading mechanically and closed his eyes. ¡°A dog follows its master. If the master looks down on someone, so does the dog.¡± Master and dog. The meaning was clear. Edmund pondered over those words again and again. Knock, knock. ¡°Everything has been prepared, Your Excellency.¡± At his subordinate¡¯s words, Edmund moved to the prepared location, where he had a clear view of Daphne¡¯s room. All that was left now was to wait. ¡ª ¡ª ¡ª Another day. After guarding this ce until dawn, Nick stood up from his seat. ¡°It seems like it will be tonight.¡± No one from Marquis Bled came. Not a single person, nor an ant, had shown up. ¡°Is there a possibility¡­ that Marquis Bled has caught on?¡± ¡°No.¡± Nick answered firmly. The reason Nick had been able to rise to power so quickly was his swift actions and thoroughness, leaving no trace behind. Even if a mission failed, no crumb was ever left. But this thoroughness had also be a double-edged sword. If no trace was found, suspicion inevitably fell on Nick. ¡°I¡¯ll prepare again tonight.¡± ¡°Do so.¡± ¡°I¡¯m curious about something.¡± Nick stopped Edmund as he turned to his study. ¡°Duke, why are you looking for the Duchess?¡± ¡ã??©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤??¡ã ¡°Young Lord, did something happen yesterday?¡± Damian snapped back to his senses. Wearing a thick coat, Sophia looked at him with worry in her eyes. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s nothing, Godmother. I just had some things in my mind¡­¡± When Damian returned to his usual self, Sophia looked relieved and turned her gaze. ¡°This greenhouse has always been beautiful.¡± She nced around the greenhouse, admiring the well-tended nts by Summer. As Sophia¡¯s attention shifted elsewhere, the perfect smile that had been on Damian¡¯s face vanished. He stood a few steps behind her, deep in thought. ¡°This is¡­¡± When he noticed the familiar pattern drawn on the fountain pen he often used, he immediately took out the sword he put under his bed. ¡°How can this be?¡± Although rare, it was possible that it was made by the same person but he received it from different people. Strange enough, it didn¡¯t ur to him at all. That it was sent by one person. ¡°... Mother.¡± Daphne. The fountain pen and the sword. Damian immediately searched his desk and gathered all the items bearing the same pattern. There were a total of fifteen. He didn¡¯t even bother to tidy up his desk and sat there, staring at the pile of items. ¡®Why on earth?¡¯ He thought about it all night but couldn¡¯t find an answer. It felt like he was lost in a maze with no way out. For a fleeting moment, he thought that he finally found a lead but quickly shook his head. ¡®This is nothing but hypocrisy.¡¯ She had ignored them all this time, and the only reason for sending these objects now was to ease her own guilt. Daphne had been a hypocrite until the end. ¡°Is it worth taking the sessor ss?¡± Sophia turned around, having finished looking at the flowers. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°His Excellency had finished his sessor studies at your age.¡± ¡°I will work harder, Godmother.¡± Damian had grown up hearing that he was a rare genius. That he was naturally gifted. But Damian knew very well that he could never escape Edmund¡¯s shadow. His father was always a step ahead, a man whose talents defied exnation. ¡°You must work even harder ¨C for me and for the family.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t disappoint you, Godmother.¡± Sophia smiled in satisfaction at his answer, gripping his hands tightly. Her grip was so strong that his hands turned pale. ¡°You must keep that promise.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Though her hands were warm, Damian felt a shiver run down his spine as if icy water had been poured over him. ¡°Oh, look at the time. I have so many appointments here in the north, I hardly have any time to spend with you.¡± ¡°Please, don¡¯t worry about me.¡± Sophia left the greenhouse, and Damian unbuttoned the cor that had been tight around his neck. It was just one button, but it felt like he could finally breathe again. His back was soaked with cold sweat. ¡°Phew...¡± He slumped onto the bench. Though his schedule was tight, he just wanted to rest for a moment. ¡°Young Master?¡± At that moment, Summer appeared, her garb simr to a gardener''s. ¡°Summer? What brings you here¡­.¡± Today was not a day for Summer to be working in the garden. Damian had deliberately chosen this day to bring Sophia to the greenhouse, narrowly avoiding a chance encounter. ¡°I had some work left to do, so I dropped by.¡± Summer approached him. ¡°I heard your Godmother is here.¡± She asked quietly, ¡°Is she still the same?¡± Damian knew exactly what Summer was referring to and was silent for a moment. ¡°¡­She has a deep affection for our family.¡± ¡°Even so, I can¡¯t forgive her. I can¡¯t forget how she hit you, a mere ten-year-old¡­.¡± ¡°Summer!¡± Damian hurriedly interrupted Summer, looking around anxiously. Fortunately, there was no one in sight. Seeing Damian¡¯s pale face, Summer mped her mouth shut. ¡°Didn¡¯t we promise not to talk about that day again?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± It was Summer¡¯s mistake. Damian calmed his agitation and stood up. ¡°We made that promise that day, didn¡¯t we?" ¡°¡­Yes, we did.¡± ¡°I have another appointment. Take care.¡± Damian turned to leave but paused, and turned back. ¡°That.¡± He pointed to the flower Summer was holding. It wasn¡¯t one of the lush blooms from the greenhouse, but amon wild flower seen by the training ground. It was the same wildflower he had seen near the training ground. ¡°Oh, this is from the training ground.¡± ¡°Why did you bring it here?¡± ¡°There was a maid who used to care for this wildflower, but she hasn¡¯t been around for about a month, so I decided to take care of it in the meantime.¡± ¡°¡­A maid? What was her name?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure. We didn¡¯t talk much.¡± ¡°Do you remember her eye color or hair color?¡± ¡°Her hair was brown, and her eyes¡­.¡± Summer pondered for a moment, her expression gradually hardening. She scratched her head. ¡°I can¡¯t seem to recall. I must be getting old.¡± Suddenly, Damian recalled hearing that Daphne loved looking at flowers. As the thought continued, he dismissed it and thought that it was ridiculous. It made no sense that a Lady raised in luxury would tend to such amon wildflower. ¡°Is something the matter, Young Master?¡± ¡°¡­No, it¡¯s nothing.¡± Damian shook his head. ¡ã??©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤??¡ã ¡°I have something to tell you.¡± Someone was standing in front of Edmund. ¡°We need to talk now.¡± The woman hastily grabbed Edmund, who was about to turn away, but soon her grip loosened. Seeing this, Edmund quickly reached out to hold her hand, but she spoke first. ¡°Have you ever thought of me as your wife?¡± He wanted to stay a bit longer and look at the woman, but Edmund¡¯s body moved on its own and not ording to his will. When he finally turned his head, the woman had disappeared, leaving behind a robe. A robe stained in dried blood. ¡°And this¡­ is presumed to be the Madam¡¯s.¡± ¡°... The search party reported that there were already human bones inside the wolf den, and the blood on the robe was indeed of a human¡¯s. Furthermore, this robe was at least from a week ago¡­¡± A cloth wasid over the robe. Edmund raised his head to see where the cloth hadnded. There, a painting was hanging. A painting so torn that the face waspletely unrecognizable. ¡°If I disappear, will you think of me then?¡± With the voice echoing in his mind, Edmund opened his eyes in a dark room. His office was filled with the heavy scent of cigarette smoke. He fumbled through his inner pocket, only to find an empty cigarette tin on the table, and weakly let his hand fall. A faint light seeped through the curtains. ¡®Is it still daytime?¡¯ He both wished for the night toe quickly and for it to nevere at all, the conflicting feelings still at war within him. Edmund realized that the racing of his heart, the curling of his hands and feet, and the dryness in his mouth were signs of anxiety. What am I anxious about? Edmund muttered a question that would receive no answer. What was I dreaming about? Edmund tried to recall bits and pieces of the dream, but the memory had already faded, likely dulled by the lingering smoke. He picked up the whiskey bottle and tilted it over his ss, but only a few drops trickled out before it stopped. He btedly realized that he had finished the bottle before falling asleep. He immediately stood up and pulled the bell rope. ¡°You called, Your Excellency?¡± As soon as the person who entered opened the door, they staggered from the thick smoke that filled the room. ¡°¡­ Benjamin?¡± It was Benjamin. ¡°When did youe back?¡± ¡°Just a few hours ago.¡± After attending the celebration for Damian¡¯sing-of-age in the capital, Benjamin had returned North. He spent about a month with his family beforeing back. As he grew ustomed to the smoke, Benjamin took a few steps forward. Fortunately, he had developed a tolerance from the years he had spent by Edmund¡¯s side; without it, he might have fainted on the spot. ¡°It seems to be stronger now.¡± ¡®It was already strong five years ago, but seems worse now.¡¯ Vol. 1 - Chapter 20 ¡°I heard from Johann that your headache and insomnia had gotten worse.¡± ¡°I see that he already told you everything.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t be too hard on him. He¡¯s only worried about you, Your Excellency.¡± As Edmund slumped down the sofa, pressing on his throbbing temples with his eyes closed, the butler drew the curtains and opened the window. He squinted his eyes at the sudden light pouring in. ¡°I heard that Madam¡­ disappeared.¡± Edmund¡¯s hand, lifting his ss of whiskey, froze. ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry. It will be sorted out soon.¡± ¡°Your Excellency is still the same.¡± The butler let out a deep sigh. ¡°I only hope that Your Excellency won¡¯t regret itter.¡± Edmund downed his whiskey in one gulp and mmed down the ss loudly. ¡°Bring me more whiskey. Something stronger.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve already had enough.¡± The butler tried to dissuade Edmund. There were more than five bottles scattered on the table. ¡°I never thought I¡¯d see you this drunk so oftentely.¡± ¡°... Lately?¡± ¡°Yes, a month ago¡­ that would be the day before the subjugation, right after arriving in the North following the banquet.¡± The butler pulled out a mana stone from his pocket and inserted it. Him opening the window made the room chilly but soon, it quickly became warm again. He then began tidying up the scattered bottles. By chance, he spotted a portrait of Daphne lying on the table but pretended not to notice it and continued cleaning up the bottles. ¡°Did something happen today for Your Excellency to be this drunk inside your office?¡± ¡°...¡± Edmund blinked. Just as the butler said, Edmund had returned to the mansionpletely drunk the day before the subjugation. ¡°You reeked of alcohol just as strongly as now, yet you went up to your bedroom just fine.¡± The butler carefully thought back. ¡°And you were in your office early the next morning.¡± ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t remember.¡± ¡°It happens when one drinks a lot.¡± ¡°This has never happened before.¡± Edmund muttered, his face clouded with confusion. He wasn¡¯t the type to avoid alcohol, but he had never experienced anything like this. He remembered lying in a bed ¨C small, soft, and warm. Edmund suddenly realized something odd in his memory and sobered up. His bedroom wasrge, his bed hard and devoid of warmth. At that moment, a fragment of an ardent memory surfaced ¨C sharing breath, sharing warmth, and embracing each other passionately. ¡°Butler.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Bring me the maid who cleans my bedroom.¡± The butler found Edmund¡¯s sudden order puzzling but promptly brought the maid. Despite the room being somewhat ventted by now, the maid staggered slightly upon entering the office. ¡°I greet Your Excellency.¡± ¡°Do you recall cleaning my bedroom on the day of the subjugation, about a month ago?¡± ¡°I did clean it, but it was unusually tidy so I barely had to touch anything.¡± ¡°... You can go now.¡± He dismissed the maid. The first memory after his ckout was being in the office. He had assumed his hazy recollection was due to the lingering effects of a hangover. ¡°That maid who reported Daphne¡¯s disappearance, bring her to me.¡± Despite growing curiosity over Edmund¡¯s repeated requests to summon people, Benjamin obediently brought Anna. ¡°I-I greet Your Excellency.¡± Summoned while in the middle ofundry, Anna bowed deeply. Her legs kept on trembling, so she tried her best to stay alert by keeping her eyes wide open. ¡°Tell me everything odd that happened before Daphne disappeared, specifically after I left for subjugation.¡± Edmund asked, suspecting that something was definitely strange. Anna racked her brain desperately. ¡°That¡­ I¡¯m not sure if it was strange, but a few days before Madam disappeared, she borrowed my clothes and left the mansion briefly. She wasn¡¯t out for long.¡± ¡°Where did she go?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t told to, but¡­ I think Madam had a faint smell of herbs on her at that time.¡± Smell of herbs. There was a high chance she had gone to a clinic. ¡°Butler!¡± Edmund called Benjamin as soon as he got up from his seat. Having sensed that something strange was unfolding, Benjamin had been waiting by the door and swiftly entered the office. ¡°Summon the doctor from the vige. No, I¡¯ll go to him myself.¡± ¡°Pardon? What do you mean¡­ Your Excellency!¡± Benjamin hurriedly followed as Edmund strode past him. By the time Benjamin had reached the stables, Edmund had already mounted his horse and was riding through the front gate. The butler quickly mounted his horse and gave chase. ¡°Your Excellency! Please calm down for a moment!¡± Whatever was driving Edmund, he didn¡¯t stop despite Benjamin¡¯s persuasion. ¡°You need to turn right at the third alley!¡± Realizing there was no way to stop him, Benjamin called out directions as he followed. Edmund followed them, and soon, he found a small herbal shop. Before the horse had even fully stopped, Edmund jumped off and flung the door open. ¡°Goodness! That surprised me. What¡¯s the rush¡ªYour Excellency?¡± The physician grinding the herbs jumped back in shock. ¡°About a month ago, someone from the castle must have visited you.¡± ¡°P-pardon?¡± ¡°What prescription did that maid ask for?¡± Momentarily stunned by Edmund¡¯s barrage of questions, the physician quickly regained hisposure under the pressure of his presence. ¡°P-please wait a moment.¡± The physician began flipping through a stack of prescription records. Given the monsters and thend¡¯s harsh conditions, it was moremon for physicians using modern treatments to outnumber herbalists. Few visited the herbal shop, which was thest one remaining in the vige, so it took some time to locate the record. ¡°H-here it is.¡± Edmund epted the paper the physician handed him. ¡°What is this herb used for?¡± ¡°That is¡­¡± At that moment, the door burst open, and Benjamin, panting, entered the herbal shop. However, having already heard what he needed, Edmund brushed past Benjamin and mounted his horse again. ¡°Your Excellency!¡± Despite Benjamin¡¯s desperate call, Edmund didn¡¯t stop and headed straight back to the castle. Word quickly spread throughout the estate that Edmund and Benjamin had suddenly ridden off, and many people gathered, including Alec and Johann. ¡°Your Excellency, is something the matter?¡± Alec, who calmed Edmund¡¯s anxious horse, asked. ¡°Alec, gather the ck Knights right away.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Hurry!¡± Without exining, Edmund issued the order and headed to his office. Sensing he was about to change clothes, Johann followed him. ¡°Your Excellency, you need to calm down for now.¡± Johann blocked Edmund. ¡°Johann, move.¡± ¡°Your Excellency!¡± ¡°Daphne¡­¡± Johann¡¯s face hardened at the mention of the Madam¡¯s name. Edmund suppressed his rising anger. ¡°Daphne, she¡­¡± Edmund took a deep breath. ¡°That is¡­ a herb to confirm one¡¯s pregnancy.¡± ¡°Daphne is pregnant with my child. ¡°What¡­?¡± Johann was in disbelief. It took two to conceive a child, and there hadn¡¯t been any conjugal rtions between them in the past five years. Since their wedding night, they had lived in separate rooms. How could she suddenly be pregnant? The Edmund that Johann had served all his life was not the type to indulge in physical pleasures or act on impulse. ¡°Why do you think Daphne left?¡± ¡°That¡­¡± Johann couldn¡¯t answer Edmund¡¯s question immediately. It was also frustrating for Johann to have no way of knowing either. But the revtion of the pregnancy made everything fall into ce. A thought suddenly shed in Johann''s mind. *¡®What if Madam was kidnapped? Or what if the Bleds found out about her pregnancy and intended to use it to turn His Excellency into a puppet?¡¯ * The Winter family bloodline was rare, with only one child born per generation. Even then, it was oftente in life or illegitimate, and the members¡¯ fate rarely ended well. Given this, abducting the woman carrying the Winter heir was far more serious than a mere missing Lady of the House. ¡°Now, Johann. Move.¡± Edmund brushed past Johann and entered his office. Though a sudden surge of urgency overwhelmed him, Johann forced himself to calm down. ¡°Your Excellency, please wait a little longer. If no onees from the Bled family today, it will be clear that the Madam has been kidnapped. You can act then.¡± ¡°You¡¯re asking me to wait half a day longer?¡± ¡°If you act hastily, you¡¯ll only tip off the Marquis Bled, who might be unaware of this till now.¡± Johann took a moment to organize his thoughts. Perhaps this was all part of Madam¡¯s n. Madam loved His Excellency, but His Excellency did not love her. What if she staged this to gain even a sliver of his attention? Moreover, there was no guarantee the child was Edmund¡¯s. It could have been a mistake, a one-night stand. After all, they hadn¡¯t shared a bed in five years. But Johann kept these thoughts to himself. The most important thing now was calming the overly agitated Edmund. ¡°Besides, Your Excellency, your Godmother is still here. Stirring up unnecessary trouble won¡¯t do anyone good.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Your Excellency, please think carefully,¡± Johann earnestly requested. Edmund stopped unbuttoning his shirt to change his clothes. ¡°¡­ Very well.¡± Johann, who had anxiously awaited Edmund¡¯s response, let out a shallow breath. He was so desperate to stop this situation that he even invoked the name of the absent Godmother. Though Johann had sessfully averted disaster for the moment, if no one from the Bled family appeared tonight, there would be real trouble. He needed to find another solution before then. After Johann left, deep in thought, Edmund secretly summoned Alec through Benjamin. After some hesitation, Edmund gave his order. ¡°Search the territory thoroughly.¡± ¡°Your Excellency.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you have to recheck the same areas. Deploy as many people as possible. And.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let anyone know, including Johann.¡± ¡ã??©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤??¡ã Damian stopped walking. ¡°It¡¯s noisy, isn¡¯t it?¡± Vent, who hade to assist Damian after his lesson, stood beside him. As Vent said, the mansion was in a state ofmotion. He quickly addressed Damian¡¯s curiosity. ¡°Father?¡± ¡°Yes, I heard he suddenly went to the vige.¡± Without even wearing a coat, in just his shirt? Through that snowstorm? ¡­¡­ Vol. 1 - Chapter 21 Damian furrowed his brows and turned his gaze out the window. The heavy snowstorm that had started yesterday showed no signs of stopping. ¡°Oh, it seems your Godmother won¡¯t be able to visit again today due to the storm. It¡¯s quite fortunate.¡± Vent let out a sigh of relief and chattered away, clearly d for the respite. Damian and Vent headed straight to the office. After confirming the door was securely locked, Vent handed over a document he had been carrying. ¡°Once again¡­ we couldn¡¯t find any significant information.¡± Damian epted this news with calm indifference. After all, it had already been a year of searching for traces of someone long deceased. Edmund had raised Damian without neglect. Though there had never been any overflowing bond between them, Damian had never thought affection was necessary and thus, didn¡¯t mind. For this reason, he didn¡¯t miss or long for his biological mother. However, that didn''t mean he wasn¡¯t curious. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard. You can go now.¡± ¡°Uh, Young Master,¡± Vent hesitated, with a hint of uncertainty, ¡°Why don¡¯t you just ask His Excellency?¡± Damian had entered the Winter family when he was four years old. Typically, even illegitimate children were brought in as infants, so Damian¡¯s appearance four yearster, despite his striking resemnce to Edmund, sparked much spection about his true parentage. The rumors persisted for quite some time, and perhaps as a result, Damian developed an unusually sharp sense of awareness from a young age. He easily picked up on the fact that his father was reluctant to speak about his birth mother. Thus, Damian began secretly seeking information about her on his own. ¡°There¡¯s a limit to the information we can find, and His Excellency should know about it better than anyone.¡± What Vent said was right, but Damian had no intention of bringing up his dead biological mother in front of Edmund. ¡°... What good would it do for you to know? Are you tired of searching now? Didn¡¯t you say you¡¯d do anything, even clinging on my leg?¡± ¡°Young Master!¡± Vent yelled with a flushed face. ¡°Why are you bringing up old stories now!¡± Vent had been born into the Nuvelle Barony, one of the Winter family¡¯s vassal houses. As a preciouste-born son, the Baron and his wife had doted on him excessively. Being quite intelligent, Vent grew up rather arrogant. So much so, in fact, that when Damian ¨C five years his junior ¨C was praised as a genius, Vent challenged him to a trivia quiz. Upon losing, Vent was forced to clean the stables as punishment. Having been pampered all his life, Vent couldn¡¯t bear the thought of cleaning stables. He rushed out, grabbed Damian¡¯s leg, and begged, promising he¡¯d do anything to avoid the task. That was how their connection started, and now here they were. ¡°I¡¯ll be going now.¡± Vent grumbled, pouting his lips. ¡°Wait.¡± Damian called out to Vent and handed him a piece of paper. ¡°What is this?¡± There was a small flower drawn on the paper. ¡°Find out who uses this symbol. It seems they make various items, from swords to pens.¡± ¡°There¡¯s not much information here, so it might take a while.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°Understood. You¡¯ve worked hard again today.¡± Since today¡¯s lessons were thest item on the agenda, Vent was able to leave early. Damian picked up one of the many documents piled on his desk. With his schedule now free, it was time to begin working. The papers he received varied widely, ranging from social gossip to tax reviews for the vassal families. ¡®An intelligence report?¡¯ It appeared that a document meant for Edmund had somehow ended up with him. The moment Damian opened it, something unusual caught his attention, and he decided to read on. As he read, Damian¡¯s expression gradually changed. ¡®Saintess?¡¯ Long ago, one of the children of the First Saintess established a temple. After the second generation, the ¡®mark¡¯ of the Saintess ¨C appearing only once per generation without fail ¨C would always manifest on one person¡¯s forehead. Though many years had passed, this tradition had not changed. Ten years ago, thest Saintess died, and no new Saintess has emerged since. Fortunately, the current High Priest possessed immense divine power, keeping the temple intact, but rumors regarding the Saintess never ceased. Amidst this, a new report had surfaced: a Saintess had appeared for the first time in ten years. Though the report concluded by stating that security around the temple had tightened, preventing further information, Damian understood that this was no ordinary situation. Lost in thought, Damian unconsciously reached for his ne. His hand brushed against something, and he pulled out the locket. When he opened it, a portrait of Daphne came into view. With a faint, elusive smile, her head tilted slightly to the side, eyes cast downward. The image brought back memories of the grand ball held in the capital. ¡°My wish? It¡¯s for you to disappear.¡± ¡®If I hadn¡¯t said those words, would Mother still be here?¡¯ Damian imagined again and again countless scenarios in his head, wondering how things might have ended differently had he changed his wordings differently.* ¡®If only I had said something different back then.¡¯ Click¡ª The locket snapped shut, concealing Daphne¡¯s portrait once more. With a quick, anxious motion, Damian stuffed the locket back into his inner pocket. Grabbing the document regarding the Saintess, he left the study to deliver it to Edmund. As he briskly walked down the hall, something caught his attention ¨C a half-open door. ¡°It looks like the restoration would take quite some time. You mentioned that the artist who painted this died, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then it may take even longer.¡± ¡°I see. I¡¯ll inform His Excellency.¡± Benjamin, who had been speaking with someone, noticed Damian standing at the door. Thest time he had seen Damian was at the ball in the capital five years ago. He had grown remarkably in that time, and now, his resemnce to Edmund was even more striking. Meeting again after a month, it felt like he grew much taller than at the banquet. ¡°Young Lord? What brings you here?¡± ¡°... That painting.¡± Damian¡¯s gaze was fixed on the painting in the center of the room. It had been lost and then recovered, but was severely damaged. Daphne¡¯s face was so torn that it was barely recognizable. ¡°Yes, this is the one.¡± ¡°And where is the maid responsible for that?¡± ¡°She¡¯s in the basement.¡± ¡°I see. Father has entrusted the rest to me, so there¡¯s no need to report further.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Damian disappeared even before Benjamin could finish his sentence. Forgetting about the documents he was supposed to bring to Edmund, Damian headed to the basement. His footsteps filled the otherwise silent basement. He met a guard on his way and was led to the cell where the maid, used of stealing and damaging the painting, was being held. ¡°¡­ Ah.¡± Damian saw the maid lying motionless on the floor and immediately realized he was toote. He called for the guard to unlock the cell door and entered. Judging by the state of the body, it had been several days since she¡¯d died. As the guards moved the corpse, a pool of sticky blood was left behind. Damian was about to leave, having gained nothing from the scene, but then something caught his eye. ¡°This is¡­ .¡± What was lying there was a map drawn in blood on torn clothes. ¡ã??©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤??¡ã Tap, tap. After hearing Johann¡¯s report, Edmund remained silent for a long time. ¡°It was dangerous this time.¡± ¡®Vent had almost handed over the information, but they had narrowly managed to stop him. Was it inevitable?¡¯ Edmund pondered. For the past year, Damian had been obsessively gathering information about his birth mother. Fortunately, they had erased most traces beforehand, anticipating such a time. ¡°We can¡¯t hide it forever.¡± ¡°... I know.¡± Damian would eventually find out the truth about his biological mother. But Edmund wanted to dy it as much as possible. ¡°Edmund, I will show Father.¡± The image of a woman, staring at a newborn baby while dreaming of revenge, lingered as a faint shadow in Edmund¡¯s mind. Damian was still too naive to learn the truth ¨C not only that Edmund wasn¡¯t his real father but also about the existence of his birth mother, which everyone had carefully concealed. Night soon fell. Everyone hid their presence, blending into the shadows. Edmund stood still, his eyes fixed straight ahead. As the moon finally showed its face, casting its light over the quiet dawn, the uninvited guest arrived. ¡ã??©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤??¡ã In the stillness of dawn, Damian abruptly opened his eyes and bolted up. Though he had dozed off after tossing and turning for hours, an unfamiliar presence had roused him. He focused intently, trying to identify the source of the disturbance. ¡®Was it just my imagination?¡¯ But no, the presence had vanished without a trace. It was the unmistakable aura of a trained assassin, not that of amoner or knight. Puzzled, Damianid back down but soon opened his eyes again. He knew sleep wouldn''t be able to elude him for the rest of the night. Giving up on sleep, he got out of bed and went to his desk. Opening the top drawer, he retrieved what he had found earlier that day. As he pieced together the tattered clothing, it formed a map. The map he found on the bloodied floor of the cell had been difficult to discern at first. When Damian put it under the light, it became clearer. Yet, despite his efforts to study it, the map offered few clues about its location, other than a few rough paths. He had long since memorized the map, but his frustration stemmed from not knowing where it led. ¡®What good is it to memorize the map when he doesn''t know where it leads?¡¯ Damian ruffled his hair out of frustration. After carefully putting the map away to avoid any further damage, he curled up. He couldn¡¯t fall asleep, but he forced his eyes shut. ¡­¡­ Vol. 1 - Chapter 22 Despite the sun having risen, not a single ray of light prated the basement, leaving it steeped in darkness. ¡°Your Excellency.¡± In response to Nick¡¯s inquiry, Edmund exhaled the smoke from his cigar and turned his head. ¡°He still refuses to talk.¡± Nick, who had spent the entire night assisting in the interrogation, wiped the sweat from his brow. His face disyed exhaustion with stters of blood all over him. ¡°If we keep wasting time like this, we¡¯ll get no information, and that b*st*rd will die first.¡± Nick groaned, massaging his stiff neck. One of the subordinates who had been assisting in the interrogation spoke cautiously. ¡°Your Excellency, I think it¡¯s time we use the drugs.¡± They had already been impressed by the man¡¯s tenacity, especially after he tried to escape by severing his own leg, but no one had expected him to hold out this long. ¡°How much longer can hest?¡± ¡°At best, an hour. At worst, thirty minutes.¡± There wasn¡¯t much time left. ¡°Administer the drug.¡± With Edmund¡¯s approval, the subordinate re-entered the cell. A scream of agony rang out, followed by the subordinate¡¯s return. ¡°You may enter now.¡± Creak¡ª The rusty door swung open, revealing a man hanging limp, drenched in blood from head to toe. As the subordinate grabbed the man¡¯s hair and yanked his head up, his swollen, bruised and bloodied face was exposed. Edmund sat down across from him. ¡°What is your name?¡± He began with a simple question to check if the drug was working. ¡°Why did youe here?¡± ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t have¡­ a name¡­ I came here¡­ to receive¡­ a letter¡­¡± The man answered in a raspy voice, with his teeth missing. ¡°Does Marquis Bled know that Daphne disappeared?¡± ¡°He does not¡­¡± Edmund leaned back, rubbing his face with his hands. Tension drained from his body in an instant. So, Marquis Bled wasn¡¯t aware of Daphne¡¯s disappearance. That meant she hadn¡¯t received his help in escaping. But then another thought struck him. ¡®She crossed the North¡¯s border alone?¡¯ It was a feat even seasoned residents of the north struggled with. Daphne, a noblewoman raised in luxury, was certainly not equipped for such a task. Impossible. ¡°Your Excellency.¡± The subordinate urged Edmund when he suddenly paused the interrogation. Aware of the ticking clock, Edmund swiftly pulled a note from his pocket. Nick squinted at Edmund, surprised to see him ask on something he¡¯d only seen once before. ¡°This. Did you write this?¡± Nick asked again. ¡°... N¡­ no¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s your role?¡± ¡°I¡­ only deliver¡­ letters¡­¡± He was merely a courier. ¡°Trante this.¡± Edmund held the note up, and the man squinted at it. His blood-red eyes barely opened. ¡°Return soon¡­ The n is¡­ about to begin¡­ Don¡¯t¡­ make any foolish moves¡­.¡± ¡°The n? What is this n?¡± ¡°For the peace of the world¡­ and eternal rest¡­ Everything follows His will¡­ For the peace of the world¡­ and eternal rest¡­ Everything follows His will¡­.¡± The man was like a puppet. He had answered well at first, but now he was stuck on a loop, repeating the same phrases like a broken record. ¡°A mind-control spell¡­ Vicious.¡± The man had clearly been under the influence of this powerful spell for a long time. Any further provocation could cause his brain to rupture. ¡°Stop. Ask him something else.¡± Edmund quickly intervened. The man¡¯s eyes, glowing red, gradually dulled, though Edmund didn¡¯t notice the change. ¡°When did you start exchanging letters?¡± ¡°Five years¡­ ago¡­¡± Just after he got married. ¡°What was the main content of the letters?¡± ¡°Only He knows¡­ I don¡¯t¡­.¡± Edmund felt a sudden sense of foreboding. ¡°¡­Who is He?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t say¡­ I can¡¯t say¡­ I can¡¯t say¡­.¡± The man trembled, repeating the same phrase over and over again. His eyes darted around the room in terror as if conditioned by fear. ¡°Stop it!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t say! I can¡¯t say! I can¡¯t say!¡± The subordinate urged Edmund to halt, but the man¡¯s seizures only grew worse. As foam began to gather at his mouth, the subordinate quickly reached for a syringe. ¡°I¡¯ll administer more drugs!¡± As the syringe pierced his neck, the man calmed down almost immediately. Edmund had grasped the downside of this mind control. ¡°Is He Marquis Bled?¡± Though the man couldn¡¯t give direct answers, Edmund had hoped he could at least manage a ¡®yes¡¯ or ¡®no¡¯. ¡°¡­ No.¡± Edmund was astonished. The letters hade from Bled, but the Marquis wasn¡¯t the mastermind? ¡°Your Excellency, we¡¯ve already administered two doses of the drug. We don¡¯t have much time left.¡± The subordinate urged Edmund again. Edmund¡¯s mind raced. If Marquis Bled wasn¡¯t the one behind this, only one person remained. ¡°Then, is He Sergei Bled?¡± ¡°Yes¡­.¡± Sergei Bled. Daphne¡¯s brother and heir to the Bled family. Edmund froze for a moment. Seregi Bled was imprisoned in Ruvuz Prison, where Nick had once escaped. Ruvuz was no ordinary prison; it held those convicted of crimes against the Imperial Family, and neither wealth nor power had any influence there. How could Sergei be sending letters from such a ce? ¡°Where is Sergei now?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ .¡± ¡°Is Sergei¡­ . imprisoned in Ruvuz prison?¡± ¡°No¡­ .¡± Sergei had escaped from Ruvuz. This was news to Edmund. Edmund asked more questions about Sergei, but the man only repeated that he didn¡¯t know or began convulsing again. It became clear that Sergei hadyered several mind-control spells on himself as a safeguard. The seizures were bing more frequent, and foam once again gathered at the man¡¯s mouth. ¡°Your Excellency, time¡¯s up.¡± It was thest chance to ask a question. ¡°¡­¡± Edmund hesitated, his lingering doubts gnawing at him. ¡°Leave.¡± The subordinate hesitated. ¡°But, Your Excellency, he¡¯s still dangerous. What if¡­.¡± ¡°Do you think I can¡¯t handle it?¡± ¡°No, Your Excellency!¡± ¡°Nick, you too. Leave.¡± The subordinate exchanged nces with Nick before they both left the room. Edmund watched the man convulse, blood pouring from his eyes, nose, and mouth. ¡°¡­Was Daphne the one exchanging letters with Sergei?¡± The man¡¯s mouth moved, but his vocal cords were too stiff to produce sound. Edmund moved closer to hear him. His head hung low, his matted hair obscuring his blood-red eyes. ¡°It was¡­.¡± As Edmund leaned in to listen, their eyes met, and something shed in the man¡¯s gaze. Sensing danger, Edmund quickly stepped back just as something whizzed past him. ¡°Your Excellency!¡± BOOM! A massive explosion echoed through the room. Edmund blinked and looked up. The man, whose eyes had glowed red moments ago, was now pinned to the wall, a sword embedded in his skull. Edmund had sensed the danger just in time to dodge, but the proximity had been too close. If the sword hadn¡¯t struck the man¡¯s head first, Edmund would have lost an arm at the very least. ¡°Your Excellency! Are you alright?¡± It was Johann, the one who had thrown the sword. He rushed over. ¡°I was terrified when I heard they¡¯d administered two doses of the drug¡­ I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t get here sooner¡­¡± ¡°Enough. We¡¯ve learned what we need.¡± The explosion seemed to have been triggered by the overdose. Leaving Johann to clean up the mess, Edmund exited the basement. It was only then that Edmund noticed the sun had risen. He stood still, gazing at the fresh start of another day. At that moment, someone approached him from behind. ¡°Alec.¡± ¡°Your Excellency.¡± It was Alec, panting as though he had been running.. ¡°Madam¡­ I found Madam.¡± They found Daphne. ¡ã??©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤??¡ã Crack. A shattered image flickered across the surface of the crystal ball. ¡°Lord Sergei.¡± A servant softly called out to his master, but Sergei simply stared at the broken screen in silence, taking no action. That silence made the servant even more uneasy. Sergei Bled. Though the Bled family was on the path to ruin, Sergei was different. Unlike his treasonous father, Sergei had only been an innocent heir. However, he had chosen to take his father¡¯s ce in Ruvuz Prison, a gesture that had earned him much admiration. His cold, blue hair contrasted with his warm and considerate nature, which was well-known in high society. But which child would willingly take on their father¡¯s sins and choose imprisonment? Many were moved by Sergei¡¯s filial piety. The Emperor, touched by Sergei¡¯s plea, had spared his father from a harsher sentence. Still, the Marquis Bled was sent to another prison, while Sergei was confined to Ruvuz. But those who knew Sergei well understood that the public image differed significantly from the reality. Even when Sergei smiled, his servant couldn¡¯t shake the tension. ¡°What do you think that drug was?¡± After a long silence, Sergei finally spoke, catching the servant off guard. Momentarily stunned, the servant snapped to attention when their eyes met. ¡°Ah, that drug¡­ well¡­¡± Feeling pressured to give an answer, the servant blurted out the first thing that came to mind, but no words followed, as he truly had no idea. ¡°Why don¡¯t you bring me the person in charge?¡± Sergei gestured at the broken screen. Grateful for the opportunity to escape the awkward situation, the servant quickly fetched the person responsible for the deceased. The one in charge was none other than the chief overseer, who was always called ¡®Noah¡¯ by his inferiors. Noah, being in a higher position than the servant, was brought before Sergei. ¡°Lord Sergei, what did you call me for?¡± Noah bowed down. Vol. 1 - Chapter 23 Unaware of the situation, Noah spoke in a friendly tone. ¡°Noah, do you remember the one we sent to North this time?¡± ¡°Oh, yes, yes. That guy who hasn¡¯t responded well to brainwashing and had no other use so he became a tool dispatched to the North.¡± Sergei pointed to the crystal ball. Noah clicked his tongue when he noticed the broken screen. ¡°Who broke it?¡± ¡°Come closer and take a good look.¡± Sergei gestured to him with his hand. Squinting his eyes, Noah stepped closer. ¡°Th-this¡­¡± Only then did Noah realize it was one of the things he was responsible for. As he stepped back, startled¡ª ¡°Ugh!¡± He screamed and clutched his face. Blood poured down his fingers as it gushed from his nose, already ttened from a broken bone. Blinded by the blood, Noah groped through the air and clung to Sergei¡¯s leg. ¡°I¡¯m... I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯ll do better! Please, just give me one more chance...! Wait, wait¡ªAaargh!¡± Bang! Bang! Noah cowered low, pleading, but the pain raining down on his face did not cease. ¡°Hah¡­¡± Sergei, who had been pounding the crystal ball onto Noah, finally straightened up and let out a light sigh, ¡°Now, I feel a bit calmer.¡± Meeting Sergei¡¯s smile, the subordinate realized that he had been holding his breath all this time. His eyes turned to Noah lying on the floor. Noah¡¯s face was a pulpy mess, smeared with blood. His bones jutted out, and his features were twisted and deformed. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± The subordinate hastily covered his mouth, suppressing the urge to vomit. ¡°Oh dear. Would you like to calm yourself with this?¡± Sergei, furrowing his brow in mock sympathy, held out a ss of red wine. Noticing a piece of Noah¡¯s flesh dangling from Sergei¡¯s long fingers, his subordinate could no longer hold it back. ¡°Ugh! Ueeeegh!¡± ¡°Looks like you¡¯re not in the mood to eat,¡± Sergeimented as he tipped the ss back and drank. The subordinate copsed on the floor and retched, gasping for air. ¡°Haa, haa¡­¡± ¡°Feeling better now?¡± Sergei asked in a disturbingly calm voice, as if he hadn¡¯t just killed a man. The subordinate trembled in fear. He had long suspected that Sergei wasn¡¯t as he appeared, despite the rumors. But he¡¯d always assumed his colleagues had exaggerated the truth. They said Sergei enjoyed pulling out nails during torture or that he drank red wine after killing someone, as if it were blood. None of this seemed to match his beautiful, kind face. He had a cold side, yes, but the subordinate never imagined the rumors could be this worse. He nced around, but Noah¡¯s body had already been dragged away. Sergei wiped the remaining flesh from his hands with a handkerchief. ¡°Being both ipetent and shameless, he deserved to die, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°Y-yes... Yes.¡± The subordinate could barely nod his head. ¡°Oh, but now Noah¡¯s gone,¡± Sergei pped his hands, as if remembering something trivial, ¡°How about you take over as Noah from now on?¡± ¡°Wh-what?¡± His sudden promotion took him aback, making him raise his head. ¡°Now that he¡¯s dead, someone needs to take his ce.¡± Sergei blinked innocently as if he couldn¡¯t understand why it would be a problem. ¡°I will now give the new Noah my first order.¡± The subordinate realized that this was now his opportunity. ¡°Find out about Daphne¡¯s whereabouts.¡± Barely able to steady his trembling body, the subordinate ¨C now Noah ¨C forced himself to stand. Though his legs still shook, he bowed deeply. ¡°I¡­ will follow your orders.¡± ¡°Good. Now, go.¡± Staggering, the new Noah left the room. Sergei stared intently at the broken crystal ball. He had been watching the interrogation with Edmund, wanting to discover how they had managed to exchange letters for five years. But he had heard somethingpletely unexpected. ¡°Does Marquis Bled know that Daphne disappeared?¡± ¡°My dear sister.¡± Sergei couldn¡¯t have imagined that his sister would coax their father into letting her slip out of his grasp. Even more unimaginable was that she had managed to escape in person. At theing-of-age celebration for the Young Lord Winter, his sister had left the capital, furious at him. ¡°We¡¯ll meet again soon.¡± Sergei muttered softly, anticipation dripping from his voice. ¡ã??©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤??¡ã ¡°When and where?¡± The moment Edmund brought Alec into his office, he bombarded him with questions. Expecting this, Alec calmly began to exin. ¡°After receiving your orders, I searched the entire estate. As they say, the darkest ce is under themp... It seems Madam stayed in the vige before leaving.¡± ¡°...The vige?¡± ¡°Yes, Your Excellency. I found out she left around the time the search party was disbanded.¡± Edmund was dumbfounded. He had assumed she¡¯d already fled the North, but it turned out to be the opposite. ¡°We discovered her in a vige near the northern border.¡± ¡°Are you certain it¡¯s Daphne?¡± ¡°I showed her portrait to the person who found her, and they confirmed it.¡± Not wanting to make any mistakes, Alec had asked multiple times, and the answer had been the same each time. It was definitely her. Edmund closed his eyes tightly, then opened them, breathing slowly to calm his excitement. ¡°Who found her?¡±¡°It¡¯s Eugene, Your Excellency.¡± ¡°Bring that person to me immediately.¡± Not long after Alec left, Eugene came in. ¡°I greet Your Excellency.¡± ¡°Eugene, I heard that you found Daphne.¡± ¡°Ah, yes. That¡¯s correct.¡± ¡°What was her condition? How did she appear physically?¡± If she had truly escaped from a den of mutated beasts, there was no way she could havee out unscathed. ¡°Well... she seemed perfectly fine.¡±¡°Perfectly fine?¡±¡°Yes, she didn¡¯t have a single injury.¡± Even Eugene, who knew about the robe found in the monster¡¯sir, added that she could hardly believe it. ¡®Then what was the meaning of the robe found in thatir?¡¯ Puzzled, Edmund decided to think on itter. ¡°You¡¯ve done well. Send Alec in when you get out.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± As if he¡¯d been waiting at the door, Alec walked in the moment Eugene left. ¡°Send out those with the fastest legs, including Eugene, to keep watch on Daphne. No one is to touch her, only observe.¡± ¡°Understood, Your Excellency.¡± Edmund turned to look at the midday sun shining high in the sky.¡°We¡¯re leaving at dawn.¡± ¡ª ¡ª ¡ª At dawn. Edmund opened his eyes. Time had been crawling by so slowly that he had decided to rest with his eyes closed for a while. His eyes darted to the clock. One o¡¯clock. The preparations for departure should now beplete. If he could just get through the next hour without any interruptions, he would be able to meet Daphne. Edmund was about to close his eyes again when he sensed someone pacing outside his door. Immediately alert, he focused on the presence and quickly realized it wasn¡¯t Johann. ¡°...¡± But soon after, Edmund got up. Opening the door, the person outside turned around in surprise. ¡°Y-Your Excellency.¡± It was Marinda, the maid who had reported the painting¡¯s whereabouts. Edmund racked his memory. Marinda had been sentenced to two weeks of detention, and she hadn¡¯t yetpleted that time. And yet here she was, roaming freely. Edmund¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Oh, I must be disturbing you. I¡¯m truly sorry.¡± Flustered, Marinda bowed hastily, causing her loose nightgown to slip off one shoulder, exposing her pale skin. Edmund simply gave her a single order. ¡°Go back.¡± He was about to close the door, but Marinda grabbed his sleeve, making him pause. As Edmund stared at her hand clutching his sleeve, Marinda gasped in surprise and quickly released him. ¡°S-sorry, I¡¯m so sorry!¡± Edmund wasn¡¯t interested in scolding her. He just wanted her to leave quickly before themotion attracted Johann. ¡°I have something to tell you.¡± ¡°I need to tell you something.¡± ¡°...What?¡± ¡°I think I need to say it now. It won¡¯t take long.¡± ¡°I need to tell you now.¡± ¡°It¡¯ll only take a moment.¡± Edmund blinked. At that moment, Daphne¡¯s voice echoed in his head. Time slowed down. ¡°I¡¯ve thought about it a lot. But... I believe I should show this to you, Your Excellency. It¡¯s the reason I came out, even though I was still serving my sentence.¡± Edmund stared nkly as Marinda handed him a note. The handwriting was familiar ¨C too familiar. He had seen and read it countless times before. It was Daphne¡¯s. The only difference was that it looked as though it had been written in a hurry, with emotions tightly restrained. I despise you. I¡¯m sick of this ce. Edmund read and re-read the two short sentences, but the content didn¡¯t change. ¡°Madam often confided in me, telling me how much she wanted to leave this ce... But I never imagined she would really leave... Hic¡­¡± Marinda stifled her sobs, covering her mouth, ¡°She left a message for me to pass on to you.¡± ¡°What did she say?¡± Edmund¡¯s voice came out tight, his words barely audible. His heart pounded violently. Even when he had been surrounded by enemies on the battlefield, or when his arm had started to rot from a monster¡¯s venom, he had never felt such dread. He wanted to avoid it. For some reason, he didn¡¯t want to hear what Marinda had to say. But before he could stop her, she spoke. Their eyes met as Edmund tore his gaze from the note to look at Marinda. In that instant, Marinda¡¯s eyes shed red, gleaming brightly before quickly fading away. ¡°Madam said¡­¡± ¡­¡­ Vol. 1 - Chapter 24 ¡°She said not to appear before her again. Never again.¡± Edmund put down the note he was holding. Beside ity a letter, worn from having been read countless times. The handwriting on both the note and the letter was identical. It was undoubtedly Daphne¡¯s. A wave of nausea welled up inside him, as if something was tightening around him. This indescribable sensation left Edmund feeling uneasy. I despise you. I¡¯m sick of this ce. ¡®Not to appear in front of her, ever again?¡¯ Edmund recalled both the note¡¯s message and the words the maid had delivered. He then opened a drawer and pulled out a letter that he had never once unfolded. The real letter. As he stared at it, a strange thought crossed his mind. ¡®Why have I been hesitant to look at this?¡¯ Lately, Edmund often found himself in this kind of frustration. Living by predetermined rules and routines, he disliked grappling with questions that had no clear answers. Fzzzt. The cigar lit up, smoldering, sending wisps of smoke into the air. By the time the cigar had nearly burned out, Edmund finally reached for the letter. Despite the smoke clouding his vision, he didn¡¯t blink once. His gaze remained fixed on one spot. A nk letter. Nothing was written on it. No trace of erased words, no sign of hesitation. It was just a nk, white piece of paper, filling Edmund¡¯s field of view. ¡®Why did she leave this letter?¡¯ His mind felt just as nk as the white letter in front of him. His eyes naturally drifted toward the side of the table, where the portrait of Daphne was ced. ¡®What exactly was she trying to say?¡¯ Edmund suddenly stood up from his chair. ¡ª ¡ª ¡ª Alec raised his head to the sky. The snowfall throughout the day had stopped in the evening, but by dawn, thick clouds had gathered again. ¡®Looks like there will be another blizzard soon.¡¯ Alec thought, narrowing his eyes. ¡®Since it is just His Excellency and me, we¡¯ll arrive quickly, but the return trip will likely take longer. Fully prepared, Alec moved quietly to report to Damian. However, something passed by him even faster. ¡°?¡± Blinking in surprise, he saw Edmund mounting a horse. ¡°Alec, follow me immediately.¡±¡°¡­Your Excellency?¡± Alec called out to Edmund, but he had already vanished, the sound of hoofbeats growing distant. ¡ã??©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤??¡ã ¡®Why?¡¯ Marinda watched as the two figures quickly disappeared from view. With an anxious click of her tongue, Marinda chewed at her nails. Normally, she wouldn''t do anything that would ruin her nails, but now her mind was racing. ¡®The n was perfect¡¯. Contrary to her expectations, Edmund was persistently searching for Daphne. After much deliberation, Marinda had devised a n: write a note pretending to be Daphne, one that would make Edmund give up. She couldn¡¯t perfectly mimic Daphne¡¯s handwriting, so she had deliberately scrawled on the note, which ironically made the situation feel more dramatic. Her n had been nearly wless. Edmund had turned back with a hardened expression, and Marinda was sure her n had seeded. But¡­ ¡®Why is he still searching for her?¡¯ ¡®Was the note not harsh enough? Should I have included some insults?¡¯ Regret started to creep in, but by then, Edmund was already gone. Marinda tasted the metallic tang of blood in her mouth and stopped biting her nails. She shook her head and grabbed her throbbing forehead. Now wasn¡¯t the time to dwell on this. If Daphne returned to the mansion, her chances of getting close to Edmund would diminish. She had to act before then. As she pondered, Marinda suddenly recalled something she¡¯d forgotten and furrowed her brow. ¡®But why hasn¡¯t a letter arrived?¡¯ It was long past the time when she should¡¯ve received one. She had been so busy plotting that she hadn¡¯t checkedst month¡¯s letters as well. The reason Marinda had volunteered toe to this deste northernnd with Daphne was simple. While it was true that she had fallen in love with Edmund at first sight, her primary role was to ry information about what was happening here. Of course, nothing particrly significant had happened over the past five years, so she had grownx. Marinda nced at the deep midnight sky and the quiet hallway, muttering to herself. ¡°Maybe I should go check¡­¡± ¡°Where to?¡± ¡°Ahh!¡± Startled by the sudden voice, Marinda let out a scream. ¡°Wh-Who¡¯s there?¡± A masked man, his face drowned in the darkness, emerged from the shadows at her panicked question. It was Nick, Edmund¡¯s guest who had appeared only a few days ago. When she first heard the name Nick, she had briefly thought of Nick Archer, but he had died in a Ruvuz prison. Besides, Nick was amon name. Marinda quickly forced a smile upon realizing it was Nick. ¡°Is something bothering you?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m fine.¡± The man gave her a quick once-over and then disappeared. Only after the sound of his footsteps faded did Marinda lift her head and frown in confusion. ¡®Strange. Why does he seem familiar?¡¯ ¡ã??©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤??¡ã The bitter wind bit into their clothes. Just as Alec had feared, the heavy clouds in the sky soon unleashed a blizzard. The snow that had fallen lightly at first gradually intensified, making visibility nearly impossible as the blizzard worsened. By the time they were halfway to their destination, the umting snow began to slow the horses. If they had been ordinary horses, they would¡¯ve already copsed, but the northern cold had toughened both humans and animals. ¡°Your Excellency! We need to rest for a moment!¡± Alec shouted as he looked at the froth foaming from his horse¡¯s mouth. Only then did Edmund dismount for the first time. While Alec tended to the horses, Edmund gazed out beyond the horizon where the sun was beginning to rise. Suddenly, his head throbbed. ¡°Ugh.¡± Edmund let out a faint groan, grimacing. Thankfully, the headache soon subsided, and the nausea that had made him feel sick earlier vanished, leaving him eerily calm. Daphne¡¯s departure was a clear vition of their contract. He was only searching for her to address that breach. There were no personal feelings involved. ¡®None. And there shouldn¡¯t be.¡¯ ¡®Again.¡¯ It was happening again. The nausea and frustration. It crept up from beneath his feet like a snake, slowly consuming him. Like a swamp, he only noticed once it had almost fully engulfed him. ¡°!¡± With a jolt, Edmund snapped back to reality and mounted his horse again. ¡°Your Excellency?¡± Alec, who had been resting, jumped up at Edmund¡¯s sudden movement. Edmund checked his horse. The steed, one of the fastest and most enduring in the North, had recovered significantly in a short time. ¡°Alec. I¡¯ll go ahead. Follow at your own pace.¡± ¡°What? Your Excellency! Your Excellency!¡± Ignoring Alec¡¯s call, Edmund spurred his horse into a gallop, charging across the snow-covered ground. He rode faster and faster, not stopping for anything. Through the blizzard, Edmund spotted the outline of the border vige and urged his horse forward. ¡ª ¡ª ¡ª When Edmund reached the vige entrance, he came face to face with a member of the ck Knights pacing there. ¡°Your Excellency, you¡¯re early.¡± ¡°Where is Daphne?¡± Edmund dismounted, asking immediately. ¡°Where is she?¡± ¡°Eugene is watching over her.¡± His subordinate led Edmund to the train station. Although the blizzard had calmed, the snow was still thick, and few people were around. Because of that, it stood out more. ¡°Your Grace, you¡¯ve arrived¡­.¡± Without responding to Eugene, Edmund walked straight ahead, lost in thought. Snow gently fell onto her neatly parted brown hair. Her green eyes, gazing through the fog of breath escaping her lips, sparkled. It was Daphne. ¡°Daph¡­.¡± The moment he called her name and took a step forward¡ª Baaang! The train¡¯s horn red, and the previously empty station was suddenly crowded with passengers transferring between trains. Amid the bustling crowd, Edmund turned his head urgently, but Daphne was nowhere to be found. ¡°Find Daphne!¡± Edmund called out to Eugene as he pushed through the throng of people. Daphne had clearly been at the station to board a train. If he lost her here, he didn¡¯t know when he¡¯d get another chance to see her. Edmund pushed his way through the crowd, weaving through bodies until he finally reached out. Grabbing her wrist, he firmly wrapped his other arm around her waist, pulling her close. The moment their eyes met ¨C her wide green ones ¨C relief washed over him. ¡°¡­ Daphne.¡± She was finally found. Her eyes went wide. Holding Daphne in his arms, Edmund quickly scanned her face. ¡®Why did I forget this face?¡¯ The small body in his arms trembled. ¡°Edmund, why are you¡­.¡± Edmund couldn¡¯t helpughing at her embarrassed face as if he hade to a ce he shouldn¡¯t have. ¡°Why? You¡¯re asking as if I shouldn¡¯t havee here.¡± Daphne bit her lips. She was silent as always. ¡°Did you think I would just let you go?¡± Edmund¡¯s hand rested on Daphne¡¯s stomach. Edmund¡¯s hand moved to rest on her stomach. ¡°You dare?¡± And with some force, he hugged Daphne, feeling through her thick clothes. Daphne¡¯s eyes slightly trembled when she realized what he meant. Watching her reaction, Edmund spoke in a low voice, ¡°With my child in your belly?¡± ¡°... What are you talking about?¡± Daphne stared at Edmund nkly. ¡°Did you think I wouldn¡¯t find out?¡± Edmund let out a faintugh. If Daphne had be an actress, she would have made her mark in history as one of the greatest of her time. Even now, caught in this situation, she kept acting until the very end. Baaang! The train horn filled the space between them. Jolted back to her senses by the sound, Daphne began to struggle. ¡°¡­I¡¯m leaving. Let me go.¡± As expected, her goal was to board the train and leave the North. However, Edmund, who had no intention of letting her go as she wished, tightened his grip around her waist. ¡°With my child in your belly, where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± Amid the confusion, Daphne finally grasped what Edmund had been repeating. She stopped struggling abruptly. ¡°Hah,¡± and then, she let out a faint, bitterugh. ¡°Child¡­.¡± ¡­¡­ The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!