Chapter 111
“Hidden Motive (1)”
After ten years apart, the two of them hugged and cried bitterly.
Some servants who looked like they worked in the Grand Duke’s castle wiped their eyes as they watched Rebellia, who was crying like a child in Anna’s arms.
Edwin stood a few steps away, watching them too.
‘Is that Rebellia Piace, Anna’s daughter?’
In fact, this was the first time Edwin had seen Rebellia’s face up close.
She had not attended the party, so he had not had a chance before.
The Marquis had said Rebellia could not attend because she was weak like her mother, but people had whispered that she was being hidden because she did not look like the Marquis.
Edwin usually didn’t believe gossip, but today he understood why people talked that way.
‘Rebellia Piace does not look like the Marquis at all.’
She looked just like Anna in her youth.
Even seeing her made Edwin’s feelings stir.
Her soft purple hair, pale skin, and the red eyes like her mother’s—
‘Blue?’
Edwin’s heart skipped when he saw Rebellia’s watery, lake-colored eyes looking at Anna.
A memory of long ago flashed in his mind—Anna’s words to him.
“I want our child to have your eyes, Edwin. Your clear, pretty lake-like eyes.”
Hearing those words made his heart pound.
A thousand thoughts crossed his mind.
He took a few nervous steps forward, but someone blocked him.
“Step aside…!”
“Forgive me for the intrusion, Count Elliana.”
Edwin paused at the voice and looked up.
He hurriedly bowed when he remembered the man’s face.
“Apologies for the late greeting. I am Calliere, Grand Duke of Esperos.”
“Nice to meet you, Count Elliana. I thought I might be invisible to you.”
Calliere’s dry remark made Edwin flinch, but Edwin answered awkwardly.
“No, not at all. I’ve been busy and delayed my greetings.”
“……”
“I heard Your Grace saved Arthur and me. Thank you again.”
“It was not for the thanks, but I am glad you are safe.”
Calliere seemed to understand everything, but he did not move from the spot where he stood.
Seeing Edwin try to check on the two again, Calliere spoke as if he knew nothing.
“Please come inside. You must be tired from the journey; we have prepared a place for you to rest.”
“Oh, I—”
“Count Elliana.”
Calliere watched Edwin’s face and said firmly, “You do not look well.”
“Eh? No, no. I’m fine…!”
“You should rest, and let them have some time. It’s their meeting after ten years.”
Calliere pointed behind Edwin, and Edwin realized his mistake. He bowed.
“I was thoughtless. Thank you for your kindness, Your Grace.”
Edwin followed Calliere as he guided him to a room, but his eyes kept returning to Anna and Rebellia.
They helped each other to stand and walked unsteadily. The sight kept tugging at him.
His head was a mess.
“Do you mean someone noticed my plan?” Crocan’s voice was cold and hard between his clenched teeth.
Damon answered quickly.
“No, not exactly. The hunting dog we planted in Raymond reported the bodies first. When we checked the scene, all were dead.”
“……”
“He said they all showed signs of poisoning.”
Hearing this, Crocan’s face crumpled like paper.
He swallowed dryly and continued carefully.
“So, I think—though I don’t know why—someone among them used Girnen’s poison without permission.”
“……”
“They also found a bottle near the forest where the bodies were found.”
“Those fools!” Crocan snapped in rage.
He could not believe how they had used the poison he had worked so hard to get.
He felt like smashing his office.
“Five are dead. Where is the one who survived?” he demanded.
“We don’t know his whereabouts yet,” Damon said. “But it’s not likely he did this. He is not capable; he is weaker than the others.”
Crocan pressed his head as it ached.
Delphian Zeros’ face flashed in his mind.
‘Could Delphian have done this to rescue Heidi Elliana by taking Anna Piace as a hostage?’
The thought came suddenly, but Crocan did not dismiss it as impossible.
He had already put the Elliana house under his watch; he suspected Heidi was involved.
“Damn it!” Crocan shouted and threw his teacup onto the table. It shattered into pieces.
Still furious, he thought, ‘Anna Piace must not fall into the Crown Prince’s hands!’
Anna was a collection of his faults.
If she fell into Delphian’s hands and told what happened—that he had kept her imprisoned for years—the Louisbia family would pressure him.
His mind went back to Anna’s face from over ten years ago when she had been forced into his bed.
‘Please let me go, Marquis. I am already another man’s…!’’
‘Close your mouth, Anna. We already know.’’
He even remembered the cruel words he had used to silence her.
A strange satisfaction had risen when he saw Anna’s shocked face then.
‘I will not let you go, Anna. If you complain about the child in your womb, you will be shamed. If you stay like Anna Piace, I will let you and the child live as Piace.’’
‘If you refuse to live like Anna Piace…’
He had used the child to force her.
Holding his staff tight, his knuckles pale, Crocan’s mind returned to Rebellia’s face from the Remstone celebration—the girl in a white dress like Anna’s wedding dress, walking toward him.
“Rebellia.”
Crocan turned to the trembling Damon.
“Have you heard from Rebellia?”
“No, My Lord. No news from her yet.”
If he could not capture Anna, he would make her come crawling to him.
“Send a secret letter to Rebellia. Tell her to return to Zeros at once if she wants her mother alive.”
“Eh? B-but madam—! No, I’ll send it right away.”
Damon hurried from the office at Crocan’s harsh order.
Crocan stared at the closed door and smiled bitterly.
There would be nowhere left for Anna to run.
