Chapter 78
Claudio led Count Bebberiz to the lounge prepared on the upper floor of the party hall.
The moment the door closed, Count Bebberiz hurriedly asked Claudio,
“Did the Westerner cause some kind of trouble?”
“Ha ha.”
Claudio let out a leisurely laugh. Count Bebberiz felt his mouth go dry, and the faint tipsiness he had felt moments before seemed to vanish entirely.
“If there’s a problem, we can check it first…”
“You’re going too far. I haven’t said a word.”
Claudio lowered his gaze and continued.
“This isn’t something you need to worry about. I’m not looking for anyone with a tattoo—I’m looking for a specific tattoo. Once I find it, this bothersome search will end.”
Count Bebberiz twitched his lips. Seeing his discomfort, Claudio asked slyly,
“Why the long face? I thought I was trying to reassure you.”
Though he spoke casually, Claudio knew exactly why Count Bebberiz was uneasy. Trembling at the very thought of what was coming next, he was unsettled by Claudio’s unexpected transparency.
Claudio smirked slightly.
“Anyway, the reason I called you here is because I have a proposal.”
“A proposal…?”
Claudio spoke as if discussing the weather, a tone so nonchalant it belied the gravity of his words. Yet Count Bebberiz grew pale and almost forgot to breathe as he listened.
“W-what did you just say?”
“…Count Bebberiz. Haven’t you had enough wine already to ask more questions?”
The count’s lips quivered, and sweat dotted his face, even though it was neither hot nor cold.
***
‘I wonder… are the Duke and Marsha enjoying the party?’
Urian tilted his head, staring up at the dark ceiling mottled with moisture. During parties, security was always tight. So it wasn’t unusual for knights to skip attending—but the reason even the aide couldn’t join the party was different. He had devised a new method to find that tattoo.
‘It feels a bit awkward to tell them how to find it and then attend the party alone.’
Just then, Visd came to Urian.
“Sir Urian, the third group is ready.”
“Ah, yes.”
Urian picked up the file on his desk and left the room, revealing a rusted iron cage containing four men bound in restraints.
“P-please… spare me!”
One man, caught two days ago for assaulting a passerby for no reason, trembled violently. The other men were equally desperate.
They had pickpocketed, beaten their wives, or scammed others—but nothing that seemed worthy of this grim prison. Their expressions plainly asked, Where am I?
‘Yes full of grievance rather than remorse.’
Urian had no intention of killing them—but he didn’t want to make them comfortable either.
“Everyone, focus.”
He showed them a drawing from the file: the tattoo found on the man who had attacked Claudio.
“Have you seen this tattoo before?”
The men’s eyes shifted. Most were confused, seeing it for the first time. But one man—the one who had begged for his life—reacted differently.
‘He’s trying hard not to show his tension.’
When Urian glanced back, Visd nodded, having noticed the same oddity.
Lucas had come to the Gloria Ducal household, but he never expected to speak directly with the Duke. He also doubted the likelihood of encountering anyone from the household who remembered the incident at the border four years ago. Yet he came anyway, clinging to the faint hope of meeting someone who might have witnessed that day.
Even while being unexpectedly stopped at the border, he had been anxious not to miss even that slim possibility. And then, in the corridor of the hurriedly entered banquet hall, he saw Marsha.
‘No way…’
Lucas’s legs felt rooted to the ground. While he stood foolishly, Marsha moved naturally toward the terrace.
‘I must have… misseen her.’
He tried to deny it. The corridor was dim, and they had been standing at opposite ends. It wasn’t unusual to mistake a brown-haired woman for Marsha; he had done it occasionally before.
Yet Lucas walked toward the terrace as if spellbound. Expecting disappointment, his steps quickened.
And when he drew back the curtain, an unbelievable sight awaited him.
“You…”
Standing under the moonlight, Marsha glimmered softly. Lucas struggled to speak.
“Is it really… Marsha?”
He asked, praying it wasn’t a dream. Marsha herself found it just as unbelievable.
‘Why… are you here?’
Her mouth fell open in shock. She had occasionally thought of Lucas. Their memories were mostly beautiful, drawing involuntary smiles. But then the memory of their last, terrible encounter would surface, and her brow would crease—always like that.
“Marsha…!”
Lucas reached out toward her, frozen in the past. Instinctively, Marsha swatted his hand away.
“!”
Startled, Lucas stared at his hand, then at Marsha again. Seeing her drenched in cold sweat and terrified, he asked,
“Why, Marsha… why are you like this?”
“Why are you here?” Marsha demanded sharply.
Lucas stared back, eyes wide.
‘Why is she saying this?’
From her reaction, she seemed uncomfortable meeting him.
‘Could it be… Marsha knows everything?’
Lucas had given Patricius the exact sum he demanded, not a penny less.
‘I gave that money precisely so she wouldn’t know I commissioned the kidnapping…!’
***
Four years ago, that day, Lucas had spoken with Marsha and sent back the footman who came for him. He had also kept “Rose” assigned as Marsha’s maid.
[It must be because of Rosanna that Marsha has become suspicious. I need to make sure she can’t leave this estate until I return.]
[Force her to stay?]
Lucas had been about to say so, but a sudden thought stopped him.
‘Wouldn’t it be better to hide Marsha somewhere where only I can see her?’
It was a good idea.
‘There’s no need to keep her in this estate.’
If he hid her somewhere he alone knew and made sure she met no one, she would exist in a world where only he existed. Even if she was nearby, he could occupy a world previously out of reach. Lucas shivered from head to toe. Recently, this was only the second time he felt this good.
He thought there was no better plan—but would Marsha follow willingly? Surely not.
‘Right now, she’s too emotional to reason with. I’ll need to calm and persuade her slowly before taking her.’
He had to act quickly. And since Marsha had already decided to leave on her own, she might act before he arrived…
While Lucas pondered, Rose spoke.
Why not move up the original plan instead?
The reason Rose and Bear remained there was…
If you remove Miss Pudelly, wouldn’t the problem disappear entirely?
Rose spoke fearlessly, and Lucas’s expression didn’t change at all.
If I could deal with it immediately, I would. But it’s still impossible.
Then should we forcibly keep the young lady as you mentioned earlier?
Lucas, who had been biting his lip in thought, shook his head.
If Marsha tries to leave, take her to my villa in the Bebberiz region. Don’t tell her anything. I’ll explain in person later.
But such a request… without additional payment…
That money! I’ll send it to your master as soon as we reach the city, so don’t worry about extra details!
…Understood. But she’ll resist. You may need to be a bit rough. Are you okay with that?
Lucas hesitated, then spoke.
…Make sure she isn’t hurt.
He said it with a heart-rending feeling, worried about the entire journey. What if Marsha really tried to leave and suffered? What if the ropes left marks on her delicate wrists? She would be scared and need comfort.
Lucas wanted to finish his task quickly and see Marsha, to gently hold her small face and press a careful kiss. He had long dreamed of this—but Marsha had disappeared from the Gloria Duchy. Rose and Bear, who took her, had been executed.
Those four years—or nearly five—had been agonizing. He had regretted entrusting Marsha to them the entire time, searching relentlessly for her.
Sometimes, in dreams, Marsha would always run joyfully to him, wrapping herself in his arms. She would whisper how much she had missed him. Then, upon waking, he would despair at her absence—but still held hope. Marsha would run to him, just as in the dream.
He had believed that.
So why was she so afraid of him now?
Even though their last encounter had been unpleasant, they had been close before. Why…?
‘Did those two babble nonsense to Marsha?’
Lucas wanted to trample the corpses of Rose and Bear.
