- CHAPTER 09
It wasn’t until daylight that Kaelan finally emerged—stepping out from the Duke’s study by way of a secret passage only he knew existed.
He quietly slid the hidden door shut, smoothing over any signs of disruption by straightening the books he’d nudged loose in the process. With practiced ease, he shrugged off his black robe and walked out of the study as if nothing had happened.
The estate’s study was off-limits to servants except during specific hours, so even if someone saw him leaving, no one would question it. Kaelan made his way to his room with confident, steady steps.
They’d assume he had simply spent the night working or studying.
As he opened his bedroom door, his waiting attendant approached to take the robe from his arms.
“You’ve returned, young master.”
“Mm. Anyone come looking for me while I was gone?”
“Madam left a note for you this morning, sir.”
“A note?”
Kaelan’s brows drew together as he took the envelope lying neatly on the desk. Even with the chaos of his secret trip to Blue Raven, his attendant had received the message with professional calm.
She left a note? For me?
Kaelan,
Something urgent came up and I had to step out.
Since you weren’t in your room, I’m leaving this note.
I’ll try to be back before dinner, but if I don’t make it in time, please inform the children and go ahead without me.
Kaelan scowled as he finished reading.
How irritating.
Still staring at the letter, he flicked his finger in the air. The attendant who had taken his robe approached immediately.
“Who received this letter?”
“I did, sir.”
“And who delivered it?”
“One of Madam’s maids.”
“A maid?”
“Yes, sir.”
Kaelan leaned his chin on his right hand, drumming the fingers of his other hand against the desk.
Tap—tat—tap—tap.
After a moment of thought, he spoke again.
“Aran.”
“Yes, young master?”
“Did you tell anyone I’d be away?”
“No, sir. I haven’t told a soul.”
“Right… I figured as much.”
No way Aran would’ve said anything to her about me.
Then how…?
“Aran, do you remember the face of the maid who brought this letter?”
“I do.”
“Bring her to my room.”
“Understood.”
“And call the steward too.”
“Yes, sir.”
“You’re dismissed.”
At Kaelan’s command, the attendant gave a respectful bow and stepped out of the room, closing the door behind him.
Now alone in silence, Kaelan reclined in his chair and closed his eyes.
Only two people knew about last night’s outing: Aran and the steward.
“Since you weren’t in your room, I’m leaving this note.”
Yet somehow, she knew he hadn’t been in the mansion.
No way the steward told her. Aran wouldn’t, either.
Did someone see me leave through the passage?
Unlikely—but still more plausible than betrayal from those two.
Did someone discover the secret passage?
The Duke’s hidden passages were known only to the heads of the house—and Kaelan had inherited that knowledge from his father.
No… there’s no way Father would’ve told her.
Even if he did go mad enough to bring her into the mansion, he wouldn’t go that far.
Kaelan’s jaw tightened as frustration carved itself into his face.
And another thing—
That woman had never once missed a family dinner. Not once.
Now she suddenly leaves the mansion, even though there’s a chance she might not make it back in time for the meal she treats like a sacred ritual?
She wasn’t even the type to go out to begin with.
So what could’ve been so urgent?
From the moment Kaelan read Bella’s note, his mood had turned sour.
And both the steward’s account and the maid’s explanation only made things worse.
Knock knock.
“Come in.”
“You summoned me, young master?”
“Yes. I had a question for you, Steward.”
“Ask away, sir.”
Kaelan wasn’t calling the steward in out of suspicion—just to eliminate all doubt.
“She went out today. Do you know where?”
“No, sir. Madam didn’t mention anything to me.”
“So no destination… and she left me a note. Said I wasn’t in my room.”
“I see.”
“But she never came by. So how did she know I was gone?”
“…Madam knew that?”
The steward, usually composed no matter what, looked genuinely caught off guard.
“I’m not accusing you. It’s just—only you, Aran, and I knew I’d be away. I’m trying to be thorough.”
“Understood.”
“I already spoke to Aran. Now, Steward—did you tell anyone I’d gone out?”
“No, sir. I did not.”
Kaelan looked straight into the steward’s eyes. They didn’t waver. After a long pause, he nodded.
“Alright. You may go.”
“Yes, young master.”
With both Aran and the steward accounted for, he had ruled out the obvious possibilities.
But that only left one question looming larger than ever:
How the hell did she know I wasn’t here?
He went down the list, ruling things out one by one—but the closer he got, the more tangled his thoughts became.
As the steward quietly left, another knock came at the door.
Knock knock.
“Come in.”
“Young master, it’s Aran. I’ve brought the maid who delivered the letter.”
“Send the maid in. Alone.”
“Yes, sir.”
The maid stepped into the room and immediately bowed her head.
“Young master Kaelan. I was told you wished to speak with me.”
“You’re the one who brought the letter to my room?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Did she say anything else when she gave it to you?”
“No, sir.”
“Did she ask about my whereabouts?”
“No, sir.”
“Before giving you the letter, did she leave her room?”
“Um… No, sir.”
Even more suspicious.
She never left her room. She didn’t ask anyone where I was. And yet… she knew I wasn’t in mine.
“Tell me everything she did before going out today.”
“Madam woke early, told the steward she was going out, then asked me to fetch writing paper. She wrote the letter and handed it to me to deliver to you.”
“You’re certain she never left her room before that?”
“I did leave briefly to get the paper, but I returned right away. I don’t believe she stepped out in that time.”
“How long were you gone?”
“No more than five minutes at most.”
“…Five minutes, huh.”
Five minutes wasn’t nearly enough to leave her room, go to mine, and return unnoticed.
Kaelan waved a hand, signaling the maid to leave. She bowed once more and stepped out.
She didn’t confirm whether I was in or out. Yet she still knew I was gone.
Could she have predicted I’d interrogate the maid?
If so… she had no intention of hiding that she knew.
Then did she include that line in the note on purpose?
No. I’m overthinking it.
No way she planned that far ahead.
But still…
The Cassandra affair. The secret passage. My absence from the mansion.
She knew things she shouldn’t have known—and made no effort to hide it.
How… infuriating.
None of this adds up.
Then Kaelan suddenly remembered something Anna had said not long ago.
“Kaelan, don’t you think she’s been acting strange lately?”
She had changed. That was undeniable.
“She used to cry at everything. But now… she talks back. It’s like she’s become someone else.”
People don’t change that easily.
“Even Haldeir said something. She always used to say she was fine no matter what, right? But the day she messed up the office—she didn’t say anything like that. She just told him to get out.”
Unless they’d died and come back…
“Reyna swears there’s something off. She said the way Bella looked at her that day—it was like she knew exactly what they’d done.”
Bella had changed.
“What about you? Have you noticed anything?”
What was her goal? What was she aiming for?
“The servants are talking, too. They thought the estate would fall apart after the Duke vanished—but she’s handling it well. Says hello to everyone, smiles, listens.”
If she was after the Duke’s position, it wouldn’t matter. When I come of age, it’ll be mine.
No matter how well she runs things or earns the servants’ favor, once I become Duke, she’ll have to leave.
Is she trying to secure enough goodwill to stay?
“I don’t know. Something’s changed since the Duke disappeared.”
Whatever the reason, if the change started after Father vanished… maybe this is the real her.
Kaelan twirled the note between his fingers, then tossed it onto the desk with a flick.
And though he’d returned to rest after his outing, sleep was the last thing on his mind.
Meanwhile, Bella sat inside a private room overlooking a bustling auction house.
Her eyes tracked the rising price of an item displayed on stage.
“1,000 krang!”
“Yes, 1,000 krang! Bidder #99 at 1,000 krang!”
Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd.
Then, as silence fell, Bella raised her placard—marked #101—and calmly doubled the bid.
“2,000 krang.”
“…Ah! Bidder #101! 2,000 krang!”
