The Grand Duchess has disappeared. More accurately, everyone who was with the Grand Duchess has vanished. It was a thunderbolt for Karl, who was waiting for two more days to meet Celeste.
All communication with the entourage of the Grand Duchess, led by Minister Linke and protected by Clovis, has been cut off. The one who rushed in from dawn upon hearing the news was Matthias, a knight acting in Clovis’s absence.
“When did contact cease?”
The news, received just before dawn, instantly awakened Karl. Without time for further preparation, he jumped up and rushed outside.
“Minister Linke had sent a transmission stating their departure and was supposed to provide their location every two hours. However, since midnight last night, we have received no messages. Even when we tried reaching out, we received no response.”
“Was there no issue until then?”
“Yes. We received transmissions confirming departure around 3 PM followed by messages at 5 PM, 7 PM, 9 PM, and 11 PM, but since then, we’ve missed three communications.”
“Is it possible there’s a problem with the transmitter-receiver?”
“Of course, we considered that possibility. But even replacing the transmitter, there has been no reception. I understand that Minister Linke also brought extra transmitters as a precaution, but the lack of news suggests that all might have malfunctioned suddenly…”
“So, they have entered a state of no contact.”
“Yes, it seems so.”
The situation felt ominous. The path from Lahart to the Grand Duchy, where Celeste was hiding, was highly confidential. Even his knights, except for a select few including Clovis, were unaware.
Moreover, Minister Linke’s movements and Albrecht’s retreat for recuperation in the Grand Duchy were all kept secret. If someone had ambushed the Grand Duchess’s entourage, that person would have to know at least three major secrets.
Firstly, that Celeste and Valerie were hiding in the secret Grand Duchy of Otaka. Secondly, the route from Lahart to the Grand Duchy. Thirdly, that Minister Linke’s mission related to the Grand Duchess included the timing of departures and returns.
Who could have attacked the Grand Duchess with Minister Linke? The lack of contact strongly indicated that the culprit had likely bound and abducted the Grand Duchess and her entourage.
“Send word to the Duke of Toskur.”
“Pardon?”
“I’ll be watching.”
“Understood.”
Sensing this, Matthias bowed his head without asking further. There’s likely one individual seeking to harm the Albrecht Grand Duchy. While there could be more, they could be classified under one faction.
Franz. Or his mother, Marina. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that over half of the emergencies occurring in the imperial palace stem from these two. Furthermore, the power struggle that began over the imperial throne between Duke Albrecht and Duke Toskur made them each other’s greatest threat and only danger.
“Does this mean they’ve decided to touch the family?”
Every crisis that arises for him stems from Franz. Even now, only one person occupied Karl’s mind.
The image of Franz, with his blonde hair, blue eyes, and a wicked smile, flashed through Karl’s mind, prompting him to shake his head vigorously. That despicable bastard.
Karl’s sudden call to meet Franz was to verify his suspicions. Was he planning to kidnap Celeste and Valerie to blackmail him? The Franz he knew was certainly capable of such deeds.
A man so vile and petty, Franz had now crossed the line that shouldn’t be touched.
“He doesn’t realize that the more he does this, the stronger the resolve toward the throne becomes; foolish man.”
Watching Matthias rush out to relay a message to the Duke Toskur, Karl muttered to himself. Moments later, listening to Matthias’s report upon his return, Karl felt his certainty about Franz’s schemes grow, even without meeting him.
“The Duke Toskur cannot come out due to health issues.”
In other words, his condition was such that he wouldn’t step out of his room or meet anyone. As Matthias conveyed the knight’s reply from the Duke Toskur’s side, he couldn’t help but feel tense, as Duke Albrecht was listening with an unusually grim expression.
“Matthias.”
“Yes, Your Grace!”
“Lead the way.”
“Excuse me?”
“I need to see for myself what’s keeping him from stepping out of his room. Lead the way.”
“Yes, understood. Your Grace!”
Offering a stiff salute, Matthias turned around and began walking briskly. Each step was filled with tension. Even though he hadn’t done anything wrong, facing the cold demeanor of the Duke made his legs feel unsteady.
Upon hearing news of Duke Albrecht arriving without prior notice, the knights and attendants guarding Franz’s empty quarters were left flustered and unsure of what to do.
“I greet Your Grace, Duke Albrecht.”
“Step aside.”
Karl didn’t even look down at the knight who rushed out, kneeling in greeting.
“What?”
“Step aside.”
“Your Grace is unwell right now and difficult to meet guests…”
“So you’re saying you’ll obstruct me? Because your lord is unwell?”
Your Highness, Albrecht.”
“I don’t need another word. Move aside.”
Franz’s knight, now completely flat on the ground, began to ride into town. There were many unnecessary words, but in short, his message was this. Franz is really not feeling well, and you should come another time.
“Get out of my way, you insolent bastard!”
Matthias stepped forward, facing the knight, who fell at Karl’s feet and didn’t flinch.
“I’m sorry, sir, I can’t do that.”
“You don’t realize I could just push you out of the way and get in.”
“I apologize. Your Highness.”
Over and over again, the knight repeated the same words. I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I can’t help it, I’m guilty of death, but I can’t get in…….
“Matthias.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Take it away.”
“Yes!”
But I have no intention of backing down. At Karl’s uncharacteristically calm command, Matthias and his knights move in unison.
He grabs Franz’s knight who stands in his way and pulls him to his feet, and Franz’s knights, who have been watching from a distance, rush forward.
Archduke Albrecht’s knights and Archduke Toskur’s knights began to struggle. Pushing and pulling, the two factions clashed, and Karl, who had been watching the tense confrontation, reached for his waist without hesitation.
Bang!
A gunshot ripped through the air, and the knights froze in their tracks. Smoke billowed from the muzzles of the guns that had just spat out a round. Karl drew the revolver from his waistband and fired into the air.
A chilling silence descended on the roaring hall. Karl’s arm, outstretched toward the sky, slowly descended, his muzzle now pointing forward instead of up.
“From now on, I will not hesitate to put a bullet in anyone who stands in my way.”
It wasn’t just a threat. Karl actually meant to put a bullet in anyone who physically stood in his way.
“You’re willing to give your life to fulfill your master’s orders, and I’ll give you proof of that loyalty myself. Show your lord the bullet in your body and confess your loyalty.”
Franz’s knights were no longer deterred by the stern warning. The Archduke Albrecht’s resolute temper was well known, and he was never one for empty words. If he drew his gun this far, and issued a warning with a cold face, it would be carried out.
As Karl walked past the knights who merely stared at him in silence, he began to move forward. Step by step, the heels of his shoes struck the ground, making a sound that evoked the image of a dark angel moving to deliver death to someone.
“Open it.”
After taking a few more steps inward, a large door separating the hallway from the bedroom appeared before him. The two maids guarding the door, trembling and at a loss, stood still.
“I won’t say it twice.”
“Y-Yes, Your Grace…!”
It was a terrifying warning. The maids hurriedly opened the bedroom door. The sun, which had begun to rise during his approach, poured brilliant sunlight through the bedroom window. Karl’s eyes quickly scanned the room, and soon he spotted the bed obscured by several layers of curtains.
