<Chapter 79>

Of course, feeling sorry was one thing, but suppressing gossip was entirely another.

The news spread like wildfire: Viscount Khodchen, unable to find his daughter, collapsed in the streets, crying like a child. His subordinates carried him back to the estate after hearing the commotion.

Eventually, he acknowledged his daughter’s death and took to his bed in despair. This tale of woe swept through the capital almost overnight.

Particularly notable was the news that the once-mighty Viscount Khodchen had fallen ill, a development that garnered the sympathy of many.

The Third Imperial Knight Order, which served as the city’s guard, owed much to Viscount Khodchen, who had devoted decades of his life to their ranks, including a remarkable 13 years as commander. His exceptional skills, integrity, and leadership made him a respected figure; there wasn’t a single citizen in the capital who hadn’t benefited from the guards under his command.

The tragedy that had befallen such a man was more than enough to stir the concern of the populace.

“Viscount Khodchen must recover soon…”

Meanwhile, his loyal subordinates diligently sought remedies and sought out skilled doctors, but no good news came.

The rumors grew darker: Viscount Khodchen had stopped eating and drinking and was now on the verge of death. Some whispered that he had gone mad after acknowledging his daughter’s passing.

Naturally, such rumors eventually reached the Emperor’s ears.

“Is it true that Viscount Khodchen’s daughter hasn’t returned to the estate?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Neither the viscount’s residence nor the Marquis of Kotis’ estate has shown any sign of movement. It seems the marquis’ family is still consumed with the search for their missing third son.”

According to the spies placed within the viscount’s estate, it was true that Viscount Khodchen was wasting away day by day.

In reality, he was agonizing over his pregnant daughter, who was safely residing in the Monster Duke’s estate. Her belly would soon begin to show, and he was consumed with thoughts of how to arrange the wedding. The idea of recognizing that skeletal wretch as his son-in-law gnawed at him. But to outsiders unaware of the circumstances, it seemed entirely different.

“This is outrageous! What were the Imperial Knights doing, letting two people slip through their grasp?”

“…I have no excuses, Your Majesty.”

The Imperial Knights looked deeply ashamed, though their expressions remained invisible to the Emperor, seated on his throne behind a veil of white fabric.

‘If things had gone according to plan… by now, I’d have summoned Duke Winstein, ordered him to divorce his wife, and marry the viscount’s daughter.’

The Emperor cared not whose child the viscount’s daughter was carrying. His sole interest lay in Inosensia.

‘Without any justification, I can’t summon her… If only the Empress were still alive!’

The Emperor could not privately summon the Duchess, but the Empress could have easily done so with a simple invitation to tea. Unfortunately, the Empress had been dead for 15 years.

Even worse, his only son, the crown prince, had yet to take a bride, leaving the empire without a proper empress.

This was a predicament entirely of his own making—tripping over his own feet, so to speak.

‘Must I wait until the Harvest Festival banquet…?’

But by then, who knew how much older I’d grow? Worst case scenario, my lifespan might not last until then…

‘…Yes. There’s still Baron Mirban’s daughter in the dungeons. That’s right. I can use her instead of the viscount’s daughter!’

Though she isn’t pregnant, what does that matter?

The honor of a noblewoman or Duke Winstein’s reputation paled in comparison to his own life.

As he stared at his wrinkled hands, the Emperor’s resolve solidified.

“Y-Your Majesty! A grave situation!”

“What is this commotion?! Who dares disturb my peace—cough!”

Already agitated, the Emperor erupted in anger, only to cough up blood.

It wasn’t the first time, so no one was surprised.

Dabbing at his mouth and hands with a handkerchief, the Emperor glared toward the source of the disturbance, his teeth clenched.

“Speak! If it’s a trifling matter, prepare to lose your life!”

“Baron Mirban’s daughter has disappeared!”

“What?!”

The baron’s daughter, intended as Duke Winstein’s second bride, was locked away due to her lack of immediate utility. the Emperor had only recently decided to use her, but now, of all times, she had vanished!

“Who?! Who dared to infiltrate the palace?!”

“We’re tracking them now, but their trail is proving elusive…”

“Y-you…! Useless fools! And I call you Imperial Knights! This is my own fault for entrusting such incompetents with responsibility!”

The Emperor flung his crumpled handkerchief in rage, but his frail arms made it fall limply to the floor.

Leaning back in his chair, he glared at the white veil before him, breathing heavily in frustration.

“What about Duke Winstein’s townhouse? Any suspicious activity?”

“None, Your Majesty. In recent days, the only people entering or leaving were a tailor, a jeweler, and servants purchasing supplies.”

The tailor and jeweler likely visited to prepare outfits for the upcoming Harvest Festival banquet, while the servants’ errands were trivial.

Logically, Duke Winstein had no reason to know of, let alone rescue, the two noblewomen.

But the Emperor, unwilling to admit he was wrong, stubbornly commanded:

“Keep the viscount’s and baron’s estates, as well as Duke Winstein’s townhouse, under the tightest surveillance. If you see even a strand of hair from either woman, capture them immediately!”

Consumed by rage over the loss of his captives, the Emperor temporarily forgot his initial goal of forcing Temenos into a divorce. His thoughts now focused solely on one thing.

Whether it was the viscount’s daughter, the baron’s daughter, or the Monster Duke himself—someone would pay for his anger.

*  *  *

Late at night, silence enveloped Duke Winstein’s townhouse, creating an atmosphere of calm.

The gatekeepers, stifling yawns, covered their mouths with their hands, while the guards patrolling the garden chatted softly, their vigilance waning.

The guards were numerous, but the townhouse grounds were vast, making it impossible to patrol every corner thoroughly.

Taking advantage of these gaps, three shadows silently infiltrated the estate, cutting through the night air.

Splitting up to search the property, their target was clear: the possible hiding place of the viscount’s and baron’s daughters…

“Aha! What a catch!”

Just as the trio prepared to separate, a dazzling white net descended upon them.

‘When?!’

Instinctively diving to evade, only one managed to escape. But even that one…

“Where do you think you’re sneaking off to, like a rat?”

Thwack!

A heavy blow to the back of his head knocked him unconscious.

Seeing this, the other two froze in disbelief.

Despite being momentarily off-balance from dodging the net, their comrade had been subdued so easily.

‘We’ve been caught in a trap.’

What they had mistaken for a gap in security was, in fact, a carefully laid snare.

Realizing this too late, the remaining two tried to act, but they were given no time.

“You scoundrels, stay down and sleep!”

A giant, glowing white mace slammed into their heads in succession, thwack, thwack!

“Hey, go easy. What if you kill them?”

“Don’t worry. Unless I intend to kill, no one dies from this.”

Claire, the brown-haired Holy Knight, laughed heartily, raising her gleaming mace high. Its flanged design, with symmetrical metal plates protruding from the head, was both imposing and elegant.

Norton, the blue-haired Holy Knight, looked at it enviously as he retrieved his white net.

“Lucky you, having a cool weapon. This feels like I’m advertising my seaside origins…”

“Hey, don’t you dare complain about a weapon bestowed by God.”

“Easy for you to say—you’ve got the fancy one.”

Grumbling, Norton vented his frustration by swiftly stripping the unconscious men of their clothing.

“So, where are these guys from?”

“Search for any identification or insignias.”

Of course, it was unlikely that trespassers sneaking into someone’s estate at night would carry such items.

Still, the two Holy Knights thoroughly inspected the men, even shaving their heads to check for hidden tattoos or markings.

<To be continued>

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