# 76
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‘So, when he came to the stage back then, it was really…’
It wasn't just a childish response to his friend's sister's plea, it had a deeper meaning.
She had loved him for a long time, and was waiting for news of his survival. So, she was supposed to be happy, albeit late, but she felt even sadder.
'Even if others didn't give me a chance to justify myf, if you loved me even a little, you would…'
You would have listened to me at least once.
In the first year of their marriage, she tried to overcome her shy nature to speak up.
She had to muster her courage as if she were carving her own flesh with a shovel.
'There was no need to accuse our child of being illegitimate...'
If you really love me even a little.
Even for one day, he could have given her the confidence to talk about the terrifying things she had been through.
“You are dirty”
These words were not the only ones, but there were many other words that cut into the corner of her heart.
If there was an ounce of love, weren't the words he said to her too harsh…?
In the darkness, she saw drops of tears falling to the ground.
'So, I can't go back.'
Everything that has accumulated so far cannot be undone.
The only luck she had was to return to a moment when she could have her baby again.
'...Let's go.'
Ariana wiped away her tears forcefully and turned around.
She had studied the geography of the area well through hotel business documents. Port Elysia was the largest, but it had occurred there before.
‘If I go south from here, I will arrive at Miller Harbor Station first.’
The area was smaller but prosperous, so it wouldn't be difficult to hide itf for a short time. If she could rent a cart, she wouldn't have to walk so much.
And anyway, who would think it was the Duchess with such a shabby appearance?
Ariana laughed softly and started walking quickly towards the south.
* * *
The Port Elisia area has become like an upside down beehive due to the unprecedented incident.
Not only did the missing maids suddenly appear asking for help, but news spread that a respected lady from a noble family was imprisoning them.
But the police were secretive, and no one could question the Duke's convoy who was present at the scene.
Even those close to the Duke were puzzled by this situation.
In the capital, the number of people aware of the Emperor's intentions was increasing, and communications demanding the Duke's opinion were pouring in.
And the Duchess disappears again...
Kenneth was scanning outside with sharp eyes, unlike someone who had been up all night.
After emergency treatment for his wounds, he wandered until dawn searching for the missing woman, and now he has arrived at Miller Harbor, where he has mobilized police.
Dr. Bialy and Roger, who were following him, were the ones who looked exhausted.
“Sir, please, rest-”
“Don't say anything silly, Doctor.”
Kenneth scolded Dr. Bialy sharply. His right arm from shoulder to elbow was wrapped in bandages under his shirt.
Despite Andrew's resistance, a deep glass stab to his shoulder wasn't enough to kill him. Dr. Bialy warned that the tendons might be damaged, but he ignored this.
'That insect that cannot be cured except by tearing it apart.'
Because of that bastard, Ariana was lost. Because of the interference of that insect.
The bastard was still screaming in the hotel basement, but Kenneth was determined to make him wish he died instead today.
But Ariana was the priority. He couldn't understand how she had disappeared from his hands so easily.
'Even with the hounds mobilized by the police…'
It looked like it had rolled into the coastal forest, but had it walked through the water? They couldn't trace her scent.
I learned that a blonde woman had taken a carriage, but he narrowly missed it due to his injury.
'Where did you go in this situation?'
Kenneth remembered Ariana's last condition as if he were seeing her in a dark nightmare.
Ariana, holding her hair, writhes on the floor.
He couldn't imagine that she was the same woman he thought was living happily under the prince's care.
During the two years he hid, he hated her, thinking she was happy...
[You would never listen to me]
Before he locked Ariana in the room, her crying scream kept ringing in his ears like an auditory illusion.
'No.'
This time, if I find it, I will listen carefully. I'll check on her injuries from last night, treat them, and then sit her down somewhere comfortable.
It's not too late. It's not quite late.
And I will not fail to find you here, thought Kenneth as he quietly and devotedly sank into the search.
“Sir, there is a report!”
Roger, who had received urgent news from the area police, ran.
“An item believed to belong to the lady was found in the port!”
* * *
In the daylight, a salty breeze blew.
On the streets of Port Miller, Ariana laughed sarcastically as she looked at her frayed sleeve.
‘As I expected, they are deliberately underestimating the value.’
Last night, the buttons I pawned at the pawn shop were much more expensive than the shop owner said they were. It was decorated with small stones.
But Ariana didn't want to argue for long. After the carriage ride, she needed to rest at an inn quickly.
There was no one looking for her yet.
'It seems that news about me has not reached this area yet.'
The reason why others can't recognize her right away...
Ariana looked at her reflection in a store window.
Last night, she cut her dirty hair at the inn. Strangely, people's perceptions of her changed once her hair length changed.
There was pity, and obvious hatred, to witness her condition.
'They think I sold my hair because of poverty.'
So, they didn't notice that her clothes, although dirty, were of good quality.
I felt grateful for people's prejudices.
'I should have cut my hair before leaving the hotel.'
Anyway, all that's left is to board a ship. She bit her lip as she walked around the port.
'I don't have time to issue a temporary ID. What do I do …?'
She was afraid to go to places like the post office for fear of being arrested.
As she was strolling down the sidewalk hoping for luck, she heard a loud noise.
"I can't live like this! Why did he leave us before sailing so suddenly...!"
In the middle of the sidewalk, a woman with wild, light brown hair and a massive body was complaining while carrying a backpack. A thin, black-haired maid replied, scratching her head.
"What do we do, Mrs. Harrison? If someone in her family gets diphtheria, how do we take it?"
"Oh! Who doesn't know that! But if someone is absent, we have to fill him in."
Ariana was surprised by the loud voice, but she carefully examined the two women's clothes.
They looked like they were going to work on a docked ship, and judging by the pin on their wrist and the sewing thread on their clothes...
'These are ship's seamstresses.'
I heard that there is a lot of tailoring work to repair the clothes of passengers and crew in the cabins.
Ariana gathered her courage and approached the woman who was complaining loudly.
“Sorry...”
Mrs. Harrison looked at Ariana with sullen eyes and said sharply: “What?”
“Can...I can take that job?”
"What did you say?"
“I heard you talking. You said the person who was working with you couldn't come…”
“You look like you've never worked a day in your life, so how…?”
Ariana held her hands tightly and lowered her head.
“Actually, I'm recently pregnant.”
"What…?"
“My husband died, and I can’t raise the child here.”
“I have to go to my relatives in Dobris for help... but I have nothing...”