If You Leave Without a Word - Chapter 147
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
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Teschen was the type of person who could go that far.
That’s why Agatha had sent Liana to Arta to verify the truth. She wanted to know whether Cain’s prolonged absence was simply because he was fulfilling an imperial order to secure the borders. Or if, as Teschen had suggested, it was because of a woman.
In order to get objective and accurate results, she sent people to Arta several times, even changing the investigators, but the answers always came back the same:
“It is certain that Marquis Vernat has acquired a mansion in Arta, and a gypsy woman is living there.”
A vigorous man, who had been avoiding visits to his home and instead acquired a property in another region, and that house was occupied by a strange woman. Given these facts, who wouldn’t suspect an affair?
It was the only explanation.
But then, this gypsy woman had a husband. And not only that—she was living with him in the mansion Cain had provided. What a cruel twist of fate. Agatha felt her head spinning as the realization hit her.
Misunderstanding Agatha’s silence, the woman lowered her head, kneeling with her husband.
“…Esther.”
After a brief moment of silence, Agatha quietly asked for the woman’s name.
“Yes, Duchess.”
“You said the Marquis spoke about me. What did he say?”
Esther slowly lifted her head. When Agatha nodded, she seemed somewhat relieved, slowly getting up and sitting down in the chair opposite her. Mobishi, following her lead, carefully pulled out a chair and sat down.
“Everyone here owes a great debt to the late Duke Kristin’s house.”
Agatha had asked about Cain, but the response kept circling back to her father. Every time she spoke to Esther, whether it was about Cain or herself, it seemed like there was a deeper connection to Kristin’s family, and it was difficult for Agatha to understand Esther’s motives.
“Before the expansion of the Nikephos Empire through conquest, this land was part of the Amasril Kingdom.”
This was an unexpected statement. It seemed that she was trying to explain that Cain’s relationship with her wasn’t just some shallow emotional affair, but something more grand and meaningful.
“The current Emperor of Nikephos, Vlahova, was originally Margrave Grisel.”
“…”
“The records say that the Amasril Kingdom voluntarily surrendered and was absorbed into the Nikephos Empire. But… that isn’t the truth.”
Agatha raised her hand, cutting off Esther’s words. She had a strong feeling that what Esther was about to say should not be heard by too many ears. Agatha turned her head and glanced at the knights standing guard in the parlor.
Their duty was to protect Agatha from danger.
They were meant to be present without truly being there, like shadows, invisible and unheard.
“Leave us.”
Reading Agatha’s gaze, Karon gave the order, and the knights silently exited the parlor.
Now, only Agatha, sitting in the high seat, Karon, and Rubens, who stood guard by her side, remained. Across from them sat Esther and Mobishi.
Esther, her chest rising and falling as she took a deep breath, seemed to carefully choose her next words. Mobishi quietly reached out and patted her hand.
In their exchange, the trust and affection between them was clearly apparent.
It seemed that Cain’s actions in this place were not, after all, adulterous. Yet, Agatha felt no relief or peace at the realization. How could she feel so calm knowing that the man she had believed had betrayed and committed a grave wrong had, in fact, not been unfaithful?
Perhaps the existence of another woman hadn’t affected her decision to leave Cain as much as she had thought.
The more fundamental issue was that she no longer trusted him and couldn’t find a reason to stay with him. Maybe those were the true reasons for her decision.
Perhaps the possibility that Cain had been with another woman had only served as a convenient excuse for the divorce she had already decided on, Agatha thought.
“Explain more about how Amasril didn’t surrender.”
“Yes, Duchess.”
Even then, Esther remained silent for a few seconds. Given the topic, it must have been difficult for her to speak. Agatha waited calmly for Esther to continue.
“After the Nikephos knights invaded, the King of Amasril requested peace, stating that he could not bear the bloodshed of his people. The Nikephos side accepted, and Emperor Vlahova agreed to hold talks to reconcile their demands.”
“…”
“However, what awaited King Amasril at the meeting was not a diplomatic envoy, but armed knights.”
Agatha had not expected this kind of conversation. It was completely unexpected, and she felt a bit confused by the topic.
“They lured Amasril into a trap with the promise of peace. The king of Amasril was slaughtered on that very day, and within a day, all the royal family…”
Overcome with emotion, Esther gasped for breath.
“They were butchered. Yes, it’s more fitting to say they were butchered. In an instant, the Nikephos knights destroyed the kingdom, killing the old and young men alike, while selling the children and young women into slavery somewhere.”
