Chapter 11

Among the nobles, the claim that she escaped at night with her escort was more widely accepted than the rumor that she had died.

Kaiden took these scandals as clues and searched for Astrid until he was utterly exhausted. Yet, during all that time, she showed no interest in how Kaiden had lived, only worrying about Declan.

“I’ll contact the Merchant Guild master directly.”

“Alright, when will you send the aid and supplies to Tate? I’ll do my part, so to Declan……”

It seemed today Astrid was determined to break him. Kaiden barely suppressed his pounding heart as he suddenly pulled her waist close.

When the large shadow fell over her, Astrid instinctively fell silent, perhaps out of fear. Holding her slender body tightly, Kaiden let out a sigh. The breath brushing her forehead was as hot as the hand around her waist.

“As, what’s your relationship with Declan?”

In his memory, Declan had been a boy with feminine features and a slender frame, but inside, he was shrewd. After becoming an adult, Declan had disguised Astrid as a Merchant Guild employee and monopolized her, even though Kaiden had mobilized everyone from the Raselles Duchy to search the entire country and couldn’t find her.

How had the two spent those three years together?

While Kaiden wandered the battlefield, his mind shattered, he couldn’t help but imagine how close they might have become, and a bitter laugh escaped him.

Taking advantage of that moment, Astrid slipped out of his arms.

Kaiden watched the retreating Astrid, chuckling.

“So, you’re not just the merchant master and an employee, are you?”

“Declan is my savior, the one who rescued me and gave me a place to live. I can’t manage without the medicine he gives me now.”

“Medicine?”

“Yes, Declan made a painkiller just for me. I tried other medicine, but nothing worked. So even now, I’m… not well.”

The Masons were a well-known family of apothecaries, and Declan, the eldest son, had always locked himself in the lab at the Academy making strange medicines.

Professors praised him as a genius, but to his peers he was just an eyesore and an oddball.

Declan was often beaten up by his peers, and Astrid, learning of this, desperately saved him. After that, Declan followed her around like a chick.

Once he became close with Astrid, Declan straightened his once-shrunken back and cut his shaggy hair. After that, he participated more actively in school life.

He called Astrid ‘senior’ and hovered around her, but the look in his eyes was that of a man toward a woman.

That Declan was Astrid’s savior. 

What on earth had happened three years ago?

Chewing over those cursed questions, Kaiden clenched his fist.

He’d noticed Astrid looked pale, but he never imagined the painkillers she’d always taken were the problem.

He’d thought the aftereffects of the train accident left her with numb limbs and headaches.

Talking with her, it seemed there had been incidents even before.

Regardless, she was only worried about the west, where the Mason Merchant Guild was located.

She didn’t even realize her own life was in danger.

Among the retainers of the Raselles Duchy, there were those who disliked her.

Especially Viscount Eden, who considered Brielle Selinger filth that sullied the honor of the late young duke, and insisted she should never set foot in Duddingston.

When Viscountess Eden, acting on the Dowager Duchess’s orders, went to fetch Brielle and met her end, he came to the ducal residence and wept, begging for vengeance.

First, Kaiden had to keep Astrid by his side. The rest, he could figure out later.

Clearing away his tangled thoughts, Kaiden held out a sheet of paper.

“If you want me to send money to the Merchant Guild, sign a contract first.”

“As much as you like.”

Calmly, Astrid examined the document Kaiden handed over.

Fortunately, each clause included her requirements. As the two pored over the contract together, it felt almost like the old Academy days.

She had thought they would live as lifelong friends and lovers.

Astrid’s chest ached, so she focused even more closely on the contract.

After she finished reviewing and signing, Kaiden’s lips curled up. It was an extremely elegant smile, but for some reason it felt cold.

“Let’s get discharged together today. Pack your things right away.”

“…Alright.”

The doctor had said she could leave next week, but Astrid nodded obediently. She started packing her bag, but Kaiden, who she thought would leave, stayed put.

Is he watching to see if I do anything suspicious?

Feeling annoyed, Astrid glared at him. Meeting her gaze, Kaiden furrowed his brow.

“That’s all your luggage?”

“Yes, if I need anything else, I’ll ask Declan.”

“…I see.”

That name again grated on Kaiden’s nerves. At this point, if he met Declan, he felt he could kill him without hesitation.

As Kaiden stared at Astrid with a low, shadowy gaze, her lips clamped shut.

She was quick to sense when it was best to keep quiet, as if she really had worked as a merchant’s employee.

“You’ll see the merchant master you’re so desperate to find soon. But I bet he’ll be more pleased about the money than about you.”

“Fine, just make sure you fulfill the contract.”

Kaiden sounded like a stubborn child being unreasonable, so Astrid turned her head away.

His attitude was irritating, but once she got to the ducal residence, she’d face even more obstacles, so she needed to get used to it.

Nobles naturally sorted themselves by rank, so Brielle Selinger, a fallen noble, was an uncomfortable presence. Even if the Duke needed her for now, if she ever slipped out of his control, he’d get rid of her at once.

Raselles was no different from Hamilton.

Cutting off her thoughts, Astrid held out her hand to Kaiden. He raised one eyebrow, but she straightened her back.

“Kaiden, once we get to the ducal residence, we won’t be able to talk like this anymore. From now on, I’ll treat you with proper courtesy.”

“Alright.”

Her trust in Kaiden had already been broken long ago, but she couldn’t think of any other way to get through this crisis.

If she played the role of Brielle Selinger that he wanted for one year, she could save the Mason Merchant Guild.

Reminded of that clear reward, she resolved to do whatever Kaiden asked, even if it meant swallowing filth.

Do well.

Time passes faster than you think. It’s already been three years since that day. 

If she just got through this, she could return to her old life.

“Let’s go.”

Kaiden skillfully escorted Astrid. Linking arms with him, she walked straight out.

* * *

As they neared the Raselles ducal residence, sleet began to fall.

With visibility blurring, the car slowed as it passed slowly between the rows of trees leading up to the mansion.

The tall plane trees were covered with snow that had fallen overnight, piling up on every branch.

The last time she saw it, it looked like a palace built of snow, making her gasp in wonder, but now it felt like bars made of ice.

One year ahead.

Leaving behind the beautiful and chilly landscape, Astrid turned her head. At the same time, she met Kaiden’s eyes beside her.

There was no warmth in his golden eyes as he watched her, almost as if he were observing her. The coldest thing in this garden might be this man.

Realizing that, Astrid felt a dull ache in her chest and her mouth went dry.

“Miss Selinger, my mother will not be kind to you.”

“Your Grace, I understand. Please don’t worry.”

Astrid answered quietly, mindful of the chauffeur and secretary in the front seat.

To live within her station at the ducal house and then quietly disappear.

Reminding herself of her role, Astrid looked out the window. The figure shimmering above the snow-covered path didn’t seem like herself, and it felt awkward.

Reflected in the car window, her eyebrows were arched and her blonde hair was elegantly pinned up. The dress visible beneath her light cashmere coat was trimmed with fine lace.

Astrid had tried to style herself as closely as possible to Brielle’s appearance, which she’d seen on the train, but even as a Marquis’s daughter, she never wore such uncomfortable clothes or jewelry.

She had lived differently from other noble ladies, helping with family business in place of her younger brother who was often out, and studying for the Academy.

Her mother was always wary and displeased whenever Astrid outpaced her brother Andrew in her studies. Back then, she thought it was simply because she was a girl, but it wasn’t.