If You Leave Without a Word - Chapter 50
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
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Not even three months had passed since the death of the Grand Duchess when Grand Duke Norfolk welcomed his second wife, and rumors spread like wildfire.
Unfortunately, he didn’t show proper mourning for the ill-fated first wife. In the eyes of Emperor Blahova, the Grand Duke’s behavior was considered a challenge.
Pushing the Grand Duke’s residence, which was near the imperial palace, to the outskirts of the capital was a clear warning. It was a message that he was ready to strike at any sign of a challenge to imperial authority.
Given such circumstances, there was no way the relationship between the two brothers could be amicable. The Emperor disapproved of everything the Grand Duke did, while the Grand Duke harbored resentment towards all of the Emperor’s favorites.
It was almost inevitable that the Grand Duke’s animosity would shift towards Cain. After all, Cain was not only the Emperor’s most beloved favorite but also an outstanding knight who had gained the trust of the people, even being hailed as the rising sun of the empire.
Jealousy always follows in the wake of rivalry. Whenever they accidentally crossed paths at the imperial palace, the Grand Duke’s gaze was filled with undisguised resentment.
The fact that the Grand Duke’s wife invited Agatha didn’t put Cain at ease. Although it was unlikely that they would openly insult a guest they invited, the Grand Duchess who was younger than the Grand Duke, was an unpredictable person.
Having finished his thoughts, Cain rose from his seat.
“Havel!”
“Yes, Marquis.”
“Prepare for an outing. I have somewhere to go.”
“Are you heading to the Grand Duke’s residence?”
Havel asked while helping Cain into his coat, carefully observing Cain’s nonchalant response.
Lady Kristin was not a mere child of one or two years old, and the accompanying knights were all elite members of the Vernat Knights. With their protection, there was little chance of any trouble arising.
He questioned the need for Cain to go all the way to the Grand Duke’s residence.
“Hurry and get ready for the outing,” Cain ordered.
However, Havel was not foolish enough to express such thoughts out loud.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
Instead of a carriage, Cain chose to ride a horse directly. It was more convenient and allowed for faster movement. Ten knights followed behind him, all mounting their horses.
He planned to wait near the Grand Duke’s residence, and after Agatha finished her conversation and came out, they would follow without entering the Grand Duke’s residence directly.
If Ethan were present, he might have scolded Cain for worrying unnecessarily. After all, it had only been a few hours since they last saw each other, and there was no need to act as if they were separated by a great distance.
Worry. If Cain were to define the emotion he felt when thinking about Agatha, it was undoubtedly close to worry. Watching her felt like seeing a child left by the water’s edge.
Perhaps it was because he saw his younger self in her, having lost her parents at a young age. Knowing the long history of abuse she had endured only added to the worry. It was only natural for him to worry about where she went and what she was doing. Cain attributed his emotions to pity.
They reached the vicinity of the Grand Duke’s residence much faster than usual carriage travel. As they approached the outskirts of the capital, the surroundings became filled with dense foliage.
Before they knew it, only a single forest path remained leading to the Grand Duke’s residence.
“Everyone, stop. Wait here.”
“Yes, Marquis.”
They guided their horses away from the path into the thick underbrush, ensuring they wouldn’t be visible from the roadside.
An hour passed, then two. Cain and the knights continued to wait, finding the anticipated tea time unexpectedly long.
What could they be discussing? There was no connection between the Grand Duchess and Agatha. It was unlikely they shared any common interests.
As the worry for Agatha, who hadn’t appeared even as the sun began to set, started to grow, he sensed a distant commotion.
First, the four-wheeled carriage bearing the Grand Duke Norfolk’s emblem appeared. Following it, a line of carriages carrying the recognizable markings of the Marquisate emerged.
“Don’t get too close. Maintain some distance, and when the last carriage disappears, start moving.”
“Yes.”
At Cain’s command, the knights promptly mounted their horses, ready to depart when the time came.
A total of four carriages passed by the road. Just as Cain instructed, the moment the last carriage completely disappeared beyond the road, the knights simultaneously set their horses into motion.
Not long after, the sun had completely set. The carriage procession paused briefly to light the lamps, and Cain and his companions also stopped, maintaining a distance.
And then, they resumed.
While Cain had been riding for a while, staring at the last carriage, something odd caught his eye when they turned a particularly winding corner of the uneven road. There was supposed to be a total of four carriages in the procession, but one was missing.
Thinking he might have seen it incorrectly, Cain quickly counted the number again. One, two, three. No matter how many times he counted, there was one carriage missing. All three carriages belonged to the Marquisate.
The carriage from the Grand Duke’s residence, which had been at the forefront, had vanished.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
Splash.
Something warm splattered onto her body.
“Uh… ugh.”
John’s eyes were bloodshot, veins prominently displayed around the whites of his eyes.
“Ugh… you…!”
It seemed like he wanted to say more, but his voice couldn’t continue. No, perhaps he couldn’t.
The moment she pulled out the seal lodged in his throat, blood spurted out from his mouth like a fountain.
