9

The death of the Empress was inevitable. I already knew it would happen—after all, I'd read about it in the novel. But no amount of foresight could dull the pain of losing someone dear. Her passing sent ripples of grief across the empire, and the entire country mourned the loss of its beloved mother.

The Emperor arranged a beautiful burial ceremony fitting for the late Empress. Though my time with Adelaide had been brief, the moments we shared felt timeless. She had listened to my ramblings with patience and without judgment. If I could turn back time, I would have befriended her long before she became Empress. Instead of wasting my days obsessing over trivial matters, I should have created more memories with her—cherished ones.

It's been three days since the ceremony, and I haven't left my room. The maids are clearly worried. They keep coming by, knocking and calling for me, but I haven't mustered the will to respond. All I've done is curl up in bed, letting my thoughts swirl endlessly. Day turned to night, and the hours blurred together.

Now it's 10 o'clock in the evening. After spending the entire day sleeping, drowsiness refuses to find me. Restless, I decided to take a walk outside. Grabbing a shawl to guard against the chill of the night air, I slipped out of my room quietly, careful not to disturb anyone.

I wandered to the garden, its serenity soothing against the weight of my thoughts. The stillness of the night enveloped me as I looked up at the sky.

The stars shone like scattered diamonds across an endless expanse, and without thinking, I started counting them like some lovesick fool trying to distract herself. "One, two... three..."Adelaide would have teased me for this.

The thought brought a bittersweet smile to my lips.

Meanwhile, Duke Henrick, seated in his study and finishing up a pile of work, glanced out the window. His eyes fell on Veronica, her figure bathed in the soft glow of moonlight as she wandered the garden. It was the first time he had seen her step outside since the passing of the Empress.

He leaned back in his chair, his gaze lingering on her. In his hands were reports detailing the flood incident that struck the Audovera territory a year ago—the same disaster that led to her contract with the East Granary. Yet, as he reviewed the documents, he realized there was something Veronica hadn't shared during their recent discussion.

Her actions during that calamity spoke volumes. When the flood destroyed the homes of countless families, she opened the mansion doors to all who had nowhere to go, offering food and shelter until they could rebuild. The reports also highlighted another detail he hadn't known—how she had ensured that every maid and servant received a generous winter bonus during that time, despite the strain on resources.

Veronica hadn't hosted any extravagant parties or indulged herself with luxuries. Instead, she redirected every coin to those who needed it most. Her selflessness and commitment to the people of Audovera were admirable, especially considering how different she seemed from the woman she had been three years ago.

Henrick placed the papers on his desk, his thoughts weighing heavily on him.

"This isn't the same woman I married," he murmured to himself. There was no disdain in his voice—only a quiet respect and, perhaps, the faintest hint of something deeper.

For the first time in years, the Duke allowed himself to see Veronica not as the Duchess, but as a person—one who had grown and transformed in ways he hadn't expected.

"Achoo!" I sneezed again, the cool night air clearly overstaying its welcome. What was I even doing out here for so long? I should head back inside. As I trudged toward the mansion, it hit me like a brick. "OMG! Adelaide's request!" I smacked my forehead in realization. She made me promise to look after Alicia. What if she haunts me for forgetting?

The next morning, I made my way to the palace, much to Lucy's surprise. "You're back to yourself, Duchess," she remarked, her face lighting up with relief. It was true—I couldn't accomplish anything by wallowing in misery.

I spent the day with Princess Alicia, talking and playing with her. Being around the young princess lifted my spirits. However, it also gave me an earful of the palace gossip, which boiled my blood.

Apparently, several noble families were already holding meetings, each proposing their daughters as candidates for the next Empress. It was outrageous—Adelaide hadn't even been gone for a year! The blatant opportunism was sickening. "If the Emperor dares to take another wife this soon," I muttered under my breath, "I'll shave his head myself."

To distract myself from the swirling anger and sadness, I threw myself into work. Meetings with Marquis Staffon, inspections around the Audovera territory, addressing urgent issues—it kept me busy. This routine went on for a week, leaving little time for anything else.

One afternoon, after a tiring discussion with the farmers, I decided to take a break and stroll around the mansion. While wandering, I noticed three maids huddled together, deep in conversation. Recognizing them as part of Lucy's team, I silently approached, curiosity piqued by their serious expressions.

"It seems like tonight is the night," one of them whispered.

"I know. We must prepare the Duchess," the other replied, her tone urgent.

I raised an eyebrow. Tonight? What's happening tonight? And why do I have no clue about it?I was just about to step forward and ask the maids directly when one of them said something that froze me in place.

"It will be the first night where the Duke and the Duchess will share a bed, so let's make everything perfect," she announced, a hint of excitement in her voice.

I immediately ducked back behind the pillar, my heart racing. What?! Share a bed? What are they even talking about? Panic surged through me. Wait, is this... is this what they mean by marital duty?

Nope. Nope. Nope.

This was definitely my cue to flee. Without wasting another second, I made my way back to my room. Grabbing some money and the trusty robe I used whenever sneaking out of the estate, I took a deep breath. My escape plan was forming.

Before stepping out, I peeked into the hallway, checking for any signs of life. Thankfully, this part of the house was always eerily quiet.

What followed was a chaotic mix of sneaky tactics—walk-run-hide-repeat. I moved through the hallways like a thief in my own home, carefully avoiding every maid and servant. When I reached the kitchen, I breathed a sigh of relief. It was bustling with activity as usual, but no one paid me any attention. To them, I was practically invisible.

And then, a stroke of genius—or desperation—hit me. There was a delivery wagon outside, unloading supplies for the estate. Seeing it as my golden ticket, I quietly climbed into the back and hid among the crates.

Perfect, I thought smugly. This is the best way to escape without anyone noticing. Haha!With my makeshift plan in motion, I hunkered down and prayed I wouldn't get caught.

A couple of hours later...

I could feel it—we were far enough from Audovera territory. With a cautious glance around, I carefully climbed down from the wagon. Thank you for your service, Mr. Deliveryman, I thought with a satisfied smirk as I adjusted my robe.

To blend in more, I removed all my jewelry and tucked them safely in my pockets. Thankfully, I'd chosen a plain dress today—nothing that screamed "noble" or "runaway Duchess."

Looking around, I quickly realized where I was. Ruiledo City. Of all places, I ended up in the so-called City of Nobles. It was a hub where the aristocracy gathered, making it both convenient and dangerous for someone like me. Wrapping the robe tighter around me, I pulled the hood over my head. Safety precautions first—I couldn't risk being recognized.

What made this city so unique was the famous White Tundra Express Train. It was one of the few railways in the empire, and riding it was significantly faster than traveling by carriage.

Without wasting time, I made my way to the ticket booth. Yes, I was paranoid. To cover my tracks, I bought tickets for every single destination the train had. If someone tried to follow me, they'd have no idea where I got off. Genius, right?

Of course, I stuck to economy-class tickets. I didn't want to drain my emergency stash. With tickets in hand, I grabbed some food before boarding the train. It was going to be a long ride, and I needed all the energy I could get.

Inside the economy class, seating was on a first-come, first-served basis. Naturally, I picked the seat furthest in the back—out of sight, out of mind. As soon as I sat down, the train began to move, a smooth and steady rhythm lulling the anxious thoughts in my mind.

I let out a heavy sigh, slumping into the seat. Geez! Why do I feel like some kind of fugitive?

"Excuse me, is this seat taken?"

The soft voice startled me. A woman had approached, her face partially obscured by the hood of her robe. Just like me, she seemed intent on staying inconspicuous. But then my eyes widened.I knew who she was.

What is she doing here?!

---

MEANWHILE AT THE AUDOVERA ESTATE

The maids were in complete disarray. It had been hours, and not even a shadow of the Duchess could be found. Panic was written all over their faces as they scurried through every corner of the estate. Every room, every corridor, every possible hiding spot had been thoroughly searched, yet there was no sign of Veronica.

Now that they were certain she was gone, dread seeped into their very bones. Someone had to break the news to the Duke—a task none of them wanted to take.

In his office, Duke Henrick was engrossed in his usual stack of documents when the hesitant knock of butler David broke his focus.

"Your Grace," David began, visibly trembling as sweat formed on his brow, "the Duchess... she is nowhere to be found."

The Duke's hand froze mid-motion, the pen in his grip pressing heavily against the paper, nearly tearing it. Though his face remained calm, the atmosphere around him darkened almost instantly. An ominous aura suffused the room, suffocating and cold.

"Summon everyone to the hall," he ordered, his tone icy and devoid of emotion.

David gulped audibly and quickly bowed. "Y-yes, Your Grace!"

The tension in the estate reached a boiling point as every staff member assembled in the grand hall within minutes. Fear was etched into their faces, knowing full well the wrath that awaited them. The Duke's steps echoed menacingly as he descended the staircase, his piercing gaze sweeping over the cowering servants.

"Find her," he commanded, his voice like a blade slicing through the heavy silence. "Search every corner of this empire if you must. But bring the Duchess back to me."

No one dared to hesitate. The staff scattered like leaves in a storm, driven by both fear and determination.

The Duke's jaw tightened as he turned toward the windows, gazing out into the dark horizon.  Veronica, wherever you've run off to... I'll find you.