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Chapter 19
Given that many people came and went from the inn, there was always the risk of theft. Fortunately, the coin purses Lucy had hidden in various places were untouched.
“You’re incredibly thorough, my lady. I don’t think I’d ever have thought to split up and hide my money like this,” Anna said, watching Lucy check through their belongings with wonder.
“You never know what might happen,” Lucy replied.
“But… are you really not going to contact the Grand Duke of Cretein?”
“Well… we haven’t spoken much, and I don’t think now’s the right time.”
Even as she said it, Lucy wasn’t sure of anything. Everything about this place still felt unfamiliar, and she knew very little.
‘Lucas was a good man, but… right now, the only things I can trust are Anna and this money…’
Lucy buried the coin purses and the brooch Lucas had given her deeper into her luggage.
“Once we find work, we can get a place of our own, just the two of us. Just thinking about it makes me so happy!”
Planning to search for jobs the next day, the two women drifted into dreams of a new future. Perhaps it was the relief after all the tension, but as soon as Lucy lay down, she fell into a deep sleep.
The next morning, she overslept.
By the time she opened her eyes to the dazzling sunlight, it was already late morning.
Anna’s bed was neatly made—she must have gotten up a while ago.
After a quick wash and change of clothes, Lucy was about to go looking for Anna when she heard her laughter from outside the door.
A moment later, the door quietly opened, and in came Anna and Dino, carrying a baguette and some soup.
“Well now, it’s true what they say about beauties loving their sleep—but this is a bit much, isn’t it? What’s Anna supposed to say, getting up early and all?” Dino joked, laughing cheerfully.
They explained that they hadn’t wanted to disturb Lucy’s deep sleep, so they’d had a light breakfast first. Embarrassed, Lucy chuckled and began eating the bread and soup Anna had brought for her.
The lighthearted banter made for a cheerful morning.
Meanwhile, Baron Diallo found himself in a most troublesome situation. It had been over three days since Lucy had disappeared from the imperial banquet, and she was still nowhere to be found.
“She was mingling with this man and that at the banquet… I’d heard the rumors about her, but I was ready to forgive her with my generous heart!”
After Lucy vanished, Duke Vallon exploded in rage, hurling blame at both Lucy and Baron Diallo.
In the days following her disappearance, the Baron had mobilized mercenaries and every resource at his disposal to find her. But even now, with his steward reporting no progress, he was pacing his study in growing anxiety.
“I already received the dowry from the Duke, so I can’t call off the wedding… And we’re in the middle of the canal development project with the Vallon family—what am I supposed to do now?”
They had come too far to cancel the engagement now.
“The Duke claims she danced with all sorts of men at the banquet, flaunting herself shamelessly… but something doesn’t sit right.”
The Duke insisted Lucy had eloped with another man, but the Baron didn’t believe it. He knew Lucy better than anyone—there was no way she would act in such a wanton manner.
He had always strictly forbidden her from mingling with men.
Of course, there had been that one time—when he’d forced her to attend a party, and she got involved with some penniless count’s illegitimate son. That had made his blood boil.
‘And then, on the day of the wedding, the bastard ran off! Absolutely ridiculous. I should’ve been more cautious!’
Yes, everything had gone downhill because of that man. Remembering it made the Baron click his tongue in irritation.
‘And now even that maid who was always with her is missing too—it must’ve been a plot to escape the marriage!’
Lately, Lucy had been showing signs of rebellion, adding weight to his suspicion.
“We’ve already angered the Duke, so some loss is inevitable… But if we can find her now, maybe we can smooth things over. Send out more men—find Lucy and bring her back immediately!”
Baron Diallo roared at his steward.
But soon, something even more troubling happened.
“You… you!”
The one who stormed into the Baron’s estate with a squad of knights was someone he recognized.
“It’s been a while, Baron,” Edwin said coldly, eyes fixed on the Baron.
“You—how dare you… Do you have any idea where you are—”
Before the Baron could finish, one of the knights behind Edwin stepped forward and raised a sword to the Baron’s neck.
“Watch your mouth! This is His Highness, the Fourth Prince of the Empire!”
The Baron stared at Edwin and the knights in confusion.
‘That guy… a prince? What the hell is going on?’
He took another good look at Edwin. His handsome face was the same, but there was something different now—an arrogant expression, a cold gaze, and an entire knight order at his back.
Only then did the Baron realize something was very wrong.
“More importantly, don’t you have something to say to me? You took the Periquil Mine as a dowry from me, only to hand Lucy off to another man?”
Edwin’s eyes flared with rage.
“You’re the one who ruined the wedding—! Do you have any idea how much damage that did to our family?” the Baron stammered before shouting in defiance.
“You truly have no shame. Where is Lucy? She was mine to begin with, and I will take her back.”
The Baron felt like he was losing his mind. Just finding Lucy was headache enough—and now her former fiancé had returned as a prince.
Then suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind.
‘So she went and seduced a prince, did she? Unbelievable!’
The Duke’s earlier words about Lucy ignoring her fiancé and cozying up to the Fourth Prince came back to him. Back then, he’d thought the Duke was just ranting.
Still, even someone unfamiliar with palace affairs knew that the recent banquet was to celebrate the newly appointed Fourth Prince’s engagement.
‘Maybe Lucy’s disappearance really is related to this man. Even if it’s not, they must’ve met at the banquet.’
Quickly piecing things together, the Baron raised his head defiantly.
“Why are you searching for Lucy here? Didn’t you meet her at the banquet? You’ve clearly hidden her somewhere and now you’re trying to pin this on me!”
Cornered, the Baron decided to go on the offensive.
It was a plausible scenario. Even if Edwin had nothing to do with Lucy’s disappearance, the Baron was going to insist on it anyway.
“Lucy vanished right after meeting you. If you didn’t hide her, then where else could she have gone?”
He looked at Edwin with a falsely aggrieved expression.
“What?! Lucy’s gone?” Edwin’s eyes widened in shock.
“She went to the banquet with Duke Vallon and never came back. If you return her now, we can forget everything that happened.”
The Baron’s audacity infuriated Edwin.
But if Lucy truly was missing, finding her had to come first.
“Search the estate at once—find Lucy Diallo!” Edwin ordered his knights in an urgent voice.
If she wasn’t here, this could become serious. Edwin recalled Lucy’s words from the last time he saw her.
“I upset the Duke, so when I return home today, my father will beat me severely again…”
Remembering that, Edwin glared at the Baron.
“And arrest this man. He has insulted the royal family—throw him in prison!”
Lucy had been about to go out in search of work, but thanks to Dino, she no longer had to.
“I’ll look into jobs for you, so just rest today. I’ve got some errands to run, so I’ll be out for a while. You two go ahead and eat without me.”
Just yesterday, Lucy had been considering visiting Lucas to ask for help—maybe even a letter of recommendation. But with Dino’s help, everything had become so much easier.
A couple of hours passed after Dino left the inn…
