Chapter 25
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#25.
At that very moment, Knights bearing torches flooded into the Mine, searching desperately for one person.
Hours earlier, the Grand Duchess had vanished before Arkid in an inexplicable phenomenon within these depths.
"She's not here either!"
They had combed through the entire Mine, yet not a trace of the Grand Duchess could be found anywhere.
Arkid circled the Wormhole at least ten times, sweat pouring down his face.
He had searched, wondering if perhaps the Wormhole's influence had transported her to another dimension—but Rhoena was nowhere to be found.
More than three hours had passed since her disappearance, and anxiety threatened to consume me.
"Damn it!"
I struck the wall, cursing bitterly. I had lost my wife right before my eyes.
We had been laughing and conversing just moments before, and while I spoke with the Mine Staff Member, Rhoena vanished without a trace.
"Where on earth could she be?"
It felt like some cruel magic. I distinctly felt her fall below, and when I rushed down after her, she was gone.
She had disappeared in an instant, as if transported to another realm entirely.
Had someone targeted the Grand Ducal House and abducted the Grand Duchess?
A thousand thoughts tangled chaotically in my mind.
"Your Grace, perhaps it would be best if you rested outside. We will find the young mistress by any means necessary. Please return to the Castle."
"That's impossible. How can you expect me to rest when I don't even know if my wife is alive?"
The Knight trembled at the sharp edge in my voice. It was strange to see him, usually so quiet, speak with such intensity.
But I paid no attention to the Knight's gaze. I exhaled roughly, my heart pounding with anxiety, unable to calm itself.
'If only I hadn't suggested we go out together.'
I tormented myself with regret, my hands clenching uselessly.
In the past, I would have wished for her to disappear like this.
Just weeks ago, I had resolved to divorce her.
'Divorce is absolutely not an option. I don't want a divorce.'
Why had those words brought me such relief? How pathetic.
Perhaps I had simply wanted to build a family, even with a troublesome and difficult wife.
When I wandered the streets after being abandoned by my birth mother, the image of a loving couple passing by in affection had burned itself into my memory.
I had wondered then—could a lifelong partner truly become family?
When I first entered the Grand Ducal House, I harbored no great expectations of this sudden family.
Knowing that the Grand Duchess would never favor a bastard like me, I had tried to remain as inconspicuous as possible.
The Grand Duke, though my biological father, was indifferent by nature and preoccupied with his own affairs, so he paid me little attention.
Thus, I harbored no hope for his interest or affection either.
It was far better to exist like a ghost in this luxurious Castle than to beg in the streets or flee from the kicks of street thugs.
Simply having a shelter to protect me was enough—or so I had thought. But that changed when I met Rhoena.
When I was told I must marry, I was bewildered. I had never once imagined I could build a real family.
So when I first welcomed Rhoena as my wife, I felt genuine joy—I truly had family now, I had someone on my side.
'Rhoena April. Oh, I suppose it's Hadelus now.'
When I saw her fumble over her name with an awkward smile, I had dared to hope.
But—
'You deceived me! I never heard a word about being a bastard!'
Watching Rhoena shriek and sob uncontrollably, I found myself with no choice but to accept the truth.
That family was a luxury I could never afford. That I had to live quietly, silently, like a ghost.
After that, I stopped trying to control Rhoena. Or rather, it was more accurate to say I simply abandoned her.
Every time she saw me, she would only threaten, scream, and cry.
Now, after she had caused nothing but trouble for an entire year following our marriage, she had suddenly changed within mere weeks—and I remained utterly bewildered.
'I have always been on your side, Arkid.'
I couldn't fathom why she was now shaking my resolve with such honeyed words.
I knew full well that I already had more than enough, yet I couldn't understand why she kept making me hope for something greater.
Especially when Rhoena appeared while I was arguing with Diana, my heart had lurched.
I had naturally assumed she would take Diana's side and turn against me.
But.
'Did you really push her?'
'No. I did not.'
'I knew you wouldn't.'
Why did she trust me so unconditionally, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world?
The truth was that Diana had fallen because I had threatened her—yet somehow.
Rhoena's unwavering support, without questioning the circumstances or context, left me in utter confusion.
Perhaps it was because this gift had been given to me when I had harbored no expectations whatsoever.
It was on my eleventh visit to the place where Rhoena had vanished that it happened.
"Arkid!"
Her voice reached me like an auditory hallucination. I, who had been pressing my face to the ground in anguish, flinched and looked up.
And there she was—surrounded by butterflies.
The butterflies shimmered with their own luminescence, so brilliantly white that Rhoena seemed as though she might disappear entirely.
That sight seized me with panic. If Rhoena vanished like this, I felt I would truly die.
It was a selfish desire—I refused to lose my one ally, the only person I had managed to gain. I quickened my pace and rushed toward Rhoena.
"Rhoena!"
And as though I had never been confused at all, I pulled her into my embrace. The butterflies scattered chaotically around us.
Rhoena's eyes widened like a startled rabbit at the sudden embrace.
A moment later, she looked up at me with concern.
"Arkid?"
"Where were you all this time? Are you hurt? Are you all right?"
As I gripped her shoulders and spoke harshly, Rhoena wiped the sweat from my brow with her sleeve and spoke.
"I'm sorry. Did I worry you so much? Goodness, look at all this sweat. How long have you been searching for me?"
"You vanished right before my eyes—how could I not worry? I thought you were disappearing like this, and I...!"
I was afraid to voice the lump in my throat, so I swallowed the words back down.
Rhoena, watching me quietly, broke into a radiant smile.
"Hehe. You were worried about me, weren't you?"
At that sight, I felt my strength drain away entirely. Her eyes sparkled with such joy.
* * *
It seemed considerable time had passed in the outside world while I was forming a contract with the Spirit.
Arkid checked multiple times that I was unharmed before his expression finally relaxed.
I felt both apologetic and oddly pleased.
To think Arkid had become so disheveled because of me.
His appearance was so precious that I regretted not having pressured Coby sooner to create a recording stone—a regret I would carry for eternity.
While Arkid conversed with the Knights, I whispered to the Spirits.
"If that much time has passed, you should have said something!"
― Humans get flustered over a mere three hours? We've lived for over a thousand years—such a span is trivial to us.
― She certainly has an impatient temperament.
― Humans are generally prone to weeping, rejoicing, and raging over trifles. We must understand them with magnanimous hearts.
These elders, I tell you.
I exhaled deeply at the Spirits chattering away about how impatient humans were, how lacking in composure they were.
"A person vanished right before your eyes—it would be stranger not to be alarmed. Don't criticize Arkid. Blame me instead."
― By the way, that's your husband, isn't it? Goodness, you're finally showing some brightness in your face?
― No, I find Rhoena more adorable. How does she have red hair with blue eyes?
― Why not? The more I look at him, the more charming he seems.
"Listen, you haven't forgotten what I said, have you? Don't draw attention—hurry and release your manifestation. At this rate, someone will discover my contract with you."
As I shooed the butterflies away with my hand, the Spirits grumbled.
― We've barely revealed ourselves, and you're so harsh!
― That's right! You're the first contractor to treat us so coldly!
― We're hurt! Hmph!
First? Where are they spouting dialogue like a male lead from a romance novel?
I'm not your heroine, you know.
I was in the midst of dismissing the Spirits with a wave of my hand, paying them no mind.
"Rhoena."
Arkid finished his conversation with the Knights and approached me. What he said next was somewhat troublesome.
"It appears it will take time to exit."
"Why?"
"Well... it seems someone has planted a great many Delus flowers at the Mine Entrance."
"What?"
"They definitely weren't there when we entered, so I'm not sure what happened..."
The moment I heard those words, I knew exactly who the culprit was.
As I released the manifestation and glared at the butterflies observing Arkid, the Spirits fluttered their wings and played innocent.
"It seems the Mine Staff Member's words weren't false after all. Perhaps someone learned of our approach and set a trap."
"I suppose so. What on earth is this?"
I let out a regretful sigh while simultaneously signaling the Spirits with my finger.
'Clear those Delus flowers right now! Immediately!'
As if understanding my signal, the Spirits bustled busily toward the Mine Entrance.
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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