Episode 27: Joshua Appears Again
“What, what is it? You scared me.”
Surprised by the astrologer who suddenly screamed, Anna grumbled while clutching Ella’s hand tightly.
“Ah, s-sorry. Miss, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen such dark and powerful energy.”
Ella, who had asked for a fortune reading without much thought, became uneasy at the astrologer’s frightened reaction.
“Is something bad?”
When Ella hesitantly asked, the astrologer gave an awkward smile.
“Well… it’s not necessarily bad, but not good either… I don’t know how to put it. You have fate tied to meeting many good men. But a man with a very frightening aura is blocking all of that… So unfortunately, you are destined to meet only the man with that frightening energy.”
“What? What do you mean? So Ella can only date that scary man?”
At Anna’s question, the astrologer picked up the crystal ball that had rolled to the floor, placed it back on the table, and nodded.
“That man drives away every other man near you. Even if someone is interested, they cannot approach you.”
“Then we just have to drive him away!”
Anna clenched her fist and shouted, but the astrologer shook his head firmly.
“No. You and that man are already tangled like a knotted thread that can no longer be undone. I’ve never seen a connection bound so tightly. You must have already met him…”
“Ella, do you know who it is?”
Anna looked at Ella anxiously.
“Well…”
Ella avoided answering, but she knew there was only one man deeply intertwined with her—Duke Gloice. Yet he was a high-ranking noble of the Empire, while she was merely a maid born a commoner.
Even if it was a fate twisted like tangled threads, she and the duke could never be together.
“Hm, so you have no idea. Strange… you definitely must have met already.”
The astrologer tilted his head, puzzled by Ella’s response.
“Ella, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have pushed you into getting a reading.”
Hearing the unpleasant fortune, Anna apologized, feeling guilty for insisting they visit.
“No, it’s okay.”
Ella comforted Anna, who looked dejected. After paying, they were about to leave when the astrologer hesitated and added a warning.
“And Miss… please be careful. Many things will happen to you this year.”
Anna frowned at the astrologer’s serious expression and quickly pulled Ella outside.
“Ugh, seriously. She couldn’t say one nice thing at the end?”
“It’s fine. It’s just a fortune-telling. Anyway, we should hurry—we still need to buy gifts, right?”
Ella smiled seeing Anna more upset than herself.
“Oh! I almost forgot the most important part!”
Time was short, so Ella and Anna hurried to the general store. Inside, it was packed with people preparing New Year’s gifts.
Anna skillfully squeezed through the crowd, quickly filling her basket with popular items.
“Hah… hah…”
Breathing heavily, Anna barely finished paying and exited the store.
“You okay?”
Ella gently tidied Anna’s messy hair.
“Yes! Look—I got the last lace hair ribbon!”
Anna proudly waved the white lace ribbon, and Ella smiled.
“It’s pretty. It suits you.”
“Hehe, aren’t you getting anything?”
“No, I’m planning to bake cookies and gift them instead.”
It was tradition to exchange gifts and well wishes during the New Year, so Ella planned to bake cookies herself.
“Really? Then let’s go.”
As Anna rambled excitedly about how she snatched the last lace ribbon, the two entered an alley. There, an old woman sat selling trinkets on a mat.
Among the small items, a glass bird ornament caught Ella’s eye.
Without realizing it, Ella stopped and stared. The old woman smiled warmly and explained.
“This is a bird called ‘Imago.’ If you have this bird charm, you’ll only have good dreams. For such a pretty girl, I’ll sell it to you cheap.”
“It’s pretty, Ella. It would look nice hanging by the window.”
The transparent glass bird glittered under the sunlight, scattering rainbow-like light.
“How much is it?”
“Just 10 cooper.”
Fortunately, the price was low, so Ella paid without hesitation. She hadn’t intended to buy anything, but the mention of ‘good dreams’ made her think of the duke, who often suffered nightmares.
As the sky darkened, Ella and Anna hurried toward the duke’s mansion. Near the estate, someone called out.
“Ella! Ella!”
A man wearing his hood low approached. When Ella couldn’t recognize him, he lifted it slightly.
“…Joshua?”
Ella stumbled back, recognizing Joshua—the man whose wanted posters were everywhere. Shock hit her like ice.
“W-wait, Ella. Can we talk?”
“Talk? About how you lured my sister and sold her to traffickers?”
Unable to suppress her anger, Ella snapped sharply. Joshua pleaded desperately.
“That’s not true, Ella! Please listen to me.”
Ella stepped back slowly, widening the distance, but Joshua stepped forward each time.
“You fled the moment you heard Vivian returned. If you’re innocent, tell the city guards. I don’t know why you came to me—just turn yourself in!”
Ella shouted.
“I didn’t do anything wrong! Why should I turn myself in!?”
“You sold my sister and her friends!”
“T-that was a misunderstanding! I can explain everything—”
“Don’t come any closer!”
Joshua refused to back down, determined to speak with her. Feeling danger, Ella subtly signaled Anna behind her. Sharp-witted Anna sensed trouble and dashed toward the mansion.
Ella ran right after her.
“W-wait!”
Joshua chased frantically. Ella ran with all she had, but he was faster. He caught her by the hem of her clothes.
“Let go! Anna—! Get people!”
When Anna paused, Ella screamed for her to call others. On the verge of tears, Anna ran to the mansion for help.
“Damn it! Ella! If you keep resisting, I won’t hold back anymore!”
His face twisted into something demonic. He pressed a cloth soaked in anesthetic over Ella’s mouth and nose.
“This is all your fault.”
As Ella fell unconscious, Joshua threw her over his shoulder and mounted a hidden horse. Glancing at her limp figure, he fled before anyone arrived.
—
Anna stumbled into the mansion, tears streaming, barely managing to shout through tremors.
“Ella… Ella was kidnapped!”
Startled servants rushed outside.
“Anna! What do you mean kidnapped?!”
“Please, hurry! Help Ella! Please!”
The butler and Roy ran first, sensing urgency from Anna’s pale face. But when they arrived, Joshua and Ella were already gone.
Only Ella’s blue hair ribbon and scattered hoofprints remained.
Returning empty-handed, the butler was met with Anna sobbing into her hands.
“S-sir Butler… what about Ella?”
“She was already gone. Did you see who it was?”
Hearing this, Anna collapsed to her knees. Trembling, she confessed through tears.
“They knew each other… Ella called him Joshua…”
“Someone she knew kidnapped her?”
“Yes… and it sounded related to the trafficking case…”
Realizing the severity, the head maid ordered Bill to contact the guards immediately.
“Bill, report to the guards at once! I’ll go inform the duke myself!”
She entered the duke’s office, face pale.
“My lord—E-Ella has been kidnapped!”
The duke’s expression twisted instantly. He slammed his desk, sending ink and books crashing to the floor.
“What did you just say?!”
The head maid collapsed in shock at his terrifying demeanor. The butler hurried to assist and explained instead.
“W-While returning with Anna… they met a man—Joshua—and he took Ella…”
Before he finished, the duke seized his sword from the wall and ran outside.
