Chapter 64 – Part 2

“The others are pretending to be servants of Young Duke Delacroix. Duke Valentino arrived at this lodge ten minutes ago. Right now, Young Duke Delacroix is buying some time. We must hurry, Miss!”

Understanding the situation, I hurriedly nodded. I wrapped myself up to ward off the cold and left the room with Charlotte.

We walked down the aisle stealthily like cats. Charlotte further told me that Theodore was in the parlor on the first floor. His five senses are so well developed that I had to be careful not to be discovered. He might even hear our footsteps on the second floor.

‘Here.’

As we reached the end of the corridor on the first floor, Charlotte mouthed. Nodding her head, I stepped into the underground passage Charlotte guided me to.

It was already cold, even though we had just entered the aisle. I tightened my thick coat around me and took one step at a time. I was worried that I might trip and roll down the stairs. I couldn’t even make a loud noise. Theodore might hear.

We went down far. A magical fire flared up in the dark basement, and the whole place became bright.

We finally arrived at the secret space underground.

“There’s a magic barrier so there is little risk of being caught here… However, I heard that Duke Valentino is a descendant of a mythical hero, so he might be able to recognize it because he has monstrous senses.”

“…….”

I nodded without speaking. Charlotte was carefully gathering wood to start a fire. When I got up, wanting to help too, Charlotte vehemently stopped me. I had to sit back.

“…Huu, it’s done now. Miss, would you like to get up for a minute? I will move the chair to the fireside.”

When I quietly got up from my seat, Charlotte lifted the chair and moved it to the fireside. I said thank you so many times. Then she replied with a slightly sullen look.

“You don’t need to thank me for what I do for the Miss. Of course I have to do it.”

“…….”

I always wondered how Charlotte cared for me like this. Perhaps she had read my thoughts, Charlotte asked sulkily.

“You would have done the same to me, right? If only I was weak and you were strong.”

…That’s right. If Charlotte had been weak, I would have taken care of her. I nodded in agreement, and Charlotte grinned and sat down next to me.

“Right? So you don’t have to thank me.”

…I also looked at Charlotte and smiled at her. The warm warmth of the fire was soothing my anxious mind.

It was an absurd feeling.

He came all the way here following Lily’s trail. Theodore was sure that Lily would be at this cabin. The problem was that the owner of the cabin was Young Duke Delacroix, so he had to ask for his permission first before searching the area.

Although he was still only an heir, he was nonetheless a high-ranking noble. Theodore couldn’t treat Zen Delacroix carelessly. At this time, when he would have to face House Everett, it wouldn’t do any good to clash against House Delacroix.

But this goddamn Zen Delacroix has been refusing the search for fifteen minutes already.

“Did you see the bearskin hanging on the porch? I caught that myself. I heard that you’re also quite adept at hunting, Duke Valentino, so one day with me…”

“…….”

If he could, Theodore would have already thrown the teacup in his hands to that man’s face. No, it made him want to throw down his gloves and request a duel. That was how much the man in front of him had a great talent for grating on people’s nerves.

Theodore couldn’t concentrate because Zen Delacroix was talking nonstop. He has to use all his senses to find Lily somewhere in this cabin. It was all being interrupted by Zen’s useless chatter.

…It was the first time he had ever experienced something like this.

It was the first time in Theodore’s life that he had met a powerful enemy in a different sense… Of course, he knew Zen was talkative before, but this was just too much.

Perhaps he was doing this on purpose.

If it’s for Lily, Zen would do what he could to hide her.

“…So, when I said that I would invite him to this mountain cabin next time, His Highness the Crown Prince was very happy, but my sister, that is to say, Her Highness—”

“Stop.”

“…What?”

As Theodore cut him off, Zen looked at him with widened eyes. If people who liked Zen’s face had seen it, it would have been a cute expression, but Theodore’s eyes were cold.

“Let’s stop this pointless chatter, Young Duke Delacroix.”

“Pointless chatter…”

Zen put on a pitiful look, but of course it didn’t work for Theodore. In fact, he was half out of his mind, so he couldn’t see anything else. He was barely maintaining his rationality even now.

All he had in his mind was the unrelenting need to get Lily back.

——