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Chapter 78
The butler took a step closer and spoke.
“Only a few things are missing, but considering she hardly had any belongings to begin with… it appears the room has been completely vacated. We also discovered that the lock on the back door leading to the rear garden had been broken.”
He looked at his master through the reflection in the mirror.
As the Duke slowly raised his lowered gaze until it met his own, the butler unconsciously stiffened.
The look in his master’s eyes was anything but ordinary.
“Your Grace, it’s Moses. I’ll come in.”
Following the butler inside, the aide entered the room as well.
Even amidst the chaos brought on by the Name’s manifestation, the Duke had noticed Lirette’s disappearance and issued orders. They had come to deliver the results.
“According to the knights’ report from dawn, evidence has been found that jewelry bearing your family’s crest was sold in Pellini.”
Valderion’s eyes narrowed.
Pellini.
He knew the coastal city well.
Every day, countless vessels—steamships, cargo ships, passenger liners—came and went from the bustling harbor. It was the empire’s greatest center of maritime trade.
Naturally, there were innumerable ships bound for foreign countries as well.
“How many days has it been?”
“Eight days since the manifestation began, Your Grace.”
At those words, Valderion quietly closed his eyes.
‘She must already be gone by now.’
Despite the calmness in his expression, he instantly accepted the conclusion least favorable to himself.
Just then, the Name etched across his chest flared with heat before a sharp pain pierced through it.
He let out a heavy breath.
Every time he physically felt how deeply Lirette affected him…
Something inside him twisted even tighter.
“There’s a high chance she left the empire through the harbor. Send word to the knights in Pellini to investigate accordingly.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Valderion gave a brief nod.
Understanding immediately, the butler hurried over with his clothes.
While assisting him in dressing, the butler could see his expression far more clearly than he had in the mirror.
The intensity radiating from the Duke’s face had only grown stronger.
“Sir Tillin is standing by. If you give the order, he’ll begin the pursuit immediately—”
“No.”
Pulling his shirt over the broad muscles of his back and fastening it neatly to his collar, Valderion spoke as though announcing a settled decision.
“I’ll go to Pellini myself.”
His mind was still clouded.
And in that haze, countless images of Lirette flashed before his eyes, one after another, throwing his thoughts into even greater disarray.
The meaning behind Lirette leaving him was not something to be taken lightly.
Now that the Name had bound them together…
His absence meant death for her.
If she remained away from him…
Her death was all but certain.
Which meant…
Between him and death…
She had chosen death.
The conclusion carved painfully into his chest.
What exactly was I to her?
Does she still hate me…?
Still resent me…?
Still despise me enough to shudder at the thought of me…?
If so…
Then what had all the time they spent together meant?
Was he the only one who had treasured every moment?
The only one for whom those days had become irreplaceable?
The only one who had carefully cherished each passing memory more than anything else?
Valderion’s lips twisted into a savage smile.
“If she’s truly that desperate to die…”
Then he would personally snap that pale, graceful neck himself.
His heart, blackened beyond recognition…
Beat with nothing but murderous intent.
Meanwhile…
Water carrying floating crimson flower petals streamed down Dailen’s body as he rose from the bath.
His perfectly sculpted physique was gradually hidden beneath the robe his attendants draped over his shoulders.
Stepping out of the bath, Dailen swept back his damp hair.
A droplet that had escaped drying slid precariously down from beneath his half-lidded eyes before an attendant carefully wiped it away.
The moment he entered the bedroom, an official who had been anxiously pacing the room rushed toward him barefoot.
“Your Highness. Good morning.”
The moment Dailen recognized him, his face immediately filled with annoyance.
Lately, this man had been visiting him constantly because of the upcoming coronation.
“I’m not so sure.”
“I think your presence is about to ruin this perfectly good morning.”
Three attendants immediately gathered around Dailen as he sat on the sofa.
One carefully dried his damp hair.
Another fanned him to help it dry faster.
The last placed a cigar between his fingers before lighting a special cigar match.
“Haha…”
The official laughed awkwardly.
The medicinal scent gradually filling the room nearly made him wrinkle his brow, and he struggled to keep his expression composed.
In front of the Crown Prince—
No…
The man who would soon become Emperor—
One had to be extremely careful with both words and manners.
“There are several matters requiring Your Highness’s attention today.”
Dailen had expected him to bring yet another stack of luxurious fabrics and ask which colors best suited the coronation.
Instead…
The official extended a thick stack of documents.
Government business?
Holding the cigar between his lips, Dailen casually accepted them.
Taking that as permission to continue, the official immediately launched into a torrent of explanations.
“First, authorization is needed regarding the collection method for penalties related to violations of the trade tariff laws. Once Your Highness reaches a decision, we’ll proceed accordingly. Also, the proposal concerning the shipping route agreement with the Sercana Empire urgently requires—”
“Tell me.”
“Y-Yes, Your Highness.”
“Why am I listening to this?”
After flipping through a few pages, Dailen had already lost interest.
Rolling the cigar against his tongue, he casually returned the documents.
“Wouldn’t it be better to ask Duke Justutia for his opinion on matters like these?”
“W-Well… actually…”
At Dailen’s quiet warning, the official immediately broke into a cold sweat.
Moments later, after hearing the explanation that followed…
Dailen’s eyes widened.
“The Duke isn’t well?”
“Yes. It seems they’ve tried to keep it from spreading beyond the estate… but the Duke’s residence has far too many eyes and ears. According to information that leaked out discreetly, that appears to be true. Not only has his government work been suspended during his absence, but even the management of the businesses overseen by his family has been halted entirely.”
“So even that bastard gets sick.”
Dailen muttered with mild amusement before asking,
“Is he still unwell?”
“I’ve heard he’s recovered to some extent… but he’s currently absent.”
“Absent?”
“At a time like this?”
“Yes… I heard he’s actually left the capital altogether.”
That was unexpected.
He was supposedly bedridden…
And then suddenly left on a journey?
Dailen stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Something didn’t add up.
“…Tell me.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“How long was he sick?”
“Pardon?”
“The period he was unusually bedridden.”
“Ah… I believe it was about a week.”
“A week…”
Dailen’s eyes gleamed.
Then he chuckled.
“His Name manifested.”
When Lirette had been staying in his palace…
She had been sick for almost exactly that long after the Duke’s Name appeared.
Having endured countless hardships beneath him before, Lirette possessed remarkable tolerance for pain.
Yet even she had looked as though she were on the verge of dying.
There was no reason the Duke would fare any better.
The gods’ cruel joke spared no one.
‘But he suddenly left? Why?’
Watching over Lirette had taught Dailen something.
There was only one way to recover after a Name manifested.
Stay close to the owner of your Name.
The more attention, affection, touch, and care you received from that person…
The healthier you became, like a flower blooming beneath sunlight.
Which meant…
If Lirette were still by his side…
The Duke should have remained quietly at the estate, focusing solely on his recovery.
There would have been no reason to leave that sanctuary.
“…Ha!”
A bright laugh suddenly escaped Dailen.
The official stared at him as though he had gone mad.
Meanwhile, Dailen merely covered his mouth, unable to stop laughing.
The answer was obvious.
“She’s not with him.”
He had left the estate because Lirette wasn’t there.
There was only one possible explanation.
“Did she run away?”
The Duke’s household would never have driven her out without preparing for the consequences.
Which meant…
Lirette had left of her own accord.
“Do you know where the Duke went?”
“I don’t know the exact city, but I heard he headed east.”
East…
Dailen didn’t even need to think.
The eastern region of the Aleint Empire was home to the greatest harbor in the world.
The first destination anyone chose when fleeing the country.
Of course, because of that, it was also the easiest place to predict…
Yet simultaneously the place with the most escape routes.
“So…”
“We’re playing a game of tag.”
Just imagining the chase sounded entertaining.
Until now, Dailen had regarded it as someone else’s affair.
But suddenly…
A conversation from days ago surfaced in his mind.
‘Then… what if I stole her?’
That’s right.
What if…
He found Lirette before Valderion did…
And took her for himself?
At that single thought…
His heart, which had felt nearly dead until now, pounded violently inside his chest.
This wasn’t someone else’s game anymore.
He could join the hunt himself.
Chasing after Lirette had always stirred something primal inside him.
Especially now…
When taking her back had slowly transformed into the fiercest desire of his life.
“I suppose it’s time to prepare to leave the palace.”
Brushing back his now-dry hair, Dailen rose to his feet.
“It’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed such an entertaining outing.”
And all of this…
Was unfolding less than a month before his imperial coronation.
