Chapter 174
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
Nor had they found any sign of Charlotte. Although he had heard that she had left her life in the capital to return to her hometown, Cain was unable to find any mention of the Borgia name in Pahel.
It was strange. Everything was strange.
He was a knight skilled in strategy and tactics. His rational reasoning always led to victory, and the plans he devised, anticipating several moves ahead, were always perfectly executed.
But now, as he followed Agatha’s trail, who had silently left, he felt like a useless knight who couldn’t do anything right. He had lost the woman he loved due to his own stupidity, but he had hoped it was a mistake born from ignorance, something he could eventually make up for.
However, with each passing day, as he grew further away from Agatha, fear crept in, making him feel as though he might never be able to fix anything. What if he never sees her again? What if he can’t find her?
The occasional, terrifying thought would tighten around his chest, and Cain tapped the sides of his neck in frustration.
“Tomorrow, when someone from the Duke’s residence arrives, give them Agatha’s maid.”
“Wait, give them the maid just like that?”
Cain nodded.
“Starting tonight, we’ll place surveillance at the Duke’s residence. They’ll take the maid and head straight to where Agatha is. We’ll follow the procession.”
“Because the maid will be headed to where Madam is.”
This time, Ethan nodded as well. Yes, if they wouldn’t tell them, they’d just follow.
Cain assigned some knights to watch the Duke’s residence and to join the procession to track Agatha.
This time, he would find her. This time, he wouldn’t make a mistake, he would find her…
Cain’s expression was more determined, unlike any before. It felt like energy had returned to him after a long time.
Ethan quickly left to summon the knights.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
The gates of the estate creaked open. The sunlight spilling through the crack of the door was blinding. Liana, carrying the luggage, squinted as she looked outside.
Has it really been months since she last saw the sun?
“Ah…”
She took a deep breath. The refreshing air filling her lungs felt so good.
“Be careful.”
“Yes, Havel.”
The one who had escorted Liana out of the estate was the butler, Havel. After confirming that Liana had left, he immediately closed the door behind her.
Although the Duchy’s people hadn’t arrived yet, it seemed Havel and the other servants at the mansion weren’t concerned about that.
It almost felt like they no longer cared where she went, which gave her a sense of lightness, yet at the same time, there was a tinge of sadness.
It had been five months since she stayed behind in the capital, confessing all the wrongdoings committed by the Marquis’s servants. During that time, Liana had been locked away in some back room of the mansion, never once allowed to go outside, just waiting for someone to come for her.
It was hard to understand why they had kept her for so long when they were so willing to let her go now.
“It’s a bit chilly.”
Her clothes were suited for the weather from five months ago. They weren’t made of fabric thick enough to handle the now-cooler temperatures. Liana wrapped her arms tightly around herself with the hand that wasn’t holding her luggage.
“Liana!”
At just the right moment, people from the Duchy appeared. The one who called her name aloud was the new butler of the Duchy, Vaclav. His hair had noticeably grayed in the time since they’d last met. Even from a distance, the deep wrinkles on his face were easily visible.
“Liana, it’s been a while.”
“It’s been a while, Vaclav.”
The two, who had once served under Kristin’s household head, were now happily reunited. Facing Vaclav now, Liana could truly feel that she had been freed from the Marquis’s estate.
Finally, she was free. Finally, she would be able to meet Agatha. Hope and joy filled her eyes.
“How is the Miss? Where is she staying? Is she well?”
Liana’s thoughts were entirely on Agatha. She briefly greeted Vaclav, but her first concern was Agatha’s safety, showing no change from the pure-hearted maid she used to be.
Vaclav smiled faintly and ruffled Liana’s hair.
“She’s doing very well. She’s been waiting for you.”
“That’s a relief. I’ve been dying to see her again. Are we heading straight to her? Has she returned to the mansion?”
“Liana, one question at a time, please. I only have one mouth.”
“Oh, right. Where is she now? Has she returned to the mansion in the capital?”
“No. She hasn’t come back to the capital yet. She’s probably still in the South. Sir Rubens came to pick you up, and he told me that the Duke has been in Arta and then went with Sir Karon to the south to find Charlotte.”
“I see. It’s going according to the original plan, then.”
“Yes. Thank goodness.”
“So everything is going as planned? There’s nothing unexpected that’s happened to Miss’s safety?”
“Well…”
Vaclav hesitated for a moment.
There had been an unexpected turn in Agatha’s condition, but he wasn’t sure if sharing it with Liana here would be helpful.
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