Chapter 87. It Couldn’t Be That She Ran Away

What the hell is this guy again?

After Seraphina left, Cyril returned to his room and opened the letter she had left behind. The addressee was someone named Marc.

“A close friend, huh…”

It was obviously a man’s name, and they were close?

He thought he only needed to worry about the three heroes, but this was very bothersome. In some ways, even more than the three heroes.

“Jacques.”

Cyril called out to his subordinate, who had been hiding his presence. Then Jacques, who had been standing like a wall, blended into the background in a corner of the room, smoothly approached.

“Yes, Master.”

“Find out about this guy named Marc.”

Thud.

Cyril ordered as he casually tossed the envelope onto the table.

Jacques picked it up and began verifying the most basic information.

Name and address.

That was enough to dig into someone’s personal details.

Feeling the thin texture of the empty envelope with his fingertips, Jacques glanced at his master. The contents of the letter were in the master’s hand, half-crumpled.

It seemed like Marc’s future wasn’t looking good. Thinking that, Jacques bowed with precise movements.

Cyril watched his subordinate leave with indifferent eyes, a faint, bitter smile on his lips. His mind was filled with the contents of the letter.

What? Dear Marc?

What kind of bastard dares to receive Seraphina’s intimate affection?

If someone had peeked into his mind, they might have said it was simply a formal introduction to the letter. But Cyril clenched the already crumpled paper even tighter. The blue veins stood out on the back of his hand.

“It’s all for you.”

Cyril ruthlessly ignored Seraphina’s last request.

Rip. Tear.

The letter, mercilessly torn, was filled with heartfelt words of well-wishing. Staring at it with cold eyes, Cyril burned the shredded paper in the candle flame.

He quite liked how those feelings turned to ashes and disappeared.

Only then did a satisfied smile appear on his lips.

He would hide her thoroughly.

Leaving no clues behind.

So that no one could find her.

* * *

“What?”

Johann looked up as if he couldn’t believe what he had just heard. But unlike his confused mind, his hand lost grip of the jade seal.

Thud, thud…

The jade seal rolled randomly, staining the important document with ink. Glancing at it, Ionia repeated her report.

“Miss Seraphina has disappeared.”

“What do you mean?”

Johann foolishly questioned again. It was impossible to believe, and he didn’t want to believe it.

Seraphina had disappeared…

Was she kidnapped? Who would dare kidnap the purifier under the sky of Elmon? Were they not afraid of this Marseus? Or does it mean she ran away on her own? Because I didn’t accept her resignation? But how could she disappear just before her assignment to Agulena? No, no. Seraphina wouldn’t do that. Could it be that she was harmed while walking down the street…?

His tangled thoughts, like a knotted thread, couldn’t be sorted out and spilled out as a short syllable.

“…Why?”

Johann felt like his brain was broken.

He didn’t think he had ever acted so foolishly in his life…

Perhaps thinking the same, Ionia’s brows furrowed.

“Your Majesty.”

She called him in a stern voice, as if telling him to get a grip.

“We don’t know anything for sure yet. We haven’t determined whether she ran away or was kidnapped.”

“……”

“We need to find out the circumstances of her disappearance. So please pull yourself together.”

“……”

Johann’s pupils shook violently, like a small boat caught in a storm.

Now his thoughts drifted to his last conversation with Seraphina.

When he asked why she submitted her resignation, she said she was scared. So he offered to accompany her to the Battle of Agulena. And then…

<I understand. Please come with me.>

As Seraphina’s voice resurfaced, everything became clear.

Johann gathered his thoughts and focused his eyes. The focus returned to his blue eyes.

“She wouldn’t have run away.”

His head was still foggy, but he couldn’t just sit idly by. He began to calmly issue instructions.

“Her house?”

“There are no signs of a break-in. However, the wardrobe was empty, as if she packed her belongings.”

Maybe a thief who liked clothes only stole clothes.

Johann asked for confirmation.

“The lease? Wasn’t it a monthly rental?”

“I’ll contact the landlord.”

Watching Ionia note down tasks as if making a to-do list, Johann calmly continued with his next question.

“Sylphid?”

“Disappeared along with her.”

Could that unruly gift from Albanya have run wild and thrown Seraphina off? Could she have gotten into an accident while riding across the vast plains, unnoticed by anyone…

“Check the riding stable’s entry log.”

“Yes, understood.”

“Just in case, check all the gates of the inner and outer walls. A white horse like Sylphid would stand out, so soldiers should remember if it passed by.”

White horses were rare. Especially ones that shimmered like Sylphid.

Ionia nodded, adding another task to her list.

Johann clenched his molars in anxiety. The muscles in his jaw twitched violently. Unconsciously, his fingertips were also trembling slightly.

Imagining Seraphina lying alone on the plains outside the castle made him feel like all the blood in his body was evaporating.

“I’ll also proceed with checking her account.”

At that moment, Ionia spoke in a cold tone.

Understanding the implication of those words, Johann quietly looked at his brilliant left hand as if time had stopped just for him. A hint of shock seeped into his deep, ocean-like blue eyes.

It couldn’t be that she ran away.

But…

“Proceed with that first.”

Johann’s Adam’s apple bobbed like a wave.

It can’t be true. It can’t be…

His insides burned as if he had swallowed a ball of fire. Anxiously, he ran a hand over his face.

Ionia watched the troubled emperor for a moment, then nodded and left to carry out her tasks.

Left alone in his office…

Johann set the fallen jade seal upright. He glanced at the ink-stained documents before turning his gaze out the window.

It’s not a big deal.

If it’s a kidnapping, I’ll rescue her, and if she ran away, I’ll bring her back.

As long as she’s safe…

He swallowed dryly and started thinking. He needed to think, to think.

With a face that had sunk terrifyingly low, Johann began to consider every possibility that could have befallen Seraphina.

The sun outside gradually dipped, taking on a red hue.

Throughout that long period, Johann remained as still as a statue. His mind, however, was busier than ever.

It was then that a polite knock echoed.

Ionia had returned, having completed her tasks.

The competent chancellor finished her work sooner than expected. She spoke in a clear, precise voice, making sure he listened.

“Regarding the account, there’s no balance.”

“……”

Johann’s blue eyes wavered.

A tingling sensation made the hair on the back of his neck stand, and his stomach felt like it was twisting. Before he could respond, Ionia continued her report.

Her competence shone in her ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously. Although Johann had asked her to start with the account, she had also instructed others on various tasks and gathered all the necessary information.

“We managed to contact the landlord sooner than expected, but there was no discussion about the contract. We’ll know for sure when this month’s rent comes in, but…”

Ionia paused briefly.

With the account empty, it seemed unlikely the landlord would receive this month’s rent. According to imperial law, if there was no contact for a week, the landlord could clear the space and accept a new tenant.

Naturally, the living space would disappear.

“Seraphina’s name wasn’t on the riding stable’s entry log either.”

“The city gates?”

“No soldiers reported seeing Sylphid.”

“……”

Johann clenched his fist tightly.

That meant she was still within Elmon’s walls.

“Seal the city gates immediately.”

Johann commanded in a chilling voice.

Ionia nodded.

“Track the account as well.”

Wherever people move, money flows. By tracking the account, they could narrow down where Seraphina might be.

However, Ionia looked slightly troubled as she responded to this order.

“She withdrew the entire amount in cash.”

“How much?”

“About two million shillings. She withdrew it from the Elmon central branch.”

“……That large sum?”

“It seems premeditated.”

Crash.

Johann’s brow furrowed deeply.

As a menacing aura filled the air, Ionia, unusually tense, swallowed dryly.

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Miss Seraphina has disappeared!”

At that moment, Jesuf burst in, belatedly announcing the news. He had heard the rumors spreading due to Ionia’s inquiries and had rushed over.

Johann spoke in a voice filled with irritation.

“I know.”

To think of that dullard as his right hand…

But it was commendable that he had come on his own when needed.

Johann gave a brief order to Jesuf. There seemed to be a hint of madness flickering in his blue eyes.

“Deploy the knight order and search thoroughly.”

Dare to run away from this Marseus?

You’re dead if you’re caught.