TSHL 27

Chapter 27

“I missed him.”
A few minutes later, the Duke returned to the gallery. He was sweating, as if he had been running around alone without any knights.
I calmly finished drying the dishes at the counter.

“It seems we’ll have to stay here for a while. I’ve sent a summons to the palace knights, and I’ve temporarily called Lorencia’s security force, so they should arrive soon. Since he was found at this shop, we’ll need to search the surrounding area first, so I’d like your cooperation.”
“…Do as you wish.”
My mind was already calm, so I replied indifferently.

“Kasiah, I need to hear from you about what you know as well.”
He stood in front of the counter, watching me busily work as he spoke.

“Tell me everything you know about the Third Prince—how you know him, when he arrived here, and so on.”
“…He is a guest at my gallery. He stayed here for about a month, visiting the shop from time to time.”

“What did you talk about? I understand the palace knights already searched Lorencia once. If he’s been here since then, he must have a place he’s been staying. Have you heard anything about where he lives?”
“I don’t know. We never had conversations that deep.”

“Seeing how you hid him earlier, you clearly knew he was the Third Prince. How did you find out?”
“When the palace knights visited Lorencia, they showed me a portrait of him. That’s how I knew.”

Even looking at him was uncomfortable, and him asking so many questions was sharpening my nerves.
Though I had calmed down, I wasn’t feeling very good.
I put down the dish I was drying and spoke.

“I felt sorry for him. He must have had a reason to disappear from the palace, yet he became a target everywhere, hunted by the palace. I wanted my gallery to be even a small space of rest for him.”

“……”

“That’s why I treated him only as a guest, not acknowledging that I knew him. In fact, he never once told me he was a prince. That’s all. Have I answered your questions now?”

I felt like everything was falling apart.
No, really, life in Lorencia was spiraling out of control.
Nick came looking for me and showed no intention of leaving, the Duke came asking why I left the Duke family without even signing the divorce papers, and the unfamiliar guest Arwin faced the hunting dogs chasing him here, putting his location at risk.

I realized everything I had planned and dreamed of was being ruined.
And Diana—the one who had started all of this—was nowhere to be found. I was furious.

“I suppose I’ve been quite a bother to you today.”
Seeing my dark expression, the Duke took a step back and said this.

At that moment, the gallery door opened, and Nick, who had woken late, entered.
“Mother, I’m here… Father?”
He widened his eyes at the sight of the Duke already there.

Nick seemed about to say something more, but the Duke glanced at me and suggested they talk outside, taking Nick with him.
The gallery became quiet. I stood blankly for a moment before dropping into the chair at the counter, letting out a deep sigh.
…Is Arwin okay?
Irreversible changes were unfolding around me.

5. His Identity

Soon after, an enormous number of palace knights arrived in Lorencia—enough to be sent in wartime.
Carrying golden banners adorned with lions symbolizing the royal family, they arrived in Lorencia and came to my gallery.
Technically, they came for the Duke inside my gallery.

“This time, His Majesty the Emperor has asked us to find the Prince, so we leave it to you,” the knight captain said, kneeling before him and delivering the Emperor’s words respectfully.

Lorencia’s temporary security withdrew from guarding the shop.
Immediately, the massive number of knights was deployed efficiently throughout Lorencia.
My gallery, where the Third Prince was first discovered, became a base for the search.
Naturally, my business was suspended. The Duke explained it was unavoidable since the Third Prince primarily stayed here, adding that any potential loss would be fully compensated.

“Do as you wish.”
Exhausted for some reason, I simply said that and went outside.

I spent the next few days lazing at home, feeling uneasy.
Where was Arwin? Had he left Lorencia, or was he hiding somewhere in fear?
I felt sorry for him. I only wanted him to stay in Lorencia a little longer, but it seemed I had instead trapped him.
If I knew where he was hiding, I would have gone to help him escape.

But it was impossible.
The palace knights were watching me, because of the possibility I might contact Arwin.
Under their watch, I could do nothing suspicious—just lying around, painting, or occasionally going to the market.

Rumors spread quickly across Lorencia that I had seen and hidden the Third Prince.
Whenever I went to the market, curious people would stop me with questions.
“Did you really see the Third Prince? What does he look like? Is he just like the portrait? What did you talk about?”
Knights would appear to stop them.
At such times, I thought it was a relief that there were always knights watching me.
Lorencia was rapidly descending into chaos.
“….”
And I was getting exhausted too.

A few days later, some comforting news arrived to soothe my weary mind.
I received a reply from Michael to the letter I had sent about the situation.

“This is a letter from Count Allison.”
A messenger from the count’s house came to deliver Michael’s letter.
I hadn’t smiled in days, so I felt a lift in my spirits.

“Thank you,” I said, taking the letter with a flutter in my chest.
As I opened it, a knight standing nearby approached.

“Madam, we must verify what kind of letter this is.”
“It’s private. Do you really have to see it?”
Technically, I was still legally the Duchess of Fuidrian, but I had already mentally divorced him and treated them politely out of courtesy.

Seeing my displeasure, the knights looked troubled. I said,
“If you don’t look, it could be problematic for you too. I’ll show it this time. But if nothing unusual is found, don’t report to His Excellency.”
“…But we are obliged to report.”
“If you must report…” I glanced at them, then smiled slyly.

“No, please do report. Say that the Duchess of Fuidrian received a love letter.”
“…What?”
The knights’ eyes widened. I handed them the letter, and as they scanned it, they coughed awkwardly before returning it.
“See? Tell them it’s a love letter—from Count Allison. And if they don’t want family complications, also tell them to quickly sign the divorce papers.”
“…Understood, Madam.”

“Also, add this.”
The recent chaotic changes in Lorencia had left me exhausted.
Anyone would feel the same being spied on and losing control of their life.
I had become aggressive—no, I was no longer willing to lose my life. I continued firmly.

“If you keep intruding on my privacy, I won’t stay quiet anymore.”
…Their faces turned pale.

Why had I endured so far?
Lately, I found myself questioning it, ever since members of the Fuidrian family kept appearing in front of me.
A future different from what I wished was unfolding. I could feel my life here, where I wanted to live peacefully, was being destroyed.
I felt the need to actively defend myself, to avoid being dragged back into the Fuidrian world.

In hindsight, I no longer needed to endure.
For seven years, I had silently lived as the Duchess for Diana. Protecting what my beloved friend cherished was my top priority.

But now, that was over.
The seven-year contract with the Duke had ended, and I chose divorce according to that contract.
I had left the Duke’s residence.
Now, with the contract over, we were complete strangers.
I didn’t want to be entangled with them, nor return.
I had my own life and wanted to live it on my own terms.
With the contract over, I could return to being just myself.

To protect my true self, no longer the Duke’s wife, I felt the need to grow stronger.