The Stepmother Has Left - Chapter 28

[Hello, Cassia.

 

I heard the news about the Third Prince right now. It is rapidly becoming a hot topic around you, and I think it would be very uncomfortable to have Duke Whidrian and Nick by your side.

 

If I could, I’d like to take you out right away, but I’m worried that you’ll be suspected for no reason.

 

I want to see you soon.

 

I’ll always be waiting for you, so if you’re feeling frustrated, call me.

 

-Michael]

 

The letter from Michael made Cassia feel better.

 

Also, he was a friendly person.

 

She wrote and sent a reply to Michael carefully with a warm heart.

 

[Hello, Michael.

 

I have received your reply well.

 

When Duke Whidrian and Nick came to visit, life got a bit complicated, but now I’m determined.

 

I will do it.

 

I don’t want to stand it any longer. Somehow, I will save my life here on my own. If I need your help, I will contact you.

 

Thank you always.

 

And I want to see you soon, too.

 

– Cassia]

 

The meticulous knights only allowed her to send the letter to Michael after they had inspected it.

 

Cassia quietly showed them her letter because she couldn’t embarrass the knights who were in a position to be ordered.

 

They were innocent.

 

They are only following their master’s orders.

 

After sending the letter, Cassia said to them.

 

“Let me see the Duke, please.”

 

***

 

“Get out of my space.”

 

As soon as the gallery door opened, she strode over to the Duke and spoke, and silence fell.

 

She looked at the gallery’s interior filled with strange things in silence. The gallery used as the search base was filled with strange objects such as maps depicting Lawrencia and the entire Empire, weapons, and insignias required for military command.

 

An unfamiliar air flowed.

 

Meanwhile, Duke Whidrian approached her.

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

“Come to think of it, it’s unfair. Even if you search, use another place as a base. You can do that, right?

 

“…Cassia.”

 

“And please lower the level of monitoring me. It’s inconvenient because the knights are constantly watching.”

 

The Duke looked at her as if she felt unfamiliar, acting a little differently than usual.

 

“Compensation for potential damage or loss, that doesn’t matter to me. I want the right to be here alone right now, and I want my right to live freely.”

 

The Third Prince or whatever, the Whidrian family, or whatever, has nothing to do with her.

 

To be honest, she just wanted them all to disappear from her sight.

 

Is it such a great hope to run a gallery in Lawrencia without any conflicts, sell coffee, and paint in peace?

 

“But Cassia, this is the country’s business. Besides, it is His Majesty’s special task to solve the case of the disappearance of the Third Prince.”

 

The Duke replied.

 

“All the people of the Empire are obliged to obey the orders of His Majesty the Emperor. That is why you are also participating in the search.”

 

She looked at Axion. He continued.

 

“The same goes for renting a place. It is possible to set up a separate investigation headquarters, but it is important not to delay time due to the nature of the disappearance case. Besides, if he has been here for a while, he might come back.”

 

“Since it is inconvenient, I will give the order to lower the level of surveillance a little. However, I would like your cooperation in this matter.

 

“Okay.”

 

“…What?”

 

The Duke’s eyebrows twitched when Cassia immediately answered and nodded.

 

“I know. Instead, make sure to lower the monitoring level. Life is very inconvenient right now.”

 

“…All right. Let me do that.”

 

“Then, have a good time at work.”

 

After greeting the Duke with a smile, Cassia walked out of her shop.

 

And after Cassia left the shop, the Duke realized it not long after.

 

That Cassia wasn’t here to interfere with the investigation.

 

That she originally intended to give him a place.

 

She had given a warning and left.

 

A warning that she will not respond easily to anything in the future.

 

And he lost just perfectly in a fight with her.

 

When Cassia returned home with the knights, she was feeling much better. Naturally, she had no intention of disobeying the search conducted under the orders of His Majesty the Emperor.

 

As the Duke said, all the people of the Empire were obliged to participate in the search for the Third Prince.

 

That was the duty of the people of the Empire living in this country at this time. In fact, even knowing the Third Prince the Knights were looking for and hiding him could be a crime.

 

It is fortunate that Emperor Fontrich and the Duke, who was in charge of the search operation, had a finite accident.

 

What was important to her was to show the Duke that she would not give up even a tiny thing easily.

 

It was a matter of showing her willingness to protect her life perfectly in the future.

 

Fortunately, the intention seemed to have succeeded.

 

‘Didn’t you also receive the words of the Duke to lower the level of surveillance on me?’

 

The knight she was walking spoke.

 

“In the future, if the level of surveillance is lowered by one level, we will monitor Madam outdoors, not at home. However, when you go out, we still have to accompany Madam, so I would appreciate it if you could cooperate that much.”

 

“Very good. Thanks for the explanation. You guys are always working hard.”

 

“It’s nothing…”

 

As the tension was relieved, she smiled as she looked at the knights accompanying her.

 

And it was when she got home.

 

She found a white note on her little dressing table.

 

[See you tonight at 77 Levin Village.

 

– Irwin

 

p.s Every night at 12:00, the knights have a shift. Note it.]

 

***

 

Cassia spent the afternoon hesitantly. It was because she couldn’t believe the note from Irwin.

 

‘Did he come for a while while I was away?’

 

‘How did he come and leave?’

 

Cassia’s heart was pounding. Irwin came into her house while she was visiting the gallery.

 

Ever since Irwin disappeared, she had been worried about him and wanted to help in any way.

 

Then he came to her and held out his hand.

 

It was great timing and opportunity for the knights to withdraw from the house. First off, she has been making food all afternoon.

 

It was just in case Irwin couldn’t eat anything properly because he was hiding.

 

She made simple stews and sandwiches, which she usually cooked at home, and put them one by one in a basket.

 

After all, it was quite a generous amount. In her mind, she wanted to provide him with the warm coffee that Irwin liked and the desserts he often ate at the cafe in the gallery, but she decided to be satisfied here.

 

‘What else can I help with?’

 

Cassia thought about it, but she could do nothing to help other than make food. It was because Irwin didn’t write anything specifically on the note, such as what he needed.

 

She didn’t even know why he wanted to see her, so that was all she could do. The most important thing is to get out of this area at night without being detected by the Knights.

 

“I’m going to go for a little evening walk before going to bed.”

 

“Come with us, Madam.”

 

With the excuse of wanting to go for a walk before going to sleep, she went out in the early evening with the knight who followed her.

 

She checked the knight’s movement while strolling, looking at the road from the house to the gallery building and the location of the village of Levin that Irwin mentioned in the note.

 

The village of Levin was fortunately located not far from here.

 

All you need to do is cross the main road in front of the gallery building with a panoramic view of the countryside on both sides.

 

Irwin thankfully gave a hint on the note.

 

He said that the guards of the Knights Templar become the most relaxed at 12 A.M.

 

“I have to go to bed early today. Thank you, everyone.”

 

After closing the door naturally with a smile at the knight, she finally checked the movement.

 

Now all that was left was waiting.

 

***

 

It was 12 o’clock at night.

 

It was a very dark and deep time because everyone went to bed early in a rural area.

 

Even the countless birds that live together fall asleep on a dark night without a single chirping sound. Cassia slightly opened the window at the back of the house with a slight creaking sound and looked at the mesh.

 

No one could be seen outside.

 

After confirming, she opened the window completely.

 

Holding the basket for Irwin in her arms, she got on the window and jumped out. It was an unfamiliar adventure. She thought it would be a scene if anyone who knew her as the Duchess would scream if they saw her, jumping out of the window in the middle of the night.

 

She also felt very unfamiliar with herself.

 

But now, more than ever, it was a moment she wanted to give for Irwin.

 

It was undoubtedly Irwin’s will to stay in Lawrencia, but she felt a certain sense of responsibility.

 

The Duke came to Lawrencia to see her, and discovered Irwin’s location.

 

The Duke was basically a man of good manners, but not as much as he was at work. As a Duchess, she knew how much he had gone looking for Irwin with a predator-like gaze. She sincerely hoped Irwin would not be left in a corner.

 

She didn’t want his location to be discovered.

 

Because she also knew the feeling of wanting no one to look for her.

 

If there was anything she could do to help in the process, she wanted to help.

 

That was why she tried to help Irwin even when she was overworked.

***