The setting sun was casting its light through the large window. Gazing at the incredibly peaceful sky, Edgar pieced together the puzzle in his mind.
By noon, when people’s minds had cleared from the excitement of the party and the champagne, accounts of Olivia’s disappearance began to emerge one by one.
‘I saw her heading to the rose garden.’
‘She seemed to be going down toward the riverside. Her expression? It was dark, so I couldn’t tell, but I knew it was Miss Blanchett from her dress and tiara. It was so radiant even from a distance. Why, did something happen to Miss Blanchett?’
It wasn’t a reporter, it was Sarah Pavlova, that woman. Olivia had seen her.
More accurately, she must have heard the conversation between Edgar and Pavlova. That, at least, was a blessing in disguise.
‘Duke Leopold has disappeared. The hotel over there is in an uproar about it.’
With Johann’s involvement, the picture became clearer.
And when Gerald, who had rushed into the office, added his report, the puzzle was complete.
“Miss Anne is also missing.”
It was a late summer afternoon that wasn’t too hot, but the collar of Gerald’s shirt was damp with sweat as he delivered the news.
Edgar simply nodded as if he had expected it and didn’t react further. He was still gazing out the window.
“And this.”
Only then did Edgar slowly turn his head. Gerald carefully opened the box he had placed on the desk.
The object, which shone brilliantly in the red sunlight, was a diamond tiara.
A woman in shock wandering in the rain, an encounter with her ex-husband in that situation, and the disappearance of the two of them.
Edgar, who was looking at the tiara without emotion, let out a low, bitter laugh.
It was because he was reminded of Johann’s eyes, which had been directed at him on the center court of the Dumblin stadium.
What was he in such a hurry for? What was he trying to do now with the woman he had so ruthlessly abandoned?
Edgar finally tore his gaze away from the tiara that Olivia had sent.
“And the reporter?”
The words he spat out slowly were as sharp as a blade.
“Dealt with.”
The Litton police department had raided an illegal gambling den yesterday. In the process, the reporter in question was arrested along with the other gamblers.
He would rot in prison for up to three years, and after that, they could decide what to do depending on the situation at the time.
“Have the carriage ready.”
Edgar commanded curtly.
“Where… do you have a place in mind?”
A cheerful expression appeared on Gerald’s face.
“I’ll know when I get there.”
Edgar put on a mischievous smile. Gerald stared at him and then reluctantly withdrew.
Outside, dusk was already settling.
Edgar took a ring case out of the inner pocket of his gray suit jacket.
The blue diamond ring, which should have been on Olivia’s finger as planned, shone with a blue light when he opened the lid, stinging Edgar’s eyes.
If you’re going to break up, you should at least say goodbye, Olivia.
He tightened his grip on the ring box.
He didn’t like the way Olivia was saying goodbye, but he decided not to make an issue of it.
Because he had no intention of letting her go.
It was very lucky that the truth Olivia learned was about Sarah Pavlova.
If she had learned the truth that he had bribed the reporter to fabricate the scandal, that would have been crossing a river from which she could never return.
Things had become a little more complicated, but it was a situation that could be resolved through conversation.
If he confessed that he had done all of it for her.
She would forgive him.
Edgar got up from his seat. He pulled at the tie that was tied loosely and fixed it neatly.
Edgar put the ring case into his jacket pocket.
She has to forgive me.
Because she…
Loves me.
That truth was the only reason and hope that the current situation, which was a complete mess, was not hopeless.
Edgar took the elevator straight down to the first floor and strode across the lobby.
Soon, the carriage carrying him sped out onto Golden Avenue, which had begun to light up magnificently as darkness fell.
The destination was Winston, where Johann’s manor house was located.
“P-Please, you can’t do this.”
“Get out of the way! Olivia, are you in there? Please answer me!”
Amidst the sound of the bedroom door being knocked on as if it would break, a familiar voice was desperately calling out Olivia’s name.
The two of them looked toward the door.
A moment later, the bedroom door was flung open, as if the barrier had been broken.
“…”
Olivia’s eyes, wide open, blinked. The person who had broken into the Winston manor house with the force to shatter the door was none other than Bianca Elaine.
“Elaine?”
“Oh! My goodness! Olivia!”
Elaine ran up to her in one breath and hugged Olivia tightly.
“I’m so glad you’re safe. I was so worried. When you disappeared, the Marquess of Lancelot… Oh, my God!”
Elaine, who had pulled away, was teary-eyed and then was taken aback as she examined Olivia’s face.
The new Queen of the Dumblin Championship was in a terrible state.
Her clear, bright eyes were bloodshot, and her thin, deep eyelids were severely swollen.
She had become thinner all over her face and body in just one day.
“Look at how bad your face looks. What on earth happened?”
“…I’m sorry for making you worry.”
The two of them held each other’s hands tightly. As the shock and confusion subsided, a faint smile spread across Olivia’s face.
“But how did you know to come here?”
“Ah! So, this is…”
Elaine, who was excited by the relief that Olivia was safe and the joy of seeing her again, belatedly became aware of Johann’s presence.
She had never in her wildest dreams imagined that Olivia would be with her ex-husband.
The thought of the pink diamond necklace came to her dazed mind, and her legs felt weak.
“I apologize for the late greeting. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Grace. My name is Bianca Elaine.”
She bent her knees to greet him, but her legs were trembling.
At Johann’s cold gaze, which tilted his head slightly, Elaine felt as if her body had frozen solid.
“Please give us some space.”
Olivia, who noticed Elaine’s discomfort, asked Johann.
Johann, who gave a short glance at the unwelcome guest, left the bedroom after telling Olivia not to overexert herself.
He immediately headed to the office on the lower floor.
When Johann appeared at the central staircase, the man in a black suit who was waiting below him bowed respectfully.
He followed Johann into the office.
In the man’s hand was a snare to catch Anne Boleyn Grace Britt.
It was now pitch black outside the window.
Elaine held Olivia’s hands tightly, with the tea a maid had brought placed between them.
“What on earth happened?”
“…”
Elaine’s heart sank as she met Olivia’s heavy, somber eyes.
“Don’t tell me… is this a situation where you need help?”
Elaine lowered her voice, becoming tense.
Had she been forcibly dragged here by the Duke?
Otherwise, why would the star of the party disappear without a word and be at her ex-husband’s manor house, especially when she had a lover like the Marquess of Lancelot?
“No. That’s not it.”
“Then just tell me everything. I feel like I’m going to die from frustration.”
Olivia, who had taken a moment to breathe, as if to avoid a difficult question, asked Elaine.
“And how did you know to come here?”
“Ah… That’s the thing.”
After Anne left, Elaine also came out of her room a little later.
She, too, was anxious just sitting there.
Elaine and a maid searched every remote corner of the hotel where guests’ footsteps didn’t reach, but Olivia was nowhere to be found.
The sun, past noon, was shining fiercely.
She had walked down to the back gate used by hotel staff and was resting in the shade of a tree, cooling off from the heat.
The suspicious woman with a hat pulled low enough to cover her face in the middle of summer had a familiar look.
“Hey. Isn’t that Anne?”
“I-I think so, ma’am.”
Anne was being put into a carriage by a strange man. The man was looking around, and Anne, who was hesitating, seemed to be being forcibly dragged away.
At that moment, a gust of wind blew, and the brim of the woman’s hat fluttered up. Anne’s expression was full of fear.
“I thought they were kidnapping Anne, too, you know?”
“So that’s what happened.”
Elaine sent a maid to inform the Marquess and, without a second thought, got onto a cart from a liquor store that was making a delivery to the hotel.
She had given the pearl brooch she had on hand and asked them to follow the carriage in front of them.
“What if it was a dangerous place?”
The bridge of her nose stung. She said that, but Olivia was very grateful to Elaine for rushing over without a second thought.
“Okay, now it’s your turn. Should I hear what happened? You made me come all this way, so I have every right to hear it, don’t I?”
Olivia hesitated. She was hesitant about what to say.
She wasn’t good at making up convincing lies, nor did she know how to logically talk about her still-unsettled feelings.
The maid took away the cold tea, and freshly brewed black tea was placed in front of the two of them.
And until the tea had cooled down enough, Elaine waited patiently.
Olivia, who finally tore her gaze away from the black window, opened her lips hesitantly.
“What if… the person you like lied to you. Or… if they deceived you.”
“…”
“Have you ever experienced something like that, Elaine?”
“…”
Elaine, trying to understand the meaning of the somewhat sudden question, answered belatedly.
“Of course. Did you… have a fight with the Marquess of Lancelot?”
“…”
Olivia bit her lip, unable to answer. Her bright red eyes swelled with tears.
Elaine’s face turned pale.
Did she… find out the truth?
Thinking that, Olivia’s state was completely understandable. She seemed like a person who was in great shock right now.
“So you found out after all.”
Elaine said with a gasp of horror.
At that moment, Olivia’s hands lost their strength. The two of them let go of each other.
“You… knew about it, too?”
