IYWHM Chapter 183

He did not entirely agree with the princess’s assertion and could have offered several grounds for rebuttal.

 

First and foremost, unlike someone else, he had no intention whatsoever of making Kisa his mistress.

 

Needless to say, he had never committed violence or verbal abuse against his beloved, and he intended to continue that way until the day he died.

 

In fact, even aside from Kisa, he did not prefer such methods when dealing with people.

 

It was his belief that while it might be effective in the short term, it would be of little help in maintaining long-term relationships.

 

“Above all, I try to respect Kisa’s opinions as much as possible.”

 

Except for her wish to leave his side forever.

 

“…….”

 

Knowing that limitation all too well, it was an empty-sounding murmur.

 

The princess, who had already moved far away from him and couldn’t possibly have heard those words, suddenly shouted at the top of her voice.

 

“We’re alike! Very much alike! Exactly the same, just!”

 

It was the ravings of a madwoman not worth listening to.

 

“I am Gabriel! You are Kisa! So here’s my advice—once you have them in your grasp, never let go! Even if one of them dies!”

 

Her obsession with Gabriel had gone too far, and she was clearly not in her right mind.

 

Still, he had once thought she possessed a reasonably neat personality.

 

Recalling the image of his former fiancée who had once looked at him with such determination, he felt a strange sensation for a moment.

 

It wasn’t pity or regret, but if he had to express it, it was closer to disgust.

 

Thinking about what process Arta Derbon Sorbi had gone through to reach such a state made him feel somewhat nauseous for some reason.

 

His brain, which disliked vague concepts, quickly found an appropriate explanation.

 

‘Self-loathing.’

 

But Seyard vehemently denied the word he had just thought of.

 

What kinship? Even if there were some similar aspects, wasn’t the word “kinship” too exaggerated?

 

After shaking his head slightly to clear away the unnecessary thoughts, he spoke.

 

“The situation?”

 

Then a presence that had approached behind him answered.

 

“About 30 minutes ago, three people entered the premises through the back gate and went into the building. All three covered their bodies and faces with robes and hats, so we couldn’t make out their detailed features, but judging by their builds, it appears to be one tall, well-built man and two women of medium height with average builds. One of them had long blonde hair like Miss Kisa.”

 

“They didn’t notice your presence, did they?”

 

“You needn’t worry. We kept our distance and properly concealed ourselves.”

 

“From which direction did they approach?”

 

“From the harbor side.”

 

“Do you know specifically where they are inside the building?”

 

“According to what we heard from colleagues waiting inside, they entered the first-floor instrument storage room, which is currently like an empty room. All three of them.”

 

“What about the activity inside?”

 

“They say occasional conversation can be heard, but as for the detailed content… I’m sorry.”

 

“That’s fine.”

 

Only then did Seyard turn around.

 

The people from Hillan gathered around him numbered five, with ten more positioned inside and outside the building.

 

Even combined, it was hardly a large number, but they were all skilled individuals, so it was sufficient for a hunting party.

 

Moreover, hadn’t the prey walked right into the trap on their own?

 

“How many entrances lead to the instrument storage room in total?”

 

“There are two doors and three large windows. Colleagues are already positioned outside the windows, and we can block the entrances instantly.”

 

Seyard shifted his gaze toward the concert hall building and muttered ominously.

 

“Yes. That should be enough to render this emergency shelter useless.”

 

Emergency shelter. That was the content he had seen in the second coded message that a servant had intercepted and brought to him before it could reach Kisa.

 

After causing a deliberate carriage accident to spirit Kisa away, they would move to Matera Harbor as quickly as possible and board a ship that was preparing to depart.

 

This was probably their rough original plan, but not everything in the world moves according to plan.

 

Regardless of Seyard’s sabotage efforts with the help of Duke Aeipeu, ship departures are often delayed for various reasons.

 

A waiting place prepared for such situations—relatively safe and not too far from the harbor.

 

The Royal Concert Hall was fairly close to Matera Harbor, and moreover, it was sparsely populated due to long-term renovation work.

 

‘Today there was supposed to be no one at all.’

 

It was St. Stiuna’s feast day, when all the citizens of Matera would be attending gatherings or enjoying the festival.

 

Even the two or three guards who watched to ensure no one entered the closed building had been given the day off.

 

“No matter how little the Octava royal family cares, isn’t the management too lax?”

 

Though he muttered this to himself, the benefit of that lax management applied not only to the three prey who had come here earlier, but to him as well.

 

Since he was about to properly ruin their rest.

 

‘Kisa.’

 

What kind of expression would she make when she saw him appear suddenly without warning?

 

If possible, he hoped it would be the expression of someone whose hope, which they thought had come within reach, had been shattered to pieces.

 

Then she wouldn’t attempt to flee again harboring false hope.

 

‘This time I absolutely won’t let go. Absolutely……’

 

Just as he was making that firm resolution, Seyard’s expression suddenly contorted.

 

It was because the voice of the princess who had been screaming like a madwoman earlier came back to his ears.

 

I am different. I must be different.

 

Consciously repeating the same words to himself, he brought his hand to the pocket on his chest to change his mood.

 

Eventually, Seyard took out a handkerchief and was about to bring it close to his nose.

 

Doing so would allow the refreshing scent of bergamot to provide a cool sensation, if only briefly.

 

But somehow, instead of smelling the fragrance, he could only stare blankly down at the handkerchief.

 

The piece of dark blue cloth made him recall a certain memory.

 

Kisa from a certain day, who had shyly smiled with both cheeks flushed red as she handed him the wrapped handkerchief.

 

‘This is……’

 

It was the first gift Seyard had ever received from Kisa.

 

To commemorate it, he had always carried it with him except when it was being washed.

 

So there was no particular reason for new emotions to arise just from looking at it again.

 

Yet for some reason, he stared for a long time at an object that was merely a handkerchief.

 

Kisa from when she had given this gift flickered before his eyes. That face shining with vitality and hope.

 

At the same time, the Kisa he had been seeing recently also crossed his mind. That face tainted with resignation and sickness.

 

Even when he tried to recall her appearance after recovering from illness, when she had become healthy again, strangely it was the Kisa from that period that came to mind most vividly.

 

Looking back, she had been acting continuously after that to deceive Seyard, so it couldn’t be called her true appearance.

 

A terrible thirst suddenly overwhelmed him.

 

‘Kisa is as beautiful as she was then.’

 

He tried saying this as if to quench his thirst, but the thirst did not stop.

 

He actually knew well. She was still beautiful, and he still desired her desperately, but…….

 

‘She’s changed a lot from then. In a negative way.’

 

And the cause of that change in her was none other than himself.

 

If this couldn’t be called similarity, then what in this world could be called a resemblance?

 

“…….”

 

Seyard—no, Vischer—concealed the soft handkerchief in his hand.

 

Then he clenched his fist as tightly as he could.

 

How long had he been like that? He could feel the confused gazes of his subordinates on his skin.

 

“Forgive me, Your Grace.”

 

Those who had been exchanging glances among themselves spoke to their master in a cautious voice.

 

“Shouldn’t you go in soon? If by any chance the youngest princess causes a commotion, they might hear it.”

 

“That’s right. The building is large, but it’s uncertain where the princess might go, and if she approaches the instrument storage room inside, our colleagues will try their best to stop her, but they dare not lay hands on royalty……”

 

Everyone waited for his command with one mind.

 

However, he who had given them countless orders throughout his life and naturally commanded them beneath his feet could not bring himself to speak.

 

Instead, what flowed from his lips was an entirely different sound.

 

“Come to think of it, where is Gabriel?”

 

One of the subordinates beside him asked on behalf of his colleagues.

 

“Pardon? What do you mean……”

 

“Do you know what Gabriel Williams looks like?”

 

“I’ve seen him in the newspapers.”

 

“Did you see that man enter that building?”

 

The subordinate looked puzzled at the unexpected question but dutifully replied.

 

“No. I’ve been watching since dawn, but I’ve never seen that musician. The only people who entered that building were Miss Kisa’s party, our colleagues, and the princess.”

 

“……I see.”

 

It seemed difficult to delay any longer with trivial topics.

 

He had no choice but to voice the command his subordinates had been waiting for.

 

“We begin now.”

 

No sooner had those words fallen than three subordinates sprinted toward the building.

 

Once they scattered to spread the word, those inside would simultaneously ambush the prey.

 

Only after several minutes had passed did Seyard slowly walk toward the building with the remaining two subordinates.

 

“…….”

 

But while walking, a strange sensation swept over him.

 

He soon discovered the cause.

 

“Your Grace, be careful!”

 

“You must get down!”

 

The two subordinates who had barely maintained their balance shouted in alarm.

 

The ground—or more dramatically put, the entire world—was shaking.

 

It was an earthquake.

 

How much time has passed since then? He witnessed a tremendous sight.

 

The sight of the building crumbling like biscuit crumbs.