The police officers moved toward the cargo hold. But after thoroughly searching the goods stored there, they found nothing unusual. The boxes only contained grains like wheat and barley.

“Captain, we didn’t find what we were looking for.”

The officer who had inspected the cargo hold came up to report. The message was that they had not found any suspicious individuals that could be the duchess or Douglas.

‘Is this ship not the one?’

The police captain swallowed his frustration. Although all ships docked at the Maris port were being inspected, neither the duchess nor any criminals had been found.

“Is the inspection complete?”

“Yes.”

“Well, when will the port blockade be lifted? I have goods to deliver, and we’re getting delayed past the scheduled time. This might lead to penalties.”

Dylan made a distressed face, suggesting that the unexpected port blockade and ship inspection had interfered with his trading plans. He subtly hurried the police captain as if he wanted to leave as soon as possible.

Given that Maris was a port city specialized in trade, most ships like this one were trading vessels. The police captain sighed, having already heard numerous complaints from merchants like Dylan.

“An official document will be issued again when the search for contraband goods is over. Wait.”

Before leaving the ship, the wornout police captain asked one last question.

“What is this ship’s destination?”

“We’re going to the Duchy of Shale.”

“……The Duchy of Shale?”

The captain had asked the question without much expectation, thinking this search would also be futile. But upon hearing “the Duchy of Shale,” his face completely changed.

“Bring the duke immediately! Right now!”

“Yes! Understood!”

As the police captain shouted in a hurried voice, one officer quickly left the ship to deliver the message.

“Whwhy the duke all of a sudden?”

Dylan asked, seemingly bewildered by the sudden situation.

“Bringing such a distinguished guest like the duke onto such a rundown ship… What the…”

Dylan scratched the back of his head with an innocent expression, but sweat started forming on his forehead and back.

He tried hard to hide his fear, but his legs seemed to tremble at the news of the duke’s arrival. Dylan clenched his teeth and tightened his legs standing on the deck.

“The duke is looking for a ship heading to the Duchy of Shale.”

“The duke is……?”

Dylan’s pupils quivered.

Impossible. The duke couldn’t have found out about the trade with the Duke of Shale. It was a topsecret matter known only to the Duke of Shale, Douglas, and himself.

He hadn’t even told the captives where they were being sold. It was a basic principle of the trade.

‘Could it be… that kid?’
Dylan thought of the girl he had let go yesterday. It was the only thing she hadn’t dealt with according to Douglas’s orders.

The child, whose mouth was sealed with a gag, nodded her tearsoaked face.

He had also threatened her in preparation for any contingencies that might occur. Even if she reported it, no one would believe a young child without any evidence.

As he let the child go, Dylan added as if advising.

Because there aren’t many good adults in the world.

As he swallowed his words, an earnest face of the young Duke floated into Dylan’s mind.

All of this had happened due to the whims of that woman.

The reason he felt this child was like his past self, the desire to give such a child a thing called hope, falling for the words that you too could become a good adult…

‘All because of that woman.’

Finishing his reminiscence, Dylan bit his inner lip hard.

‘Did that child report the Duke’s kidnapping?’

‘How did the Duke know that the young Duke was going to the Duchy of Chalé?’

‘Could he already know all the plans?’

Dylan’s head felt like it was about to burst with rising doubts. But soon, as someone who had been through thick and thin, Dylan concealed his complex expression.

‘Even if the Duke comes here, he won’t be able to find the young Duke.’

As long as the hidden secret chamber in the bow isn’t discovered… Simply going to the Duchy of Chalé didn’t prove anything.

As long as he handled himself well, just like Douglas said, there was nothing to worry about. Moreover, security officers who had already searched the ship hadn’t found anything odd, Dylan reassured himself.

“Your Grace has arrived!”

Finally, the Duke arrived. Seeing the security captain smiling behind his back, Dylan slowly turned his body.

A tall man climbing up to the deck came into view. Whether it was due to the afternoon sun shining on the deck, or because of the man who shone brilliantly under that sunlight, Dylan couldn’t look at him directly and squinted.
However, as the man approached, Dylan’s pupils also widened, gradually growing larger. The strength drained from his legs, which had been straining to keep him upright, and his body wobbled like a ship hit by a wave.

‘Elyos Duke…’

This wasn’t the first time he had seen the Duke’s face up close. Dylan, who had watched Douglas’s trial, also remembered the Duke who had been present in the courtroom that day.

The one who had rendered judgments with an impassive face, seemingly indifferent to everything.

‘Is it the same person…?’

It was unbelievable that this man, with the eyes of a ferocious beast, was the Duke of Elyos.

Unconsciously, Dylan grazed his neck with his clammy palm. The moment he met the Duke’s gaze, he felt as if his neck would be torn apart at any second.