Chapter 245
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
Grand Duke Norfolk was sure to lay low for a while—no matter how high-born he was, even he couldn’t escape punishment for something this monstrous.
The reason he slaughtered all the Amasril refugees and took Esther was because he had discovered her true identity.
That also meant he must have figured out Cain’s secret. Otherwise, he’d have had no reason to spare only Esther and take her with him. By keeping her alive, he could expose every detail about who Cain Vernat truly was.
So, at least until the Grand Duke returned to the capital and had an audience with the Emperor, Esther would be safe. Of course, ‘safe’ was a relative term.
Judging by the Grand Duke’s temperament, Cain doubted he would treat Esther kindly. He might keep her alive, but he could just as easily maim her, or degrade her in even worse ways…
The thoughts were endless. Cain clenched his teeth. If he let himself get too caught up in the things beyond his reach, he’d fail at the things he could do now.
Forcing himself to steady his heart, Cain reminded himself that his first duty was here: ensuring the safety of Agatha and their child. He could not lose Agatha again.
In the past, his ignorance and foolishness had almost cost him her life, but he would not make that mistake twice. She was someone he simply couldn’t afford to lose.
Agatha was the first real choice Cain had made with his own heart after becoming ‘Cain’. Behind the excuse of gaining the rights to the Kristin family and investigating the Grand Duke’s secrets, his real reason for marrying her was that he wanted her by his side.
He’d realized it too late, but now that he knew, there was no going back.
“Will you be inspecting the other side?”
Lehman’s question snapped Cain from his thoughts. They had ridden out to the very edge of the route to the capital, bypassing Golem Pass. There were other routes, and Lehman was asking if they should search those too today. Cain hesitated for a moment.
They had followed wagon tracks far from the orphanage. Suddenly, Cain pictured Agatha waiting for him back at the orphanage—not that she’d be counting the minutes for his return, but for a brief second he imagined it.
There had been days she waited anxiously for him, but those were now just distant memories. Cain gave a wry smile.
At that moment, someone on horseback galloped up, dismounted quickly at Lehman’s signal, and whispered urgently to him. As Lehman relayed the message, his face darkened.
“Sir, you need to get back right away.”
“What’s happened?”
“There’s been an unexpected visitor.”
“Who?”
“Sir Calvino of the Imperial Guard.”
“Christian.”
Had he really followed them all the way out here? The chaos in front of him had driven all thoughts of Christian out of Cain’s mind. Now, the headache returned in full force.
“And…”
There was more. Lehman hesitated, so Cain pressed him.
“It seems Her Grace is in labor.”
All thoughts of what to do about Christian evaporated from Cain’s mind.
“…What?”
“You really must hurry!”
There was no time to think. Cain grabbed the reins himself, not waiting for a servant, and leapt onto his horse. He didn’t even check if Lehman and the others were following—he just rode off at full speed. Lehman quickly mounted and raced after him.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
No matter how far they were from the capital, their current lodgings were little more than a ruin. Broken fences, thick dust… it was nowhere befitting an officer of the Imperial Guard, but then, Christian wasn’t a guest—he wasn’t here to be welcomed.
Outside, a commotion was growing. Having flopped down in whatever room he could find, Christian was roused by the thunderous pounding of hooves.
Thud, thud, thud. The sound could only mean one thing.
“The Marquis has returned.”
He had been told—by imperial decree, no less—that he must accompany Cain at all times. But Cain, caring nothing for such orders, had vanished to pursue his own business.
The thought of having to report to the Emperor that he’d lost Cain was a humiliation that Christian could hardly bear.
That was why, instead of sending word of his failure, he’d chased Cain’s trail all the way south for months—finally managing to catch up.
But he’d never expected to find Agatha here, too. He’d assumed she was hiding in the capital. To find her in Arta….
“She’s pregnant.”
Every new development was a fresh shock.
Discussion
0 CommentsReactions
No comments yet.