Chapter 204
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
From their eyes, Mikhail could tell whether they were lying or not.
“It’ll take a few days, or rather, quite a long time.”
“Still, we have to see it all, don’t we? Otherwise, wouldn’t it be a shame?”
“I can handle it on my own. His Majesty’s involvement might look bad to others.”
“You think the Duke can freely investigate without me there?”
Adrian didn’t seem to have any intention of leaving.
“Duke, it seems you’re more enthusiastic than I expected about finding those who oppose me. If someone were to see this, they might think you’re acting out of loyalty.”
“You know better than anyone that that’s not the case.”
“Then, is it because you’ve lost something and are trying to find it?”
His hand, which had been checking for issues at home, suddenly stopped.
“I have nothing lost except one thing, and I believe the King knows exactly what that is, so I won’t say it myself.”
“Well, if it’s lost, you’d better find it soon.”
“…”
“If my men find it, I don’t think I’ll be returning it to you.”
Adrian smirked as he led the way.
“I’m just doing my job. Why don’t you go ahead and search with your men? I don’t know what I’ve lost, but I’m sure Your Majesty won’t need to find it.”
It wasn’t really lost in the first place. It wasn’t that he had abandoned her, he never let her go.
If Adrian managed to find her, who had vanished without a trace, Mikhail might feel a little grateful toward him.
“I trust you, Duke. You’ll find your own thing no matter what. If my men miss it while moving about, it would be such a shame, wouldn’t it?”
Adrian didn’t seem to believe that she was dead.
Dahlia hadn’t told him everything, surely. She had probably thrown a bait, hoping that Adrian would eliminate the bothersome presence.
Mikhail was starting to find Adrian’s presence more than just annoying.
“I’m curious if Madam Heinrich saw the newspaper. After all, her own family is destroyed. It must have been awful.”
Adrian didn’t stop mocking. As he checked the list, he was smiling.
“Just surviving without dying must have been quite disgraceful for a noblewoman. Looking at it that way, Madam Heinrich isn’t too bad, is she?”
It wasn’t entirely wrong. When Mikhail reflected on his actions toward her, from her perspective, he must have seemed like nothing less than a demon.
“It’s a shame how the woman who stayed until the very end, opposing the Duke, ended up like this. If only she had stayed at the Duke’s estate, she might have had a chance, but now that she’s gone beyond the fence, what can be done?”
It sounded almost like a threat to him, as if Adrian would not leave her alone if he found her.
Mikhail’s rational mind was hanging by a thread.
“Your Majesty, I think you should come over here for a moment.”
Had it not been for the knight’s urgent call, the sword in his hand would have been aimed at Adrian’s neck.
Mikhail focused on the conversation between the knight and Adrian.
He couldn’t hear it clearly, but from the shape of their lips, his eyes grew sharp.
‘The backstreets of Delphora?’
That was a place he had never entered, either.
Suddenly, Mikhail’s eyes lit up. Why hadn’t he thought of that? It might have been a mistake to exclude that area from his thoughts. Emilia had often exploited the gaps he hadn’t considered.
Mikhail didn’t want to believe in her death, so there was only one thing left to do.
Go to the back streets of Delphora and search for her traces.
“Byne. Go to the back streets of Delphora immediately.”
“The royal guard is searching the area.”
Mikhail immediately issued secret orders to several of his knights.
“I’ll draw attention. You go there, and if anyone who looks like Emilia is there, bring them to me.”
His animal instincts were on high alert. His previously dull eyes blazed with intensity.
❖ ❖ ❖
The back streets of Delphora were filled with chaos.
The royal guard, who had never stormed the area before, were now searching the buildings armed.
Because they hadn’t received any prior warning, the building where Emilia had been hiding was thrown into disarray.
“Madam! Quickly, this way!”
The women, in the middle of disguising themselves, grabbed Emilia’s hand and pulled her along.
“I’m fine. You all need to run.”
“What are you saying! You’re carrying a child! Do you not know how ruthless they are?”
Even Lavella pulled Emilia’s hand.
Emilia shook her head and pulled her hand away.
“Eliminating the evidence is more urgent. I can’t run alone.”
“Madam!”
She turned and ran toward the room where the evidence of the newspaper had been printed.
Her breath was quick, and forgotten memories began to resurface.
She knocked over the lamp on the desk and opened the window.
The backstreet of Delphora, filled with entertainment establishments, was swarming with the royal guard. They were moving swiftly and methodically, as though they were searching for something specific.
‘They must have realized the Spiegel newspaper is here.’
Emilia took a deep breath.
“Madam! What are you—”
“Leave this to me. Quickly, gather the important items and use the back door to escape!”
“Ma, Madam!”
The women who rushed toward Emilia stared wide-eyed. The lantern they were holding fell to the floor.
The flames spread instantly.
“Ahh! Madam!”
“Dell, it’s dangerous! Hurry and get out! Let’s meet later at the bookstore you frequent!”
“Madam! No!”
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