episode_0075

Through the overgrown thicket, a partially collapsed shabby wooden warehouse.

Approaching the knights who were once again making a commotion, the messenger’s final words about a certain Yulrian de la Vallatier bringing the lady to the mansion struck an awkward chord.

Albrice and Dmitri immediately mounted the horses waiting for them and headed towards the estate.

In unison, they urged their horses forward, their expressions mirroring determination. However, their thoughts diverged slightly.

“Were the injuries severe… despite being well-raised, how should one contain the shock in one’s heart…”

As the gusty wind tousled Albrice’s blonde hair, his mind was consumed with thoughts of his younger sister.

“Now that we head west, we might not see her for a while. We should strengthen the mansion’s security while Ellie recovers.”

With this thought, his blue eyes briefly caught sight of the retreating figure of a black-haired man riding ahead.

“I’m not inclined, but should I bring the Duke to the mansion?”

If Ellie went down south now, she might not return to the capital anytime soon.

It was none other than the kidnapping of the Duchess of Yeongae. Moreover, the said duchess was no ordinary one; she was the Baroness Beaurne who ruled the western territories of the Galatea Empire.

Naturally, the investigations surrounding Ellie in the capital’s social circles would inevitably escalate. Even her mother, a woman of high society, wouldn’t overlook this fact.

As a result, Ellie and Dmitri would naturally drift apart.

Should he escort the Duke as a guard… or give Dmitri, that wolf, one last chance? Ellie’s gaze towards the Duke seemed unsettling.

Unlike Albrice, Dmitri, running ahead, was just as preoccupied with the name mentioned by the messenger as he was with Eleonore’s condition.

“Yulrian Vallatier.”

The name that rushed out of the messenger’s mouth felt oddly out of place. Despite the urgency implied by finding the Duchess and Ellie, Dmitri couldn’t shake off the name Yulrian de la Vallatier as they neared the mansion.

“They were definitely up to something at the ball.”

In truth, Dmitri had heard some things.

Until Eleonore lost her memory, she was deeply infatuated with Yulrian Vallatier.

Moreover, at the Debutante Ball and the Changeaux Couple’s Farewell Ball, their gazes held more than met the eye.

Besides this, there was one more thing that bothered Dmitri.

“How did he figure out where Ellie was kidnapped?”

Certainly, Yulrian was an internal security officer. His position was not entirely unrelated. However, even with his official capacity, his actions were limited. After all, administrative positions were mostly honorary roles for elderly individuals.

Of course, using his influence within the ministry, he could gather information. But it would be challenging to argue that his information was superior to what Albrice of Beaurne gathered.

His pitch-black hair shook rapidly from side to side like a black mare’s mane.

“Sigh… Dmitri harboring feelings of jealousy.”

Their thoughts diverged greatly, yet Albrice and Dmitri tightened their reins as they approached the mansion.

Once the search had extended far, by the time the two men arrived at the mansion, the chief physician had already checked on Eleonore’s condition and left.

Albrice handed the reins to the servant who approached as soon as he dismounted and dashed into the entrance of the mansion like an arrow.

“Ellie, where is Ellie?”

“Master. The young lady is resting in her bedroom.”

Manuella, the housekeeper, politely bowed her waist to Albrice as he entered, flicking off the mud under his boots, and calmly replied.

Following him, Dmitri also stepped into the foyer holding a raincoat with raindrops falling steadily.

“How is Ellie’s condition?”

Wiping his wet hair with the towel handed by Manuella, Albrice inquired.

“As per the chief physician, apart from minor signs of fatigue, there doesn’t seem to be any significant issue. Currently, Eily, that child, is looking after the young lady. However…”

“However?”

At the unsettling adverb that slipped out of her mouth, Albrice halted in his tracks, staring at her.

“The young lady has been unconscious since before returning to the mansion. And she remains so now.”

“Unconscious?”

Manuella’s expression conveying this fact was not pleasant. However, Albrice’s face turned completely pale upon hearing it.

Already, she had struggled through a fever-induced loss of consciousness and regained consciousness just recently. As a consequence, she had lost all memories she had lived through.

That was Eleonore.

Not even a full season had passed since she regained consciousness.

Wrapping his trembling hands around themselves unknowingly, Albrice took a step towards the stairs.

“I need to confirm it myself.”

“My lord!”

Manuella physically blocked Albrice.

“No, my lord!”

“What? You’re saying Ellie is unconscious! What nonsense is this!”

Although Manuella was a commoner and a housekeeper, having served the Beauregard family longer than anyone else, Albrice did not show anger towards her.

But the current Albrice was different. His eyes, filled with anger, glared fiercely at Manuella who stood in his way.

Nevertheless, Manuella steadfastly stood her ground.

“My lord, please calm down first. With your current state, it’s not advisable. Considering the young lady’s fragile condition, I fear any negative impact it might have.”

In the end, it was Albrice who stepped back, not Manuella.

“So, at least change your clothes before you go to see her.”

As Albrice ascended to the second floor to meet Eleonore in her room, Dmitri found himself walking towards Albrice’s study instead of Eleonore’s bedroom.

Of course, Dmitri also felt a strong desire to check on the precious Eleonore’s condition.

The petite and adorable platinum-haired woman who had taken root in his heart had become an irreplaceable presence.

However, Albrice stopped Dmitri as he had done with Manuella earlier.

“Dmitri, Your Grace. I speak believing in Your Grace. Would you kindly wait in the study and converse with Julian Valatier in my place?”

Both Dmitri and Albrice knew that such words were out of place.

Yet, due to his collapsed younger sister, Albrice had no intention of debating such matters.

Dmitri, as expected from Hanjang’s words earlier, felt a sense of unease at encountering Eli in such a filthy state, wondering if he might catch some disease just by being near her.

Furthermore, Albrice’s manner of treating Eli as if she were family, almost like his wife, made Dmitri nod in agreement without a word of objection to Albrice’s words.

And now.

Dmitri, having brushed off the dampness from the room where he had spent the previous day in servitude, made his way to the study where Yulrian and his companions were waiting.

“Long time no see, Yulrian.”

Even Christian, who was sprawled lazily on the sofa without a care, and Yulrian, who sat upright with a rather tense expression, both snapped to attention at the sound of that voice.

“D-Dmitri, Your Grace.”

The unexpected sound of the voice caught even Yulrian off guard, someone who rarely showed emotions unless necessary.

“Albrice went up to check on Eli for a moment.”

At the mention of Eli, Yulrian’s silver eyebrows raised slightly, but he quickly composed himself and faced Dmitri calmly.

“Why are you here, Your Grace?”

“Well… I ended up here trying to help Albrice find the kidnapped Eli. Please, have a seat.”

As if assuming the role of the master of the study, Dmitri approached the sofa where everyone was seated. Surprised, Yulrian and Christian followed suit, taking their seats as Dmitri settled into the main seat opposite them.

“So, you’ve found our Eli.”

Dmitri emphasized ‘our Eli’ deliberately. However, having experienced it once before, Yulrian didn’t react noticeably to those words.

“That’s correct.”

“Was it Louis Edmund after all?”

Yulrian nodded without saying a word.

“So, what did he do?”

“He held Eleanor hostage and then slit her throat.”

“Well… it seems the capital will be quite noisy again.”

Dmitri shook his head at Yulrian’s matter-of-fact tone.

Although Louis Edmund deserved severe punishment, he was still a member of the Edmund family. To cut someone’s throat without due process right there was quite extreme.

Even though Dmitri was not involved in the politics of the capital, rumors about the Empress and the Edmund family had spread to the northern territories.

Rumors that they would do anything for the sake of the family and its members.

Well, considering the magnitude of the incident, even if someone’s throat was cut, there wouldn’t be much to say.

“So, where was Eli found?”

“It was in a forest quite far from the southern gate.”

“So she managed to escape to the southern gate… There must have been a reason why she wasn’t found until now.”

Eleanor had been kidnapped near the northern gate square. Nobles’ townhouses were clustered around the northern gate. Naturally, the search had expanded east and west from the northern gate.

“But here’s the thing.”

Dmitri subtly pulled Yulrian closer by the waist, leaning in towards him.

“I’ve been thinking, no matter how fast the rumors spread, you guys only found out this morning that Eli had been kidnapped.”

His black eyes sparkled as they locked onto the silver-haired man in front of him.

“Considering the location of my residence, the forest in the southern suburbs, and this place, well… The fact that you found the place where Eli was kidnapped, which even the Bearne family’s knights couldn’t find overnight, isn’t that something?”

“Our subordinates are exceptionally skilled, you see.”

Yulrian also did not back down from his gaze. His red eyes met Dmitri’s unwaveringly, as if ready to be swallowed whole.

Thanks to the tension between them, Cristian, who was caught in the middle, felt as though he was being pierced by sharp gazes.

The ongoing silent battle came to an abrupt end when a servant suddenly entered and broke the tension.

“Miss… Miss Eleonore has woken up.”