I Unintentionally Cured the Grand Duke’s Insomnia - Chapter 122

61. — Return (2)

〈 A while ago, a man who came to visit the publisher tossed it to me. He handed it to me as if throwing it and then left. I’m looking for him, hoping to find him again. 〉

〈 You remember this new book by the author Milcell, too, right? 〉

〈 Actually, the manuscript I’m holding is very similar to Milcell’s latest work. No, it’s not just similar but almost identical, as if it were simply copied. 〉

〈 Just like the recent disappearance cases happening in Lian, that man disappeared without a trace. 〉

The man speaking to Cain glanced around for a moment. As if his lips were dry, he licked them cautiously before adding more words.

“But this is strange. When that man reported to me, the man’s hair was definitely dark brown…!”

The man’s voice, growing louder, halted under Cain’s piercing gaze. He hastily closed his mouth under his stern gaze, though the knights lined up could tell from his expression what the words left unspoken were.

‘His brown hair turned completely white.’

Being closely associated with incidents and accidents, they were all aware of the strange occurrences spreading throughout Lian and the capital.

At that moment, amidst the uneasy knights, someone’s voice broke out.

“Could it be that the Saintess has been abandoned by God?”

“….”

“Despite her presence, bodies are being found all over Lian and the fact that a body was found at the gate where the Saintess returning after five years was supposed to enter…”

The young knight’s raised voice was silenced by the knights standing beside him.

“Watch your tongue, Code! Such blasphemy!”

“We apologize, Your Highness. He’s still a young lad. We’ll discipline him properly!”

They offered apologies to Cain on behalf of the young knight, but already, within the narrow confines of the room, a sense of unrest had begun to stir. The faces of the knights surrounding Code carried a subtle hint of doubt at the young knight’s words.

Cain looked at the unsettled knights and spoke again in a stern tone.

“Let me make this clear once again. The investigation into this matter will commence after the welcoming ceremony. So, all of you, refrain from further discussion on this issue and return to your posts.”

“Yes!”

“And you, stay.”

The knight who reported to Cain about the dead body nodded with a fearful expression.

In the meanwhile, the knights quickly dispersed to their original positions despite their uneasy faces. They passed by me, standing at the doorway and left. After the knights who had been covering me disappeared, my gaze met with Cain’s. As if he hadn’t expected to encounter me here, his brow furrowed slightly.

I cautiously opened my mouth to him as he gazed at me.

“I, I came because I was worried about the conversation we had last time… I didn’t realize such a serious matter had occurred.”

“….”

“I’m sorry, I overheard the conversation out of concern…”

When I met his red eyes, all the words I had thought of until now became blank. I swallowed dryly as I saw Cain slowly approaching me, and he held out his hand to me. After a moment of hesitation, I took his hand and stepped down from the small wooden box.

At that moment, we heard the sound of unfamiliar footsteps at the end of the corridor.

Instinctively, my body turned towards the doorway.

As I blankly stared down the dark passage, I could see the figures of two people in the distance. I found myself instinctively clutching at the hem of Cain’s sleeve at the sight of the two of them covered in cloaks and hats.

Thump, thump.

My heart pounded loudly in my chest.

“W-who are you?! Reveal yourself!”

The two knights, belatedly snapping to attention, drew their swords towards the approaching figures. The two people, with only their mouths visible, halted only when the knights’ swords were inches from their noses.

A faint scent of wildflowers wafted through the narrow, dark passage. Outside the cloak, a white but rough hand was visible.

The moment I glimpsed the small hands and red lips moving, I realized.

It was Irene, Irene Rochere.

Irene.

Irene Rochere was here.

“This area is off-limits to the general public.”

The two people seemed to lock eyes for a moment as they heard the cold yet low voice.

Perhaps it was because I was unconsciously holding onto the hem of his clothes, but Cain pulled my hand, which was clutching his sleeve, and held it firmly. I looked at him in surprise at the large hand that easily held my hand in one hand. However, his gaze was directed not at me but at the two people.

A small, delicate hand reached for the hat of the cloak covering the face.

As I watched the woman slowly taking off her hat as if in slow motion in a movie, I unconsciously grasped Cain’s hand tightly. The black cloak was removed, revealing honey-like golden hair that had been hidden. Unconsciously, my breath was caught at the sight of the woman’s face, which had lifted her lowered head.

…Blue eyes that resemble the sky, hair as golden as honey, and skin as white as snow against the wall’s backdrop.

“May the blessings of God be upon the hero of the Empire.”

“….”

“It’s an honor to meet you like this, Your Highness. My name is Irene Rochere.”

“….”

“And this is…”

Irene’s face was tense as she looked to the side, the end of her words trailing off. The man who had been observing the situation beside her for a moment finally pulled off the hat of the cloak he was wearing as if he had made up his mind. He lowered his head with jet-black hair and shining black eyes.

“I’m Michael.”

At the moment of the man’s greeting, a tear fell from Cain’s eye.

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