If You Leave Without a Word - Chapter 180

‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.

‘Grand Duke, this is the last opportunity I can offer you. The chance to confess everything and apologize… this is your last chance.’

The Duke’s last words, which he had forgotten, resurfaced in his mind. He shook his head violently.

“Such arrogance. Who does he think he is to tell me to apologize?”

He gritted his teeth. It had been more than ten years already. The Duke who had acted so arrogantly, not knowing his place, deserved to die.

“…I only killed the one who deserved to die.”

He had executed the punishment for insulting the imperial family. It wasn’t a personal act of vengeance. The Grand Duke repeated this to himself as his lips turned pale.

For now, he would send his knights to track Cain Vernat’s movements and gauge Agatha Kristin’s mind as the newly titled lady Duke of Kristin. The Grand Duke’s mind began to work rapidly.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

The weather had cleared up for the first time in a long while. Following her doctor’s advice to move her body more frequently, Agatha had been taking regular walks around her neighborhood.

Today, she boarded a boat with Charlotte, who was heading out to buy some supplies.

It had been a long time since she last went out. The only recent outings Agatha had made were walking the nearby paths or strolling by the lake, so even though it was just a short trip, the idea of taking a boat excited her.

“Miss, watch your step.”

Charlotte said, quickly grabbing onto Agatha as she wobbled with her bulging belly.

“Lottie, you still think I’m just a child?”

“You’ll always be a child to me, Miss. Even when your hair turns white, you’ll still be my baby.”

Charlotte said, with a playful tone in her voice.

With one hand on Agatha’s waist and the other brushing her hair back from her face, Charlotte looked after her. To anyone who saw them, they would appear to be a mother and daughter, getting along happily.

The shadow that had once hung over Agatha’s face seemed to lift, and a spring-like smile spread across her face. Just seeing that was enough for Karon to feel that he had been rewarded for the journey they had taken so far.

Though he wished this happiness would last forever, he couldn’t allow himself to relax completely, knowing that realistic problems were bound to arise soon.

After Agatha gave birth, they would be even more restricted in movement. For the safety of Agatha and the baby, it might be better to return to the capital and prepare for the birth at the Duke’s residence. After all, they couldn’t leave the Duke’s residence empty forever.

Since foreign traders regularly used the port in Pahel, the people there were relatively tolerant of outsiders, though they were hardly welcoming.

Despite the mysterious woman appearing with dozens of knights, the people of Pahel, having seen countless outsiders from other lands, were too absorbed in their daily tasks to show much interest.

Karon quickly scanned the street vendors’ stalls. It was about time for Rubens to return from the capital. According to their original plan, Rubens and Liana should have arrived here over a fortnight ago. To wait for the delayed group, Karon had been coming out to Pahel by boat daily to monitor the situation.

Given the long journey, there could have been unforeseen delays along the way. Karon had been coming out every day for over ten days, surveying the area and waiting for the group, and today, for the first time, he brought Agatha along with him.

Although it was for safety, it had to be tiresome for her to live such a routine life, constantly going in circles. The weather was particularly nice today, so Karon thought it would be good for Agatha to come out and enjoy the sights, even if only for a short while.

Fortunately, Agatha seemed genuinely excited by the idea. He regretted not bringing her out sooner. Watching Agatha stroll along with Charlotte, chatting and looking around, Karon smiled softly.

“There’s so much food here you can’t find in the capital, Miss.”

“This is my first time exploring the vendors in a place like this. I wonder if it’s because we’re by the sea? There are so many interesting types of fish.”

“That’s not all. There are fruits here that you can’t taste in Leden.”

Luscious fruits, so ripe that it made the mouth water just looking at it, filled the market. Agatha’s face reddened with delight as she marveled at the variety of goods and colorful decorations.

She had never experienced the bustle of a market in the capital. Because of her status, she had never been able to freely explore the common people’s lives, so this was her first real experience with the daily lives of the common folk.

From the man carrying crates full of fish on his shoulder to the woman haggling with customers while carrying two young children, and even the cheap imitation jewels on the stalls, everything she saw was fascinating.

Charlotte even fed Agatha a few pieces of fruit from a tasting tray. Agatha was surprised at first, as she had never eaten raw, unprepared food like that before, but the sweet flavor that danced on her tongue quickly brought a soft smile to her face.

They had become so engrossed in exploring the stalls when, from the end of the alley, a murmuring began to rise among the vendors. The lively atmosphere of the market quickly shifted, turning uneasy.

Agatha raised her head to identify the source of the commotion. Charlotte turned her head too.

“It’s getting noisy. What’s going on?”

“They’re mercenaries.”

“Mercenaries?”