If You Leave Without a Word - Chapter 170
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
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Of course, he had seen such expressions on fools a few times before. They were usually the type of people who were so consumed with whatever they were focused on that they had no time to care about how they appeared.
These were the ones who had something that demanded all their attention and energy—whether it be money, alcohol, or a woman…
The knight, Cain, was not the type to be distracted by any of those three things. So why, then, was he nervously scanning the room with such a foolish expression?
“She’s not here.”
Rubens had no intention of revealing anything about Agatha, but Cain’s bewildered expression annoyed him. He didn’t want to face the anxious look in Cain’s eyes, so he threw out a quick response: “She’s not here.”
Immediately, Cain’s face fell in disappointment.
“…Really, she’s not here?”
As if he had come all this way expecting to find her. Rubens clicked his tongue in frustration.
“Can I search myself?”
At Cain’s request, his knights immediately reacted. The sound of their armor clanking with each movement was threatening. It seemed like they were ready to tear apart the entire estate if given permission.
“That’s not going to happen. Who do you think you are to search through a masterless estate?”
Rubens stood up. If Cain had come just to ask where Agatha was, Rubens had no words for him. He was determined not to do anything that Agatha would not want.
More than anything, knowing that Agatha had not been happy during the time she spent with Cain made Rubens unwilling to show any sympathy, even if his old pupil was in distress.
“Oh, and I’ll be taking the maid the Marquis has detained.”
“…What?”
“I’ve heard that several attempts have been made to contact you, but you haven’t responded.”
Cain didn’t answer. Anything that wasn’t about Agatha’s whereabouts seemed to be of no interest to him. He continued scanning the room, avoiding Rubens’s questions.
“Marquis, do you not hear me?”
Only then did Cain slowly turn his gaze to meet Rubens.
“The maid you speak of, are you referring to the one who served my wife?”
“Yes, that one. The maid named Liana.”
“…Why do you need that maid?”
Cain’s eyes, which had been nervous, suddenly became still. The anxiety that had been apparent just moments ago vanished, and he returned to the composed, cold expression that Rubens remembered.
Looking up from his seated position, Cain’s gaze was sharp. This was the Cain they had all talked about—the knight of blood and ice. Rubens silently met Cain’s gaze.
“Did the Madam ask you to bring her?”
Cain understood Agatha’s intention in Rubens’s words about taking the maid. If it hadn’t been Agatha’s wish, there would have been no reason for Rubens to come all the way to the capital just to take the maid.
“In that case, I’ll take the maid to the Madam. Personally.”
Cain stood up, following Rubens. His intense gaze, emphasizing the word ‘personally,’ seemed to show that he wasn’t about to back down easily.
Ah, this is getting complicated. Rubens thought, scratching his eyebrow with his thumb—a habit he had when faced with uncomfortable situations.
“Why not just release the maid, Marquis?”
“That’s not an option. There will be no compromise unless I take her to my wife myself.”
“….Do you think I’m requesting a compromise from you?”
It meant Rubens couldn’t take the maid. With clenched teeth, Rubens quietly warned, but it didn’t faze Cain at all.
“Sir, do you think I’m asking you a favor?”
Cain’s voice sliced through the air coldly. The politeness he had shown earlier had long disappeared. If anyone was standing in his way to meet his wife, they would not be forgiven. Cain’s sharp gaze intensified.
“Do you think Duke Kristin would appreciate such a favor from the Marquis? No, it’s not even a favor—it’s selfishness.”
“What did you say?”
“You should have acted when you had the chance. Regretting it later is pointless.”
His words were harsh. Rubens found it almost amusing that Cain, who had ignored his wife while keeping her at his side, was now trying to care for her.
“The Duke doesn’t want to see you, Marquis. She would even avoid mentioning you. Right now, she’s happier far from you.”
“….”
“You received the divorce papers, didn’t you? You must have received a message from the temple as well. The bond between you two ended there. And after the divorce, the Duke found peace. For you to force your way to him now—it’s selfish. You’re thinking only of your own comfort, without caring about the other person’s feelings. It’s very self-centered.”
Cain clenched his fist on his knee. Anger flared up for a moment, but Rubens words left no room for rebuttal. Upon reflection, Rubens’s words were undeniable.
Agatha had left because she couldn’t bear being with Cain, leaving behind the divorce papers. The fact that she disappeared without leaving any trace meant that she didn’t want him to find her.
