If You Leave Without a Word - Chapter 133
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
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Despite spending several nights without rest preparing for battle, Cain’s face, which had never shown a hint of fatigue, now displayed an unfamiliar weariness. It seemed to stem from something more emotional than simply the lack of sleep.
The cause likely had something to do with his missing wife.
“His Majesty has instructed that reports be submitted in writing for now, but that does not mean he is suggesting you loosen the borders of the capital. If you do not personally inspect, the administrators sent by the Emperor will immediately report your absence.”
“Craig will be out there.”
“That is true, but Craig is not the person in charge, and His Majesty specifically instructed you to make the inspection yourself…”
After four years of service, the new mission given to the Vernat Order was to safeguard the capital’s security.
On the surface, the order to monitor the capital’s borders seemed like an extension of the serious duty of defending the Empire, but in reality, it was quite different. While it sounded like protecting the capital, it actually involved overseeing all the mundane tasks for the citizens living there.
From keeping the Empire’s citizens safe from bandits beyond the capital’s borders to solving petty problems like finding a noblewoman’s stolen jewels, any issue arising within the capital had to be addressed.
Compared to the dangerous battles on the border, this task might be safer, but in terms of importance, it felt like a demotion.
This was why rumors began to spread that Emperor Vlahova was beginning to keep an eye on Marquis Vernat.
Now more than ever, it was crucial to strengthen the relationship with the Emperor and solidify the Order’s position.
But Cain, deep in his own thoughts, seemed indifferent to the movements of the Order and the political situation in the capital. The knights under him noticed this change and suspected it was related to the disappearance of his wife.
Despite attempts to suppress it, rumors had a way of spreading. The staff at the Marquis’s estate, seeing that his wife was absent, heard messages from the temple, and noticed that the master hadn’t eaten in two days.
Some cautiously speculated that his wife had disappeared after declaring a divorce.
When the maids who attended to Madam were suddenly dismissed, the dangerous speculation turned into certainty.
Vernat’s name was now in danger of being tarnished, both inside and outside the estate.
“Please, do your best to repair your relationship with the Emperor.” Lehman muttered, forcing himself to hold back the words he most wanted to say.
However, even after waiting for a long time, Cain offered no response. Though Lehman felt guilty for his words, Cain was too absorbed to listen to his subordinate’s advice.
Cain was the type of person who became so engrossed in one thing that he ignored everything else, but right now, Agatha Kristin had completely taken over his thoughts, leaving no room for anything else.
“Has there been any word from Ethan yet?”
“Nothing yet.”
“And the maid, has she spoken?”
“No, she hasn’t. She said she has nothing more to say and has sealed her lips tight.”
“Damn it.”
Bang.
Cain slammed his fist down on the desk with all his might. When he first started hearing from the maid, Liana, about the events that had unfolded, he truly believed he would soon uncover Agatha’s whereabouts.
But for some reason, Liana had only confessed the wrongdoings of Teschen and the other servants before clamming up completely. Even when she did speak, all she said was that she didn’t know where Madam had gone—a lie no one would believe.
Cain had traced Agatha’s departure from the mansion using a postal carriage and immediately sent Ethan to investigate who at the post office had been in contact with her.
However, the carriage that had left the mansion was not a regular one, but an emergency postal carriage. No matter how many places he searched along the route, there was no trace of Agatha.
A full day passed before Ethan finally managed to get the name of the coachman who drove the carriage, but by then, the man had taken an extended vacation and disappeared.
Had Agatha somehow reached the coachman, or was it just a coincidence? To believe the former would mean admitting that Agatha’s abilities had exceeded Cain’s expectations. To believe the latter, though, left him with no way to solve the mystery.
So, Cain had his men track down the identities of everyone along the route from the mansion to Theion Street, and from Theion Street to the post office. He was hoping there might be a witness.
But every time the knights found someone, Cain went out to meet them directly, only to hear nothing useful. At this point, he was starting to wonder if she had used some kind of power to teleport. How could no one have seen her?
At this rate, he was starting to think it made more sense that she had used magic to disappear.
As time passed, it felt like the chances of finding Agatha were slipping away. His anxiety turned to anger, then back to unease, which quickly morphed into anger directed at someone else.
“…Duke Kristin.”
This was all because of him. When he discovered the ugly truth behind the man he thought was a benefactor, and the terrible things he had done to Cain and his family, that was when Cain lost his sanity.
His clenched fist trembled slightly in anger.
