Chapter 4 – Part 14 (End of Volume 2)

“Madam, may I ask why you left without saying a word?”

The carriage, carrying Ruby and leaving Devens, picked up Dominic, who had been waiting in another area. As soon as she boarded, the carriage accelerated, with only the final sprint to the destination remaining.

“Because if I speak, he might not let me go.”

“Your husband? I believe he would prioritize respecting your thoughts the most.”

Smiling at Dominic’s response, Ruby was partly right and partly wrong. Eli mostly tried to comply with what she wanted, but for some reason, he disliked her going to places where he couldn’t know her whereabouts.

“May I ask why you’re leaving?”

Dominic cautiously inquired.

Ruby smiled, lost in thought for a moment. Then,

“Because I like to.”

“Huh?”

“I think it’s because I want to.”

Ruby didn’t elaborate further.

Although Dominic didn’t understand her answer, he let it go. After all, she didn’t seem willing to say more.

“But how did you find a house in Zenfield?”

She subtly changed the subject. The carriage still slightly rocked.

“From someone I know.”

“Someone you know?”

“Yeah.”

Ruby once again dismissed the topic with a smile.

Her laughter seemed to convey that there were things she didn’t want to talk about, and Dominic didn’t ask further.

Later, in the rocking carriage, the two relaxed individuals drifted into sleep.

***

Grit Marquis’s employees had searched the entire area around Devens within a day of Eli’s arrival.

“Two women or even one woman renting a carriage is unheard of. No person has traveled far, they’ve all stayed within the Devense area,” reported the investigator.

However, the results were disappointing.

“What about the maid, Dominic?”

“A few days ago, she already took a carriage back to her hometown.”

“Confirm if she has arrived.”

Under Eli’s command, Leton, with a bow, acknowledged and left.

“People who contacted Ruby, arrived with letters, anything, tell me everything.”

Eli called for Baccara again and asked.

“Madam lived in the mansion as stated in the letter we sent. Mostly, she took walks or enjoyed the breeze within the mansion. Oh, a few days ago, Baroness Blora and Countess Chain stayed for a while. She exchanged letters with them frequently before that.”

Baccara reiterated the information she had reported.

“Are you going to check on them?”

Kane, rising along with Eli, asked.

“Just in case.”

Eli honestly didn’t think Ruby would contact those two. Ruby didn’t contact Lynn even during their divorce in the past. If Ruby were to contact them, it would be when he didn’t mind her doing so.

Despite knowing this, he hoped to gain even a small hint about Ruby.

“Oh, and Miss Emily also sent a letter to Madam.”

She answered as if remembering it just now.

“Emily?”

Unexpectedly, he stopped and turned back at the mention of Emily.

“Emily Grit? Your… sister?”

Kane was equally surprised.

“Yes. I don’t know the contents, but Madam received a letter and replied to it.”

“Why would Emily…”

Suddenly, he recalled her saying that she would arrange for the return of her younger sister.

He wondered if her journey was detailed in that letter.

Maybe that’s why she left.

It was more of a guess than a certainty.

“There’s nothing to say, even if she ran away.”

Eli, murmuring again, gave the order to prepare the carriage.

He could only hope it wasn’t because she was tired of him.

* * *

“Marquis Grit has arrived.”

“Marquis Grit?”

Iana asked to confirm the visitor.

“Yes. He came urgently, saying he had something to ask.”

“Bring him to the parlor.”

Thinking it was probably about the Marchioness, Iana accepted the visit willingly.

“Countess Chain.”

As soon as Iana entered the parlor, Eli stood up.

She momentarily paused when she saw the Marquis in her parlor, finding it unfamiliar.

“The butler said it’s urgent. What’s the matter?”

“Do you happen to know anything about my wife?”

His question was odd, so Iana gave him a puzzled look.

“Marquise Grit, I believe you know that I visited the Devens mansion at her invitation not long ago.”

Making a fist, Iana’s expression contained a meaning like, ‘Why are you here to ask me? What do you want to say? ‘

“After that, was there anything unusual?”

“What do you mean by unusual?”

“Like receiving a separate message or being asked to do something.”

“I sent a letter after we parted at the mansion, but I haven’t received a reply yet.”

Even as she answered, Iana sensed that his questions were still strange.

Concerned, she looked at Eli, who didn’t miss a beat.

“Is there anything wrong with the Marchioness?”

Finally, unable to hold back, Iana inquired.

“No. Please do let me know if my wife contacts you.”

With a final request, Eli was about to leave the parlor.

“Could it be that the Marchioness is not at the villa?”

He stopped in his tracks.

“Do you know something?”

“No… she’s not there.”

Iana, through the question, confirmed that Ruby had disappeared.

“Before that, any memorable words or places she mentioned?”

Since she already knew, Eli asked without beating around the bush.

“None.”

Different from earlier, her worried expression indicated to Eli that she understood.

“If she contacts you…”

“Is this because the Marquis is leaving her in Devens and meeting another woman in the capital?”

Iana interrupted his words, questioning.

Eli couldn’t deny or affirm it, still contemplating the uncertain situation.

“I’m on the Marchioness’s side no matter what.”

Iana added as Eli remained silent. He chuckled lightly, not mocking but genuinely light laughter.

“Thank you for that. I appreciate it.”

“…”

“She may not like me very much, but I must find Ruby. Because Ruby… might be in danger.”

This was an assumption he never wanted to verbalize.

Eli did really consider divorce once enough time had passed since the day Ruby died in the past, and he can be sure that Ruby is truly safe. In reality, he had initially planned to stay by her side throughout. However, given the current circumstances where that justification has vanished, it seemed like the best option. So, he deliberately used the excuse of property division to allow her to stay in the safest mansion in Devens.

But he never expected Ruby to disappear on her own.

“So, I beg you, even if it’s not for me but for my wife, please.”

Despite his calm voice, his eyes and the clenched fist, which seemed uneasy, subtly revealed his desperation.

“…Okay.”

Iana had no choice but to respond as if entranced.

“And please keep this a secret from others.”

As Iana uttered her last words and left the reception room, she couldn’t take her eyes off his slumped shoulders.

* * *

“Ruby… disappeared? Where did she go?”

Eli had also visited the Baroness of Blora after the Countess of Chain. However, the response was no different from that of the Countess Chain.

“Did she say anything or give any hints?”

“Not at all.”

From their time in Devens, she only had memories of them enjoying an unfamiliar game together.
.
“If you do hear from her, please let me know, and don’t tell anyone else about Ruby’s disappearance.”

It would come out someday, but it was better if it came out as late as possible, lest it jeopardize Ruby’s safety.

“Of course.”

Eli weakly smiled and left the Baroness’s mansion.

“What on earth… is happening?”

Ruby had suddenly disappeared.

While Lynn was confused by the sudden news, a part of her was relieved to see Eli looking for Ruby.

* * *

“Any news?”

He asked as soon as he got on the carriage.

“Not yet. I’m sorry.”

Leton replied.

“What about Emily?”

While Eli visited the Countess Chain and Baroness Blora, Leton met Emily after visiting Grit Mansion. It was to find out the contents of Ruby’s reply.

“It’s a letter denying Lady Emily’s request to return to the capital.”

“…I see.”

As expected.

Eli nodded slightly in agreement with the roughly expected content, looking out the window.

Eli’s face had taken a beating in recent days due to the Marchioness of Grit, who had gone into hiding. He hadn’t slept or eaten well, and he looked haggard.

Despite thoroughly searching Devens, there was no one who had seen Ruby.

Even Leton couldn’t help but worry that something might have happened.

However, he didn’t express that concern. If he did, it was hard to estimate how much more Eli would deteriorate.

Since the disappearance of Grit Marquis’s wife, the masked ball held for the image of the Marquis’s unruly nature was temporarily put on hold. Finding the Marchioness took precedence over that.

Thanks to this, the mother-son war was also in a temporary truce.

* * *

“Marquis Grit’s wife is staying at the Devens.”

“Yes.”

Arlen was listening to Petiz, her personal maid, fill her in on the information about the Marchioness of Grit that had been mentioned at the luncheon.

“Why?”

Certainly, until just before they went to Devens, the two of them got along well.

“I don’t know the details, but it’s almost certain that their relationship has soured lately. While the young lady is not in the capital, there have been many rumors about Lord Grit.”

“Is it true that he’s seeing other women?”

Arlen asked incredulously.

“I can’t say for sure, “It’s true that he bought the mansion, and it’s true that he has women coming and going. Dozens of people have witnessed it. Lately, they say he hosts parties where men and women are invited. Shouldn’t the young lady keep her distance too? “

Petiz, trying to reassure her, was concerned about Arlen, whom she embraced as a childhood friend. She worried that unfounded rumors might stick to the kind young lady.

“I’ll handle that on my own. Thanks for worrying.”

“Yes, then please get some rest.”

As Petiz closed the door and left, Arlen sank into thought.

Honestly, Arlen didn’t believe the rumors about Eli.

Since childhood, he has preferred work over women. In that aspect, she shared the same opinion as Emperor Shanua.

“How interesting.”

Regardless of whether it was true or not, things were unfolding in an interesting way.

–End of Volume 2–

TL Note: Thank you for reading the second volume of “A Second Divorce is Difficult”. I hope you look forward for the next volume, as it will be up soon.