Chapter 13: Chapter 15

I was surprised.

It is not enough to say that this is unexpected.

“Miracle…”

Yes. It’s a miracle. Another miracle happened right before my eyes.

It’s an opportunity.

First, I have to get out of this room.

I instinctively walked towards the door.

And the moment I tried to turn the doorknob, I belatedly realized one fact.

It was locked from the outside.

Damn it.

I shook my innocent doorknob roughly and let out my anger.

However, despair did not last long.

Is the doorknob worn out?

Unable to bear my anger, the doorknob shattered without a hitch.

With my eyes wide open, I looked at the broken handle.

Was I this strong?

That can’t be.

Contrary to my thoughts, Adelia’s body was nothing more than wet paper.

I don’t know what’s happening, but anyway, it’s fine since there’s an escape path.

I hurried out of the room, leaving my surprise behind.

Then, the stiff backs of the knights who were standing firmly blocking the door caught my eye.

I didn’t even feel any movement as if they had lost their vitality.

I quickly came to my senses after being caught by a strange sight.

This is not the time. Let’s move quickly.

I hurriedly went up to the third floor, not the first floor.

The Marquis will probably keep trying to sell me off and use marriage as a good excuse.

Even if I run away now, the Marquis will try to find me again.

So, I need to have insurance.

I have put up a lot.

Like the second floor, knights were standing guard on the third floor.

Of course, their time had also stopped.

Click!

As I entered the Marquis’ study, I quickly pushed the fireplace hard. The fireplace, which I did not think I would be able to push by my own strength, moved little by little.

It was thanks to a special device hidden in the fireplace.

Finally, the hidden space behind the fireplace was revealed.

As expected, Adelia’s memory was right.

Several documents were neatly organized in the hidden space. I calmly searched through the documents and checked the latest ledgers.

After a while I found what I was looking for.

“I found it.”

Yes. I should have at least one last card, like proof of tax evasion or a smuggling ledger.

I put the document that the marquis had been eagerly hiding in my arms and headed toward the back gate.

At the back gate, there was a small detached house that was not used.

This place is scheduled to be demolished soon, so no one manages it, no servants are coming in and out.

After confirming that there was no one, I took a match out of my skirt pocket.

And without hesitation I lit the match.

Smack.

I threw the match at the pile of dry straws. A bright red flame began to burn.

In a world that has stopped, the flame that burns life alone gradually increases in size.

The flames quickly swallowed the annex.

I stared blankly at the scene.

‘If you can’t prove your value, stay still as if you were dead.’

“You’re a disgrace to the family!”’

“Go into the convent.’

‘Now, under any circumstances, Sorne’s name must not come out of your mouth.’

Countless words that scratched the depths of my heart passed by my mind.

But why am I laughing so much?

For now, I’ll be able to keep the marquis’ feet tied with this for a while.

I turned my back from the fire and hurriedly left the mansion.

Just as I was about to leave the Marquis’ mansion through the main gate, I remembered the Grand Duke I had forgotten for a while.

He said he was going to pick me up.

I paused for a while, but the worries didn’t last long.

It was better to escape when I could.

I moved without hesitation.

However, that step also did not last long, so I had no choice but to stop.

Because his clear eyes that captured the night sky were staring intently at me.

I couldn’t hide my bewilderment and said his name with my mouth.

“Grand Duke Hamilton.”

How come his time didn’t stop?

The same situation happened before.

In the subspace, Cardinal Eustaf’s time did not stop.

I thought that is because the Cardinal has a strong divine power

However, the speculation was terribly wrong.

“Adelia.”

The Grand Duke called my name quietly.

“…….”

I couldn’t answer the call.

Nevertheless, the Grand Duke continued to ask me a question.

“Do you know how this happened?”

The voice of the Grand Duke seemed calm, but I noticed the confusion behind it.

How should I answer this?

If I say that this is a phenomenon caused by me, how will the Grand Duke react?

Maybe it’s better to hide this ability.

The question is whether the Grand Duke will just let it pass.

“Will you believe me if I say I don’t know?”

“Do you want that?”

I opened my eyes wide at the question of the great Grand Duke.

For some reason, it sounded like he would do it if I wanted to.

I nodded carefully.

Then the Grand Duke’s lips drew a faint arc.

“Yes. If you don’t know, I’ll believe it.”

“…Thank you.”

I expressed my gratitude with a bewildered expression.

I knew he favored me, but I never expected it to be this much.

At that time, the leaves of the trees that had been filling the garden of the Marquis in an orderly manner began to sway gently.

Time began to flow again.

I bit my lip, realizing that the Marquis’ knights were around.

“Oh, Lady Adelia escaped!”

Sure enough, a soldier who confirmed my existence shouted.

It was a natural sequence for other soldiers to flock to the sound.

I was quickly surrounded by marquis’ knights and servants.

The Marquis also heard this commotion and rushed to come.

“Adelia! How did you…”!”

The Marquis pointed at me with his index finger and shouted.

Then the Grand Duke stepped forward as if covering me.

Thanks to this, I had no choice but to look at the wide back of the Grand Duke.

“Marquis of Sorne”

“…What brings you all the way here?” No way-”

There was deep suspicion in the voice of the Marquis.

He seemed to think that the Grand Duke helped me escape.

The Grand Duke ignored the marquis’ suspicion and spoke to notify him.

“His Majesty entrusted me with the personal affairs of the former Saint candidate.”

“You can’t do that! Adelia is my daughter!”

“As far as I know, Adelia’s name was definitely not in your family register.”

Grand Duke Hamilton hit the nail.

As a result, the marquis’ voice shook like a willow branch blowing in the wind.

“B,but I still have an obligation and responsibility to take charge of Adelia’s future as a father.”

“Future?”

“Even if you are a Grand Duke, you can’t take responsibility for Adelia’s future, can you?”

“What do you mean?”

I sighed as I watched the Marquis plunge into the corner.

And instead of the Marquis, I answered the Grand Duke’s question.

“The Marquis wants me to get married.”

Then the Grand Duke’s brow furrowed terribly.

“Marriage?”

“Yeah. Maybe he wants to trade me off.”

“Adelia! How can you say that? Why can’t you understand that this is all for you!”

Even if he said it was for me, there was no way I would have believed it.

I said to the Grand Duke with a smirk.

“I don’t think I need to be here anymore. Let’s go now.”

The Grand Duke also nodded as if he agreed with me.

“Right.”

The marquis shouted hysterically.

“No! What are you doing? Hurry up and take Adelia!

When the marquis’ order was issued, the soldiers hesitated and gradually narrowed the siege.

Maybe it’s because the Grand Duke is near me, they can’t approach me recklessly.

Then the butler ran through the crowd.

“Lord! There’s a fire in the annex!”

“What…?”

“The fire is quite strong and must be put out immediately!”

The marquis’ face was distorted by the unexpected urgent news.

“Then what are you doing here and not extinguishing it quickly?!”

“That is… I hurriedly gathered the servants, but the number was insufficient, so it seems that soldiers need to be mobilized.”

At the words of the butler, the marquis lost his temper.

I swallowed a laugh as I looked at the agonizing face of the Marquis.

The Marquis will most likely choose the mansion.

This mansion symbolized the power of the marquis.

“…Right now, go to the annex! The first priority is to extinguish the fire!”

At the command of the Marquis, the soldiers began to move quickly.

I smiled triumphantly as the surrounding became quiet.

Before leaving, the Marquis warned me in a low, subdued voice.

“… You will regret your choice.”

“That’s not going to happen, so get going. You’ll be in a lot of trouble if your mansion gets burned.”

For a moment, it seemed that the marquis’ eyes were bursting with flames.

However, he couldn’t say anything and turned his back and moved quickly.

I felt relieved and spoke to the Grand Duke in a relaxed voice.

“Shall we go now?”

The Grand Duke nodded his head, and led me into the carriage he had ridden.

Finally, I can completely escape this mansion that is filled with painful memories.

No matter what happens in the future, I will never set foot in this mansion again.

The Grand Duke and I remained silent and headed to his blue flame mansion.

Ironically, the mansion of the Grand Duke, which I was not used to, felt rather comfortable.

As I got off the carriage, leaning on the hand of the Grand Duke, the servants welcomed us as usual.

As I entered the mansion, a warm warmth wrapped around my shoulders.

I didn’t expect all this but I have to leave the capital as soon as possible.

My instincts were telling me to go back to Rohen quickly.

I stopped walking and looked at the Grand Duke going up the stairs.

“Your highness.”

At my call, the great Grand Duke stopped walking and turned around to look down at me.

“Do you have anything to say?”

“I have to leave for Rohen today.”

Grand Duke Hamilton’s lips stiffened for a moment at the sudden notice.

“Right away?”

“Yeah. I don’t think anything good will happen to me if I was in the Capital.”

“… You must have been tired from various things, so how about taking a break?”

The Grand Duke’s soft voice caught me.

But I shook my head firmly.

“No. I appreciate your consideration, but I’m reluctant to leave my house empty for a long time.”

At the euphemistic refusal, the Grand Duke remained silent.

After a brief silence, the Grand Duke opened his mouth.

“… I get it. But it will take three hours to prepare to leave.”

Fortunately, the Grand Duke graciously accepted my departure.

I smiled and spoke to the Grand Duke who had an expressionless face.

“Thank you. I also need to prepare a bit, so I can wait that long.”

I felt the Grand Duke’s subtle gaze pouring over my head, but I pretended not to notice.

“Call me when you’re ready.”

The Grand Duke quickly turned around and went up the stairs.

I looked at the Grand Duke’s back as he moved away.

I am finally saying goodbye to this damn capital.