Chapter 17

– Come to think of it, the Miss was somehow strange that day. After hearing the news that the divine lady appeared······ She was terribly shocked that she collapsed. I did hold on to her, but it was really a close call.

It’s really weird. Why would she react like that? I wonder if the news of the divine lady’s appearance was that surprising······. Of course, it’s a surprise, but the lady’s reaction is a bit······.

Calix remembered what the maid of the Ecree Mansion had said.

Before he started earnestly looking for Laure, he investigated who told her the bullshit that he’s having an affair.

However, there wasn’t a single person who was identified as the culprit. Laure’s brother, Allen, who was rather light-mouthed, was the most suspicious, but it wasn’t even him.

So who the hell was it?

How did Laure come up to such a misunderstanding?

He felt like he was gradually falling into a labyrinth. Then one day, He saw the Imperial Palace’s entry records.

Her name was written on it. Laure Ecree.

It was the day that the divine lady appeared, the same day that Laure left on the train.

Calix has this peculiarly strange feeling. It was like a sense of deja vu. Something he should have known but didn’t realize······ He felt like he missed something important.

Why he felt that way, he couldn’t figure out himself.

Clearly, there is some connection between the appearance of the divine lady and Laure’s sudden flight.

What it was, only Laure herself could tell.

‘Yes, but·······!’

Calix recalled a woman dubbed as the divine lady.

Black hair and eyes, darker than night, and a face as white and fine as the moon. She quickly captivated many with her mysterious beauty.

Now that the high temple has stepped forward and held a ceremony that proved that she possesses divine power, there’s no doubt that she is really a divine lady.

But there was one questionable part.

It was said that the priest who first discovered the divine lady under the old tree of the temple unexpectedly said this.

– Is she really a divine lady? I can’t feel any divine power from her.

And then he went and change his words later.

– It seems that I got confused because I was so distracted at that time. Lady Sia surely was a blessed daughter of God. 

Since then, the divine lady herself has demonstrated her divine power, so there was no need for further doubt.

However, it was somehow dubious. That priest, the temple, and that so-called divine lady. They were all suspicious. Though he doesn’t have any clear evidence······.

‘If the cause of Laure’s unexpected departure is really the divine lady······.’

Is it too far out of speculation? Though they were doubts that were difficult to shake off.

‘In any case, I can’t trust that woman.’

A woman who claims to have been called by God from another world. From the day they first met, she has been persistently trying to seduce him.

She even came to the city where he was staying just to find him.

– Is your body okay? I’m afraid your health will be compromised because of long travel.  

At the time, Calix was staying at an inn. His room was on the fourth floor. And the divine lady got a room on the third floor, but that night she tried to climb onto his bed. And her lame excuse was she freakingly mistake it for her room.

– What the hell is the meaning of this?

– Oh, I’m sorry······! I mistook the room. But it’s too cold so····· I don’t want to go out into the hallway right now.

Then he made a disgusted expression. No matter how someone looked at it, it was obvious that the woman deliberately wore a nightdress with loose shoulder straps.

‘Are you crazy?’

Calix had sincerely thought so. He could hardly understand why she was so obsessed with him.

Moreover, she didn’t seem to like him. He could tell by her eyes. Sia is simply······.

It seemed like she just wanted to steal something away.

Just as a child covets the toys of her playmates, she ‘wanted to have’ him.

Calix became displeased, and despite knowing that it was rude, he harshly kicked her out.

– Don’t do this again. I will not tolerate this twice.

– ······So what if you don’t tolerate it? What could you do? I’m an existence that was loved by God.

– ······.

Calix didn’t answer and slammed the door. He was annoyed all the way to the tip of his head. It occurred to him that he was caught by a completely insane woman.

He was already having a hard time. It has already been six months and he still couldn’t find any trace of Laure.

He doesn’t know what happened but somehow, not even a single small clue of Laure’s whereabouts could be found.

It’s probably done by that wizard, Alice Winterwood. He thought it was only an old saying that a wizard could move mountains if they wanted to······.

‘Why was that kind of powerful wizard working as a physician at the Ecree Marquis? How ridiculous·····. There’s something about that woman.’

It was also suspicious that she helped Laure escape as if she had been waiting all this time.

Calix sighed. They’re all suspicious human beings. He can’t trust anyone, even the subordinates that were staying by his side. He believes only in himself. It has been so since a long time ago.

‘However, you’re the only one·······.’

You’re the only I’ve ever trusted.

Calix’s eyes deepened as he thought of Laure.

He was not the type of human being who completely believes in someone. But he believed in Laure.

He was so convinced that she would not abandon him, that it was their fate.

Laure, why did you abandon me?

Why don’t you believe in me?

Why······.

There were countless questions that could not be answered. And the only thing that came back to him was empty echoes.

Calix felt that he was getting sick. As the days go by····· As the days passed without her repeatedly, he gradually broke down.

‘I can’t live a single day without you.’

Do you want me to die like this? Do you hope for me to die and not find you forever? Do you really don’t care? Even if I’m sick like this, even if I’m having a hard time, do I really not matter to you······. 

He felt a hot thing got caught up in his throat. The sense of betrayal and anger shook him to the core. Calix pressed down his reddened eyes with the back of his hand.

‘I’ll definitely find you. Laure.’

With his eyes shining like a lion left hungry with nothing but poison, Calix swore. Agan and again.

*   *   *

A month later, rumors spread that the Grand Duke of Rochester was probing the whole continent.

A year later, rumors spread that the Grand Duke was wandering the whole world like a bum.

2 years, 3 years, 4 years, 5 years, 6years······ Occasionally, the Grand Duke of Rochester was seen returning to the capital, and there was a rumor that he was already completely insane.

And again, another year has passed.

*   *   *

Thud!

The hand that was trying to hold onto the table slipped. Then Calix fell to the floor and heaved. From the pit of his stomach to the top of his head, a piercing pain devoured him.

“AAUGH, GAWK····· AAARGH·····!”

He grabbed his collar, trying his best to endure it, and clenched his teeth. But at one point, when the unbearable pain came upon him, he began to scream.

“UAAAGH! ARGH! AWK!”

Bang!

“Your Grace!”

Tess, his deputy commander, who entered by violently opening the door, tried to raise him up in a hurry.

However, Calix was engulfed in agony and could not hold himself out. He frantically scratched the carpet like a madman and smashed the floor until his hands and elbows bled.

“GU, AARGH! AAAK!”

“Your grace! Please······! Oh, God!”

Seeing him writhing in terrible pain, Tess could do nothing but pray to God. Please save him. Please let this moment of pain pass by quickly. Please.

“KU, HEUUK······. UGH, AARRGH·····.”

After a long time, finally, the pain subsided and the cramps stopped. Calix caught his breath, lying face down on the floor. His body trembled weakly.

“Your grace, are you all right?”

“······.”

Calix barely raised his head. His eyes were red, and his deathly pale face was covered with cold sweats.

“Your grace, please have some water first·····.”

Tess hurriedly passed along the water to Calix. And Calix took the glass with his trembling hands.

Gulp gulp. A stream of water trickled down his throat.

Calix handed Tess the empty glass with a weary complexion. Quickly accepting it, Tess offered him a dry towel.

Calix wiped his sweaty body casually. He wanted to take a bath with his whole heart. But he didn’t even feel like he has the strength to stand up. He’s expecting it to be like this for the next hour or two.

‘I prefer to just rather die.’

He even had such weak thoughts. But he really doesn’t want to die.

Because he has someone he must find. He was determined that he would not die or be buried until he found her.

‘·······When we meet again, what kind of expression will you make when you saw me like this? What would you feel.’

Would you feel sorry for me? Would you cry for the man you left behind? Or will you turn away, saying I didn’t matter to you in the first place?

Calix mocked himself.

As much as he was sick and tired, he hoped for her to be the same. To be hurt and tormented.

He wanted her to be ruined thoroughly. He wanted to tie her hands and feet and lock her up so she won’t be able to go anywhere. He wanted to break her wings. He wanted her to cry while being shackled by him.

It didn’t matter if she looked at him with resentful eyes. She brought it all on herself. Because she made him go completely crazy.

“Laure, where are you hiding? Where the hell did you go hide so painstakingly······.”

Tess flinched at the low murmur.

She looked terrified of the mad eyes of her master and soon put on a sad expression.

It has been seven years.

Calix Rochester wandered the whole world in search of his runaway fiancée.

A lot has happened since then. The matters in the duchy were being safely carried out, thanks to their knights’ commander Dorian’s handling, who was in charge, but the Grand Duke of Rochester himself was so damaged.

There was once a time that Tess thought he was a dazzling snowfield. A cold and clean snowfield. A decisive existence one cannot dare to step on.

He was truly a cool and perfect master.

But it was different now.

Now he was just like a ruin with nothing left. A scene of being shattered, broken, and was now totally messed up.

His orphaned blue eyes lost their light, and all they contained was madness and sadness.

Therefore.

Therefore, this ‘letter’ definitely had to be handed over.

She understood it in her head, but her heart kept stopping her. Tess wanted Calix not to find Laure.

‘Why can’t you forget?’

Seven years was a long time to forget.

Wasn’t love an emotion that blooms when the spring breeze blows and falls like falling leaves in autumn?

It’s such a fragile and fleeting feeling. She’s sure it was the same for everyone.

‘So, why can’t you,’

Why can’t you forget her as you get sick, have nightmares, and suffer every day? Why, even if you’re already reduced to this state······ Why······ Can’t you let go of her.

Tess weighed down her surging resentment.

“Your Grace.”

She called him in a tight voice. Then a set of empty eyes looked back at her. Tess pulled the letter out of her pocket with a forced smile.`

“I have some news you might get happy with.”