CHAPTER 72……………………………………
It would almost be better if she had been kidnapped. If it were a kidnapping, they could negotiate with August Ringe or make a deal with a local organization and find her easily. But if it was simply a disappearance, that was a headache.
“Which city would a merchant caravan reach the farthest if it traveled in a straight line from the top route?”
“We can’t check all of them, but based on the information we have, it would be this place.”
The small town of Teblan. It had a small population and nothing particularly distinctive—a modest city. It wasn’t even a transportation hub, so there were few merchants who built their trading companies around it. I narrowed my eyes.
“For now, please pass the message to the Thieves’ Guild again. It would be best to begin the search there. Since it’s not a large place, we should be able to confirm things quickly.”
Clap, clap.
I clapped my hands to draw everyone’s attention. I couldn’t keep these exhausted people here all night. Even if we kept digging through paperwork, the search itself wasn’t our responsibility. All we could do was wait.
“Alright, everyone, let’s rest for now. This is for Elian, who is family to our trading company. I know you’re tired, but let’s get some rest and wait for information tomorrow. Most of you can return to your usual duties, and only a few people need to continue sorting the information. Ardina.”
“Yes, Director.”
“Please take charge of compiling the information that comes in tomorrow.”
“Understood. But where are you going tomorrow?”
“We’ll soon receive temporary permission to search the territory. We’ll have to mobilize all the private soldiers who can move.”
The Mertens family had almost no private soldiers—only guards and a handful of knights.
“Elian said she’ll come later, so don’t hand the report directly to her. Just relay it verbally in report form. In her current state, even if she reads it, it won’t really sink in.”
“Understood.”
After glancing at everyone’s faces, I forced a slightly brighter smile.
“You all look exhausted, but once this is over, I’ll give everyone a vacation. So hang in there just a little longer.”
“Understood.”
After confirming everyone stood up and began leaving, I turned around. I opened the door, returned to my office, sat down in my chair, and let out a long sigh.
I’m tired.
Just as Mother said, the fatigue from returning from a business trip and not getting even a single day of rest seemed to be piling up.
“Huu…”
I exhaled deeply and closed my eyes.
Once this is over, I should take a vacation too. A very peaceful, wonderful vacation.
* * *
I’m not someone who sleeps a lot, but perhaps the recent exhaustion had accumulated, because Rosy’s voice waking me in the morning didn’t feel very welcome.
While I was still half-asleep, buried in the blankets and lazily shifting around in bed, the door suddenly burst open.
Startled, I sat up—only for a heavy body to land right on top of me, along with the cool touch of silk.
“Rudia!”
“Aah!”
The person suddenly pressing down on me was Elian. She hugged me tightly as she shouted my name.
Forget being surprised—I couldn’t even gather my thoughts. Still half-asleep, I tried to push Elian away as she buried her face in my chest, but in my groggy state, I couldn’t move her.
“Huu…”
I finally gave up, brushed back my hair, and looked down at Elian with a tired face.
What in the world is she doing here this early in the morning?
Turning my head, I saw Rosy biting her lip with an awkward expression. She had probably tried to stop Elian, but Elian must have pushed past her anyway.
Same as ever. That reckless personality.
I raised my hand to signal that it was fine, then looked down at Elian.
“Rudia!”
“What’s going on all of a sudden? It’s barely dawn.”
“It’s already long past breakfast time.”
“……”
Already?
As I rubbed my eyes trying to wake up, Elian pulled back slightly and spoke urgently.
“More importantly—they found her!”
“They found her? Found what?”
“Grandmother!”
“Grandmother?”
Right… grandmother. Hmm… grandmother. Grandmother?
I frowned.
“They found her?”
“Yeah! We got word that they found her!”
“Uh…”
Wait. This is something I should be happy about, right?
But instead of joy, something about it felt strange. I had ordered the search less than a full day ago, and she had already been found.
Suppressing my unease, I asked:
“Where did they find her? Do you know who found her?”
“Oh, Tesla delivered the message. It was supposed to be a report for you, so I read it first. Since it’s about grandmother’s movements, I figured it would be okay. And it says where she went and where she disappeared!”
“Ah… so she hasn’t been completely found yet—just the direction.”
“That’s basically the same thing! Anyway, it’s something! And it wasn’t long ago—only two days. Tesla has already sent people there to search, so they’ll find her soon. Right?!”
“Ah… well… probably.”
My mind still wasn’t fully working, but I nodded anyway.
I stared silently at Elian, who looked as if she were dragging me into a flower garden like when we used to play house as children.
…They found her? Already?
Instead of relief or happiness, the first feeling that came to mind was that something was strange.
The report in Elian’s hand must have been the one Tesla intended to give me.
I took the document from her, gently pushed her back to create some distance, and opened it. As my eyes skimmed through the contents, something odd caught my attention.
After the former Countess of Pelioten disappeared, the first person to discover her disappearance was the current Count Pelioten’s daughter. She reported her grandmother’s disappearance to her parents and requested soldiers and support, but approval was not granted immediately.
The final authority for approval, Count Pelioten, was said to be absent. However, records confirm that on that day the Count was in his study, working on personal writing.
I bit my fingernail.
The contents that followed became even more astonishing.
…(omitted)… Ten days after the disappearance of the former Countess of Pelioten, traces of her were discovered in the small town of Teblan. However, two days before that report, there were already people who had found traces of her there.
After making inquiries, several merchants said they had been asked the same questions two days earlier. In other words, her trail had already been discovered two days before.
What’s strange is that this report must have reached Count Pelioten’s ears.
Additionally, the former Countess was not alone. She was reportedly traveling with several men.
An utterly unbelievable scenario began forming in my mind.
I wanted to believe it wasn’t true, but everything—the report and my own suspicions—fit together too well to deny it.
I bit my lip.
Ignoring Elian, who was still chattering, I stood up.
I approached the door, sent Rosy out, and closed it. The door shut with a loud thud.
Elian looked at me.
I looked back at her.
“Why are you acting like this?”
She asked with the same smiling face.
I studied her carefully and lifted my chin slightly.
“What’s wrong, Rudia? Did something happen? Hmm?”
“You.”
I called her shortly.
“You’re not hiding anything from me, are you?”
“Hiding something? Like what?”
She blinked innocently, as if she truly had nothing to hide.
I stared at her face and narrowed my eyes.
“This is the last time I’ll ask.”
I stepped closer and raised my hand, placing it under her chin and lifting it slightly so our faces were closer.
From that close distance, where my breath brushed her skin, I asked quietly:
“What are you hiding from me?”
“Rudia… why are you suddenly like this?”
“Did you even read this to the end?”
“No, just the beginning. Why? Is there something else later?”
So she skimmed it.
That explained her reaction.
I frowned at her confused expression.
Hoping the scenario in my mind was wrong, I slowly lowered my hand and stepped back.
Her trembling eyes weren’t the kind people usually showed when lying. Instead, they held innocence and anxiety—the look of someone who truly didn’t know anything.
I couldn’t read minds, but if someone were hiding something, they wouldn’t show eyes like that.
And the tears she showed earlier… they were far too sincere to be fake.
“Rudia…?”
At her desperate voice calling my name again, I let out a long sigh.
How should I explain this?
I needed to explain something, but if I told Elian everything right now, she would definitely explode. Elian wasn’t good at controlling her emotions.
After looking into her wavering eyes, I spoke lightly.
“For now, go to the office first. I’ll follow you.”
“Why? Let’s go together. You need to explain what that was earlier!”
“I will explain. I will—but not yet. I need to confirm a few more things first. So go to the office and wait.”
“Rudi—!”
“Go.”
I cut her off coldly and opened the door.
Ignoring Rosy’s startled expression, I held out my hand and pointed outside.
It was a clear gesture telling her to leave.
Elian bit her lip tightly.
Even though Elian often lived in her own dreamy world, I knew treating her like this would hurt and offend her.
But it was better than immediately telling her what might lie beyond this—something involving a person’s life.
Elian climbed down from the bed with a stiff expression and stood in front of me.
Her lips were pressed tight, her fists clenched.
I had never seen Elian look this angry at someone before.
Soon she turned and walked out.
I quietly watched her back as she left.
Rosy, who had been anxiously glancing between the two of us, approached carefully and whispered:
“Will this really be alright? Even so, Miss Elian is…”
“Rosy.”
“Yes?”
Cutting her off, I said:
“Go to the office ahead of Elian and bring Tesla and Ardina. And tell them to bring each guild’s informants with them.”
“Huh? Ah… understood.”
I turned away from her retreating figure.
Even though I had just woken up, I suddenly felt exhausted again and squeezed my eyes shut.
“…It can’t be.”
I muttered quietly to myself.
