Chapter 123
Agnes made up her mind.
She would leave this place while pretending to be dead.
Agnes comforted herself by thinking that perhaps this was for the best.
It might be the cleanest possible way to end a relationship that had done nothing but leave wounds on both of them.
It was a far more beneficial escape for everyone than the one she had originally planned.
However, that decision came with a price.
First of all, moving around unnoticed would be difficult with a body that could not walk.
If she appeared even slightly suspicious, people would immediately begin watching her.
On top of that, she had now been branded as an accomplice of Rebelt.
If anyone recognized her, they would report her without hesitation.
The situation had become completely different from when she had merely intended to leave Lionel in secret.
Moreover, creating a brand-new identity overnight was hardly an easy task.
Unexpectedly, however, the solution to those concerns came from someone close by.
From Kain.
“In that case, wouldn’t it be better if you traveled with us? As it happens, I have a younger female relative around your age.”
Kain naturally suggested that she borrow his cousin’s identity.
“People tend to lower their guard when they hear someone is family.”
The protection of family was the easiest disguise for avoiding suspicion.
Furthermore, if someone had an elderly or disabled family member, people naturally became more understanding.
After a brief moment of thought, Agnes nodded.
“Besides, Marsen would be the perfect place for you to hide your identity.”
Erhan, where Agnes had originally intended to go, had little traffic because of its dangerous sea route.
However, it was unusually well informed about news from the inland.
That made following her original plan far too risky.
Marsen was different.
People from many different nations lived together there.
Because travelers constantly came and went, people were not particularly interested in news from the capital.
With that, their destination was decided.
Marsen.
Even so, Agnes could not immediately agree.
She was deeply grateful for the kindness shown by Kain and Leuceviten.
That was precisely why the weight of accepting their generosity was not something she could easily overlook.
“But if I keep traveling with the two of you, you might end up in danger as well. People could easily think you’re connected to Rebelt just because of me.”
Agnes’s voice carried a trace of guilt.
Kain smiled after a brief pause before replying.
“If you’re really worried about that, then why don’t you simply stay with us until we reach Marsen? Just think of it as traveling together for a little longer.”
From the moment they first met until now, Kain had always been consistently kind and good-hearted.
Only then did Agnes’s resolve finally begin to waver.
She decided to rely on them only until they reached Marsen.
Only that far.
However, Agnes drew a firm line.
After arriving in Marsen, she would settle down on her own.
She no longer wanted anyone to become entangled with her and suffer because of it.
That was especially true for people who had extended a helping hand without asking for anything in return.
Adrian had always belittled her abilities.
But Agnes now knew the truth.
The years she had spent practically running the Bardo trading company had never been wasted.
With that experience, she believed she could open and manage a small shop on her own without receiving any more help.
Once everything had been decided, the preparations did not take long.
Her luggage had burned together with the carriage, leaving nothing to pack.
Pulling her robe low over her face, Agnes accepted Kain’s help as she descended the inn’s staircase.
The first floor was fairly quiet at such an early hour.
Jingle.
As they passed a customer entering through the inn’s front door, Agnes and Kain stepped outside.
As Agnes crossed the threshold, she almost turned her head toward the direction of the Duke’s residence.
But she quickly stopped herself.
By now, Lionel had probably already accepted her death.
And before long, he would return to his normal life.
As though the Duchess had never existed in the first place.
So don’t leave behind even the slightest lingering attachment.
With that determination, Agnes settled herself into the new wheelchair Kain had obtained for her.
***
As Kain helped Agnes out of the inn, Jessie brushed past them and entered inside.
“Mister!”
Awakened by Jessie’s voice, the drowsy innkeeper wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth and pointed toward a basket beside the counter.
“I’ve left today’s work over there.
Go ahead and take it.”
“Thank you!”
Jessie picked up the basket.
Ever since she had stopped working as a maid, Jessie had been making ends meet by doing odd jobs for the inn.
Today there was an unusually large amount of laundry.
As she estimated the basket’s weight, a smile naturally spread across her face.
She realized she would probably earn a little more than usual today.
Just then, Jessie noticed her younger sister staring blankly toward the inn’s entrance.
Taking the little girl’s hand, Jessie lowered herself to her eye level.
“Jane.
What are you looking at?”
“Big Sister.
I saw that pretty lady.”
“Hm?
Who?”
Jessie did not understand immediately.
Jane shook Jessie’s hand from side to side as though frustrated.
“You know!
That pretty lady who bought me the paper flower!”
“The lady who bought you the paper flower…
Don’t tell me you mean Lady Agnes?”
Remembering the people she had just passed outside, Jessie’s head snapped toward the entrance.
But Kain and Agnes had already left.
The inn’s door remained wide open.
Only the cold air drifted quietly across the floor.
Like Jane, Jessie stared absentmindedly at the entrance for quite some time before finally shaking her head.
Then she gently patted her younger sister’s head.
“You must have been mistaken.
Lady Agnes…”
“Big Sister, why did you stop talking?”
“……”
Unable to bring herself to tell her little sister that Agnes had died, Jessie swallowed the rest of her words.
“It’s nothing.
Come on, let’s go.
I’ll buy you something delicious today.”
“Really?!
Yay!”
Jane, who had been looking at Jessie curiously after noticing how quiet she had become, immediately spread her arms excitedly.
Holding Jane’s cheerful hand, Jessie left the inn.
Even so, she kept glancing back toward the entrance.
She knew it could not possibly have been Agnes.
Yet an uneasy feeling she could not explain refused to let go of her.
***
“Where is the Colonel?”
Even though it was broad daylight, the Duke’s residence was unnaturally dark.
Even the corridors, where sunlight should have poured in, seemed dim as though storm clouds had settled over them.
As Kalt Russel passed through the entrance hall, he questioned Simon.
Simon hesitated for a moment before finally lowering his head.
“…He is there.”
Kalt Russel understood immediately without Simon needing to specify the place.
Ever since the carriage accident, Lionel had locked himself inside the same room.
Agnes’s bedroom.
“Again?”
At Kalt Russel’s sigh, Simon merely lowered his gaze without saying another word.
Kalt Russel asked no further questions and continued walking.
As soon as he reached the bedroom, the tray placed outside the door caught his eye.
The food had long since gone cold.
Not a single bite had been touched.
“……”
After hesitating briefly, Kalt Russel knocked on the door.
“Colonel.”
“……”
There was no response from inside.
He raised his hand to knock once more.
At that moment—
Creak.
The door, which had not been fully closed, slowly swung inward with a heavy sound.
At the same time, the icy air trapped inside the room spilled into the hallway like a rushing tide.
Along with it, an empty liquor bottle rolled out across the floor and bumped against the toe of Kalt Russel’s military boot.
Kalt Russel swallowed hard.
Through the open doorway, the
dark bedroom came fully into view.
The room’s lights had not even been lit.
Empty liquor bottles were scattered across the floor.
Among them lay several small bottles of headache medicine.
And in the middle of it all, Lionel sat collapsed on the floor beside the bed.
