Chapter 6.5

“Have you arrived, Your Grace?”

A pitch-black carriage stopped in front of the Bannon mansion. The secretary, who had been waiting to greet him, bowed politely to the Duke of Bannon as he got out with two escorts.

“So, where’s Kaiden?”

The Duke leisurely wiped his hands with a damp handkerchief handed by the secretary, who followed behind and answered,

“My apologies. There’s still no news to report.”

“I figured as much. That’s such an obvious answer.”

A servant approached and received the handkerchief from the Duke, who frowned.

“Burn that.”

“Yes, Sir.”

The Duke headed straight for his room, and the secretary began to report the latest news. Every place the Duke had ordered to be searched during his absence had been thoroughly checked, but not a single trace of the young master was found.

Clicking his tongue, the Duke changed his clothes and entered the study connected to his bedroom.

“Burn all those clothes as well, and dismiss the escorts who just arrived. You can never be too careful if there’s a chance word might leak.”

“As you command.”

With a single word from the Duke, two people’s lives were ended, but the secretary didn’t show a hint of surprise. He had served the Duke for so long that fear was no longer new.

Once the secretary left to carry out the Duke’s orders, the Duke approached his desk and lit a candle. The soft flame flickered in the dark room.

Alone, the Duke leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes as if tired.

“…….”

Derrick Harrington.

That inferior man had nearly ruined everything by acting beyond his station.

That’s why people say those unfit to be human bring disaster when they wield power.

“Foolish brat.”

The Duke of Bannon sneered.

Earl Harrington would grieve for a while, but it was only the troublesome second son who disappeared, not the heir. Nothing would change.

After dealing with Derrick Harrington, the investigation into Brienne Ford’s disappearance shifted to searching for him, and while Earl Harrington was distracted searching for his son, the Duke infiltrated the Earldom and burned down the underground prison.

He disliked having to do such tedious work himself, but the results were clean and efficient. Besides, Harrington had always been his political opponent, so suspicion wouldn’t fall on Bannon.

‘It’s more likely Marquis Ford or Earl Bailey will be suspected.’

There needs to be some connection, even if it’s a bad one, to warrant suspicion. The Duke was only annoyed that he now had to find a replacement for Derrick Harrington.

He’d given that fool the job in the first place just in case things got messy and he needed a scapegoat.

In that sense, it was a shame.

After a while, the Duke straightened up and glanced at the pile of documents on his desk. They were reports the secretary had prepared during his absence, but they matched what he’d just been told.

“No news to report, huh…”

Repeating the secretary’s words, a faint smile appeared on the Duke’s lips.

Ironically, he already knew.

No matter how much they searched Rontiano, they would never find Kaiden. That was obvious.

* * *

“Miss Bailey has arrived.”

After the attendant left, the soft sound of footsteps echoed in the dark room. Melosi, as always, wore a pleasant expression as she prepared to speak.

“I apologize for visiting at such a late hour, Duke Bannon.”

She had come to see the Duke not long after he’d returned home.

“What brings you here?”

The Duke didn’t even bother to stand up to greet his guest, nor did he intend to invite the woman who would someday be his son’s wife into the drawing room. Nevertheless, Melosi respectfully knelt.

“I know it’s rude to visit at this hour, but there’s something I absolutely had to tell you, so I waited for your return.”

“You’re quite long-winded. I know your nature well, Lady Bailey, so don’t drag it out—get to the point.”

“Thank you for allowing me to speak.”

Melosi smiled sweetly and raised her head.

“Today, news came to our family’s newspaper that I thought would please you, Your Grace.”

“……News that would please me?”

“Yes, the young lady of the Ford family will be entering Roeta Academy.”

The Duke’s indifferent gaze shifted as he looked at Melosi, his expression subtly changing. Sensing her chance, Melosi approached with a bright smile.

“Forgive me, Your Grace, but I assume you’ve already located Kaiden. Since the engagement ceremony has already been overturned, wouldn’t this be an opportune time to proceed with the wedding as soon as possible? With Brienne Ford out of Kaiden’s way, now’s the best time…”

But Melosi couldn’t finish her sentence.

“Ha, ha…!”

The Duke suddenly burst out laughing, as if he’d heard the most ridiculous thing.

“Your Grace…? Why…?”

“Well, that’s amusing news.”

“…….”

“Yes, yes… I can imagine how anxious you were to share it.”

It was the reaction she’d wanted, but something was off. Melosi’s face showed a hint of confusion. Sensing something strange, she forced a shaky smile, trying to read the Duke’s intentions.

“……I’m truly glad to see you so pleased, Your Grace. I’ll let my father know to prepare an article.”

But after a while, the Duke stopped laughing, his eyes glinting with a strange light.

“Yes, as you said, I’m very pleased. Truly pleased… I can finally relax and be happy.”

Rather than genuine joy, his eyes held a mad, unsettling gleam. Melosi shivered and instinctively stepped back.

Was he angry?

Or was he truly happy?

Melosi’s pale blue eyes trembled as she tried to read his unreadable expression. The Duke quietly watched her and stood up.

“You brought good news, so you deserve a reward. I’m a man who pays what’s owed. Is there something you want?”

A reward…

Melosi hesitated, biting her lips, then clenched her hands.

“I… I want to see Kaiden.”

“Hmm, Kaiden…”

The Duke nodded briefly and approached Melosi, patting her shoulder.

“Perhaps I misjudged you, Lady Bailey. Your dreams are smaller than I thought.”

“…….”

“If things go well, you’ll get your reward. But tonight is too late, so go home and tell Earl Bailey to come see me in a month.”

“A month…? You mean?”

“Yes, exactly one month. By then, everything will be ready, and the Earl will be pleased.”

* * *

‘…What is it? What’s going on?’

The carriage leaving the Bannon mansion rocked uneasily. Melosi sat in a corner, chewing her nails with her eyes downcast.

‘What was happening?’

She’d thought that as long as she found her fiancé while Brienne Ford was at the Academy, she could safely get married. But…

‘He never said he’d found Kaiden. And he only said I could see him if things went well.’

Something was really strange. The Duke of Bannon was supposed to be the most influential man in the Rontiano Empire.

It had already been over a week since Kaiden disappeared.

Melosi believed the Duke would have found Kaiden by now. But the Duke, who hadn’t even appeared for official duties in days while searching for his son, returned empty-handed.

He didn’t even seem sad about it. Instead, he laughed and was pleased.

Melosi rubbed her cold arms, nervously staring out the window. The capital of Rontiano was eerily desolate, still unsettled after so many disappearances.

Nobles avoided going out unless for major events, and even when stepping outside briefly, they brought many escorts.

Melosi Bailey was no exception.

Kaiden had deliberately vanished. Brienne Ford, who somehow knew the truth, didn’t matter much, but why had Derrick Harrington suddenly disappeared?

‘Of all things, he vanished after meeting me. Talk about bad luck.’

Melosi kept glancing at her escorts, unable to take her eyes off the empty streets. The deserted roads were a little frightening, and only then did Melosi realize the fear Brienne Ford must have felt that night.

“…….”

But that was all.

It was only natural to feel that way. There had been times when she’d been deceived by Brienne Ford’s outward appearance and thought well of her.

So, whatever Brienne Ford had gone through didn’t matter.

That woman was just unlucky.

Melosi ignored the pang of guilt in her chest and began scheming anew.

Since Brienne Ford had left for the Holy Kingdom of Roeta, she couldn’t just sit back and do nothing. If she couldn’t rely on the Duke of Bannon, she would have to find a way to survive on her own.

Melosi’s eyes narrowed slightly. Now, with no obstacles in her way, was the time to find her fiancé and proceed with the marriage as quickly as possible.