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Chapter 6
“What exactly are you hoping to hear, huh?”
The middle-aged restaurant owner shot a displeased glare at Desion and Noah.
Perhaps wary of rumors that he had unfairly driven out the previous owners, he was extremely guarded toward strangers.
And yet, the reason he did not throw them out was likely the aura they carried despite their dull-colored cloaks.
Even just their composed, refined features made it clear they were children of some noble house.
“I’ll say it again. I have no intention of lecturing you about business ethics. I only want to know about the previous owners of this place.”
At last, the owner spoke reluctantly, still looking uneasy.
“I don’t know much about them. We weren’t exactly close. All I know is that the wife of that household was very ill.”
“The wife?”
The owner nodded.
“So the husband went around the village borrowing money from everyone he could. In the end, he sold this restaurant for a bargain and left the village. That was more than five years ago.”
“You don’t know where they went after leaving?”
The shop owner shrugged with his arms crossed.
“I didn’t hear it directly, but it’s easy to guess. It’s obvious.”
Desion and Noah’s eyes slightly widened.
“Obvious?”
“You can tell just by looking around. This village isn’t exactly prosperous. If they were pushed out even from a place like this, there’s only one place they could’ve gone. Everton, over there.”
“Everton?”
“It’s about an hour away by carriage. If you pass through the western forest, you’ll reach a hillside road. A village sits at the top. Poor people live packed tightly together there.”
“….”
“I’m not sure your fancy carriage would even make it up that road, though…”
Only an hour away.
It was much closer than Desion had expected.
It’s likely another dead end anyway.
Noah lightly tapped Desion’s shoulder.
“Don’t look so drained already. It’s only an hour away. Let’s go.”
* * *
A mixture of expectation and doubt.
Clinging to a faint hope, they arrived at the village called Everton.
Even Desion, who had traveled across the empire, found the scenery unfamiliar.
A steep hill so sharp that carriages could barely climb it. Crowded atop it were dilapidated houses packed tightly together without the slightest gap.
So there was a place like this…
The makeshift huts, clearly built with whatever materials were available, reeked of poverty.
Wiping sweat from his brow as they climbed, Noah spoke.
“This might be tougher than I thought.”
Desion nodded.
“When I checked the map, it didn’t look large. I thought we could search it quickly… I didn’t expect so many people living here.”
“Where should we start? Maybe we should split up.”
“Yes, that would be better. You take the western district. I’ll handle the eastern side.”
“Got it. Let’s meet back here later.”
Separated from Noah, Desion went from house to house, asking about women matching the princess’s appearance.
But no matter how much he searched, no one had seen such a woman.
Blonde hair. Violet eyes.
Distinct features—far from common.
And yet no one knew.
So the innkeeper’s guess was just a guess after all. Maybe this was a dead end from the start. Things rarely go this smoothly.
Desion let out a faint, bitter laugh.
He briefly hoped Noah might have better results, but the man walking toward him already looked just as empty-handed.
Desion spoke calmly, hiding his disappointment.
“No luck, I see.”
“You either? This is troublesome.”
“Even in a village with this many people, no one has seen her…”
Noah suddenly clapped loudly to break the mood.
“Now now, it’s too early to give up. We haven’t checked the village at the top of the hill or the one beyond it.”
Desion nodded.
“Let’s stop for today. It’s nearly evening.”
The sun was already dipping behind the hill, the sky turning a deep orange.
Since Everton had neither proper inns nor restaurants, the two reluctantly began descending the hill.
Noah stretched his stiff shoulders.
“More than anything, the fact that we have to climb this monstrous slope again tomorrow is terrifying.”
Unlike Noah, Desion remained perfectly composed.
“You’re just out of shape.”
“Not everyone is a monster like you. I’m just an ordinary, normal—”
Noah suddenly stopped speaking.
“Wait… that young lady over there is climbing that hill carrying all that luggage by herself?”
Desion followed Noah’s gaze.
Down the slope, a woman in a dark gray cloak was walking upward, carrying a load almost as large as herself. Even for a strong man, the steep climb would be exhausting, yet she walked without stopping.
Just then—
Whoooosh.
A wind from the west swept across the hillside.
The woman paused for a moment.
Then—
Slip.
Her hood was blown off.
“…!”
Golden hair flowed into view.
Even in the dim light, Desion’s eyes widened sharply as he recognized that unmistakable color.
And the next moment, he moved instinctively.
Leaving Noah behind, he rushed down the slope.
The distance closed rapidly—from far away… to close enough to see her clearly.
Pale skin. Delicate face. Doll-like features.
And then—
Desion stopped abruptly.
For some reason, her face felt familiar.
“…Eloise’s maid?”
* * *
“Ugh…”
Heidi adjusted the heavy bundles in her arms again. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she climbed the steep hill.
“When I get home, I need to wash all the bedding… and oil the floors too…”
The house, left unattended for so long, was in terrible condition. Dishes were chipped, and wooden walls were warped, letting in drafts everywhere.
It wasn’t always wealthy, but it wasn’t this bad before…
She sighed deeply.
If she hadn’t come back this time, she might never have known.
I’m so glad the allowance the young lady gave me was enough. At least I can cover this month’s expenses.
As she climbed, she suddenly looked up.
A tall silhouette was approaching from a distance.
Heidi narrowed her eyes.
That doesn’t look like someone from around here.
Even without seeing his face clearly due to the backlight, she could tell from his silhouette alone—his clothing was far too refined for this village.
Why would someone like that be here?
While she wondered, the man approached quickly.
Soon they were close enough to see each other’s faces.
Heidi’s eyes widened.
“…My lord?”
No matter how many times she looked, the man standing before her was the Marquis of Heizen—her master.
The surprise seemed mutual. The man pointed at her and finally spoke.
“You…”
Heidi quickly bent her knee and bowed.
“Hello, Your Excellency. I am Heidi Dalton, maid in service of Lady Eloise.”
“…Heidi Dalton.”
Desion repeated her name slowly, as if engraving it into memory.
Then he met her eyes.
“What are you doing here?”
