Chapter 4 – Part 25

The Devens’ villa had become a base of operations.

The large parlor on the first floor was pinned up with maps of the empire, and they were writing down the news as it came in, making every effort to find Ruby.

“Any additional news?”

Eli leaned back on the sofa, rubbing his tired eyes with his fingers.

“Not yet.”

Despite knowing that this brute-force investigation method was not effective, there was nothing else they could do, so they couldn’t give up.

“What about information on villages not marked on the map?”

“There are many quiet villages in the mountains, so it takes time to find out.”

Not all villages were marked on the map, and there were quite a few of them.

Knowing how hard they worked, Eli couldn’t be more hard on them.

“Lord Grit, Lady Emily, and Sir Leton have arrived.”

“Emily and Leton? Didn’t his vacation last longer?”

“Brother!”

Emily burst into the parlor at the same time Eli asked.

“Have you been doing this all this time?”

Upon entering, Emily was surprised to see the map of the Luben Empire, the unorganized and scattered documents, and the data displayed.

“What’s going on? How did you get here?”

Eli asked, looking at Leton, who had entered behind Emily.

“I rode here along with Leton. I can ride alone now.”

But before he could answer, Emily spoke first.

She was good enough that she didn’t need to learn from Leton or Eli anymore.

“I’m here to show you this.”

With that, she casually placed a letter on Eli’s lap, as if throwing it.

“It’s a letter from my new friend. I borrowed it for a while.”

Eli looked at her with an expression that seemed to ask what it had to do with him. When Emily gestured for him to look at the letter, only then did he glance at it.

Soon, his brows furrowed.

“This…”

Eli picked up the letter.

“She came from a place whose name I’ve never heard before. She said her distant family is from the capital, and my debut party was her first social event.”

While listening to Emily’s explanation, Eli first looked at the handwriting on the surface of the letter and later read its contents.

“But she learned etiquette very well.”

He was not precisely reading the content but observing the handwriting.

“She learned it from a teacher who recently moved there.”

The handwriting was powerful yet gentle, and the tone of the letter captured the essence of the person who sent it.

“That teacher has brown hair and red eyes; isn’t that interesting?”

Only then did Eli’s gaze turn to Emily. Her eyes were shaking violently.

It was the first time Emily had seen that face.

“Sister Ruby, she’s in Zenfield now.”

“Zenfield?”

“In Palman’s words, it’s said to be the place where news from the empire arrives last.”

“Palman was my friend’s name,” she explained.

“It’s a gift for coming to my debut party. Won’t you go?”

Upon hearing Emily’s words, Eli suddenly stood up, as if realizing something unbelievable. He walked towards the door in disbelief, stopped, then turned around and gently stroked Emily’s head.

“Thank you. Take a carriage when you go back.”

As he left the reception room, he assigned maids and guards to Emily.

“Leton, you should go too.”

“I’ll see you later.”

Leton also left the reception room belatedly, and the sound of hoofbeats quickly faded away.

***

That night, as they were about to go upstairs to bed, the loud sound of hoofbeats, which had been running, stopped in front of the mansion. Along with the sound of horses neighing.

Ruby and Dominic looked at each other simultaneously.

Shortly after, a knocking sound on the door echoed.

Ruby gestured to Dominic not to open it by putting a forefinger on her lips.

Since neither of them answered, the knocking sound didn’t cease. It was so strong that it felt like the door would break with a little more force.

“Who’s there?”

Ruby asked reluctantly.

“Madam…”

“It’s okay. Nothing bad will happen.”

But she also felt a sense of fear and picked up the broom that had been leaning against the side. Dominic quickly went to the kitchen and brought a mop.

“Who is it?”

Ruby made an effort not to let her voice tremble.

Since she spoke, the nighttime visitor beyond the door has remained silent. Dominic continued to look at the person behind the door, wary.

Dominic gestured to just go upstairs without opening the door.

Ruby was in contemplation for a moment.

“It’s me.”

At that moment, the voice of the visitor was heard. A very low voice, but a familiar one. Ruby was surprised for a moment.

“Ruby, open the door.”

As if confirming his presence once again, Ruby’s hand holding the broom relaxed naturally.

Ruby, now relieved of fear, slowly approached the door and opened it.

As expected, it was Eli. Behind him, Leton held two reins and stood at a distance.

Even when the door was completely open, Eli and Ruby stood facing each other without saying a word.

“I’ll guide you to the backyard.”

Dominic, understandingly, headed to a place where she could leave them alone with Leton.

Only the two of them remained in the mansion.

Eli slowly raised his hand. His approaching hand was trembling slightly.

“Eli, this place…”

Before Ruby could finish her sentence, Eli hugged her tightly. He embraced her so tightly that it was almost suffocating.

“Thank goodness.”

While feeling her breath, the rustling movements, and the warmth of her embraced chest, he finally felt relieved.

Ruby was still alive and by his side. That was enough.

All the worries disappeared like melting snow.

Pulling away, Eli checked Ruby’s every inch.

He checked her arms by lifting the sleeves, examined her collarbones and neck, and touched her cheeks to feel her warmth.

Relieved to know that she was unharmed, he sighed deeply.

“Ruby.”

There were many things he wanted to ask when they met. She left without saying a word, whether she really disliked him, if she had a hard time in a distant place, or if she ever wanted to come back. Those thoughts came up every night for the past year.

But he couldn’t ask any questions.

Seeing Ruby in front of him, all the questions became meaningless.

“Please don’t disappear without a word.”

In a year, Eli had become even more sharply defined, with a slightly thin feeling. But to Ruby, rather than feeling scared, he seemed to be crying.

In Palman’s letter, it was written that he was doing well, but his face didn’t show that.

Before Ruby could respond, Eli embraced her again. He held her as if he didn’t want to let go.