If You Leave Without a Word - Chapter 155
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
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The fact that Gulem was under lockdown turned out to be a stroke of luck.
Ethan, who had nearly missed it, breathed a sigh of relief upon discovering the seal from Esther’s message.
Of course, Cain had set up an emergency contact specifically for his sister, so it had made its way through the knights to the capital. But this direct delivery took about a week longer than usual.
“…What should I do?”
Should he read the letter? Ethan, holding the letter, fell into contemplation.
By protocol, no message could be opened before being checked by a superior. However, considering that Cain had gone back to the capital to search for Agatha, if something had happened to Esther, it might be better to move quickly.
He could send the message through another knight to the capital and head straight to Arta himself.
Inefficiency needed to be minimized. At this point, Cain didn’t have the luxury to attend to his sister as well. If news of trouble with his sister reached him while he still had no idea where his wife was or whether she was safe, the situation could become even worse.
“His mind will break.”
Even now, Ethan could tell that Cain had already reached his limits. Despite Cain’s exceptional physical condition compared to ordinary people, no one, not even someone as strong as him, could function without sleep or food for such a prolonged period. He wasn’t immortal, after all.
As the deputy commander, it was his responsibility to make the best decision. Ethan tore open the envelope with a determined look on his face.
“This is…”
What he read inside the letter was beyond his imagination.
“Why is Madam’s name here…?”
Had he misread? Ethan blinked repeatedly, but no matter how many times he closed and opened his eyes, the name ‘Agatha’ was clearly written.
“Madam is in Arta? And with Esther?”
Ever since he had learned that Madam was missing, Ethan had speculated countless things. Maybe she was hiding somewhere in the capital, or perhaps she was at the Duke’s residence, or maybe she went south early to meet with that nanny…
But in none of those assumptions had Esther’s name been mentioned.
“So, that’s why we couldn’t find her.”
Ethan laughed bitterly. Arta was a month’s travel away by carriage. It was incredible that she had moved so quickly, without revealing her identity along the way.
“She truly is of Kristin’s blood.”
There were so many who had whispered that Agatha, the delicate heir of Kristin’s lineage, would never be able to act independently or make decisions on her own. Even among the knights, there were those who secretly looked down on her.
But now, after making the decision to move forward, Agatha’s actions were nothing short of impressive. Even as a seasoned knight, Ethan couldn’t help but be astonished.
Ethan collected his thoughts and looked back down at the letter. The words ‘health issues’ at the bottom of the letter lingered in his mind.
“….Did she get injured somehow?”
Having found out about the Madam’s whereabouts in such an unexpected way, Ethan realized he needed to act quickly.
He had to stop Cain from making unnecessary moves that would damage his reputation and strength. First, he would send a few trusted knights to Arta to make sure Madam couldn’t leave, then he himself had to hurry to inform Cain of this news.
Ethan tucked the letter into his robe.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
The door to the quiet bedroom creaked open.
Cain had returned to the mansion, grabbed a quick bite, and headed straight up to Agatha’s room. He had no appetite, but he couldn’t ignore Havel’s advice that taking care of himself was necessary to accomplish anything else.
“Ha…”
A heavy sigh filled the space, which now smelled faintly of Agatha’s scent, but it was fading away.
As he opened the door, Cain couldn’t help but hope—pointlessly—that Agatha might be there. He knew it was a foolish wish, but by this point, his thoughts were so clouded that rationality had long since fled.
But the room, as if mocking his hopes, was cold and dark. The light barely reached the room through the crack in the door. Cain’s face showed deep exhaustion.
After closing the door, Cain lit a lamp, bringing some light into the room. He looked around, his eyes eventually resting on the lonely bed. It felt like the bed was waiting for its master to return. Cain sank onto the bed as if he had collapsed, feeling utterly defeated.
Sitting on Agatha’s bed, he took in the surroundings, noticing things he hadn’t seen before. The room, viewed from the inside, felt completely different from the view through the door. The silence of the night and the cold air made the room seem even larger than before.
Cain suddenly wondered how many nights Agatha had spent in this cold solitude. The countless nights when he had used the excuse of imperial orders to stay away, or when he had hidden himself in the annex after returning, avoiding her…
Four years had passed since they married under the promise to protect her. Yet, there had been far more nights apart than together. And Agatha had never once complained or voiced her resentment.
Cain wiped his face in frustration. His chest felt as though it might burst from the pressure. Sitting on Agatha’s bed, his mind flashed back to the last time he had lain there.
