Episode 9: Disappearance
After finishing her work, Ella was on her way to the steward to receive a letter when the head maid suddenly summoned all the servants to the dining hall, saying she had something to tell them.
When Anna and Ella arrived at the common dining hall, almost all the servants were already gathered, waiting for the head maid.
“What’s going on?”
Anna asked Rachel, who had arrived earlier, curious about why the head maid had called everyone so suddenly.
“I don’t know. The capital’s atmosphere has been a bit tense lately… maybe it’s because of that incident?”
Rachel, knowing that the servants were usually busy due to a shortage of hands, thought perhaps the head maid had gathered everyone because of a recent sensational news story in the Imperial Gazette.
“Eh? What incident in the capital?”
Anna, who didn’t follow the news much, asked.
“You didn’t hear? Human trafficking has been rampant in the capital lately!”
“Really?”
Anna shivered at the mention of human trafficking. In the Empire, it was considered a serious crime punishable by the severest penalties.
“Yeah, men or women, as long as they have somewhat attractive appearances, they get kidnapped and sold to trafficking rings.”
“Oh my, what should I do? I can’t go outside anymore.”
Anna pulled out a small hand mirror from her apron to look at her face, prompting Rachel to chuckle lightly.
“No, you’ll be fine.”
“What—are you trying to get me killed?”
Anna got upset at Rachel’s remark and stood up, but Ella calmed her down and helped her sit back down. Just as Anna settled, the head maid entered the dining hall with a grim expression.
“Everyone! I’ve called you here because there’s something important. Lately, there have been frequent disappearances of maids. Yesterday, two maids from the Winter household and one from the Grand household went missing. The guards even came by this morning to issue a warning. If you need to go out, make sure to go in pairs or trios!”
The head cook, who had a young daughter, exclaimed in shock.
“The Winter household is near our mansion! My goodness, I thought trafficking gangs only operated in the provinces, but now they’re causing trouble in the capital too?”
“Indeed… what’s going on?”
The head maid spoke to calm the worried servants amidst the tense atmosphere.
“Don’t worry too much. The guards will handle it soon. Just be careful for now!”
Despite the reassurance, the servants remained uneasy. As everyone returned to their posts, worried over the disturbing news, Ella went to the steward to collect her letter.
Unlike the high-quality letters she usually received at the duke’s residence, this letter was in a thin, rough envelope, with her hometown address written on it.
Feeling a sense of foreboding she had experienced before, Ella hastily opened the envelope. As she read the contents, her complexion grew pale, and she eventually collapsed into her chair.
“Ella! What happened?”
The steward, seeing her collapse, asked anxiously.
“Steward, I need to take some leave. I have to go home… I’ll explain to the duke myself. I’m sorry.”
Ella untied her apron and announced she was taking sudden leave, surprising the steward.
“Suddenly? What’s wrong?”
Clutching the letter tightly in her hand, Ella replied,
“My younger sister… she’s… gone missing.”
Ella then went straight to the duke’s office.
“Duke, may I come in?”
“Come in.”
Ella entered the room, her face pale. The duke asked her,
“What happened?”
“I’m sorry, but I need to take leave and go home.”
“Leave?”
“Yes, I received a letter from home… my sister has gone missing.”
“What?”
The duke flipped the newspaper back to the front page. An article reported that disappearances, which had been increasing gradually in the provinces, were now happening in the capital as well, and the trafficking ring seemed responsible.
“Where’s home?”
“Elden Village.”
Elden Village was a small village relatively close to the capital. It would take about five days by carriage, but a fast ride on horseback could reach it in a day.
“Alright, understood.”
After hearing the duke’s response, Ella returned to her room, removed her maid uniform, and packed her things. Exhaustion overcame her, and she collapsed onto the bed. She felt guilty, as if her absence had caused her sister’s disappearance, her chest aching as if it would break. She took a deep breath, picked up her luggage, and stepped outside, where the duke was waiting in a robe.
“Duke?”
“I’m coming with you. If we ride, we can reach Elden Village in a day. I’ll escort you.”
Ella was grateful for the support, but she couldn’t help questioning why the duke would accompany her.
“This is a family matter. Why are you coming along?”
“Well…”
The duke, who usually instilled fear and helplessness in others, found himself at a loss for words. He couldn’t understand why he behaved differently when it came to Ella.
“Well… I’ll explain later.”
He summoned the steward to prepare the horses and personally placed Ella in front of him, since she didn’t know how to ride. The steward, bewildered by the sudden departure, could only watch the two of them disappear into the night.
—
They rode tirelessly through the night, reaching Elden Village only when darkness had fully fallen.
“Down there, the house with the green roof is ours.”
Ella pointed to a small cabin at the foot of the hill. The duke’s horse stopped in front, and Ella hurriedly knocked on the door, calling her siblings’ names.
“Bang, bang!”
“Ideen! Karl! Sister!”
Two boys with brown hair and green eyes peeked out from the weathered door, resembling Ella.
“Sis?”
“Ideen, Karl!”
Ella embraced her siblings tightly, tears welling in her eyes. Their mother had passed away shortly after giving birth to the youngest sibling, and their father had succumbed to the aftermath of war, leaving debts behind. Ella had stepped into the void, caring for her siblings while paying off her father’s gambling debts, eventually entering the duke’s household for five years’ worth of salary in advance.
Now, her younger siblings, who had been left alone, greeted her in disheveled states. Seeing them, Ella repeatedly apologized, stroking their heads.
“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…”
“Sniff… Sis…”
It had been a week since the youngest sister went out to take on work and didn’t return. Realizing they couldn’t find her, the guard told them she was likely taken by traffickers. Ideen and Karl had raised money through the village head to send a letter to their older sister. Overwhelmed with emotion, they finally clung to Ella, letting their tears flow.
Karl, still crying, noticed the duke standing behind him with a cold expression and whispered to Ella,
“Sis, who’s that scary man?”
Ella realized the duke had been standing there all along and wiped her tears, standing up.
“Oh, Duke, these are my siblings, Ideen and Karl.”
“Greet the duke, boys. He’s Duke Glois, the owner of the place where your sister works.”
Unaware of his status, Ideen greeted as politely as he could.
“Hello, I’m Ideen.”
“And I’m Karl!”
Karl imitated his older brother, greeting shyly but politely. The duke, seeing the tiny siblings, unconsciously smiled.
“Duke, please come into our house!”
As the duke’s smile softened his demeanor, Karl tugged at his hand and led him inside. Knowing the duke disliked physical contact, Ella tried to stop Karl, but the duke shook his head and walked in willingly. The house was old but tidy.
“Sis, did you get my letter?”
Once inside, Ideen asked Ella.
“Yes… Mari… Mari has gone missing? When?”
Ideen explained carefully, holding back tears.
“A week ago, our little sister said she was going downtown for work, but she didn’t come back. We searched all night with the villagers… couldn’t find her, so we reported it to the guards. They said she was probably kidnapped by traffickers, and we wouldn’t be able to find her…”
“Have there been other disappearances lately?”
“Yes, Sis. Yesterday, Vivian from next door also went downtown and disappeared. Aunt Angela searched all night.”
“Did you find her?”
Ella asked, hoping for a glimmer of hope, but Ideen shook his head silently.
The duke, observing the siblings, muttered quietly,
“Downtown seems to be a common factor. Tomorrow, at first light, we’ll go together.”
“Yes, thank you, Duke.”
