~Chapter 117~
Richard’s body had moved before he could think — he could not risk letting Nathan slip away.
“Ugh, what are you doing?”
“My wife.”
Richard’s throat tightened. His head was full of questions, so many that it was hard to speak.
Nathan Leslie was calmly speaking of Ancia and even explaining her location. It didn’t seem like she was in danger, yet until Richard saw her with his own eyes, he could not believe it.
Nathan almost grew angry at Richard’s rudeness, but when he looked at Richard’s haggard face and the heavy, dark aura around him, he faltered.
The letters had never arrived. Of course the Duke had been tormented all this time. Nathan could imagine how Richard must have suffered. Rather than feeling afraid, he almost pitied him.
“I was just getting the map to show you the location. You can come with me if you want, but please, let go of my neck.”
Richard hesitated, then moved his grip from Nathan’s throat to his shoulder, forcing him forward.
He had prepared himself for the worst when coming here. Hearing Ancia’s news was something he had nearly given up on. Even though Nathan was right in front of him, he still struggled to believe.
Inside the mansion, Countess Hilda hurried down the stairs. She lit up at seeing Nathan, but when she realized Ancia was not with him, her face turned pale.
“Nathan! Where is Ancia?”
“She’s safe. I’ll draw a map for the Duke first, then explain everything. As you can see, I’m fine.”
Nathan reassured his mother lightly and then went to fetch the map.
He unfolded it, adding the rough location of Snow-nun Village from memory, with extra notes to prevent confusion.
Richard stood silently behind him, hand still gripping his shoulder. Nathan handed the map over.
“Here it is. The road into the village is frozen solid, so you’ll need to prepare for ice paths.”
“A village not marked on the map?”
“That’s why neither family has been able to find it for over two months. Please, hurry and go to An.”
There was no guilt or fear in Nathan’s eyes, only sincerity. Richard felt a rare certainty that Ancia truly was alive.
But then Richard’s cold voice fell:
“Viscount Leslie. You are under house arrest.”
“What?”
Knights rushed to block the windows and doors. Hilda and the Count shouted in shock.
“What is the meaning of this?”
“House arrest? How dare you treat my son like this!”
Richard tucked the map into his cloak and turned away.
“Until I confirm my wife’s safety, I must restrict the Viscount’s movements. He will stay in this room, not prison.”
“I understand your suspicion, but I really did send several letters. I even risked my life escaping the village to bring you this news. Isn’t this too much?”
Richard wanted nothing more than to ride off immediately. Still, because Nathan had given him the map, he restrained himself.
“Viscount, you are suspected of aiding in the Duchess’s abduction and the death of her guard. Until more evidence appears, house arrest should be considered mercy.”
“What?”
Nathan sighed in disbelief as Richard strode away, the Black Knights sealing the room.
Outside, the Count and Countess tried desperately to enter but were stopped.
Nathan called out, “Mother! Truly, no letters or pigeons arrived?”
Hilda hesitated, then confessed:
“Mary said she burned one of your letters. She was afraid it would be discovered.”
“What…? Mary, is that true?”
Mary, Ancia’s maid, lowered her head, trembling. “I-I’m sorry, young master. I acted rashly.”
Nathan’s anger flared, but Hilda shook her head firmly.
“At the time, there was no choice. You were missing, the Duke’s knights were watching us, and Mary only thought of protecting you. If your letter had suggested you and Ancia fled, it would have been dangerous.”
Nathan understood, but it still frustrated him.
“Mother, surely you didn’t think I would run away with Ancia? You know better than anyone that I’d never do that.”
“We know, son. We know you’d risk your life for her happiness.”
It was all a misunderstanding, born because none of them knew how Ancia had changed in the North. The burnt letter, the pigeons gone missing — it was absurd.
Nathan shook his head. “The Duke’s reaction shows no letters reached him. Either I was tricked, or someone intercepted them.”
Hilda touched his arm gently. “What matters is that you’ve returned. Leave the rest to us. The Duke will bring Ancia back, don’t worry.”
Nathan glanced around the room filled with Black Knights and sighed.
“Big sister, I want golden hair like you!”
“Miss, Tommy told me to bring this to you!”
The children crowded around Ancia, clinging to her skirt.
Bianca crossed her arms, scowling. “Hey, brats, give my lady a break. Go home already!”
But the children only laughed and hid behind Ancia.
“Witch Bianca!”
“Meanie!”
To the children, the gentle Ancia was like a princess, while the sharp-tongued Bianca was like a witch.
“Don’t you know Haera baked pies today? If you don’t hurry, they’ll all be gone.”
“Pie!”
“My pie!”
At her playful threat, the children scattered.
Ancia, tired but smiling, sat down. Bianca quickly noticed.
“My lady, you don’t need to entertain every child who comes.”
“It’s fine. I get lonely too. Knitting only uses my hands. Watching them play is fun.”
Since the skies had cleared, the children often came to visit. Drawn first by her beauty, then enchanted by her kindness, they adored her.
“I worry you’re overdoing it, my lady.”
“Not at all. I’ve never felt more at peace.”
Since Nathan had left, Ancia had become more active and bright, though she collapsed from exhaustion at night. She forced herself to act cheerful, afraid Nathan had left because of her sadness.
Bianca knew, and it made her heart ache, but she also knew they were close to the end of this hardship.
“Oh, I’m out of yarn.”
“I’ll fetch some. What color?”
“No, I’ll go myself.”
“Then I’ll go too.”
“It’s only a ball of yarn. You should rest, Bianca. You already helped Haera this morning.”
Though reluctant, Bianca nodded.
“My lady, promise me you’ll come straight back.”
“I will. There’s nowhere else to go.”
“Please… today the village feels strangely noisy.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be right back.”
Bianca sighed, draping her robe over Ancia’s shoulders anyway.
As they walked together, Bianca kept up chatter, calling her “sister” over and over. Ancia found her childlike clinginess cute and played along.
Then—
Boom, boom.
“Ah, there it is again. That sound. Did you hear it too, sister?”
“Yes. What could it be?”
“Some men went to check it out already. It’s probably nothing. Don’t worry, sister.”
Ancia could feel it — the village was louder than usual, birds rising in the distance, strange echoes in the air.
She tried to calm herself.
‘If it were serious, Bianca wouldn’t be smiling and calling me sister so playfully.’
Even so, a warm, restless breeze seemed to stir in her chest, making her heart race.
