Chapter 66
Denros, carrying his travel bag, climbed into the carriage that was waiting for him.
As soon as the carriage departed, he immediately activated the crystal for visual communication.
Before long, the Emperor appeared on the connected crystal.
After a fairly lengthy report, a deep line formed on the Emperor’s brow.
“Then return at once.”
“……”
Even though he had expected those words, Denros couldn’t bring himself to obey the Emperor’s command.
The Tower Master had already left the South. There had been no gains, and now there was no longer any reason for him to remain here.
The man was elusive to begin with, and by the time his whereabouts were discovered, it had already been too late.
Even so, Denros had followed the Emperor’s order because he needed an excuse to stay.
But now that excuse was gone.
The sooner he returned to the capital, the sooner he could reorganize his forces and begin investigations again. In the capital, there were many who needed him, who wanted him. Here, there was no one.
And yet… why was it so hard to take that first step away?
“Duke, you know well. There’s a mountain of things to be investigated. And these days, the atmosphere is unusual.”
“What do you mean?”
“The ‘you’ spoken of in the prophecy. That woman—called the one. She has appeared. The air is shifting in strange ways.”
“……I’ll return immediately.”
Click—
After giving his formal farewell, Denros switched off the crystal and leaned his head back against the carriage seat.
His gaze drifted to the window. The sun was sinking low in the evening sky.
His hand slipped into his jacket pocket and pulled something out.
An unopened ointment. She had told him to apply it every day, but not once had he used it.
It was laughable, ridiculous even, but still—just in case.
If she were to ask about it… if she were to see that he hadn’t used it, then maybe…
“Ha…”
A bitter laugh escaped his lips, as if mocking himself.
But of course, that never happened. When he ran into Vendia that morning, she had simply brushed past him in silence.
The only consolation was that, when she passed by, he saw her hand was perfectly fine.
Yes. She had been right all along.
So why was he thinking about it now?
There was no reason, no trigger. He had ignored her for a whole year.
Was it just because he had seen sides of her he had never seen before?
Because the colors she possessed were unlike anyone else’s?
He didn’t know. He couldn’t make sense of his thoughts at all.
He pulled his gaze away from the scenery flying past the window. Vendia was no longer anywhere within his sight.
She was drifting farther and farther away.
He was heading to the capital.
His luggage amounted to nothing more than this single bag. It had been an impulsive visit.
Though he had found it impossible to leave, he knew she didn’t want him by her side, and that was why he made this decision.
He no longer wished to make her uncomfortable or upset.
Too late as it was, he at least wanted that now.
He didn’t want to give her any more reasons to dislike him.
And besides, there were things he had to investigate.
He recalled a conversation he had overheard.
“Suddenly?”
“M-Master Max. I-I’m truly sorry about that day.”
Vendia stared blankly at the sudden scene before her, unable to close her mouth.
When Shasha had told her to disguise herself as a man once more, she hadn’t understood what she meant—but then Rachel suddenly arrived.
With her father, Marquis Aby, in tow.
“It is my fault for having raised such a worthless daughter. Please, grant us your forgiveness just this once…”
Both the Marquis and Rachel were kneeling in front of her, offering apologies.
Their faces were pale, trembling faintly, like people terrified out of their wits.
What on earth? They looked like they had been thoroughly crushed somewhere.
“Well, since we both ended up soaked, I’ll let the cleaning bill slide—but I will need the medical expenses covered.”
Vendia used the voice modulator Ron had given her, speaking firmly to them.
“O-of course! Absolutely! We will compensate you several times over—no, however much you desire!”
The Marquis snapped his head up and nodded so vigorously it was almost desperate, as though he had finally seen a way to survive.
To come groveling like this… there could only be one reason.
“Did the Duke threaten you into apologizing to me?”
“N-no! Impossible! Absolutely not!”
When she narrowed her eyes at them, the Marquis flailed his hands in panic, shaking his head.
At the mere mention of the Duke, sweat poured down his face, and Rachel beside him even flinched in fright.
Honestly…
They’re terrible liars.
In any case, since they had come to apologize, Vendia accepted their apology.
She took the money for medical expenses and the pile of gifts they had brought with them.
“Th-then…”
“Lady Rachel.”
“Y-yes?”
At being called, Rachel flinched and looked up at her.
Not long ago she had shrieked at her viciously, but now her face was utterly defeated.
Vendia felt no sympathy. She knew from Emily that Rachel had done it on purpose.
“Don’t live like that.”
“……”
Rachel’s face froze instantly. Her lips pressed tight in humiliation, her fists clenched, trembling as if she might lash out at any moment.
“Answer me, won’t you?”
“Rachel! What are you doing! Answer at once!”
The Marquis gulped and urged his daughter on, clearly unwilling to ruin everything with this one detail after matters had been settled.
Rachel looked at her father in shock, her face full of betrayal.
That doting father of hers had always been the source of her haughty confidence.
And yet now, that very father was urging her to swallow her pride. To bend before Vendia—the one who had humiliated her, the one she least wanted to apologize to.
“Now!”
“…Yes.”
Reluctantly, Rachel forced the word out.
“Ha-ha. Please don’t be offended. She’s still young, that’s all.”
Afraid Vendia might still be upset by such a short reply, the Marquis quickly tried to smooth things over.
Just what kind of threat had Denros made, for them to be so obedient?
Still holding that small curiosity, Vendia dismissed them.
“Your ex-husband was Duke Kalbermer, your neighbor is the Young Duke of Shunflex, and now you’ve even made a Marquis kneel.”
Peter muttered as he examined the pile of gifts the Marquis had brought, his face alight with glee.
“You’re more capable than you look. Very nice.”
“Hey.”
Shasha’s voice cut sharp as she stepped closer to him.
“What! It was a compliment! A compliment! Praise from the great Peter is rare, you know!”
“Who compliments people in such a snide tone?”
“Argh!”
When Shasha raised her hand, Peter scurried behind Vendia to hide.
It had already been over a month since Peter had invaded this mansion. The necklace Yulize had given him still hung around his neck.
“You really need to fix that habit of yours! How can the next Vice Guildmaster keep throwing punches all the time?”
Peter shouted his complaint at Shasha, peeking his head out from behind Vendia without daring to step forward.
The scene was so familiar that Vendia paid them no mind. She simply switched off the voice modulator and removed her wig.
Before she knew it, her gaze had drifted toward the window.
Had he already left? She hadn’t seen him come in…
“Are you looking for the Duke?”
“What? Of course not!”
Startled as if caught red-handed, Vendia quickly denied it.
“If you’re looking for him, he left.”
“I said no! Maybe he just hasn’t returned yet.”
“No, he left with his travel bag.”
Vendia froze at those words, despite her casual front.
“Looked like he was heading back to the capital.”
“He left?”
“Yes.”
Shasha’s confirmation left Vendia at a loss for words.
Not a single word of farewell.
Well… there was no reason for him to say anything.
But still—he was a tenant. Shouldn’t he at least have told her if he was vacating the room?
‘I don’t know myself.’
That bewildered look he’d had when he said those words suddenly flashed in her mind.
What an infuriating man. Coming and going entirely as he pleased.
Vendia quickly forced his face out of her thoughts.
Unable to sleep even past midnight, Vendia lay staring at the ceiling.
She considered counting sheep, but doubted it would help. Eventually, she sat up in bed.
Maybe she should take a walk around the mansion, or sit for a while in the rocking chair.
She headed toward the sofa by the window, pulling the shawl draped over it around her shoulders.
Just as she turned to sit, something outside caught her eye.
A dark figure beneath the locust tree.
She pressed close to the window to see more clearly.
“Shasha?”
And that other one was…
