“Even back then, you were very sensitive about the bride price, but this time, you gave that bride price to Archduke Vasquez. It’s understandable that Lady Cordelia would be angry.”

“Is that so offensive to one’s pride? Why consider it as her price? It’s just the cost of disposing of trash, getting rid of the Archduke Vasquez who’s been hanging around.”

“It’s natural that you don’t understand. Such a life is incomprehensible unless you’ve experienced it.”

The Baron thought it was only natural that Leonard couldn’t empathize with Cordelia’s situation and feelings. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the two lived in different worlds under the same sky.

Unfortunately, these words of life wisdom didn’t reach Leonard’s ears.

“How impudent. After all the care and consideration I’ve shown her.”

“Consideration is only such when the recipient feels it as such. When it’s one-sided, it’s merely self-satisfaction.”

“Those who wish to have me as their master are more numerous than the stars in the sky! I took her in when she didn’t even know the basics of magic. She should be grateful. How dare she.”

“Honestly, someone of Lady Cordelia’s caliber would have suitors lining up to take her as a disciple. Lord Rosenblur, for instance.”

He never let a single word pass. Leonard turned his head sharply to glare at the Baron.

“Whose side are you on?”

“Goodness. Surely you’re not angry that I’ve taken the side of the pitiful Lady Cordelia instead of my master, the head of the Atilei family and the Seirius of Acheron?”

The Baron pretended to be surprised with an exaggerated expression. Leonard’s lips trembled with how annoying it was.

“…You’re rather talkative today?”

“My apologies. I tend to speak the truth even with a knife at my throat.”

The Baron had a talent for saying irritating things with a gentle smile.

“If you’re so worried, why don’t you visit the Abrams?”

“Why should I go there?”

“Well, I suppose there’s no need for you to go personally. With Beluce by her side, we can track Lady Cordelia’s destination even if she tries to run away.”

The Baron spoke as if it were natural for her to run away from Leonard.

Leonard angrily chased the Baron out of the room.

However, even hours later, he couldn’t focus on his work. He took out the note he had kept in his pocket and read it again.

The day after their big fight, Leonard was angry but had intended to let it slide. But that ungrateful disciple left for the Abrams without even saying goodbye to her master.

Though it was a scheduled trip, an uneasy feeling lingered. Her last words kept echoing in his mind.

‘I think it would be better if I weren’t your disciple, Master.’

How dare she decide that on her own?

Leonard immediately rebutted the Cordelia in his imagination.

The bond between master and disciple is stronger than anything else. Far stronger than blood ties or marriage between man and woman. So this relationship couldn’t end with just a single word from Cordelia.

‘Just wait until you come back. This time, I’ll make you clearly understand what a great favor it is to have me as your master. Running away? How dare she even think of running…’

Wait, come to think of it, when we first met, didn’t she say something about learning a few auxiliary spells and becoming a magic appraiser or something after getting divorced?

Surely she doesn’t still harbor that damned dream?

The anxiety that had been building up easily ignited at the tiniest spark. Once his thoughts started flowing in that direction, his imagination grew uncontrollably.

Fortunately, his anxious imaginings were cut short by a servant announcing the arrival of a guest.

“Archduke Elfenbaum has arrived, sir.”

“Show him in.”

“Yes, sir.”

The servant hurriedly left the room, probably afraid of incurring the wrath of his irritable and sensitive master.

It wasn’t long before Rosenblur arrived. Unlike usual, his face looked haggard.

“Thank you for making time, Leo.”

“Judging by your grim face, I take it you still haven’t found her.”

“…Hah. It’s been ten days since Lydia disappeared. If it were a kidnapping, they should have sent their demands by now. The lack of news makes me even more anxious. Is Lydia even alive…?”

It had been over ten days since Lydia Elfenbaum vanished. It happened in the middle of the night, inside the Elfenbaum townhouse.

At first, they naturally assumed she had been kidnapped. It was the most reasonable assumption, given that Lydia had been perfectly fine, attending parties and tea gatherings until the night before she suddenly disappeared.

But as time passed, there was no contact from any kidnappers. Moreover, Lydia’s room was suspiciously clean, with no signs of struggle.

If it wasn’t a kidnapping for ransom, there were two main possibilities. Either Lydia left of her own accord, or the purpose of taking her was murder, and she was already dead.

Neither option was easy for Rosenblur to accept.

“Don’t say such things. Lydia must be alive.”

“Yes, you’re right, Leo. She must be alive. Surely.”

Rosenblur muttered those words several times, as if trying to convince himself.

“Any clues? Have you found anything?”

“So far, all we have is a red ribbon found on the window frame. We’ve confirmed it belonged to Lydia.”

“Hmm.”

“And I recently learned that Lydia took two holy relics that were stored within the Elfenbaum estate.”

“Holy relics? Does she have any use for those?”

Holy relics are objects created by concentrating refined magical power over a very long period, with a purity hundreds of times higher than ordinary magic stones. They are so powerful that Leonard was able to defeat Maximilian with their help when he couldn’t use his full abilities.

However, they would be useless to Lydia, who is practically a normal person.

“I thought the same. But we’ve searched her room and the entire mansion several times, and we couldn’t find the holy relics she supposedly took.”

“Are you saying… Lydia left on her own, taking the holy relics with her?”

“That’s the most hopeful assumption I can make.”

Of course, that assumption requires a rational reason. Why would Lydia leave the Elfenbaum without a word?

If only he knew the reason, he wouldn’t be so tormented.

Rosenblur bowed his head deeply. The siblings had been unusually close, so the shock was that much greater.

“Oh, and thank you, Leo. Thanks to the people you lent me, we should be able to widen our search area.”

“I’m looking for my own sibling too, so what difference does it make to search for one more person?”

“Speaking of which, you still haven’t found Maximilian. He’s really something. How did he manage to hide so perfectly when he can’t even use magic?”

“He must have found a capable helper.”

Although quite some time had passed since Maximilian’s escape, Leonard showed no signs of impatience.

He had already rooted out Maximilian’s forces in the Atilei territory. Maximilian’s magical power was also completely depleted, leaving him no different from an ordinary person.

If anything, Leonard found this hunting time quite enjoyable. Isn’t the true pleasure of hunting in cornering the prey and slowly finishing it off?

“I’m planning to leave Evodel Rim today. If I happen to find any trace of Maximilian during the search, I’ll let you know.”

“You’re leaving Evodel Rim? Why?”

“I feel like I’ll go crazy if I just sit around.”

Rosenblur said in a low voice. He had firmly believed he would find Lydia in a day or two, but as time passed, his anxiety grew. Eventually, he wasn’t even sure if his sister was still alive.

Last night, when he had a nightmare of Lydia collapsed and bleeding, he decided to go out and search for his sister himself.

“By the way, did you say Cordelia has already left for the Abrams?”

“Yes.”

“When will she return? I have a few things I’d like to ask her.”

“…I don’t know. She’ll come back when things are settled, I suppose.”

Leonard replied with a slightly deflated voice. He had assumed she would naturally return, but the word ‘escape’ he had heard earlier was now stuck in his head.

“Didn’t you say the Abrams territory is in the northeast?”

“Why do you ask?”

“I might run into her by chance while searching for Lydia.”

“What business would you have in that rural backwater?”

Leonard snorted. Rosenblur, having finished what he wanted to say, rose from his seat.

“I just dropped by briefly before leaving, so I’ll be going now. See you next time.”

“Sure. The three of us, with Lydia.”

Instead of answering, Rosenblur gave a faint smile as he left the Atilei mansion.

* * *

In Ershe, when someone dies, fresh flowers are prepared to decorate the coffin containing the body and the house. As these flowers wither, they are removed one by one in remembrance of the deceased.

Craig’s funeral was no exception, and after his coffin arrived, the entire castle was decorated with fresh flowers. A strong floral scent, enough to make one dizzy, filled the castle.

Cordelia was quite busy overseeing Craig’s funeral. There were quite a few things to handle, which allowed her to momentarily forget about Leonard.

“This is Andel Rutravin. He’s the second son of Viscount Rutravin, and someone I particularly wanted to introduce you to.”

“Ah, I see.”

From Baron Lancaster’s words, Cordelia realized that this was the candidate for Count that the Baron was backing.

Andel greeted Cordelia politely.

“Please accept my condolences on the passing of Count Abrams. I am Andel Rutravin.”

He spent twenty minutes explaining that if she expressed support for him, he would ensure she was well taken care of when she left the castle.

“I have a small villa in Rande. You should be able to rest comfortably there. And I’ll provide fifty thousand linkits annually for ten years.”

“That’s quite generous.”

Whether by coincidence or not, the amount he proposed was exactly the same as the price she had been sold for when she came here.

Cordelia found it both amusing and bitter.