Chapter 49
At first, she thought she was mistaken. Elisa rubbed her eyes and looked again—but no, she wasn’t.
It was indeed Derek Grenville.
“You… what are you doing here…?”
Her voice trembled faintly at the shock of such an unexpected reunion, and her face turned pale.
“I’ve come to take you back.”
As always, Derek smiled brightly as he extended his hand. His smile had never sat right with her, but today it felt even more unsettling—because this was not a moment that warranted smiles.
He had chased after the woman who had publicly broken off their engagement. To greet her with a grin instead of anger was not only disturbing—it was terrifying.
“Count Leslie and the Countess are terribly worried about you. So stop this childish tantrum and let’s go home, Elisa.”
Childish tantrum.
Elisa gave a hollow laugh and took a step back.
“I am not throwing a tantrum, Lord Grenville.”
Her blue eyes flashed with resolve as they locked firmly onto his.
“No matter what anyone says, I will break off our engagement. That will never change.”
The word never struck hard. Derek’s smile faltered, his expression stiffening. At first it was disbelief—then, fury slowly crept across his face.
“After using me all this time, you mean to discard me like this?”
His voice was like ice. Derek, who rarely betrayed emotion, was openly furious for the first time.
“If that’s how you feel, then I apologize. Believe it or not, I never intended to use you.”
Her heart wavered, but Elisa forced herself to stay calm.
“I didn’t think Ethan would return alive from the war. When I accepted our engagement, I truly did mean to marry you.”
That was no lie—it had been her genuine intention. If she had to marry someone, better it be Derek Grenville, who was kind to Noah and understood her circumstances.
But as time passed, the thought of marrying a man she didn’t love became unbearable.
Still, there had been no other way, so she had maintained the engagement, even agreed to marry.
I really was cruel, wasn’t I?
His anger, his pursuit of her to this place—it was understandable.
“I’m sorry, Lord Grenville.”
Her apology was heartfelt, yet it seemed not to reach him. His expression, twisted by fury and betrayal, pierced her conscience like a blade.
But marrying him would be an even greater betrayal.
“I’m not asking for forgiveness. Even if you hate me for the rest of your life, I won’t protest.”
“…It sounds as though you’re saying you’ll never return, no matter what.”
“…I’m sorry.”
That was all Elisa could say. She repeated it again and again, like a broken refrain. Derek stared at her for a long moment, then let out a slow, heavy sigh.
“Then at least come back to the Leslie estate.”
He caught her wrist as he spoke, his other hand reaching for the boxes she held.
“We’ll talk there.”
“No. I will not go back.”
Elisa shook her head firmly, her tone leaving no room for doubt. Derek’s grip tightened painfully around her wrist, forcing a cry from her lips.
“Let me go—”
“Why?” Derek cut her off, his voice low and dangerous, like fog clinging to the ground.
“Is it because you’re searching for Ethan Estevan?”
Her heart lurched. From the way he spoke, it seemed Derek still had no idea she and Ethan had already met. Thank the heavens for that. If he knew everything, it would be far worse.
“…Now that I think about it, Noah isn’t here either.”
The words struck like a blade.
“You wouldn’t leave the boy alone. He must be with someone else.”
Elisa’s blood ran cold.
“The innkeeper is watching him.”
She lied—but her voice quivered just enough to betray her. Derek, sharp as ever, instantly sensed the falsehood. His gaze swept over the boxes in her hands.
The department store used blue boxes for men, pink or red for women, yellow for children.
And the boxes Elisa carried were all blue and yellow. Yellow for Noah, yes—but the blue?
“Then you did find Ethan Estevan.”
Her breath caught. The boxes slipped from her trembling hands, spilling across the wet ground. Shirts and trousers tumbled out—far too large for Noah, unmistakably a man.
“…So he really is alive.”
Derek’s teeth ground audibly. He remembered Count Leslie’s assurance that Ethan was surely dead. Rage flared hotter.
Ethan Estevan, missing in action. The royal family searched desperately.
The newspaper headlines from the train flashed in his mind. Not a word about Ethan being alive, let alone found. On the contrary—the prince and princess were still scouring Sailport in vain.
But Elisa had already found him.
And Prince Howard had left her here.
The pieces fell into place, and Derek’s lips twisted into a cold smirk.
“If you don’t return to the capital with me, I will reveal that Ethan Estevan is alive.”
If Ethan were comatose or gravely wounded, Elisa would not have been so calm—nor shopping for clothes. She had even left Noah behind. Ethan had to be in good health.
Which meant hiding him was nothing short of treason.
Prince Howard might be complicit—but that only made it more dangerous. The Queen and Prince Alex, eager to drag Howard down, would never miss such an opportunity.
The punishment would fall on all involved: Ethan Estevan, Prince Howard, Elisa, even Noah.
Elisa said nothing, but her bloodless face betrayed the truth.
“There’s a train back to the capital in an hour,” Derek said smoothly, his voice regaining a sinister calm.
“I’ve already bought the tickets.”
“…And Noah?”
“Leave him with his father.”
He dismissed her protest with a harsh tug on her wrist.
“W-Wait—!”
She struggled, planting her feet so firmly the wet ground dented beneath her heels. She could not leave Ethan and Noah, could not walk willingly into the fate that awaited her in the capital.
But Derek’s grip was iron, dragging her forward.
“Does it not matter if everyone learns Ethan Estevan is alive?”
The threat froze her. Her gaze fell to the scattered, rain-soaked clothes at her feet.
She could not deny it any longer.
I’ll go back.
She couldn’t sway Derek, couldn’t avoid this forever. The only way was to return and confront her father directly. If Count Leslie abandoned the engagement, Derek would have no choice but to let go.
I will make him relent. For Noah, for Ethan, for myself.
“Fine! I’ll go. Just stop pulling me!”
At her sharp cry, Derek’s eyes narrowed, searching her face for sincerity.
“I’ll return to the capital with you. Truly. But at least let me leave a letter for Noah. He’ll panic if his mother disappears without a word.”
“No.”
“Lord Grenville—”
“You never considered my circumstances. Why should I consider yours?”
His refusal was merciless, his hand jerking on her wrist.
And then—
Thud!
A heavy impact cracked through the air. Derek staggered, eyes wide, and went sprawling backward.
