LVSFN 48

                                                                  Chapter 48

Jeralach thoroughly investigated every carriage operating in Muiton.

He summoned all the coachmen who had entered and exited Cygnus Castle on the 13th, but none of them remembered a woman in a green dress.

Coachmen, after all, dealt with too many people to pay attention to what their passengers wore.

Jeralach had thought he would finally be able to find out where she had gone, but in the end, he was back to square one.

Returning to the castle, Jeralach sat at his desk, exhaustion written across his face.

It had already been four days since Ribe disappeared.

‘Where are you, truly?’

Never in his life had he felt so powerless.

As time passed, disturbing rumors began to circulate among the people.

That she was already dead. That she had fallen into the sea and would never be found. That, sadly, there was no point in continuing the search…

“I want to hear more of your story.”
“My story? I’m just a normal daughter of a marquis, a close friend of Countess Almaze’s daughter.”
“That’s an odd answer. Most people don’t start talking about themselves by naming their friend’s friend.”
“Honestly, I don’t really know who I am. I don’t know what kind of person I am, or why I live the way I do. Whether I even have a reason to live. Why I’m here. Because… this isn’t where I belong. Everything right now is confusing and frightening.”
“What is it that troubles you so deeply?”
“I’m not sure. I’m just afraid of everything. I don’t think I’m normal… the way I am.”

Ribe… you were always a strange woman.

A bit eccentric, but not in an off-putting way. You stirred curiosity.

Being with you was fun, but you also made me think deeply.

I want to hear your voice again…

Jeralach lowered his head and pressed his hand to his forehead.

Was he really going to let another day pass without results?

Knock, knock.

It was his aide, Millen Orie, who knocked on the office door.

“Your Grace.”

He hurried in carrying a thick bundle of documents.

“I’ve organized the reports you asked for.”

Jeralach took the papers and flipped through them slowly. As he did, the aide continued speaking.

“They’re ordered chronologically. The front pages are all official events…”

Jeralach raised a hand to silence him.

As he continued flipping through the pages, scanning the schedule and events, Jeralach’s eyes stopped at one entry.

“There was a social gathering at Viscount Shuren’s estate. Check if Riberata was in attendance.”

“Yes, understood. Oh, and—”

The aide clapped his hands a couple of times and spoke again.

“This morning, Lady Grania Shuren stopped by. She said she was worried about Your Grace’s health and brought herbal remedies and some snacks.”

He then took an envelope from his coat and placed it on Jeralach’s desk.

“There was a letter and an invitation inside the box she brought. I didn’t read them.”

Jeralach looked down at the envelope with a blank expression.

“I told you clearly last time, didn’t I?”

The aide stiffened, waiting nervously for what would come next.

“I’m not accepting personal visits for the time being.”

“Understood.”

“One more thing.”

“Yes?”

“I don’t care if she hosts parties or holds social gatherings, but make sure I never receive another invitation.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

The aide replied with a frozen face, then cautiously added,

“Then… I’ll take this back.”

He carefully picked up the invitation and tucked it into his coat.

Then, as if he still had something to say, he hesitated.

Jeralach glanced up at him with only his eyes.

“The herbs Lady Shuren brought… she said they’re best taken before bed. Should I bring them up now…?”

But he quickly realized he had made a mistake.

“Never mind, Your Grace.”

“You may leave.”

“Yes, sir.”

Clack.

Once the aide left, silence returned to the office.

Jeralach didn’t even glance at the letter on the table. He stood up and walked over to the window, leaning against the frame as the darkness seeped in.

His longing for Ribe only grew stronger.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Leoni, too, had been overwhelmed with guilt since Riberata went missing.

‘I should have stopped her somehow. It’s all my fault.’

On the first day of Ribe’s disappearance, she had believed Ribe would come back soon.

On the second day, she grew a bit anxious but still held onto hope.

By the third day, she couldn’t eat. After that, she couldn’t even drink water and collapsed into bed.

When Adrian heard that Leoni was sick, he came to visit—but her spirits didn’t lift at all.

“These are nougats from Vice’s new line. They reminded me of you.”

“Thank you.”

Leoni nodded, but she didn’t touch the sweets.

“Have you been eating at all?”

“Yes.”

“That’s a lie.”

At Adrian’s words, Leoni gave him a weak smile.

“Leoni, I know your heart is heavy and it’s hard, but if you don’t eat like this, Ribe will be shocked when she comes back. Can’t you already hear her voice scolding you?”

“…”

“You have to stay strong—for Ribe, when she returns.”

At those words, Leoni nodded—and then burst into tears.

“I’m sorry.”

Adrian took a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her.

“Ribe will come back. So until then, take care of your health too.”

After Adrian left, Leoni patted her cheeks a few times.

He’s right.

Lying around like this wouldn’t help anyone—not herself, and certainly not Ribe.

“Right. I can’t just sit here and do nothing.”

She picked up a nougat from the table, popped it in her mouth, and began chewing.

“I have to find Ribe.”

With that resolve, Leoni sprang up and headed with Louisa to the astrologer’s hut on Jenniton Street.

Leoni nervously fidgeted with her knotted bracelet.

Louisa also looked around anxiously.

“I’m sure it was around here. This is strange.”

There was no way for Leoni to conduct a physical search, so the only thing she could do was visit a trustworthy astrologer.

After all, the astrologer they had visited with Ribe had given eerily accurate predictions.

She was convinced that this person could offer some clue to Ribe’s disappearance.

It was like grasping at straws—but it was all she had.

“Maybe today’s an off day?”

“I’ll ask Elome. She might know.”

“Yes, find out if she’s off or if she moved somewhere.”

“Alright, my lady. Let’s head back.”

The next day, Louisa came back with news from Elome.

“She came out early in the morning and then left for another place.”

“Really?”

“Yes, but she said she’d probably be back today or tomorrow…”

“Louisa, look over there. She’s here today.”

Leoni’s heart pounded at the sight of the small hut in the distance.

She carefully lifted the curtain and stepped inside. Though it was daytime, the interior was as dark as a cave.

Leoni swallowed dryly and sat in the chair before her.

“Hello.”

The astrologer still had her face covered by a long scarf and shawl. Leoni glanced at her hunched shoulders and the robe that cloaked her entire body before speaking cautiously.

“I came because I need to know something. I’ll pay whatever you ask—please, just tell me.”

“Very well.”

The old woman nodded and pointed to the cards on the table.

“Pick two cards. The first will show the problem you’re facing, the second will show the solution.”

Tense, Leoni reached out and selected two cards.

The old woman moved with strange, graceful motions as she laid them on the table.

A heavy silence fell.

Leoni clasped her hands together, praying again and again.

Please, let the cards say Ribe will come back soon. That she’s safe.

Louisa, just as anxious, closed her eyes.

“Oh dear…”

The silence broke with the old woman’s low sigh.

“What is it?”

Tension rising, Leoni clasped her hands tighter, waiting for the woman’s lips to part.

But the old woman stayed silent.

“Please…”

Just as Leoni clenched her hands tighter—

“You’ve lost someone you deeply trusted and depended on, haven’t you?”

“Yes, that’s right. She came here with me last time. She had brown hair and pale skin…”

The woman flipped over Leoni’s two cards.

Both were entirely black. No pictures, no symbols—just pitch-black cards.

Even without understanding their meaning, Leoni could tell it wasn’t good.

“W-What does this mean? Did I pick wrong?”

Leoni asked urgently, but the old woman only shook her head slowly.

“I’m sorry, my lady… but the one you seek no longer exists in this world.”