Chapter 18: An Unwelcome Guest

“We haven’t found her.”

“You still haven’t found her!”

Grit glared at Steve, who had failed to find Clea despite being ordered to do so a while ago.

Just a few days ago, Clea had been living in this house.

But after her argument with Grit, she immediately left. She could no longer be seen at the Odoi mansion.

At first, Grit thought Clea would crawl back to the mansion before long.

Since she had no separate allowance, he thought she would return within a day, unable to properly manage hotels or meals.

He thought then she would at least realize what her situation was.

But now Grit regretted that moment.

He was the one who told her to leave the mansion.

Though he hadn’t directly mentioned expulsion, telling her to leave was essentially the same as proceeding with her expulsion.

Originally, his plan was to set conditions and accept her back when she came begging on her knees after being driven out.

‘I should have stopped her from leaving!’

The plan had completely backfired, and Clea’s whereabouts had completely vanished.

Regretting that he should have somehow kept her confined to her room, Grit looked at Steve while breathing heavily.

Seeing Steve’s exhausted appearance, he became angry again.

“What do you mean you’re tired! Your sister still hasn’t returned!”

“Is that all you have to say to me who’s been searching outside all day as you ordered?”

“What?”

“I told you from the beginning, didn’t I? That we shouldn’t let her leave then.”

“Are you trying to blame me? Are you really blaming me for sending her away?”

Grit glared and spat out words he could barely bring himself to say.

Steve, who had been listening silently, clenched both hands tightly.

All day long, he had been searching everywhere for Clea.

Being told not to draw too much attention and without proper support, he had mostly traveled on foot.

Having never walked so much before, his feet hurt, but with few search personnel, he had to walk even more.

As he kept walking, Steve resented Grit.

‘He should have just locked her up and starved her or beat her until he felt better as usual, why did he have to send her away!’

But the fact remained unchanged that Clea had already disappeared.

“Should I have to hear such things from the likes of you!”

“Father, shouldn’t we contact the guard first? We don’t know what might happen to Clea while we delay.”

“No guard!”

“Father!”

Either way, Steve was worried about his only sister.

She might have been attacked by thugs while walking the streets.

Even for nobles, the night streets could be dangerous enough, even in the capital.

Thinking they needed to find her quickly, he advised contacting the guard.

But Grit opposed.

“This matter must be handled quietly within the family.”

“Is it possible to handle this quietly? The rumors are already spreading everywhere.”

Grit also knew what rumors Steve was talking about.

That’s why he gritted his teeth.

News that the Odoi family’s daughter had left home was currently spreading everywhere.

Grit couldn’t understand how such news had spread in the first place.

Just the spreading of rumors put him in a very difficult situation.

“Rumors are just rumors.”

“The Persi Grand Ducal family is staying quiet out of respect for our family, but if they find out this is true, they won’t remain silent.”

“I know that!”

The engagement between Clea Odoi and Lloyd Persi.

Since Crown Prince Edmund Wilhelm had not yet held an engagement or marriage, this engagement was currently the most notable union.

Originally, the two should have married right after graduating from the acade. But the schedule kept getting delayed, and they still hadn’t held the ceremony.

Grit desperately needed Clea.

Not only had he borrowed money from the Grand Duke’s family, but a considerable portion of the family’s assets were tied up in the Grand Duke family’s business ventures.

“Where on earth did she go.”

If they found out she had disappeared, the Grand Duke’s family wouldn’t stay quiet either.

Remembering how Lloyd had previously visited and turned the duke’s mansion upside down once before, he bit his lip.

“Unless the Crown Prince took her, there’s no way we couldn’t find her like this.”

He thought while rubbing his face dry.

The decisive reason for his argument with Clea.

Though he had asked if she really had a secret meeting with Edmund, Grit was certain that rumor was false.

Having witnessed how obsessively Clea had shown attachment to Lloyd until now, he was convinced she wouldn’t show interest in another man.

And would Edmund, who didn’t particularly like the Odoi family, have a relationship with Clea?

To Grit’s eyes, Clea didn’t appear that beautiful.

In terms of beauty, the Hersher family’s daughter was undeniably superior. Constantly subjected to comparisons, he would always regard his own daughter with contempt.

Aria, who easily won people’s favor with her cute appearance and bright smile, stood at the center of social circles.

In contrast, Clea’s sharp eyes, tall height, snow-white silver hair like her skin, and blue eyes exuded an imposing atmosphere.

Though it was strange to compare two completely different people, in terms of social influence which Grit valued highly, he couldn’t help but make comparisons.

“Still, we can’t rule out the possibility.”

On the other hand, Steve suggested to Grit, like grasping at straws.

Since anything was possible, how about visiting the Crown Prince’s palace once?

“Why should I go see that guy?”

“Father, aren’t you worried about Clea?”

“The family is about to be ruined because of her, and you’re talking about worry now!”

Grit exploded in anger.

He claimed that all their current troubles were because of Clea.

While listening to Grit’s words, Steve inwardly sighed.

‘Where on earth did you go?’

Though he was worried about Clea, what actually worried him more was their relationship with the Persi family.

He had already proudly proclaimed with his own mouth to others that he was close friends with Lloyd.

Imagining Lloyd coldly rejecting him again like before made Steve’s chest tight.

They needed to find her quickly and restore everything back to normal.

That was all he wished for now.

Regardless of what Clea had experienced or felt, the two men who prioritized their own wellbeing above all else ran around everywhere trying to find her somehow.

But far from finding Clea, the two only grew more and more frustrated.

* * *

Edmund thought about what happened last night.

He felt relieved seeing Clea whom he had finally found. At the same time, he felt somehow embarrassed about showing such an uncharacteristically agitated appearance.

Had he ever had such an experience in his entire life?

For him who had lived without being conscious of anything, it was difficult to erase her existence from his mind.

‘Why am I so anxious?’

Everything was perfect last night.

He found Clea who had disappeared, and not stopping there, he confessed his feelings.

He was happy that Clea had accepted his confession.

On the other hand, it was difficult to shake off an uneasy feeling.

He kept thinking she might slip through his fingers and disappear somewhere again.

Edmund felt inexplicably anxious.

On whether she might suddenly disappear from his side in an instant.

He felt anxious even though he wasn’t sure why such thoughts came to him, or even how she could disappear now. Edmund hated even thinking about her disappearing.

“If only we had been close at the acade.”

Looking back on his memories, his past was always painted in black.

He lived without paying much attention to things passing around him in that blackness.

Edmund slowly recalled memories of that time.

The Clea Odoi in his memories was a different woman from now.

Always following behind Lloyd, trying somehow to have conversations with him.

Ironically, to his eyes, he didn’t think she followed Lloyd because she really liked him.

As Edmund recalled the Clea in his memories, he felt strange and anxious about how completely she had changed.

Worried that she might come to his side like the wind and disappear again like the wind.

“Your Highness, a guest has arrived.”

“…It seems there have been too many guests lately.”

“I apologize, Your Highness.”

“It’s fine. I didn’t bring it up to receive your apology.”

Edmund furrowed his brow hearing Oberon’s voice at the door.

He wasn’t someone who would meet just anyone who requested an audience.

Crown Prince of the Empire.

His status was enough to make anyone in the empire kneel.

But Oberon knew this as well.

The fact that he couldn’t turn away someone who came to see him without even making an appointment like now meant the guest was that important.

Edmund asked Oberon who was outside the door.

“Who has come?”

Thinking of Lloyd who had visited recently, he thought perhaps people from the Odoi Duke family had come, but.

“Lady Aria Hersher, Your Highness’s close friend, has come to visit.”

“Who?”

“Lady Aria, Your Highness.”

“No, after that. My close friend?”

Edmund furrowed his brow.

Though she had always tried to get close to him, could someone he hadn’t really had deep conversations with be called a close friend? Edmund was dumbfounded.

Oberon thought Edmund’s reaction was strange and was about to ask something, but–

“My lady, you mustn’t! My lady!”

“Edmund!”

Aria pushed past Oberon and came inside.

Pink hair and lime-green eyes he hadn’t seen in a while.

Remembering how she used to bother him at the acade, Edmund already felt tired.

“I missed you, Edmund.”

‘I didn’t miss you, though.’