Chapter 190
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
Another article about Duke Heinrich emerged, and Kartho couldn’t shake his worries.
‘At this rate, things will get worse.’
Now that public interest in Duke Heinrich was growing, any further exposure would only lead to more negative consequences.
With the Duchess now missing, things needed to be handled with more caution. If word got out that her whereabouts were unknown, it would make everything even more complicated.
“Sir Byne, is there any other news?”
“Yes, the knights are searching everywhere, but because they are doing it in secret, it seems there are limits to what they can do.”
“Yet we can’t use an informant, can we?”
“If the rain stops, it might get a little easier, but with the weather as it is, it’s been very difficult. What do you think, Kartho?”
“I… strangely feel that Madam might still be alive.”
It seemed like everyone, including Mikhail, believed the same.
But no matter how much they believed, it was just a feeling. If she had fallen off the cliff, surviving would have been nearly impossible.
If she had been pulled from the water and barely saved, she would have been discovered by now.
Above all, in Bartsch, red hair wasn’t something that could be hidden easily, no matter how much you tried.
“The rain needs to stop soon. This is a big problem. Did the Duke go out today?”
“Yes, he went into the city today. It seems like he’s frustrated for relying only on the knights.”
Byne and Kartho both looked out the window. They had never resented the rain so much before.
“Still, I think Lady Dahlia has improved a lot.”
“That’s what worries me. She can’t stay locked in the estate forever, and soon she’ll have to attend her debutante ball, but with Madam gone, there’s nothing she can do.”
“Other families will find it odd.”
Both men grew more solemn.
They hadn’t noticed before when Emilia was around, but now the difference was clear.
Everyone knew about Mikhail’s changed demeanor. If Emilia were to return to the Duke’s estate, things would likely change drastically.
She might even live a completely different life.
“Madam won’t be returning.”
“Why do you think that?”
Byne asked Kartho.
Kartho found it natural that Byne would ask. After all, they hadn’t seen Emilia’s resolve, so they might have thought that with a little persuasion, she would return.
“I’ve never seen Madam this angry, except when she first came here.”
“His Grace will never let Madam go. Even today, he left before dawn and hasn’t come back yet.”
“I’m worried. If he’s not careful, his health might suffer.”
“Miss Boestin is saying she’ll return tomorrow… Who can stop His Grace now?”
Boestin was the only one who would speak frankly with him.
She didn’t care if Mikhail got upset or showed his anger.
Kartho had been there a few days ago when the two of them had a tense standoff, and just recalling it left him drained.
But, he thought, it was better than continuing to watch Mikhail like this.
“If Madam is alive, she must have seen this article… which in itself is a big issue.”
“But there was no way their relationship could have gotten any worse, so it shouldn’t be a big problem, right?”
Byne tilted his head to the side.
“Just because it couldn’t get worse doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt. If she saw this, her resentment toward the Duke would have only grown.”
She might never return.
❖ ❖ ❖
Mikhail walked through the city, his cloak draped over his shoulders.
He didn’t forget to examine each passerby.
In the forest, he hadn’t found any traces. All he had was a piece of cloth.
At first, he had only thought she ran away. He was sure she was alive, hiding somewhere, keeping an eye on him from a place he couldn’t see.
But as the days passed, his anxiety grew.
What if she was swept away by the river and had sunk into the deep waters? What should he do then?
If she was dead, he wanted to find her body. He wanted to confirm her death. But even that, it seemed, was not going to be allowed. He couldn’t find even a single strand of her hair.
He knew the chances of finding her were becoming slimmer as time passed.
That’s why he searched for Emilia more desperately.
Turning his gaze, he noticed a newspaper stuck on a stand and furrowed his brow.
‘If she’s alive, maybe she’s seen the article and is planning to come back to the Duke’s estate to kill me.’
He even had that futile hope. But perhaps, she didn’t want to be involved with him again.
He couldn’t find a trace of her red hair anywhere.
Mikhail didn’t stop and continued to search the city. Since she had gone out with a maid named Dell, there must have been restrictions on her movements.
The money she had would likely be running out by now, but he hadn’t heard anything about her anywhere.
Mikhail pulled his cloak tighter, hiding himself so no one would recognize him.
If she realized he was searching for her, she might run even further away.
‘Please, please.’
He hoped, and hoped again, that she was alive.
“Your Grace!”
A knight who had been searching elsewhere approached him and whispered.
“…We found someone who might be Madam.”
Discussion
1 CommentReactions
Vbrown10