CHAPTER 07
“My lord.”
In the darkness, the Duke of Elard turned his head.
Under the silver hair that shone coldly in the moonlight, his sculpted features were as flawless as ever. His expression was as merciless as usual.
Sid, bowing deeply, spoke in a grim voice.
“We searched every orphanage and alley within the territory… but we could not find the young lady.”
He did not dare lift his head, but he could tell that his master’s face had grown even colder.
“Expand the search range immediately. It does not seem she has left the Empire yet, but check ships that have reached nearby kingdoms as well.”
“Yes. And the magic swordsmen from the Grand Duchy of Bellus have just arrived. Count Marietta herself has come.”
“The Count?”
The duke’s expression hardened further.
He had expected the Bellus Grand Ducal family to help without hesitation when he urgently requested aid.
But he had not expected them to send the strongest magic swordsman on the continent.
They must have understood better than anyone how serious the situation was.
Even the duke, known for being as cold as ice, let out a shallow sigh.
A few days ago, his second son, Allen, and his youngest daughter, Diana, had secretly left the castle to see the festival.
Diana had disappeared.
He had been furious at the negligence of her guards, but at first he believed she would be found quickly. The Lexion Knight Order had mobilized, after all.
He had assumed she had simply gotten lost. His territory was safer than any other.
It had been arrogance.
He could not believe anyone in the Empire would be foolish enough to harm the daughter of the Duke of Elard.
Yet days passed, and Diana did not return.
Kidnapping was almost certain.
The Duke sealed the exits of the territory and began secretly tracking her while controlling information.
If rumors spread, the kidnappers might realize her identity and do something reckless out of fear.
‘I almost wish they would demand ransom.’
But given the Duke’s infamous reputation, that was unlikely.
Anyone demanding ransom would expect brutal retaliation.
‘They might choose to eliminate her cleanly instead…’
His thoughts darkened.
He shook his head sharply.
For the first time in his life, his steady reason was wavering.
He even recalled laughing when Diana removed the tracking bracelet gifted by a friend because she found it uncomfortable.
“They say you never truly understand until it happens to you.”
He thought of his only friend, who had lost a child and still lived in pain.
Even he, called a cold-blooded man, had pitied him deeply.
But now that it was his own child, he finally understood that agony.
“Taeiz
The duke called out to a knight nearby, trying to steady himself.
Sid paused and looked over.
“I hear you have not slept or eaten for days. Is this a protest?”
“No. I only wish to find the young lady—”
“Yes. We must find Diana. No matter what. But in your current state, you are useless.”
“…I will correct myself.”
Taeiz clenched his fists, holding back his emotions.
A former mercenary commoner becoming a knight and joining the Lexion Knight Order had been a miracle.
‘But when this is over…’
It would not end with confinement.
‘I will be expelled. My title revoked.’
Still, if Diana could be found safely, he would gladly give his life.
At that moment, Taeiz noticed Sid watching him with a strange look.
Anger surged.
He had believed Sid when told he was removed from guarding Diana.
It had all been a trap.
But in front of a father who had lost his daughter, any excuse was meaningless.
As Taeiz swallowed his fury, the Duke gave orders.
“You will head east and continue tracking. Taeiz and I will take the west. Inform Count Marietta to join us in the west.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Sid turned, a faint smile forming on his lips.
The situation had grown more serious than planned, but it did not harm him.
Taeiz would lose the Duke’s trust.
Meanwhile, the Duke stared beyond his territory.
He imagined his youngest daughter, who cried easily and loved to cling to him.
His gaze was cold as ice, but his heart was restless with worry.
He imagined her crying, calling for her family.
***
“Ahh! Unni, that tickles!”
Diana twisted and laughed.
Morning kisses on her cheeks. A warm greeting. Light tickles on her belly.
I had only done what I once wished my parents would do for me.
Seeing her so happy made me feel proud.
But behind my smile, I was sad.
Because I now knew the secret of Tesar Orphanage.
***
A few days earlier.
After putting Diana to sleep, I erased my presence completely and headed to the empty director’s office.
He always locked it, even though only helpless children lived here.
But that was no obstacle for me.
First, I blocked out nearby sounds and set up a barrier.
Then I took out the needle I had prepared earlier.
The moonlight reflected off it briefly.
Click. Click.
I inserted the needle into the keyhole and lifted the internal pins.
The door opened easily.
‘It’s been a while since I infiltrated like this.’
Usually I entered through windows with mana concealment.
But unlocking this simple mechanism used far less mana.
‘I need to conserve it.’
My mana had increased, but my body was not used to controlling it yet.
“Alright. Let’s see what you’re hiding.”
Inside, I found the orphanage’s operational reports and financial records.
I let out a dry laugh.
“Are you kidding me?”
I could read.
I had learned letters and even basic accounting from Lope at the guild.
“The food expenses are this high?”
Ridiculous.
“Water bills? Books? Toys?”
The children wore discarded clothes from villagers.
“This isn’t it. The real secret must be elsewhere.”
I searched every drawer carefully.
Nothing.
Then I closed my eyes.
I heightened my senses and activated a detection spell.
Something pricked at my awareness.
A small mana stone is attached to the lamp.
“…What is this doing here?”
The artifact was enchanted with a perception-distortion spell.
A high-level mental magic that interfered with awareness.
Why would such an expensive magic item be in this remote orphanage?
“How dirty is your secret?”
I dispelled the magic and searched again.
Under the desk, the floor sounded slightly different.
I pressed down.
A hidden safe appeared.
“…!”
Inside was a thick ledger and sealed documents.
The hidden ledger listed the names and ages of children who had once stayed here.
And next to them—familiar names.
I had always been confident in my memory.
Especially names.
I remembered the criminals who had shaken the Empire with slave auctions.
And those names were here.
“You bastards.”
