IOWYC Chapter 50

Chapter 50 

Despite his words, Jared’s eyes held a sharp glint as he looked at Kallion.

Kallion met Jared’s gaze and asked seriously,

“The place she belongs is the Valdormer estate. Don’t you agree?”

After a moment of thought, Jared knelt before him and bowed his head.

“No woman can take her place, my lord.”

“It seems we’re thinking alike.”

Looking down at Jared in silence, Kallion gave his first order.

“I want you to confirm whether Yuliana is in Silverstel.”

It was obvious that Jared was already aware of the widespread rumors about Yuliana and the Silverstel second son.

After briefly stiffening his expression, Jared responded firmly,

“I will check.”

***

Food was served one by one at the table.

Steaming olive soup, freshly baked bread with blueberries, fluffy eggs with herbs, and a variety of fresh fruits to refresh the palate—
light dishes suitable for breakfast.

At the Valdormer estate, whether it was morning or evening, meat was always served.

I wasn’t good at digesting meat, but I endured it in silence to avoid complaints.

Here, however, it felt like the menu was carefully tailored for me—full of light, easy-to-eat foods.

Of course, it could just be that breakfast meals were meant to be light…

I took a spoonful of the soup and held it in my mouth.

Across from me, Lloyd and Marsha, who stood beside the table, watched my reaction nervously.

Feeling awkward under their gaze, I smiled slightly and swallowed the soup.

“It’s delicious.”

Only then did Lloyd and Marsha smile in relief.

“Right? Marsha made the soup herself—it’s no surprise it suits your taste.”

As he spoke, Lloyd pushed a plate of strawberries toward me.

That’s when I felt something odd.

Did I ever tell him I liked strawberries…?

Since he passed the plate so casually, I brushed it off as a coincidence and continued eating.

Throughout the meal, Lloyd barely ate. He just looked at me with a contented smile.

***

A day had passed since Jared was sent on his mission.

Kallion had been anxiously staring out the window when there was a knock at his office door.

“My lord, a man named Jared is here.”

At the butler’s report, Kallion immediately turned his head.

“Send him in.”

Soon, the office door opened, and Jared entered.

Layla, who had been working at a side desk, looked puzzled.

Jared also glanced briefly at her before locking eyes with Kallion.

Kallion, understanding the meaning behind Jared’s look, turned to Layla.

“Layla. Step out for a moment.”

Surprised, Layla blinked.

“…Pardon?”

Her face hardened.

Until now, Kallion had never kept secrets from her.
That meant she had earned his full trust.

Or at least… she used to.

But now, he didn’t share everything with her anymore.
And that hurt.

Still, his expression remained cold.

“Didn’t you hear me? I said step out.”

Reluctantly, Layla lowered her head and left the room.

“…I’m sorry.”

After confirming she had left, Kallion sighed and turned to Jared.

Jared immediately began his report.

“She is not at the Silverstel estate.”

Kallion’s brow slightly furrowed.

“You’re certain?”

“At least not at the main estate, that’s confirmed.”

So, Yuliana wasn’t at the Silverstel mansion.

“What about the second son of Silverstel?”

“Lloyd de Silverstel is not at the estate either.”

Kallion’s brows tightened.

“He’s not there?”

“He’s reportedly on a business trip to Hillston.”

“…Hillston.”

Kallion repeated the town’s name, and Jared quickly added,

“But strangely, after he left for Hillston, all traces of Lloyd vanished.
As if he intentionally covered his tracks.”

At that moment, Kallion felt a flash of certainty.

Lloyd met Yuliana.

He recalled their last conversation at the diamond mine.

“I warned you. I’ll take my chance the moment I see one.”

Ha…

Kallion let out a bitter laugh.

That bastard intentionally hid his tracks.

To secretly take Yuliana away.

Kallion clenched his jaw tightly.

“Can you track them?”

“It’ll take some time.”

Grinding his teeth, Kallion forced himself to stay calm.

“Find them as quickly as possible.”

***

It had already been five days since I started living at Saintpol.

Today, I was heading to the study on the 4th floor.

Marsha offered to guide me herself, but I didn’t want to trouble her. There weren’t many staff here, after all.

Besides, I already knew exactly where the study was.

Pretending to want to explore the villa, I started climbing the grand staircase.

But partway up, I stopped in my tracks.

“…That’s strange.”

There should have been a childhood portrait of Lloyd hanging above the stairs.

A painting of a bright-eyed boy with silver hair and clear blue eyes.

He looked like what Lloyd’s child might look like—smart and adorable.

But the frame was gone, replaced by an expensive-looking landscape painting.

I stared at it blankly and tried to shake off the uncomfortable feeling.

Not everything has to be the same as my eleventh life…

Trying to dismiss the unease, I kept walking up the stairs toward the study.

As I walked down the hallway, I glanced out the window and froze again.

From up here, I could see the entire view of the villa grounds.

But it looked different.

All the little angel statues that once adorned the estate were gone.
As if someone had purposely removed them.

That’s when I realized—

Maybe the strange feeling I’d had all along wasn’t just in my head.

I rushed back down the stairs.

Practically running through the halls, I stormed into Lloyd’s office without knocking.

He looked up in surprise.

“Yuliana? What’s wrong?”

I stared straight at him and asked,

“The statues. What happened to the angel statues?”

“Statues?”

“All the baby angel sculptures. Where did they go?”

His expression stiffened for a moment.

But only briefly. Then, as usual, he smiled kindly and replied.

“What are you talking about, Yuliana?”

“And the portrait that used to hang above the stairs?”

“…”

The fruit plate he gave me. The honeymoon room. The dress Marsha had me wear.

Bringing me here in the first place.

“…Why did you bring me here?”

My cold question wiped the smile off his face. He slowly stood up and approached me.

Still smiling gently, he looked into my eyes.

“How would you know what statues used to be here?
How would you know what painting was on the stairs?”

His soft voice made me speechless.

I couldn’t tell him—I was your wife in a previous life.

I still didn’t know if he remembered.

If this were just a coincidence, it would only complicate things.

Unable to answer, I stood frozen.

Lloyd gently reached out and caressed my shoulder.

“I don’t know what’s bothering you…
But Yuliana, there were never any baby angel statues here.
And no portraits either.”