Chapter 12. It’s black heart
2022.09.24.
shoot-.
The sound of the wind blowing filled my ears. Standing at the edge of the coastal cliff, I brushed my hair that was blowing relentlessly in the wind.
“and.”
As I lowered my head, I could vividly see the waves crashing under the sheer cliff.
Waves rushing in in an instant hit the pointed rocks, creating white foam. Seeing the sharp edge of the rock made me dizzy.
“If you fall from here, you will die right away.”
The scenery wasn’t just that. On the side of the cliff, the white sandy beach stretched out so long that I couldn’t see the end.
There were no people, so only the sounds of nature could be heard like melodies.
‘How long have you been watching the sea?’
The place where Aidan freely activated Yelium and moved to was the end of the coastal cliff.
I suddenly moved from my office to the beach and was staring blankly at the horizon.
“Aidan. Where is here?”
“It is the southern coast of Orpheyyeong.”
“Is this Orpheel?”
“yes.”
It’s been 20 years since I lived my second life, but I haven’t traveled abroad much.
Since he became an emperor at the age of 1, he could not easily go to another country unless there was a reason to go there. So, there was a record of going to Ioleka for a while because of Michael’s trick after living only in Ermano.
After recognizing himself as the seed of God, he went to Abelardo and fought a war in Devlin for a decisive battle with Veron.
I took a short trip to Langard to meet Dylan, who had just become emperor.
But I’ve never really left for a vacation. It was all just a short stop for a purpose.
“I’ve seen reports that the coast of Orpheyong has been ruined, but it’s already been restored like this.”
Traces of the tsunami disappeared completely within a few years. I worked hard for the restoration of the continent, but it was new to see it with my own eyes.
“Aside from here, places where the damage was more severe must have been recovered, right? Besides the tsunami, there were also areas affected by earthquakes and-.”
My words couldn’t go any further. Aidan lightly touched my lips with his hand.
“Stop thinking about work.”
Aidan patted my head.
“Clear your head.”
“…huh.”
In fact, I was worried about leaving without telling anyone and the remaining work, but I tried to erase it from my mind as much as possible, as Aidan said.
I took a deep breath and looked at the sea again. The sea at sunset was dyed red by the setting sun.
After staring blankly at the sea without a single boat floating, I took a step forward, and the stone powder kicked at my toe fell down the cliff.
“oh.”
Right after that, Aidan grabbed me by the shoulders and pulled me towards him.
It wasn’t a very dangerous situation, but he looked up at Aidan with a small smile at his overprotectiveness.
“Do I look like someone who accidentally stumbled and fell?”
Aidan must have known that even if he accidentally fell, he would never get hurt if he managed the wind.
Aidan smiled briefly and wrapped his arms around me. I could clearly feel the firmness of my chest against my back.
Because of my much smaller stature, I ended up immersed in Aidan’s arms.
After a while, Aidan answered.
“no.”
“Then why?”
“It’s a black heart.”
“darkness…?”
“I’m going to make an excuse like this to hug you.”
Then Aidan hugged me tighter.
Even though I couldn’t see his face, I could feel Aidan’s satisfaction. For some unexpected reason, she burst into laughter and leaned against him.
‘Sometimes I talk as if I never touched it.’
I always think about it, but Aidan especially liked skinship. When I was awake, I held my hand, and from time to time I hugged or kissed.
When I had to concentrate because of work, I used to spend time touching my hair, so I said it all.
However, for the sake of Aidan’s face, he decided to pretend he didn’t know.
“It’s getting dark and I can’t see. Where are you going to sleep?”
“There is a villa nearby.”
“Villa? Whose cottage?”
“My villa.”
“huh?!”
It was the first time I had heard that there was Aidan’s villa in Orphey.
Surprised, I released Aidan’s arm that was wrapped around me and looked at my face. Aidan added an explanation.
“I bought a villa in each tourist town or resort capital.”
“Since when?”
“Ever since I ascended to the Countess.”
I was buying and collecting real estate without knowing it.
Of course, Aidan was also a count, and he was able to buy a villa because he had taxes from the estate. Isn’t he even a grand duke now?
But for some reason I felt like I was losing.
‘I should have bought real estate…!’
As a matter of fact, the landlord is the best. Why did he invest only in the magic tool business?
Aidan looked at me seriously as I was contemplating whether to buy a building right now.
“I’ll give it to you.”
“Suddenly what?”
“Villa. All.”
I involuntarily opened my mouth at Aidan’s determined tone.
“You’re giving me the whole villa?”
“Because I bought it for that anyway.”
“No, but…”
“Can I give you the land document?”
Compared to the gift of the throne and the gift of the country, the gift of the villa is weak, but I still had a phobia of gifts.
I waved my hand and pulled Aidan quickly.
“hungry. Let’s go and have dinner!”
When talking back to old people, talking about meals was the best law.
That’s how the night of the first day of my runaway was ripe.
***
Esteban dispatched a search party across the continent, and what he did after that was to attack the upper ranks of Evil.
It was not in Esteban’s mind that it was night now. What would stop him in a situation where his precious daughter-in-law was kidnapped?
Casey, who had been sleeping soundly like honey, jumped up and down as if struck by lightning at the unexpected visit.
“Oh no. Someone who is shabby in such a precious place No, someone who is precious in such a shabby place-.”
Whether Casey panicked or not, Esteban pushed in and stared at him with calm, pensive eyes. Soon, a low voice came out.
“Count Casey Troysel.”
“yes?”
“When was the last time you contacted Archduke Aserad?”
Hurrying up, Casey began diligently searching through her empty memories.
“Uh um… about two days…? It is done.”
It was only a few hours ago that Mabel was kidnapped(?). According to Casey, the man who had been in touch with Aidan two days earlier could not have been an accomplice.
But how can you just listen and trust? Count Casey Troysel is Aidan’s.
Esteban’s eyes narrowed.
“Really?”
“yes!”
Casey smiled and nodded, but Esteban didn’t have the temper to go over so lightly.
A thorough interrogation ensued.
“What about the conversation you had two days ago?”
“It wasn’t anything special.”
“Tell me.”
“My lady, no, tell me to buy a dessert for His Majesty the Emperor and send it to-.”
“What dessert?”
“You said you fell in love with the chocolate tarts at the new patisserie on Ricabelli Street. But since it was a limited item, he asked me.”
“…”
Esteban was very upset.
‘This is the first information I’ve heard.’
Aidan, who prided himself on knowing everything about Mabel, was left behind with the latest dessert preference information.
I couldn’t be so proud of myself.
“Count Troysel.”
“yes.”
“If you have any information about Mabel in the future, report it to me. The information fee is paid satisfactorily.”
Casey, eyes wide at the unexpected side income, quickly nodded.
Since ancient times, opportunities are meant to be seized when they come right in front of you.
Esteban’s question continued.
“Do you really not know the whereabouts of Grand Duke Aserad?”
“yes!”
After answering vigorously, Casey’s complexion turned blue in an instant. It was because he realized his mistake while answering.
‘It was a big deal.’
In the end, he fell victim to Esteban’s judo question.
“It’s strange that you don’t know where you are going.”
Esteban never said that Aidan was gone. So, it was obvious that Aidan’s future would be the royal palace.
However, since he said he did not know, he was admitting that he knew that Aidan was not in the capital.
Casey smiled condescendingly and tried to make amends for his mistake.
“It means that I am not sure whether you are in the capital mansion or the imperial castle.”
“okay?”
“yes.”
Esteban held on tighter and did not let go, nodding his head in agreement. Just as Casey was about to be relieved, Esteban abruptly asked.
“But you didn’t ask why I was looking for the Grand Duke of Aserad?”
That was also a question that caught my eye, but Casey, who had a history of being asked, responded calmly with an embarrassing smile.
“It was because I was so embarrassed. Where has Master gone?”
“I went. very far.”
Esteban gave a smirking reply and buried himself on the sofa with his arms crossed.
Even though they were just facing each other, Casey felt like she was being overwhelmed by her opponent.
It was as if he had become a herbivore thrown in front of a languid beast.
‘The lady said that if she meets a strong opponent, she will die.’
Engraving Mabel’s teaching into his bones, Casey waited nervously for Esteban’s next words.
Esteban, who touched the magic crystal that Casey was researching on the table, asked in a casual tone.
“If it were discovered that you were involved in this affair, Casey Troisel, would you give up your title?”
Casey was at a loss for words at Esteban’s attitude as if he was talking about something insignificant.
‘My title….’
How did I get to be a count, but was it taken away in vain?
Mabel, Casey’s mentor in life, said that the most despicable and mean thing in the world is giving and taking away.
But the teacher’s father was about to do that despicable mean thing!
Casey, who suddenly had to give up his precious title, was speechless.
If confirmed, it was a betrayal of Aidan, and if denied, there was a possibility that he would be in danger of being stripped of his title.
An impatient Esteban drove the final wedge.
“If you were proud, you wouldn’t have anything to shy away from, right?”
“I will tell you!”
Casey neatly betrayed Aidan.
Once I opened my mouth, it came out very smoothly after that.
“I don’t know the details either, Your Majesty. Baby… No, I will be away from the capital for a while with His Majesty the Emperor, so when His Majesty Shang came to the upper ranks, I just received a call to shut up.”
Esteban narrowed his brows.
‘Did I expect to come right here?’
I felt bad because I felt like Aidan had seen through my intentions.
“He’s like a weasel….”
I felt sick at the thought of Aidan playing with him on the top of my head.
Esteban, trying to calm his anger, looked at Casey.
“Do you have any idea where you might have gone? After all, you are the closest aide to Archduke Aserad.”
After thinking for a moment, Casey touched his chin and answered.
“I know the list of the master’s privately owned villas.”
“Privately owned villa?”
“yes. Our master bought and collected villas from all over the country. Due to the Master’s personality, he won’t be taking His Majesty to the inn, so I’d like to head to the villa.”
I got valuable information. It was better to narrow the scope of the search rather than blindly search the entire continent.
Esteban immediately tried to make a deal.
“I’d like to share the list.”
As expected, Casey scratched his cheek and averted his gaze as if embarrassed.
“No matter how hard it is, you can’t pass on the master’s personal information like this. Also, because there are so many villas, it takes a lot of time to figure out all of them…” The purpose of the impatient
attitude was clear.
‘Earl Casey Troisel is a money-mad man.’
Repeating that information in his head, Esteban suggested.
“Of course I will pay the price.”
The predecessor of the top of Evil is Information Guild Evil.
Among them, it was Vice Master Casey who was in charge of selling information.
As an information trader, Casey grinned.
“I will serve you wholeheartedly, sir.”
It was Casey who sold the master’s information following his conscience while selling and selling.
