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Chapter 43
Carefully, I answered.
“I’m not certain about that.”
Cheres narrowed his eyes and spoke.
“The Church has deep roots in the south. Even natives can’t easily get involved there. Let’s hear from you this time. What did you find there?”
All eyes—Cheres, myself, and Bogus—turned to the knight who had accompanied me today.
“I found documents from an organization called the Harmony Association. There are ten members, all of them migrated nobles. No native southern nobles were included. There is no record of how the membership fees were used. The activity records are merely superficial.”
“The Harmony Association,” Cheres murmured.
Even I was hearing it for the first time. It had never been mentioned in the original story.
I was just relieved that I had gained something from going that far. I sincerely hoped what I did today would help Hayden in the future. There was less than four months left for Cheres and me now. I wanted us to accomplish as much as possible in that time.
So that Cheres would have no regrets. And so Hayden’s life might become even slightly less harsh.
Unaware of anything, Cheres spoke.
“Then it’s possible they’re collecting money through the Harmony Association, and that money is being funneled through the church.”
“I will investigate the church side.”
Bogus, who had answered Cheres’ order, cleared his throat and turned toward me. It seemed he had something to say. With an awkward expression, he spoke.
“Thank you very much, Duchess.”
Then, after hesitating, he added,
“And… I apologize for before.”
“Think nothing of it. You should always check before crossing a bridge, after all. I understand.”
Bogus looked at me with an emotional expression.
It really feels like we’re on the same boat now, doesn’t it? Compared to when I first arrived here, this was truly remarkable progress.
At the same time. The annex building.
Petunia had already left.
Her luggage, her clothes, even Lady Drothe—everything was gone. It was as if her right arm had been cut off and sent back.
But Petunia had left something behind.
“Uuugh… aaahhh!”
Linen remained.
Linen was sitting in front of the supply storage, crying. The sound was strange—like she was trying to speak, but no words came out. Even when she opened her mouth, only saliva dripped down. The maids gathered around her, whispering among themselves. After hearing their report, Lady Yurein rushed over.
“Linen! Linen, look at me!”
Lady Yurein grabbed Linen’s cheeks and forced her mouth open. Linen’s plump tongue had turned a purplish color. It was swollen so badly she could barely move it—she had likely been poisoned.
Yurein’s heart dropped.
It was Yurein who had chosen innocent Linen to extract information. If she hadn’t chosen her, none of this would have happened. Freckles covered Linen’s cheeks, now soaked in tears.
“She’s been found out!”
This was a warning sent to Bereiden. Yurein’s shoulders trembled violently.
“Fetch a doctor! Quickly!”
Linen grabbed the hem of Yurein’s clothing and burst into tears. She couldn’t speak, only breathing heavily. Her face was a mess of tears and drool as she shook her head. She must be terrified—like she had lost half her world.
Yurein forced her voice to stay calm and gentle.
“It’s alright, Linen. It’s alright. Just breathe. You’ll be cured, I promise. Slowly now. Yes, that’s it.”
She stroked Linen’s back. Linen clung to her clothes, trembling all over.
Yurein collapsed to the ground and pulled her into an embrace. Linen was only seventeen. Too young for something like this. And what was even more cruel—she still didn’t understand anything.
Because the one who had deceived her… was Yurein herself.
“It will be alright. The doctor is coming soon. You’ll be cured for sure.”
In Yurein’s arms, Linen curled up like a child.
Even as she left, Duchess Petunia Hejest had torn deep wounds into Bereiden. And those wounds had cut especially deeply into Yurein’s heart.
At the final checkpoint leaving the southern region.
Petunia’s carriage came to a stop. Lady Drothe looked out the window.
“It seems to be a checkpoint, Madam.”
Petunia did not respond. In truth, she had not spoken a single word since they departed. Because Morrigan had not returned, they were leaving with only the two of them. And now they were even being stopped.
Petunia gritted her teeth.
Humiliation. She had never felt defeat like this before.
The carriage door opened.
A knight bearing the crest of the Duke of Bereiden stood there. The emblem irritated her so much that Petunia’s eyes sharpened.
“Are you Duchess Hejest?”
“Can’t you see for yourself?”
“It’s a verification procedure. Please wait a moment.”
The knight stepped back. Petunia clenched her teeth, and Lady Drothe spoke carefully.
“It will be over soon.”
Petunia’s nails dug into the fabric on her lap. She could not believe she was being made to wait by a mere checkpoint knight.
Just as she was about to lose patience and order the carriage forward, the knight returned. He was carrying a wooden box.
“His Grace asked me to deliver this.”
Petunia looked down at the box. Inside was a worn pair of old socks that looked as though they had been used for years. The moment she saw them, her body stiffened. The ankle area was stretched, and the heel was worn down. On the inside of the ankle, there was embroidery.
[P.]
Her breath stopped.
The stitching was uneven. It had clearly been embroidered carefully by someone inexperienced. The thread was a deep navy blue—Petunia’s favorite color.
These were Morrigan’s socks.
The ones Petunia herself had embroidered.
Twenty-eight years ago, the day before her wedding. There had been a time when love was everything to her. But she had been bound by her family, forced into a marriage she never wanted. Even so, she could not let go of Morrigan, so she gave him these socks.
“This is my heart. Don’t leave me, Morrigan. Stay by my side.”
Morrigan had gladly accepted her wish. And these old socks were his answer—his heart.
Petunia’s face turned pale.
That damned barbarian had clearly realized the connection between her and Morrigan.
She ground her teeth. The knight at the door spoke again.
“His Grace also told me to say—if you remain obedient, you may one day meet again.”
Petunia raised her head and stared at him. Her lips trembled. That meant Morrigan was alive. She opened her mouth, then closed it again. This man would not answer any questions.
Petunia clenched the socks tightly.
Lady Drothe watched her carefully. It was the first time she had ever seen Petunia wear such an expression.
“…Duchess.”
“Leave… Depart immediately. I want to get out of this damned southern land!”
Drothe pushed the knight aside and closed the door. She urged the coachman, and the carriage finally set off. Only then did Petunia release the breath she had been holding.
She closed the box lid. Her trembling would not stop. She placed the box on her lap and clenched both hands tightly.
She was returning with one arm lost and her heart stolen. The road ahead felt chillingly cold.
