The Cold-Hearted Grand Duke Obsesses Over Me After My Death - Chapter 6

Episode 6. The Woman on the Run

Emilia gazed at the man’s receding figure for a long time. Everything had happened so quickly that the hand he had kissed no longer felt like her own.

‘Should I really run away like this?’

When she had been looking for a hole in the wall, the desire to escape whenever the chance arose had burned strong within her. But now that the opportunity was here, her resolve had somewhat weakened. Though it was a surprisingly good chance, when it came time to act, an indistinct fear washed over her more than joy. Even after the man with red eyes disappeared completely into the building, she continued to hesitate over whether to flee or not.

‘Since I’ve come this far, maybe I should at least go and see what it’s like?’

Her body had been frozen in place, but she finally summoned her courage. It was possible the man had lied, and her original goal before he appeared had been to find an escape route, so she decided to go and check it for herself.

Resolved, Emilia pushed the recessed part of the wall and stepped outside. As she vanished beyond the wall, Louid, who had been secretly watching from inside the building, let the corner of his lips curl into a smile.

In truth, the worn-down indentation in the wall had been created by him as a child from frequent use. He had also rigged the corner of the wall so it could open like a door.

“Nanny, I’m going to the mountain to bring back a baby blue dragon.”

“Your Highness, there are no blue dragons in the palace. Monsters live far off in the north.”

“There are! I saw one.”

Avoiding his nanny’s protests, he had opened the hidden passage and climbed the mountain, bringing back orphaned chicks or eggs left alone in nests. Though the birds he saw weren’t blue dragons but some unknown blue birds, he sincerely cared for them as if they were.

When the birds died, he buried them in the backyard and mourned.

He must be like that because he lost his mother early.

Watching him, the nanny often shed tears in secret.

When he got older, he tied a horse at the foot of the mountain as a precaution against assassination attempts from the Berthe faction. Though there was a secret passage known only to direct royals that led out the back of the palace, he had prepared another escape in case he couldn’t use it.

‘Wait. She ran away because she didn’t want to marry me?’

As he turned toward the main palace, Louid stopped walking.

He was glad to be rid of Duke Berthe’s granddaughter, but still felt strangely irritated. It wasn’t even for another reason, just that she was running away to avoid him. His pride was slightly wounded.

Should I bring her back?

He considered dragging the woman back and exacting revenge for what he had suffered from Duke Berthe. But soon he shook his head. Marrying the duke’s granddaughter was worse than vengeance. Since she ran off on her own, there was no need to chase her. He resumed walking toward the main palace.

A moment later, Louid’s expression twisted again. Duke Berthe stood in front of the palace, looking anxious. Chamberlain Adam was with him.

“Shall we send out the soldiers to search, Your Grace?”

“No. There’s no need to cause a scene. We can’t worry His Majesty.”

“Yes, understood. She said she wanted to tour the palace, so she should return soon.”

“I suppose. Don’t worry, go see His Majesty.”

“Yes, understood. Ah! Your Highness, you’ve arrived.”

As he was about to enter the palace, Adam spotted Louid and bowed politely.

“Adam, what’s going on?” Louid asked calmly, pretending to know nothing.

“Lady Berthe said she was going to tour the palace, but she hasn’t returned.”

“The blonde lady? She went toward the front gate.”

“You saw her?” Adam asked in surprise.

“Mm.” Louid nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on the mountain behind the prince’s palace.

“My apologies, Your Highness.”

Duke Berthe, who had been standing stiffly, finally bowed his head.

“It’s fine. Go find her.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

“Wait!”

As Duke Berthe hurried to leave, Louid stopped him.

“…Yes?”

“If you haven’t eaten yet, why not join me? Let the guards search for the lady. She hasn’t gone far; they’ll find her soon.”

Louid casually suggested they dine together.

“…Shall I? Very well.”

Duke Berthe replied with a reluctant expression. Lunch with the emperor had been canceled, and he hadn’t eaten while waiting for Emilia. Though he was uncomfortable dining with Louid, whom he had long antagonized, it might be a good chance to ease tensions.

“Then let’s go to the dining room.”

“Ah, yes.”

Wearing a contrived smile, Louid entered the main palace. He had bought time, so by now, the young lady should be far away.

With long strides, Louid walked through the lobby toward the dining room. Even then, thoughts of Emilia lingered in his mind.

‘I hope she goes far, far away. She does know how to ride a horse, right?’

***

Opening the wall and stepping outside, Emilia walked in the direction the man had mentioned. There truly was a path through the forest, and as she continued walking, a small stable came into view. Three sturdy-looking horses were tied there.

‘How strange.’

There were no people guarding them, only horses. It was truly strange.

“Hello.”

She approached the horses and tried speaking to them, but contrary to her expectation, the horses did not react and remained quiet. It seemed only gentle horses had been brought here.

But there was a problem. She didn’t know how to ride a horse.

‘Could I make it on foot?’

Emilia looked up at the tall mountain. The forest was dense with towering trees, like a jungle from the books she had read.

‘If I hid in a forest like that, no one would ever find me.’

She could understand why a secret passage had been made in this direction. In any case, since she didn’t know how to ride a horse, she had no choice but to walk.

She continued along the forest path. Occasionally, the blue sky peeked through the tall trees stretching high above, but the forest felt eerie and frightening. She couldn’t tell how far the path went.

Strange birds chirped, wings fluttered noisily, and the cries of unknown wild animals echoed through the woods. Her hair stood on end, and her body shivered. Terrified, she came to a halt in the middle of the forest.

‘Not now. I’ll come back later.’

At least she had discovered a path like this, which was lucky. If she ever got another chance to visit the palace, she could escape anytime.

Right now, she had no possessions and nowhere to go. Winter hadn’t even ended yet. If she ran away, she could freeze or starve to death in the mountains.

It seemed wiser to save money, prepare thoroughly, and then wait for the right moment to flee. Deciding to delay her plan, Emilia turned back the way she had come.

***

Even on her way out, there wasn’t a single person in the small palace. She glanced around to see if the man was still there, but the backyard where they had met and the hallway inside the building were both empty.

‘How strange.’

Retracing her steps, she returned to the main palace. There, she saw Duke Berthe pacing nervously with his hands behind his back. From his agitated movements, it was clear he was very angry.

“Where have you been?”

As she approached, Duke Berthe pointed a finger and shouted. Though his body was thin, his voice was thunderously loud. The booming roar made her flinch involuntarily.

“I’m sorry. The palace is so large, I lost my way.”

“I was supposed to have lunch with His Majesty the Emperor, but you didn’t show up. Do you know how much trouble you caused me? His Majesty isn’t in good health and cannot wait long.”

There was no sign that he had been worried about her. He only seemed furious about missing lunch with the Emperor.

They were supposed to have lunch with His Majesty the Emperor?

Emilia’s face turned pale. Since it was her first time at the palace, she didn’t know the protocol, nor had she known about the lunch appointment. Thinking she had disappointed the Emperor who had greeted her so kindly, she felt all the more sorry.

“I apologize. I will never keep His Majesty waiting again.”

Emilia repeatedly bowed her head in apology.

“Come with me.”

Still glaring at her, Duke Berthe swiftly walked toward the carriage waiting in front of the main palace. Though he had dined with the Grand Duke instead of the Emperor and hadn’t truly lost anything, the fact that she had kept him waiting was enough to keep him angry.

With a pale face, Emilia followed behind him. A moment later, the carriage carrying the two of them departed for the main gate of the palace.

***

Watching the Duke cautiously, Emilia pulled back the curtain covering the carriage window and looked outside. The man was nowhere in sight.

Well, if he worked in the stables, he’d be nearby. Or he might have been the coachman driving the carriage.

‘Judging by how neat his clothes were, he’s probably one of the coachmen for His Majesty or the nobles.’

She kept a close watch in case a carriage passed by, but the only carriage crossing the grand garden of the palace belonged to the Duke.

‘I should’ve at least asked his name…’

Because she had met him so suddenly in a place where she thought no one else was, she had been too startled to even think of asking his name.

If she knew his name, she might be able to find out which carriage he worked on. It felt like a missed opportunity. Since he had shown her the secret passage, she thought she could repay him later, or if he ever needed a job, she could ask Simon to employ him at the duchy.

“Listen carefully. The wedding will be held in three weeks.”

“What? That soon?”

Emilia, who had been absentmindedly looking out the window, froze at the sudden statement. Her eyes turned to Duke Berthe in shock. Her face filled with despair.