Rothria territory.

It was a quiet location half a day’s drive from the capital, known as a small Kshatriya within the empire, with the majority of residents being Kshatriya immigrants. The literacy rate was high, and people tended to pay more attention to news from their own country rather than the empire’s political situation.

It was no wonder that Melly hadn’t been found there until now.

‘Was it intentional?’

To prevent me from finding her?

Of course it would be. Although Melly wasn’t such a meticulous person, it seemed there could be no other reason. For her to have drifted to such a remote place.

‘Well, she used her head quite well.’

Edric shook his head with a wry smile.

He didn’t feel bad about it.

‘Yes, if she was in such a place, she might not have heard the news of my accident.’

It seemed natural that she hadn’t come to see him, even though the news of his critical condition had made headlines in special editions.

What if it wasn’t Rothria territory, but the outskirts of the capital? Or somewhere else in the empire? What would he have thought then?

Edric pondered this question as he looked out the car window at the rapidly passing greenery.

The answer was all too simple.

He would have burst out laughing and tucked a pistol into his inner pocket.

He would have thought there were clearly only two reasons why she hadn’t come to see him despite hearing news of how miserably he was living.

Either her heart had completely left him. Or there was another man by her side.

‘Well done, Melly. You did well.’

Because your choice saved a life.

The car drove for another two hours before turning onto an unpaved road on the outskirts of the capital.

The road surface became rough, and dust began to rise in white clouds. As the blown dust entered through the open car window, the driver suggested with a concerned voice.

“Your Excellency, it might be better to close the window.”

“……”

But there was no response from Edric. He was leaning back against the seat with his eyes closed. At the sight of him seemingly asleep, the driver turned the steering wheel.

He intended to pull over to the side of the road and raise the window for his sleeping master.

“Leave it.”

But just as he was about to slow down, Edric opened his eyes.

“Don’t stop, keep going.”

He wanted to maintain the feeling of getting closer to Melly bit by bit. He didn’t want to lose even a moment of the sensation mixed with the blowing wind and the bad air that made him cough. He felt that if he diverted his attention elsewhere even for a moment, she might run away again.

“Ah, understood, Your Excellency.”

Startled by the cold edge in his master’s voice, the driver gripped the steering wheel tighter.

Edric closed his eyes again.

Neither the bumpy road surface that jolted every few seconds nor the loud cries of cicadas and grasshoppers could blur the feeling of getting closer to Melly.

‘Just wait a little longer, Melly. I’m coming to you.’

His consciousness was racing towards Melly, clear and sharp, without falling into sleep even for a moment.

A pleased smile formed on Edric’s lips.

The sounds of grasshoppers and rustling leaves gradually diminished, replaced by the noise of people and the crunching of gravel under carts.

It seemed they had finally arrived at Rothria territory.

Edric opened his eyes.

He saw modest houses and shops, with no clear distinction between sidewalks and roads.

Chickens, cows, and dogs were leisurely crossing the road, and bicycles carried two, sometimes even four people at once.

Small, bronze-skinned people in simple attire were walking around with energetic steps, and occasionally crude curses could be heard. It somewhat resembled the atmosphere of Milord Square where he had once searched for Melly long ago.

‘Her taste is quite consistent.’

Edric thought with a wry smile.

The car moved slowly, gliding along the road where horse-drawn carriages traveled. Meanwhile, the crude curses became more vivid, but they didn’t sound particularly dangerous or vulgar. They seemed more like everyday language.

Warm and familiar in itself.

This changed Edric’s perception as well.

Compared to those loud, rough accents mixed with curses, the polite words of high society somehow seemed hollow.

Melly must have left because she couldn’t stand that pretense. In a world as beautiful as flowers but devoid of affection, she must have craved warmth from him. Not realizing this, he must have scornfully shaken off her hand when she clung to his arm.

He must have coldly pushed away the woman who sought refuge in his embrace out of anxiety. Into the world she so despised.

“Your Excellency, we’ve arrived.”

At last, the long journey came to an end. The driver parked the car on the side of the road and said, rubbing his numb wrist.

Edric nodded. The driver quickly got out and opened the car door.

People began to gather around the high-end car with a glossy finish rarely seen in this area. As people looked on with curious eyes, wondering who might be riding in such a car, Edric stepped out.

They nodded in understanding, their faces full of admiration.

‘Yes. A man like that would certainly ride in such a car.’

Located in a remote area and rarely seeing special editions, these people didn’t realize that the famous powerful figure Duke Pelton and the man before their eyes were the same person.

But they instinctively bowed their heads to his extraordinary aura.

Edric passed through them and blended into the crowd.

Due to the immigrant nature of this place, most residents were small in stature and build. Mixed among them, Edric appeared like a giant.

People had to crane their necks to look up at him. And they were dazzled by his handsome features illuminated by the sun.

Edric moved with an indifferent attitude, as if uninterested in people’s admiration, while exuding a unique presence and scanning his surroundings.

He had expected it to be very underdeveloped being an immigrant territory, but surprisingly, it was neatly and charmingly managed.

Going a bit deeper, he came across even more colorful and lively streets.

Suddenly, it occurred to him that the reason Melly chose this place wasn’t to run away from him.

She must have just happened upon this place and fallen in love with it at first sight, deciding to settle down.

There were plenty of elements that made it appealing.

Edric took a deep breath.

He was certain.

Melly was not far away.

In the fine particles of air, Melly’s scent was faintly permeating. It wasn’t because of perfume. She didn’t wear any. And that was the only thing Edric never forced on her.

Melly had her own fresh body scent. Edric liked it. The headaches that throbbed from the perfume scents that the glamorous beauties of high society doused themselves in would naturally dissipate when he was with her.

Being with Melly was always comfortable and refreshing. Now he seemed to understand why…….

“……!”

Edric stopped in his tracks. Melly’s presence became stronger. She was right nearby.

He looked around. But Melly was nowhere to be seen.

It was because Melly was even smaller than the people here with their short stature and build.

Her mother had been under severe stress when pregnant with her. She had tried to miscarry the child in her womb out of revenge against her husband who constantly cheated. Edric had heard all this from his mother, who secretly rejoiced in the downfall of a former social rival.

Perhaps that was why. Melly’s physical growth rate had never once kept up with her age.

If it weren’t for the curves of her feminine body that began to show during puberty, she would have looked like a child forever.

Edric quickened his pace.

The square was packed with people like a can of sardines.

Edric wanted to trample over all of them. Or grab handfuls of them and throw away everyone who wasn’t Melly.

As he was moving forward bit by bit, barely exercising patience,

“Don’t push.”

“Who’s pushing?”

“You just pushed me.”

A momentary gap formed between the pedestrians who had stopped to bicker.

And through that gap, Edric saw.

The snow-white neckline visible below her chestnut-brown hair tied up in a bun. It was Melly’s neck that he had caressed and kissed. Her small, delicate body that had once been his was walking away with her back turned to him.

Edric took a step towards her, roughly pushing aside the people trying to block his view again. That’s when it happened.

“Sarah!”

A man approached her side, calling out an unfamiliar name.

Melly turned towards him.

“Leon.”

With a bright smile, she called the man’s name familiarly. Her face, beautifully shadowed by the slanting sunlight, looked comfortable and at ease.

“Why are you carrying something so heavy? Give it here.”

The man reached for the shopping basket in her hand. Melly tried to hide it behind her back, saying it was fine, but the man insisted.

Finally, she gave in with a shy smile on her face and let him take the basket.

At this moment, Edric regretted.

Not bringing a pistol. If he had it, he would have pulled it out and shot that bastard right now. But the next moment, he realized that even if he had a pistol, he wouldn’t have been able to shoot that man.

The man no longer occupied even a fraction of Edric’s consciousness.

Because Melly’s belly, exposed under the intense summer sun, was roundly swollen.

Melly was pregnant.

It couldn’t be his child. Absolutely… there was no way it could be. Of course not. It had been three years since she left him.

People once again blocked Edric’s view. Melly was no longer visible. He raised his hand. But not to throw aside the people blocking his sight.

Edric clutched his left chest.

He wondered if his heart was still intact and attached in its place…….