He searched for a day and a half, but no results came out.
Leon took all the maids and servants around Dana into the dungeon.
There were a total of ten people.
Chedron, the butler, took their work diaries and flapped them open to question them about the day one by one.
âChelsea, you were on duty for dinner that day. Didnât you know that the lady disappeared?â
âThatâs⊠She doesnât really eat dinnerâŠâ
âSo? You didnât even go to ask?â
Chelseaâs face turned muddy. Chedron asked the next person without paying attention to her.
âJohn, you need to know the number of people entering and leaving the castle. Did you make sure she left or came back?â
âThat is⊠I knew she would be around.â
âDid you see her go out? When did she go out?â
ââŠâ
Chedron sighed and shook his head. Leon was angry out of his mind, and if he couldnât find Dana, he wouldnât forgive them.
They werenât just here for negligence in work. As soon as Leon was away, the feelings of those who secretly ignored Dana were revealed.
The problem was that he was in charge.
âWhat should I do?â
While sighing, someone walked into the quiet cellar. The faces of those who saw him were filled with contemplation and they made excuses regardless of who should go first.
âYour Grace! We donât know it well either!â
âI only heard that she ran away.â
âI heard someone say she often lamented that she couldnât live here because it was difficult.â
They accepted the rumor that Dana had already fled as a fait accompli (something thatâs already happened) and told Leon.
Chedron looked at Leon with a puzzled expression on his face. Their excuses only made Leon angrier.
âEven so.â
An angry voice filled the dungeon with low eerie energy, it became quiet everywhere for a moment.
âYour sin will not be eliminated, Chedronâ.
âYes, Your Highness.â
âUntil you find the woman, lock them up and donât give them a sip of water.â
âYes, yes.â
Chedron replied with a lower voice than usual. He was nervous about what kind of punishment would befall him, but Leon disappeared without adding any more words.
âSighâŠâ
âMaster!â
âLet everyone reflect.â
Chedron locked the door of the dungeon, vowing to correct the disorganized discipline.
* * *
âShe ran away. Is that it?â
He couldnât believe everything the servants said, but he couldnât help but believe what everyone said.
It was hot as if his heart was burning. If he canât put this fire to rest, he will burn not only himself but also her.
What does that mean? If only I could find her.
Danaâs betrayal as she left without saying a word, and the obsession to somehow capture her were growing.
As long as he could find her, he wanted to lock her up in the castle and keep no one in contact. He wanted to tame her to look only at himself.
âSigh.â
Leon took a short breath and calmed himself down. He swept his disorganized bangs with his hands.
âAt this rate, Iâll go crazy even before I find her. No, Iâm already crazy.â
He was muttering words to help himself, and someone walked up from the hallway.
âLeon, they sent a message saying they would come soon.â
Owen looked at him with twirling eyes as if he knew everything, and Leon looked at him but did not hide his uncomfortable feelings.
âIt has nothing to do with me.â
âIt does. Because you said you were going out.â
âDo it on your own. Father, leave.â
A cynical voice came from behind Leon, who was about to turn around.
âI thought youâd welcome me. Wasnât it you who told me to come all the way? If thatâs the case, Iâll go back.â
Only then did Leon think of Sophia. He bit his teeth and barely turned around.
âHave you met your mother?â
âYes. We couldnât talk because my mother was sleeping.â
âWhy on earth are you so hard on her? Canât you be a little more human?â
Owen smiled an unknown smile at Leonâs resentment and spoke as if he was kind-hearted.
âOnce youâre out there, Iâll consider it.â
âI donât understand at all. Why is she so desperate to get married?â
A sense of contempt slowly bloomed in Leonâs eyes. As expected, they looked alike. When he felt a stubborn and blind obsession, Leon closed his eyes and turned his head again to look away from Owen.
âAt 4 p.m. tomorrow, I told them to come to this castle, so get ready. For now, they know itâs simply a place for transactions, so you should understand that.â
Owen, passed Leonâs silence, considering he was well understood and disappeared to the end of the hallway.
âSigh.â
A long sigh once again went through the empty hallway. He turned his head a bit to the side. He felt somewhat resentful towards the person there. But soon the gaze turned and fell to the floor.
Mother.
* * *
Lisa, who was preparing breakfast and resting on one side for a while, spoke to Dana, who was sitting next to her.
âSarah, whatâs been going on these days?â
âOh⊠Lisa.â
Lisa was also busy, so she didnât care, but she could notice that Dana was thinking about something.
As expected, I should tell Lisa.
âWell, an official merchant recently suggested something. Itâs unexpectedâŠâ
âWhat? What happened? How long have they seen you and let you work separately?â
âWho did I look likeâŠâ
âJust in case.â
Lisa made a harsh look, grabbed Danaâs shoulders tightly, and asked,
âIs it a young nobleman?â
âWell⊠Itâs not him.â
Dana didnât see her face either, but she heard that there was such a person. Lisa hated the person particularly, and the resentment seemed deep beyond the feelings of hatred.
âAnyway, they said itâs something that I could go to the castle for. The pay was pretty high.â
âDuchy⊠Well, you said you came out of the castle. Thereâs nothing free in the world. I think itâs dangerous. Are you sure itâs okay?â
ââŠâ
To be honest, it wasnât. He had dragged her from the beginning, and the words he explained were different from the phrases on the contract. In addition, she was somewhat reluctant to do what she was told to do.
However, I can meet Leon at the castle. Everything will be fine when I meet him.