Chapter 65

65

"Is the situation outside alright...?"

At the muttered words, Charlotte scratched her cheek and pretended to be indifferent. The inevitable sense of unease was also evident on her face.

"It's been about five years since this cabin was built... The shielding magic should be about the same, right? It's probably fine. Duke Valentine won't be able to find us here, right?"

Though she tried to reassure me in a positive tone, Charlotte didn't seem entirely convinced. ...That's right. Theodore is... too capable.

Charlotte and I both know this very well.

"…Theodore will probably catch me before the news of my elopement spreads and start the formal divorce proceedings. That way, Valentine's honor won't be tarnished..."

"..."

"His goal is probably just that. ...After the divorce, he won't care what happens to me. He might feel a little sorry for me, but..."

"..."

"To be honest, I think I wanted him to care a little. Since my health isn't good right now, I hoped he would worry a little if something happened to me during my escape..."

"..."

"...I know, it's just a futile fantasy."

This was the first time I had opened up to Charlotte like this. I always suppressed my feelings about Theodore. I couldn't share my troubles with anyone.

...That's why I didn't realize. The heavy and suffocating feelings in my heart, and the complicated relationship between him and me, how they would look to others.

"But, Miss..."

Charlotte averted her gaze and fidgeted with her hands. I looked at her and listened quietly. The warm orange light from the fireplace illuminated her face.

"Miss, you're not hoping for Duke Valentine's sympathy anymore, are you?"

Her words made my eyes widen involuntarily. I felt as if I had been hit on the head and was dazed. Charlotte, who had been frowning, continued.

"Now, you just want to be happy yourself. That's why you chose to elope, right?"

"..."

...Charlotte is right.

Yes, that's right. I decided to live for my own happiness.

I no longer need anyone's sympathy, concern, affection, or salvation.

I need to hold my own hand, and now I know that.

"…You're right."

I looked at Charlotte and smiled gently. My heavy heart felt much lighter.

Since I've decided to leave everything behind, I need to let go in my heart as well.

...So please, don't look for me.

This time, finally, I want you to forget me.

* * *

Theodore glared at Zen with a cold, wintry gaze and said,

"I know my wife is in this cabin. I also know you're hiding her."

"..."

Zen, who had almost blurted out, "Your wife? Lily doesn't consider you her husband anymore," closed his mouth. ...He almost made a mistake. The possessive term "my wife" irked him.

"Your concealment of her is a crime. You don't want me to formally protest to Delacroix, do you? So answer me. Where is Lily?"

"Your Grace, Duke Valentine..."

Zen called him with a truly regretful tone. He sighed deeply, shook his head, and took a sip of tea as if his throat was dry, then said,

"How many times do I have to say it? The Duchess of Valentine is not here. I just came to my cabin for a visit. Why are you doing this to me?"

"..."

Zen used the "pretending to be wronged and making the other person look bad" rhetoric. Theodore sneered as if it were ridiculous.

He stood up abruptly and walked across the living room to the doorway. Zen thought he had finally given up, but soon realized that wasn't the case. The aura he exuded was far from ordinary.

'No, surely not...'

Ignoring the owner's wishes and searching the place—

"Sir Grannen. Divide the knights into six groups and search this place thoroughly. Report to me if you find anything suspicious."

It was really happening! Zen jumped up from the sofa in shock. He approached Theodore with quick steps and confronted him angrily.

"Your Grace, Duke Valentine! No matter how urgent you are, this is not acceptable! This is my cabin! My private property! This is a violation of private property!"

"Then what about hiding my wife? Is that not a crime? Who are you to interfere in my affairs with my wife? Zen Delacroix."

As Theodore closed the distance, Zen's mouth twitched and he took a step back. He had always thought he wasn't physically inferior to this man... but up close, he realized he was wrong.

Theodore Valentine was extremely intimidating. He felt as massive as a mountain.

'And... this man...'

...His eyes were out of control.

He had completely lost it.

"Listen, Your Grace. Calm down. Have you forgotten who I am? I am—"

"The heir of the Delacroix family. I know."

Even though he knew, he still acted like this? He was completely out of his mind. Zen was at a loss. He couldn't really engage in a duel with this man...

'That's not an option. It would make things too big.'

Both were not ordinary people but spirit contractors. If they fought, they would naturally use their spirit powers. If it became known that two spirit contractors had fought, the whole country would be in an uproar.

'My father would go ballistic...'

Although he was blocking Theodore's path, Zen didn't dislike him. ...He was a bit resentful and jealous, but he didn't dislike him.

Most importantly, he didn't want the Valentine and Delacroix families to become enemies. They needed to ally against their common enemy, Everett. Although they had to bow to Everett's tyranny in the past...

'...But now this man is completely insane... Ah, he's lost it. I need to reason with him.'

In the end, Zen could only hope that the shielding magic in the secret underground room was perfect. He hoped Theodore Valentine wouldn't find it and just pass by.

Anyway, he was on Lily's side now. He wanted to... help her. The smile and tears he saw in front of the "Lantern in the Dark" were something he would never forget.

Such beauty and sadness, he had never seen before.

"..."

Zen sighed deeply and said,

"Oh well... Do as you please. But I guarantee you won't find anything. I'll remember this for a long time. I'll definitely demand compensation from Valentine someday."

Theodore nodded as if it didn't matter. ...His eyes were still out of control.

...He really is obsessed with her. But why is Lily trying to run away from him?

'Too clingy...?'

...It could be that, or there might be other reasons. He didn't want to pry into such personal matters until Lily revealed them herself. He wanted to help her, not act like a jerk under the pretense of helping.

30 minutes later, the search was over.

"Really, nothing at all?"

"Yes, my lord... No suspicious points were found."

It was unbelievable. Theodore clenched his fists. ...It can't be. Lily's trail clearly ended here.

'...Serafin, really nothing? Lily isn't here? You said her trail ended here.'

In response to his question, the spirit of fire within him answered with resolve. He could also sense the spirit's slight regret. ...Theodore dropped his hands. If Serafin couldn't find anything...

She really wasn't hiding here.

Then, where did she go?

Theodore was so anxious he felt like he was going crazy. He thought he had found her, and he really believed... he would meet her again here.

'...What if.'

At that moment, a hypothesis flashed through his mind.

His blue eyes, which had been downcast, suddenly sparkled.

'...Is there a shielded space in this cabin?'

It was common to have a basement with shielding magic in such a cabin. It served as a kind of safe haven in case of emergencies. ...So, it might be there.

Down there, she might be.

"..."

But Zen Delacroix would deny the existence of a basement. He wouldn't reveal the entrance until he was forced to.

So, there was only one way.

Theodore awakened the spirit within him. Blue flames enveloped his body and burned. Zen Delacroix, startled, shouted,

"Are you crazy?!"

"Seems like it."

In the next moment, Theodore's attack surged toward Zen. Zen, cursing, awakened Ventus.

Golden wind blocked the azure flames and gently enveloped Zen's body.

"Your Grace, Duke Valentine! Are you really going to fight me?!"

"I won't get it out of you any other way."

"Do you realize you're completely out of your mind, calling me 'you, you'? Snap out of it! Even if you defeat me in a duel, I won't tell you! I really don't know anything!"

"..."

Theodore summoned a massive flame. Pale fire consumed everything. The living room where the two stood turned into a hellish inferno in an instant. However, nothing was burned due to the owner's will.

The purpose of the flames was one: to subdue Zen Delacroix and his spirit.

"…You'll only know when you're subdued."

Theodore Valentine's eyes also burned with azure flames. ...At that moment, Zen genuinely feared this man.