Chapter 35
‘Just when did she arrive?’
I was so startled by Artemene’s unexpected appearance that my legs nearly gave out.
Because I had been too focused on the conversation, I had not sensed her approaching at all.
“……”
So I had been caught after all.
Artemene stood there with her arms crossed, saying nothing.
The moment our eyes met, those vivid red irises made my breath catch as if I were being pierced straight through.
The oppressive atmosphere was terrifying, fitting for someone of the Decart bloodline.
Even without saying a word, her presence alone was overwhelming.
What was more, if Frezen had been a woman, she might have looked exactly like this.
They truly resembled each other as family.
Artemene’s gaze, which had been resting on the maid, briefly swept past me.
“It’s you again, Count Leella.”
“……”
“Why are you in my estate this time?”
“And I never gave you permission.”
It should not have been surprising, yet the cold address devoid of any warmth pricked my heart.
The pressure weighing down on my shoulders was, as expected, overwhelming.
“The truth is…!”
I had just begun to part my lips to make an excuse when—
Artemene ignored me and addressed the maid instead.
“Enough of this.”
“I should hear it directly from my servant.”
“Wait, you look like a child who has not worked here long.”
“Lift your head and explain yourself.”
“Now!”
“Y-Yes!”
Wait, did she just deliberately ignore me?
The moment I opened my mouth, Artemene had sharply turned her head away.
I knew she disliked me, but I had not expected such blatant disregard.
“L-Lady Artemene, the truth is—!”
The maid who had been pointed out instead—Rina—panicked and quickly corrected her posture, dropping to her knees.
“The truth is, I made a mistake.”
“And the lady madam here kindly offered to help me, so she is here…!”
“A mistake?”
Rina’s heels trembled pitifully.
That was only natural.
A child of just fifteen would not have the experience or emotional resilience to handle something like this.
More importantly, with Reia missing, there was no time for this.
I had no choice but to step in front of the maid.
“I will explain the circumstances later, Aunt Artemene.”
Artemene’s expression twisted viciously.
One eyebrow lifted as she sneered, looking exactly like Frezen.
“Huh?”
“I was not speaking to you, Count.”
“Do not interfere unnecessarily.”
“What kind of mistake did you make to drag in someone completely unrelated?”
“L-Lady Artemene, I’m sorry!”
“Hic, please, if you would just spare me…!”
Already terrified to the point of panic, the maid began crying, repeating apologies.
Meanwhile, the sun was sinking lower and lower.
Unable to endure it any longer, Artemene barked sharply.
“What exactly are you so proud of that you are crying like this, tsk tsk.”
“Count Leella, I have no intention of politely sending away an intruder who trespassed into my estate.”
“If you do not leave at once—!”
“Reia is missing.”
“……What?”
“What kind of nonsense is that, Count?”
“Have you lost your mind?”
“Why would Reia—!”
Instead of answering, I held out the small bell that had been in the maid’s hand.
“This bell necklace.”
“It belongs to Lady Reia, doesn’t it?”
“How did the Count come to have that—!”
Artemene’s eyes shook violently with confusion.
“There’s no time to explain right now.”
“We need to find Reia before sunset.”
“How can I trust your words?”
“You could have entered and then made her disappear.”
“There must be some ulterior motive behind your presence here—”
Unfortunately, Artemene did not believe a word I said.
It was truly maddening.
She was fixated solely on holding me responsible for entering the estate without permission.
At that moment, a calm and elegant voice cut into the argument.
“Aunt Artemene.”
“Please calm your anger.”
“Lady Reia will surely be safe.”
The lava-like tension instantly settled.
Turning toward the familiar voice, I saw Grimora standing there, smiling, as if she had been there all along.
“Nanny, is it true that Reia has disappeared?”
“Yes.”
“It is hard for me to believe as well, but I have just confirmed it myself.”
“Oh dear…”
Only then did Artemene grasp the situation, staggering as she clutched the back of her neck.
So she believed it when Grimora said it.
“Do not worry, Aunt.”
“You have Grimora, after all.”
“I will find her at once.”
“Please.”
“Please do.”
“If something happens to even my granddaughter, I truly…”
The nanny replied that she understood and instructed the maids to support Artemene.
With just a few words, the situation was neatly resolved.
Was this the difference trust made?
As that bitter thought passed, Grimora suddenly stopped in front of me.
“Lady Evlyen, thank you for your help, but please return now.”
“It is cold.”
“What would you do if you caught a cold?”
Her tone was as consistently gentle and kind as ever.
Her mild expression showed no trace of malice.
And yet, why did she make me feel so uncomfortable?
Perhaps it was because of our poor first impression.
No, this feeling was clearly something else.
Just then, a harsh cry rang out once more.
“Caw!”
It was the cry of the black bird, Atil.
“Why is that bird…?”
It had been circling the sky earlier as well.
Even Artemene, walking with the maids’ support, noticed the bird hovering nearby and stiffened.
“Caw, caw.”
The ominous cries continued, and then Loren shouted urgently, her face pale.
“A-A child…!”
“I just heard a child scream, my lady!”
“This way!”
“Loren!”
With that, Loren dashed off as if possessed.
Her swift figure disappearing in an instant looked like a flying squirrel.
“Your name was Grimora, wasn’t it?”
“……”
“I was going to leave, but no matter how I think about it, I cannot.”
“Lady Evlyen.”
“I will help search as well.”
“Even if I am treated as an uninvited guest, no adult could ignore a child in danger.”
After saying that to Grimora, I hurried after Loren.
“Reia… that cannot be…”
I faintly heard Artemene muttering to herself behind me, but I did not stop.
* * *
“Reia!”
“Reia!”
“Where are you?”
“If you can hear us, please answer!”
“Lady Reia!”
“If you can hear us, make any sound at all!”
We began searching for Reia in earnest in the back mountain of Noskal.
I had thought we would find her quickly, but as time dragged on, the situation grew more serious than expected.
In the north, the sun set rapidly.
We had no more than thirty minutes left at best.
And once night fell, the yin energy of the surrounding mountains would grow stronger, attracting monsters.
Because Artemene had strictly instructed that the council elders and others must not find out, we searched without knights.
Progress was slow.
“……Ah.”
“Why does this feel so wrong?”
An inexplicable unease had been lingering in my heart since earlier.
The bell necklace.
The air had felt unusually stifling that day, forcing the windows open.
Rina had suddenly been overcome with drowsiness…
My thoughts were spiraling deeper when Loren’s voice rang out dramatically.
“…My lady!”
“We found Lady Reia!”
At those words, I rushed toward Loren.
“Lady Reia!”
Reia was perched precariously on a thick tree branch.
No, how had such a small child even managed to climb up there?
“Reia!”
But despite our calls, Reia showed no reaction.
The sun was setting, fog was thick, and a river ran between us, making it difficult to cross.
Then Nanny Grimora stepped forward and waved her hand.
As if to announce her presence.
With a calm expression.
Reia spotted the nanny and waved back brightly, as if she had never been frightened.
“Oh no, Lady Reia.”
“She might fall like that—”
At that moment, a cracking sound echoed.
“Reia, no!”
“Kyaaah!”
“Lady Reia!”
As Reia’s body tilted and she began to fall—
“Phew.”
“That was close.”
A small, chubby hand suddenly shot out and grabbed the hem of Reia’s clothes.
“……Mela?”
With a familiar voice, a silhouette emerged through the fog.
It was Mela.
