Jared, exhausted after his battle with Drew.
His mind as weary as his body, Jared exchanged a few words with Laurentz and Lars before heading back to his mansion.
Waiting for him was Olivier, looking pale.
She stood in front of the mansion and, upon spotting Jared, rushed towards him in a panic.
“What’s wrong? Why are you in such a hurry?”
“Listen, calm down. Something terrible has happened.”
“Calm down, Olivier. What happened?”
Placing a hand on Olivier’s trembling shoulder, Jared tried to soothe her. She took a deep breath before speaking again.
“Yeny, your cousin, Yeny Daum, has been kidnapped.”
“—No, wait a moment, is that true?”
“Do you think I’d tell such a tasteless lie? Baron Daum is already investigating with Father’s help.”
“This can’t be happening.”
Jared didn’t want to believe Olivier. But he couldn’t deny the desperate look on her face meant she wasn’t lying. More importantly, she had no reason to lie about something like this.
He never imagined that upon returning from the Academy, he’d learn Yeny had been taken. Jared felt a tremor of anxiety run through his body.
“Who? And why Yeny?”
“I don’t know. But… it might be our fault.”
Olivier’s words struck Jared.
Of course. If Waalthe wanted me, they had many ways to get to me. Unlike Pfiel, they didn’t need to fight me one-on-one; taking a hostage would leave me helpless. It was a despicable but effective tactic, and Jared’s face fell.
He hadn’t truly believed Pfiel’s warning that Waalthe would strike in a few days. He’d considered it a possibility, even predicted they might act today. But he’d never imagined Yeny would be taken hostage.
Yeny had her grandfather, a skilled swordsman, and many others living with her. He’d thought she was safer than with any hired guard. But it seemed that wasn’t the case. No, he had to admit Waalthe was one step ahead.
“Why Yeny?”
“This is difficult to say, but she was apparently on her way to meet you and me. I received a letter from her saying she was coming, so I realized she was late… but I never thought something like this would happen…”
This situation was undoubtedly unexpected for Olivier as well as Jared.
Waalthe’s targets were supposed to be Hannelore and Olivier, and only the four of them—Jared and Trane—protecting them. He’d believed that.
But, on second thought, he should have anticipated collateral damage.
Knowing that Olivier had never chosen a fiancé before to avoid involving others, Jared had let his guard down around his own circle.
He’d foolishly thought she was safe with her grandfather.
“I’m sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing, Olivier?”
“Because it’s not your fault. I’ve always kept people at a distance to prevent them from getting involved, like Yeny. But after I met you and found someone to protect me, I became complacent, and this is what happened! Even if I were hated or resented, I should have kept Yeny away!”
“That’s not true!”
Jared denied it as Olivier tearfully blamed herself.
“It’s my fault. I foolishly waited to be attacked, thinking it was fine if I was the one in danger, and ended up involving Yeny. Waalthe must have investigated me. They knew I doted on my cousin Yeny, and that our grandfathers were trying to marry us off, and that’s why they took her. It’s not your fault, Olivier.”
“But if you had married her as Baron Daum intended, and not gotten involved with me, neither you nor Yeny would be in this situation. Isn’t that right?”
Olivier was right. It was precisely because Jared had decided to protect Olivier that Yeny was kidnapped.
Jared, aware of his cousin’s feelings and not wanting to hurt her, hadn’t rejected Yeny. When she had declared she wanted to become a consort, he could not have foreseen such a situation, and his foresight had been tragically lacking.
He felt he should have rejected her clearly, even if it hurt Yeny.
But it was too late for that now.
No matter how much Olivier blamed herself, or how much Jared blamed himself, the situation wouldn’t improve. They could blame themselves forever, but reality was different. The situation was undoubtedly changing even now.
“The ones most to blame are Waalthe, who targeted Olivier and Hannelore, and whoever among the consorts orchestrated this. And Waalthe, who will stop at nothing to kill me. We can regret this later. I’m going to find Yeny.”
“…Yes, you’re right. Blaming ourselves won’t bring Yeny back. It’ll only make us feel a little better. I understand. What can I do?”
Olivier shifted her mindset and resolved to act. Her determination was swift. Seeing her, Jared was encouraged.
“Please let me know the situation with my grandfathers searching for Yeny. But what I want most from you is—to protect yourself.”
What Jared feared was an attack on Olivier and the others while he was away looking for Yeny.
“As a result of my actions to find Yeny, the people guarding this mansion will decrease. Please ask Duke Alway for guards. And stay with Hannelore, don’t leave Trane’s side. Alright?”
“…Understood. I’m sorry. We’re becoming a burden, aren’t we?”
“There’s no need to apologize.”
“…Thank you. What about you?”
“I’m not looking for Yeny. I’m looking for Pfiel. He should know places where other Waalthe members might be hiding.”
“But do you know where Pfiel is, Jared? Looking for someone who might be anywhere isn’t efficient, just like searching for Yeny. We need to think of a better plan—”
Both Yeny and Pfiel were missing, and Jared knew finding them would be difficult due to Waalthe’s involvement.
But he couldn’t just do nothing. If his grandfathers were searching for Yeny, Jared thought he could increase their chances by searching for Pfiel.
“Let’s go back to the mansion for now. Once we confirm our safety, I’ll go look for Pfiel.”
As he ushered Olivier back into the mansion,
“There’s no need for you to look for me.”
With those words, a boy dropped from above.
“You—!”
“—Pfiel.”
Pfiel, a blue-haired boy belonging to Waalthe, appeared before Jared and the others.
