The place where Aidel opened her eyes again was in pitch-black darkness.

‘Where on earth is this?’

It was an unknown space where not even a small light filtered in. When she moved her bound body, she immediately bumped into something cold and hard. It felt like she was trapped in a narrow box, unable to move an inch.

‘It’s stifling…’

Moreover, it seemed that her mouth had been stuffed with cloth to prevent her from making any sound. The foreign sensation filling her mouth and the suffocating feeling of being confined in a cramped space made her feel like she was about to choke.

In the darkness where she couldn’t see an inch in front of her, anxiety about the unrecognizable situation dominated her entire body. As a result, the sound of her pulsing heartbeat seemed to explode in her ears.

‘…Calm down.’

Aidel tried to calm her trembling body and mind. As she closed her eyes and steadied her breathing, her rapidly beating heart gradually settled down and found a regular rhythm.

Then, through her hearing and touch, she began to sense information about her surroundings bit by bit.

‘I can hear the sound of waves in the distance. And the floor is shaking.’

The memory of her recent honeymoon came to mind. It felt like when she first boarded a ship. It was the vibration felt from the waves consistently hitting the side of the ship.

‘This is inside a ship.’

As she realized this fact, Aidel’s closed eyelids trembled. Being on a ship meant she was leaving Maris and heading to Marquis Chalet’s territory.

‘Fortunately, it seems we haven’t departed yet.’

If the ship were moving, the interior would be shaking much more. Judging by the degree of vibration felt on the ship, it seemed to still be docked.

It was then. Footsteps and conversing voices were heard.

“Damn it! We should have left right before the port was closed! We were delayed trying to match other personnel because of that greedy marquis!”

“The security forces have been dispatched and are currently inspecting all ships in the port. They say they’re thoroughly searching even the interiors, claiming to look for contraband.”

It was the voices of Douglas and Dylan. Aidel focused her mind as much as possible to not miss their conversation.

“Even if the search begins, they’ll never find this place.”

Douglas stomped on the floor with his foot. At the same time, Aidel felt the space she was in vibrate along with it.

“They’ll never know that there’s another floor at the very bottom of the ship.”

Douglas asserted with a cunning smile. Though it looked like an ordinary merchant ship on the outside, it was specially designed. In normal ships, the engine room would be at the bottom.

However, this ship had a double floor design in the engine room, creating another bottom. It was for the purpose of hiding goods to be secretly traded. It was a secret space divided into compartments for efficient loading of cargo.

“Even if they search this engine room, they won’t be particularly suspicious. They can’t even imagine that the Grand Duchess is under the floor of this place.”

“Sir Douglas, you should hide yourself too. I hear they’re secretly inquiring about your whereabouts in the eastern region.”

“They’re probably investigating those who might have a grudge against the Grand Duke himself. It’s something I’ve prepared for. I’ve already erased my traces sufficiently so they won’t be able to find them.”

Douglas responded in a tone indicating no worry to Dylan’s concerned words.

“When the search of this ship begins, I’ll hide here too. You handle things well outside so nothing unusual happens.”

“Understood.”

Dylan, having received Douglas’s order, moved his steps and left the engine room. After Dylan left, the remaining Douglas once again stomped on the floor hiding Aidel.

“Your Highness, the Grand Duchess.”

Aidel flinched at Douglas’s words calling her.

“Stay hidden there quietly. It would be good to get used to the bottom of the ship, even if it’s suffocating.”

Along with a giggling laugh, Douglas continued.

“Soon you’ll be living a life just like that bottom, after all.”

“…!”

At Douglas’s words falling like a curse, Aidel opened her eyes wide. Through Douglas and Dylan’s conversation, Aidel became aware of the situation she was currently in. At the same time, her pupils began to shake endlessly.

According to Douglas, this place was the engine room at the very bottom of the ship. Since the engine room wasn’t used for loading cargo, it wouldn’t be searched as meticulously as the cargo hold.

Moreover, as Douglas had confidently said, they wouldn’t imagine that the engine room floor was made double. Even she herself hadn’t thought she would be trapped in a space with such a structure…

‘Will they be able to find this place…?’

She had done everything she could for her rescue so far. Now all that remained was to wait for the search to proceed based on the clues she had sent through Joy. As much as her heart grew anxious waiting eagerly.

‘Please… come find me.’

The only one person she was waiting for, Caeron’s face came to mind… Aidel tightly closed her shaking eyes as if trying to shake off her anxiety.

The security forces also arrived at the merchant ship hiding the Grand Duchess. Dylan greeted them on the deck.

“Welcome.”

Dylan, disguised as a merchant, put on a seemingly kind smile.

“I received the official notice about inspecting for contraband. The cargo hold is over there, so please feel free to look around as you wish.”

“Thank you for your cooperation.”

The security officers moved to the cargo hold. However, even after thoroughly searching through the items loaded in the cargo hold, there was nothing particularly suspicious. The boxes only contained grains such as wheat and barley.

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

A security officer who had finished inspecting the cargo hold came up and reported. It meant they hadn’t found anyone suspicious of being the Grand Duchess or Douglas.

‘Is this ship not it either?’

The security captain swallowed with a darkened face. They had been inspecting all ships docked at Maris port, but still couldn’t find either the Grand Duchess or the culprit.

“Is the inspection all finished?”

“That’s right.”

“Then, when will the port blockade be lifted? I need to deliver goods to the trading place, but we’re being delayed beyond the scheduled deadline. At this rate, I’ll have to pay a penalty fee.”

Dylan made a troubled expression, saying that the unexpected port blockade and ship inspection were causing disruptions to the trade deal. With a face that seemed to want to leave now if the inspection was over, he subtly urged the security captain.

Given the characteristics of Maris as a port city specialized in trade, most ships like this one were merchant vessels. Having already continuously heard complaints from merchants like Dylan, the security captain sighed as if frustrated.

“Once the contraband inspection is over, another official notice will be issued. Please wait.”

The security captain, with a tired face, asked a final question before leaving the ship.

“Where is this ship’s destination?”

“We’re going to Marquis Chalet’s territory.”

“…Marquis Chalet’s territory?”

It was a question thrown without much expectation, thinking this inspection would be fruitless too. However, upon hearing Marquis Chalet’s territory, the security captain’s face completely changed.

“Go and bring His Highness the Grand Duke here! Right now!”

“Yes! Understood!”

As the security captain shouted urgently, a security officer quickly left the ship to deliver the news.

“W-Why suddenly His Highness… the Grand Duke?”

Dylan asked the security captain as if bewildered by the sudden situation.

“To suddenly bring such an esteemed guest as His Highness the Grand Duke to such a humble ship… What on earth…”

Dylan scratched the back of his head with an innocent face as if he couldn’t understand this situation at all. However, cold sweat began to seep through Dylan’s forehead and back.

Though he tried hard to hide his fear, his legs seemed to tremble as soon as he heard that the Grand Duke was coming here. Dylan clenched his teeth and put strength into his legs standing on the deck.

“His Highness the Grand Duke is looking for a ship heading to Marquis Chalet’s territory.”

“His Highness the Grand Duke…?”

Dylan’s pupils shook finely.

It couldn’t be. There was no way the Grand Duke could have noticed the deal with Marquis Chalet. That was top secret information known only to Marquis Chalet, Douglas, and himself.

They hadn’t even told those who were captured where they would be sold beforehand. It was the most basic rule of the trade.

‘Could it be… that child?’

Dylan recalled the girl he had released yesterday. Releasing the child was the only thing he hadn’t handled according to Douglas’s orders.

– Listen carefully. When you go back to the orphanage, forget everything that happened here.

The child, whose mouth was gagged with cloth, nodded with a tear-stained face.

– If you ever report this, I’ll go straight to Maris Orphanage.

He had also made threats to prepare for any possible trouble. Even if she did report it, there was no way anyone would believe the words of a young child without any evidence.

As he released the child, Dylan added as if advising:

– From now on, don’t trust people easily.

There aren’t many good adults in this world, after all.

As he swallowed the last words, the earnest face of the Grand Duchess flashed through Dylan’s mind.

All of this was a whim that happened because of that woman.

Feeling as if this young child’s appearance was like his past self, wanting to give hope to such a child’s life, falling for the words that you too can become a good adult…

‘It’s all because of that woman.’

Dylan bit his inner lip hard as he finished reminiscing.

‘Did that child report the Grand Duchess’s kidnapping?’

‘How did the Grand Duke know the Grand Duchess was going to Marquis Chalet’s territory?’

‘Could it be he already knows the entire plan?’

Dylan’s head felt like it was about to explode with all sorts of doubts arising. However, soon, like someone who had been through thick and thin, Dylan tidied up his complicated expression.

‘Even if the Grand Duke comes here, there’s no way he can find the Grand Duchess.’

As long as the secret room hidden in the bottom of the ship wasn’t discovered… there was nothing that could be proven just by the fact that they were going to Marquis Chalet’s territory.

It was just a matter of handling things well himself, as Douglas had said. Moreover, even the security officers who had already searched the ship hadn’t found anything suspicious, so Dylan reassured himself that there was no need to worry.

“You’ve arrived, Your Highness the Grand Duke!”

Finally, the Grand Duke arrived. Dylan slowly turned his body at the sight of the security captain brightening up looking behind him.

A tall man coming up onto the deck came into view. Whether it was because of the afternoon sun shining down on the deck, or because of the man’s appearance shining brilliantly in that sunlight, Dylan couldn’t look at him properly and squinted.

However, as the man approached closer, Dylan’s pupils also opened and gradually grew larger. His legs, which he had been trying hard to keep standing, gave out and Dylan’s body swayed like a ship hit by waves.

‘Grand Duke Ellios…’

It wasn’t the first time seeing the Grand Duke’s face directly. Dylan, who had also watched Douglas’s trial, remembered the Grand Duke who had been in the courtroom that day.

That merciless appearance judging with an indifferent face as if detached from everything.

‘Is this really the same person…?’

That this man with the eyes of a ferocious beast was Grand Duke Ellios… It was simply unbelievable.

Dylan unknowingly wiped his neck with his damp palm. Receiving the Grand Duke’s gaze, he felt as if his nape would be bitten off at any moment.