Duke and Duchess Reunion - Chapter 80

Chapter 80

“How did you come to decide on getting married?”

Aneta had thought that Chris prioritized repaying her debts over progressing her relationship with Vernon.

Chris didn’t know that Aneta had torn up the loan agreement, and she didn’t want to burden Vernon with that issue.

“At first, I wanted to pay off all my debts so I could stand in front of him with pride, that’s why I hadn’t expressed my feelings until now.”

Aneta’s guess was correct. However, Chris’s next words showed that this was a thing of the past.

“After going through this recent incident, I realized that no one knows what the future holds. So rather than waiting for an uncertain future, I wanted to cherish the present moment together.”

Chris explained that it was around this time that Vernon had confessed and proposed to her.

Knowing that Vernon had proposed first, Aneta inwardly smiled, thinking that Vernon had impeccable timing.

“In the end, I gave in to my greed and accepted. Like I said, I have no regrets.”

“No, that’s not greed. It’s natural to want to be with the person you love.”

Aneta’s words to Chris, who was speaking with some embarrassment, reflected a realization Aneta herself had come to recently.

“Greed is forcing your feelings on someone who doesn’t have any feelings for you, but you two have mutual feelings. There’s no reason for self-reproach. So, do whatever you want.”

Aneta considered telling Chris that she had torn up the debt note but decided against it. It was clear that revealing it would cause an uproar, so she chose to postpone the matter.

***

Aneta wanted to offer a small token of thanks to those who had helped or been troubled by the kidnapping incident. She gave rare herbs and related books to the military physician, and for Tereza, who was a connoisseur of fine drinks, she managed to procure a rare liquor that was usually only supplied in small quantities to royal families.

Both of them insisted they hadn’t helped her for any kind of reward but couldn’t hide their delight upon receiving the gifts.

Seeing her subordinates and superiors react the same way, Aneta couldn’t help but laugh.

As she had already decided to handle Chris’s wedding gifts, the only person left was Serce. However, meeting him wasn’t easy.

After the kidnapping incident, Aneta hadn’t seen Serce even once. She tried visiting his boutique and his mansion, but no matter where she went, she only received the answer that he was absent.

Serce’s absence continued into the next day. Despite notifying him in advance of her visit, Aneta still didn’t catch even a glimpse of him.

Aneta realized that this was intentional. Serce hadn’t responded to any of the letters she had sent him either.

With no other choice, Aneta handed several diamond rough stones to the butler. It was meant to convey that he could have them cut however he liked, as he likely had a professional jeweler.

After leaving the mansion, Aneta headed to Madam Lefevra’s gallery. She wanted to express her gratitude and figured she might as well visit since she was in the area.

‘Is this the first time I’ve come here since finding Ellen?’

Aneta mentally counted the days she hadn’t visited the gallery as she opened the door. But as the door swung open, she was met by the very person she had been searching for.

Aneta’s eyes widened in surprise as she recognized the familiar face. She hadn’t expected him to be there.

Calling out to Serce, who was sitting on the sofa at the entrance like Carlos had done in the past, she said,

“Serce?”

Serce, who had been sitting absentmindedly, unaware that she had entered, reacted to the familiar voice and lifted his head.

His face froze in surprise upon seeing Aneta.

“…Aneta.”

“It’s been a while. I didn’t know you were here and ended up wandering around aimlessly.”

“You were looking for me?”

“Yes.”

“For what?”

“I had something to give you. Since you weren’t at Etienne’s or your estate, I left it with your butler. Check it when you get back.”

“Alright.”

Serce’s words were brief and clipped. Despite this, Aneta didn’t directly address his evasive behavior, which seemed to be avoiding her. She recalled how he had been so lost in thought that he hadn’t even noticed her entering until she called his name.

‘There must be a reason,’ she thought.

Aneta decided not to press him. She believed that if there was something she needed to know, Serce would tell her himself.

“Thank you again for what you did before. I’ll be heading in now.”

“Alright.”

The conversation didn’t continue beyond that. Aneta started to walk inside, but as she reached for another door, she heard Serce’s voice from behind her.

“Aneta.”

She turned around, her hand still on the long handle.

Serce, looking hesitant, opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end, he just shook his head.

“No, it’s nothing. I hope you have a good time.”

With those words, Serce left through the door Aneta had entered from.

Before she could even stop him, he was gone. Aneta stared at the closed door for a moment before letting out a sigh. Whatever was troubling him, she hoped Serce would return to his usual self soon.

Shaking off her thoughts about Serce, Aneta pulled the door handle.

Madam Lefevra’s face lit up as she noticed Aneta. Although they had exchanged letters frequently, it was nothing compared to seeing each other in person.

“What brings you here unannounced, Your Ladyship?”

Lefevra hurried over to greet her and led Aneta to the gallery’s lounge area.

It seemed there was no one else inside the gallery at the moment.

“Are you here to look at the paintings?”

Aneta shook her head in response to Lefevra’s question as she handed her a steaming cup of tea.

“No, I came to thank you today, Madam Lefevra.”

“Thank me?”

“Yes, for helping me find Ellen and for handling that scandal.”

Aneta explained that, thanks to Lefevra, she had successfully found Ellen, and the lawsuit had ended in her favor.

“Everything turned out well, thanks to you. I’m grateful, Madam Lefevra.”

Aneta offered to give Lefevra something in return, asking if there was anything she wanted. Since she hadn’t planned on visiting the gallery, she hadn’t prepared a gift specifically for Lefevra.

“There’s no need to repay me. It was only natural to step in, considering the help you’ve given me, Your Ladyship. And it wasn’t me who found the painter.”

Lefevra, who had already received so much help from Aneta, waved her hands in refusal. It wasn’t a polite refusal, but a heartfelt one.

Aneta was about to continue persuading her when Lefevra said something that caught her off guard.

“But Your Ladyship, you call the painter by an alias, don’t you? Did they not share their real names with you?”

If it weren’t for those words, Aneta would have insisted on giving Lefevra something.

“An alias? Are you saying that Ellen has a different real name?”

“Yes. I only found out while investigating your request. I asked a friend of mine to check the records of all entries and exits from the capital from the day the painter sold the artwork until you found him.”

Lefevra paused for a moment before continuing.

“During that time, there were no entries under the name ‘Ellen.’ Seeing that made me think it would be even harder to find them since they used a pseudonym. Is there some problem?”

Noticing that Aneta’s expression was growing increasingly troubled, Lefevra tilted her head in concern.

It’s not uncommon for people in the art world to use pseudonyms. For that reason, Lefevra couldn’t understand what the problem was.

Under normal circumstances, Aneta wouldn’t have cared whether the name used by the painter she was supporting was real or not. But there was a reason she couldn’t overlook it now.

“Are you sure there wasn’t anyone with the same name?”

“I’m sure. I double-checked multiple times just to be certain. Your Ladyship, why do you ask?”

“Ellen sent me a letter through the postal service of the Kingdom of Matemon before returning to the capital. The sender’s name was definitely ‘Ellen.’”

To send anything through the Matemon Kingdom’s postal service, one must use their real name, and the process involves strict procedures. This rule applies even to mail sent to neighboring countries like the Empire.

“This means that Ellen must have used his real name, yet there’s no record of his entry. What on earth is going on?”

Aneta recalled the letter. The seal on the envelope was undoubtedly from the Matemon Kingdom’s post office, stamped with ink that couldn’t be forged.

There was a possibility that someone else named ‘Ellen’ in the Matemon Kingdom had sent the letter on his behalf, but even then, there was no reason to go to such lengths to send a letter.

Feeling a growing sense of unease, Aneta suddenly stood up.

“It seems I’ll have to go check this myself.”

She felt a strong conviction that this was something she couldn’t just ignore.

Aneta grabbed her coat. Without even taking the time to put her arms through the sleeves, she hastily left the gallery, saying only that she had to leave.

She quickly climbed into her carriage, giving directions to the gate that managed the capital’s entries and exits.

The entrance, a grand and ornate structure reflecting the Empire’s might, was guarded by armed soldiers.

Aneta approached them and requested to see the person in charge, and after revealing her identity, she was granted access to the records.

During this process, Aneta confirmed that Lefevra had been telling the truth. However, she didn’t stop there; she checked the records up until the day Ellen had supposedly arrived in the capital.

The result was the same.

The name ‘Ellen’ wasn’t listed anywhere. The moment she confirmed it with her own eyes, her heart began to race.

Aneta was overwhelmed by an indescribable sensation. Her fingertips felt cold.

As she stood there, staring blankly at the list of names, Aneta suddenly remembered the guild.

She recalled that it was the guild that had helped her find Ellen, and her next destination became clear.

‘Who exactly is he?’

Aneta climbed back into the carriage, her lips pressed tightly together as the scenery outside flew by, and the wind whipped around her. She paid no attention to any of it.

Aneta, who had sincerely wished for Ellen’s success, could no longer trust the person known as Ellen.

She vowed to uncover the truth about his identity. But even then, she had no idea.

She couldn’t have imagined that an illusion more deceptive than any illusion awaited her.