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Chapter 21
“Where Is That Girl Now?”
I woke up with a jolt to the sound of birds chirping.
I blinked quickly and looked around, only to flop back onto the bed. A helpless laugh escaped my lips.
“…Wow, I really slept for an entire day.”
Even I was surprised.
Who else could sleep this well in a kidnapper’s castle?
Embarrassed and sheepish, I rubbed my eyes and got up from bed.
“…Even if the worst is over, I should stay alert, Levelia.”
I brushed through my messy hair and glanced around. The room looked exactly the same as it did before I fell asleep.
A hostage, yet no servants came in to check on me?
Compared to what I had feared back in Zeros, the reality wasn’t that bad.
I sat absentmindedly, wondering what I should do before Delphian came to rescue me, when a sudden chill made me shiver.
“Wh-What the…?”
It was late spring—there shouldn’t be this kind of cold.
I looked around the room in confusion until my eyes landed on the window I had forgotten to close last night.
Even though it was only slightly open, the cold air had filled the room. I shook my head in disbelief.
“…Hestonia’s north is seriously cold.”
Even though the sun was up, chilly air kept flowing in. I stood up quickly.
As I rubbed my arms and went to close the window, I spotted a completely withered tree standing alone in the courtyard.
It stood out among the well-maintained garden, and next to it stood a man.
“Karlier Esperos…?”
Wearing a black uniform that matched his jet-black hair, he stared at the tree with a completely blank expression.
‘But your request doesn’t consider Karlier at all.’
Lafer’s words suddenly echoed in my mind. I had tried to ignore them, but now they pricked at me like tiny needles.
I stared at him without thinking. Then suddenly, he turned his head—toward my window.
“Why did I hide?!”
I ducked instinctively. Only afterward did I realize how suspicious I looked.
Should I just walk out and pretend nothing happened?
But before I could decide, a knock came at the door.
My heart pounded loudly even though I hadn’t done anything wrong.
“Y-Yes! Hello?!”
Flustered, my voice cracked.
Blushing, I looked up as Mei walked in, dressed as neatly as the day before.
“Did you sleep well, Lady Heidi? I came to ask if there’s anything you can’t eat for breakfast…”
But when she saw my red face, she paused.
Even though she couldn’t possibly know what just happened, I kept blushing harder.
Mei silently looked around the room, then noticed the open window. Her face stiffened.
Feeling oddly guilty, I offered an awkward excuse.
“I-I meant to close the window last night but forgot.”
Even though it wasn’t on purpose, my voice cracked again.
I cleared my throat in an attempt to sound normal, but Mei’s expression only hardened further.
Trying to change the topic, I added:
“Ah, and about food—I’ll eat anything as long as it’s not raw. No need to worry.”
But even after my response, Mei stayed silent.
Was it really that bad to leave the window open…?
Back at Piace, the maids used to scold me about how much expensive firewood it took to heat a room. I guess as a hostage, I should be even more careful.
Thinking I should apologize, I glanced up—only to see Mei bowing.
I blinked in confusion.
“I’m sorry, Lady Heidi.”
“…Huh?”
“Before you arrived, I opened the window to air out the room and forgot to close it. It’s entirely my fault.”
“…I’m sorry.”
I stared at Mei, unsure how to react.
Wait, she’s not angry that I left the window open…? She’s apologizing instead…?
This is so different from how I was treated at Piace…
Is this… normal?
As I stood there questioning reality, I noticed the golden hair falling over my chest.
And in that moment, I realized:
What might be considered a mistake for Levelia Piace… might not be a mistake for Heidi Eliana.
“Then I’ll prepare a soft, easy-to-digest breakfast.”
Even after Mei left, I couldn’t move.
My stomach churned… and I hadn’t even eaten yet.
* * *
“…What did you just say?”
Crocan Piace’s brow twitched as he sipped his tea. Damon, visibly nervous, quickly added:
“According to the spy we planted at the count’s residence, Lady Heidi Eliana returned at dawn escorted by the Crown Prince.”
Crocan’s face twisted in disbelief, as if Damon had spoken in a foreign language.
How could Heidi Eliana return to the estate? She was supposed to have been kidnapped by that lunatic Karlier Esperos!
He tried to keep calm as he retraced the events of last night.
I saw it myself—Heidi and Karlier disappeared together onto the terrace. That was no rumor.
He figured the kidnapping would be easy, especially since he had received a coded message confirming the mission was successful.
Then… what went wrong? Did Karlier fail to take her?
Was that message forged…?
He shook his head.
The handwriting, the seal—everything about that message was undeniably Karlier’s.
There was only one possibility left.
“…Are you sure the girl who returned to the estate was Heidi Eliana?”
“Yes, Marquis.”
Crocan’s old eye injury throbbed. The pain was a familiar and deeply irritating reminder.
As he scowled, Damon hesitated—then cautiously added:
“…There was one odd thing in the report.”
“Odd?”
“We can’t confirm it fully, but it seems that Lady Heidi’s dress had changed.”
“Her dress?”
Crocan narrowed his eyes.
“Yes. Witnesses at the party say she wore a golden dress that matched her hair. But when she returned home, she was wearing a pure white dress.”
A pure white dress…?
Suddenly, a memory surged in Crocan’s mind.
‘You look beautiful today.’
‘…Thank you.’
Purple hair like violets. Eyes like deep blue lakes. A white dress as pure as snow.
Levelia.
‘I curse you, Crocan Piace.’
His lips twisted, and he stood up sharply.
That girl I saw last night in the lounge—her startled voice, her blushing face…
‘Y-You’re in the ladies’ lounge!’
And her expression when Delphian’s name was mentioned… Could that have been her…?
‘According to our spy, Lady Heidi Eliana returned home under the Crown Prince’s escort.’
The pale, trembling girl from last night… was she…?
“…Levelia.”
“Sir?”
“Levelia! Where is that girl now?!”
Crocan’s voice boomed like thunder throughout the room.
