His eyes shot open. He couldn't tell if the scream he heard right next to him was a dream or reality. Martin was startled and shook Bryn's shoulder to wake her up. Brimyn's eyes shot open too.
“Oh my, Angie! Oh, it was a dream... Haa...”
“What’s wrong? Did you have a dream about Angie?”
"Yes..."
The faint moonlight was shining through the window. It was not yet midnight. Martin got up from his bed and went into the nursery beyond the middle door. After a while, he returned to the bed, making sure that Patricia and Noah were sleeping soundly. His hands were affectionate as he stroked Bryn’s disheveled hair, but his expression was troubled. Martin asked first.
“What kind of dream did you have? It was like a nightmare...”
“Angie was in the fog. She was standing next to me... We both kept calling out to Angie and ran after her, but she wouldn’t stop. Then behind her, Noah started crying. You were holding Patty, but Noah was nowhere to be seen, and all I could hear was his crying... So I yelled at Angie at the top of my lungs. Where is she going, leaving Noah behind?”
Angie! Noah is here. Where are you going? Noah is looking for his mommy... Come back, Angie!
Martin swallowed dryly. It wasn't much different from his dream. Except that he didn't notice Bryn and Patty's presence and didn't hear Noah's cries.
“I had a similar dream. Then I woke up suddenly and found out that you were there too.”
“Really? Did you have the same dream? I feel uneasy. Could something be wrong with Angie? I should send a letter to Grandma Catherine’s house as soon as it’s light. Oh, and if you send it through the Metropolitan Police, it’ll get there faster.”
“I’ll send it. It won’t be a big deal, so don’t worry in advance.”
Martin stroked Bryn’s cheek and laid her back on the bed. Even as he spoke, his expression was not bright. He tried to pretend not to notice, but Bryn also had a bad feeling about it.
As the couple was about to go back to bed, Bryn woke up again at the sight of the gas lamp in the hallway outside the window.
“Who do you think is here? Who is it at this hour?”
“Right now? Is your father here? He said that the award ceremony scheduled for tomorrow was postponed until next week...”
Martin and Bryn got out of bed and put on their nightgowns as if they had made a promise to each other. As soon as they opened the door, the butler was seen standing in the hallway.
“You’re awake. Mr. Armitage...”
“It was Dad after all. Take me to the living room, Helen.”
While the butler was preparing tea, Willem was loitering around the living room window, and when he saw his daughter and her husband, he pointed to the study. It meant that it was important. As soon as the study door closed, he got straight to the point.
“I’m sorry I’m late. This is a very urgent matter.”
“It’s okay, Father. But what the heck is going on...”
“Emperor Rainier VIII of Trieste has died.”
“Huh? Oh my God...!”
Bryn opened his eyes wide and looked back at Martin. He too looked quite shocked. Willem continued.
“It hasn’t been announced yet. If we’re not careful, it could easily become a major diplomatic issue between the two countries... That’s why the award ceremony was postponed. It’s not a simple death, so the palace is in a state of emergency right now.”
“Not just a simple death? Surely not...”
Willem nodded to Martin's question. His voice was extremely heavy as he opened his mouth again.
“The Emperor has been murdered. His body was found in a warehouse in the Ghent Forest. And the prime suspect currently wanted is...”
At Willem's next words, Martin covered his mouth with one hand. His face looked like he couldn't believe his ears.
“No way. How could that be him?”
“I don’t quite understand it either, but that’s the situation at the murder scene. The Royal Police and Royal Guards of Vintergar are actively cooperating to search for the suspect, so it’s only a matter of time before he’s caught. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.”
The three of them looked at each other with faces still in shock. Martin's mind was also spinning busily.
What on earth is going on? Is this affecting Angie too?
Angie staggered toward the cliff, and the empty eyes suddenly appeared in his mind. Martin didn't think he could sleep any longer tonight. A chill ran through him as a cold anxiety seeped into his bones.
The private residences of Graz were among the most quaint and expensive of the resort towns in the frontier regions. They were suitable for the accommodation of high-ranking persons, such as foreign royalty or high-ranking nobility, and were also ideal places for secret meetings and collusion.
Allen Hardy, who had been assigned to Michael Randall, had informed him that Michael was staying at Ebenhof with a cavalryman named Franz. Franz was a member of Leticia's maternal family, the Baron Dervan, and was an excellent assassin.
It was obvious that he was Leticia's spy. He was panicked at the time, but that day, right before he left the parade, Angie's name came out of his mouth. Leticia, who was next to him, couldn't have not heard it. And then she picked out two of her skilled henchmen and ordered them to deal with Angie. He didn't know that one of them was Michael Randall.
As soon as Kyle heard Allen's report, he set off immediately. He had arrived in Graz, between Ebenhof and Revan, two days ago, under the pretext of searching for the King. And through the spy, Jerome had secretly planted, he was able to confirm Angie's whereabouts in time and bring her before his eyes.
“Angie.”
He rose from his seat and approached her, step by step. He was wearing a green-yellow frock coat, a black vest, and a pitch-black cravat, and he looked almost the same as he had three years ago. His sharp chin, his closed mouth, and his bright eyes, with their sharp lines, were just as she remembered them.
Kyle Rodan Blackwell was still a dazzlingly beautiful man. In the face of his noble appearance and commanding presence, people often forget that his ancestors had purchased their titles with money.
His lips, which had been tightly shut, opened. His lips, which had seemed indifferent and heartless, began to show emotion, and his overall impression began to take on a surprisingly different hue. A faint tremble occurred in his pale lower lip. He seemed to be overcome with emotion. However, Angie was overcome with a different emotion.
“Grandma Catherine...Where is she? Aunt Line..."
Angie's tongue moved on its own. She tried to pull away, but her body wouldn't listen. She opened her eyes wide and barely moved her lips like a broken clockwork doll.
“Where is Grandma? Please send her home. Right now.”
“I will do that.”
Kyle gritted his teeth and answered softly. It seemed as if he was trying to control his emotions and his rapid breathing. He was now standing right in front of her.
There was no time to escape. The next moment, Angie was in his arms. The scent of the past he had forgotten suddenly washed over him like a wave and engulfed him.
“Angie...”
I missed you. I missed you like crazy. I'm so glad you're alive and well.
A suppressed whisper kept coming out as if he was about to burst into tears at any moment. Angie stood there frozen like a stone, not moving an inch. It was as if she had gone back three years.
The Generalife Gardens, where the moon, each a flower, descended upon her head like a blessing, the seaside cliffs where blue fireflies twinkled and embroidered, and his bedroom, where her heart felt like it would burst with excitement even before he entered.
A cozy time for just the two of them. The space where sweet pushes and shy responses were busy going back and forth. The acts that transcended all the world's obscenities and lewdness, the moments where they shared only the most sacred and beautiful gestures and movements were as vivid as if they were yesterday. The days when she turned her back on the past and tried to forget him, too.
“I can’t believe it. You’re still alive... Angie. I love you. I haven’t forgotten you for even a moment in the past three years... You were and are my one and only.”
Angie's mind suddenly came back to her at his inappropriate confession. She pushed away the Duke of Blackwell with all her might, trying to increase the physical distance between them. Kyle reluctantly let her go at her fierce struggle. However, he did not increase the distance any further. Angie's back was pressed against a hard wall.
“I need to see Grandma Catherine and Aunt Line first.”
“They were in Revan from the beginning. Send word now to send them back home.”
As he rang the bell on the table, a man who seemed to be a butler came in. Kyle gave some brief instructions, and the man nodded and left the room. Only then did Angie slump down on the sofa. Her legs were weak.
She wasn't sure whether she should believe him or not. But even if he had taken the two elderly hostages, there was no need to bring them here. It would have been a hassle for him. He wanted Angie Ridsdel, not the two elderly.
And maybe Noah too...
“Oh my, Angie! Oh, it was a dream... Haa...”
“What’s wrong? Did you have a dream about Angie?”
"Yes..."
The faint moonlight was shining through the window. It was not yet midnight. Martin got up from his bed and went into the nursery beyond the middle door. After a while, he returned to the bed, making sure that Patricia and Noah were sleeping soundly. His hands were affectionate as he stroked Bryn’s disheveled hair, but his expression was troubled. Martin asked first.
“What kind of dream did you have? It was like a nightmare...”
“Angie was in the fog. She was standing next to me... We both kept calling out to Angie and ran after her, but she wouldn’t stop. Then behind her, Noah started crying. You were holding Patty, but Noah was nowhere to be seen, and all I could hear was his crying... So I yelled at Angie at the top of my lungs. Where is she going, leaving Noah behind?”
Angie! Noah is here. Where are you going? Noah is looking for his mommy... Come back, Angie!
Martin swallowed dryly. It wasn't much different from his dream. Except that he didn't notice Bryn and Patty's presence and didn't hear Noah's cries.
“I had a similar dream. Then I woke up suddenly and found out that you were there too.”
“Really? Did you have the same dream? I feel uneasy. Could something be wrong with Angie? I should send a letter to Grandma Catherine’s house as soon as it’s light. Oh, and if you send it through the Metropolitan Police, it’ll get there faster.”
“I’ll send it. It won’t be a big deal, so don’t worry in advance.”
Martin stroked Bryn’s cheek and laid her back on the bed. Even as he spoke, his expression was not bright. He tried to pretend not to notice, but Bryn also had a bad feeling about it.
As the couple was about to go back to bed, Bryn woke up again at the sight of the gas lamp in the hallway outside the window.
“Who do you think is here? Who is it at this hour?”
“Right now? Is your father here? He said that the award ceremony scheduled for tomorrow was postponed until next week...”
Martin and Bryn got out of bed and put on their nightgowns as if they had made a promise to each other. As soon as they opened the door, the butler was seen standing in the hallway.
“You’re awake. Mr. Armitage...”
“It was Dad after all. Take me to the living room, Helen.”
While the butler was preparing tea, Willem was loitering around the living room window, and when he saw his daughter and her husband, he pointed to the study. It meant that it was important. As soon as the study door closed, he got straight to the point.
“I’m sorry I’m late. This is a very urgent matter.”
“It’s okay, Father. But what the heck is going on...”
“Emperor Rainier VIII of Trieste has died.”
“Huh? Oh my God...!”
Bryn opened his eyes wide and looked back at Martin. He too looked quite shocked. Willem continued.
“It hasn’t been announced yet. If we’re not careful, it could easily become a major diplomatic issue between the two countries... That’s why the award ceremony was postponed. It’s not a simple death, so the palace is in a state of emergency right now.”
“Not just a simple death? Surely not...”
Willem nodded to Martin's question. His voice was extremely heavy as he opened his mouth again.
“The Emperor has been murdered. His body was found in a warehouse in the Ghent Forest. And the prime suspect currently wanted is...”
At Willem's next words, Martin covered his mouth with one hand. His face looked like he couldn't believe his ears.
“No way. How could that be him?”
“I don’t quite understand it either, but that’s the situation at the murder scene. The Royal Police and Royal Guards of Vintergar are actively cooperating to search for the suspect, so it’s only a matter of time before he’s caught. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.”
The three of them looked at each other with faces still in shock. Martin's mind was also spinning busily.
What on earth is going on? Is this affecting Angie too?
Angie staggered toward the cliff, and the empty eyes suddenly appeared in his mind. Martin didn't think he could sleep any longer tonight. A chill ran through him as a cold anxiety seeped into his bones.
***
The private residences of Graz were among the most quaint and expensive of the resort towns in the frontier regions. They were suitable for the accommodation of high-ranking persons, such as foreign royalty or high-ranking nobility, and were also ideal places for secret meetings and collusion.
Allen Hardy, who had been assigned to Michael Randall, had informed him that Michael was staying at Ebenhof with a cavalryman named Franz. Franz was a member of Leticia's maternal family, the Baron Dervan, and was an excellent assassin.
It was obvious that he was Leticia's spy. He was panicked at the time, but that day, right before he left the parade, Angie's name came out of his mouth. Leticia, who was next to him, couldn't have not heard it. And then she picked out two of her skilled henchmen and ordered them to deal with Angie. He didn't know that one of them was Michael Randall.
As soon as Kyle heard Allen's report, he set off immediately. He had arrived in Graz, between Ebenhof and Revan, two days ago, under the pretext of searching for the King. And through the spy, Jerome had secretly planted, he was able to confirm Angie's whereabouts in time and bring her before his eyes.
“Angie.”
He rose from his seat and approached her, step by step. He was wearing a green-yellow frock coat, a black vest, and a pitch-black cravat, and he looked almost the same as he had three years ago. His sharp chin, his closed mouth, and his bright eyes, with their sharp lines, were just as she remembered them.
Kyle Rodan Blackwell was still a dazzlingly beautiful man. In the face of his noble appearance and commanding presence, people often forget that his ancestors had purchased their titles with money.
His lips, which had been tightly shut, opened. His lips, which had seemed indifferent and heartless, began to show emotion, and his overall impression began to take on a surprisingly different hue. A faint tremble occurred in his pale lower lip. He seemed to be overcome with emotion. However, Angie was overcome with a different emotion.
“Grandma Catherine...Where is she? Aunt Line..."
Angie's tongue moved on its own. She tried to pull away, but her body wouldn't listen. She opened her eyes wide and barely moved her lips like a broken clockwork doll.
“Where is Grandma? Please send her home. Right now.”
“I will do that.”
Kyle gritted his teeth and answered softly. It seemed as if he was trying to control his emotions and his rapid breathing. He was now standing right in front of her.
There was no time to escape. The next moment, Angie was in his arms. The scent of the past he had forgotten suddenly washed over him like a wave and engulfed him.
“Angie...”
I missed you. I missed you like crazy. I'm so glad you're alive and well.
A suppressed whisper kept coming out as if he was about to burst into tears at any moment. Angie stood there frozen like a stone, not moving an inch. It was as if she had gone back three years.
The Generalife Gardens, where the moon, each a flower, descended upon her head like a blessing, the seaside cliffs where blue fireflies twinkled and embroidered, and his bedroom, where her heart felt like it would burst with excitement even before he entered.
A cozy time for just the two of them. The space where sweet pushes and shy responses were busy going back and forth. The acts that transcended all the world's obscenities and lewdness, the moments where they shared only the most sacred and beautiful gestures and movements were as vivid as if they were yesterday. The days when she turned her back on the past and tried to forget him, too.
“I can’t believe it. You’re still alive... Angie. I love you. I haven’t forgotten you for even a moment in the past three years... You were and are my one and only.”
Angie's mind suddenly came back to her at his inappropriate confession. She pushed away the Duke of Blackwell with all her might, trying to increase the physical distance between them. Kyle reluctantly let her go at her fierce struggle. However, he did not increase the distance any further. Angie's back was pressed against a hard wall.
“I need to see Grandma Catherine and Aunt Line first.”
“They were in Revan from the beginning. Send word now to send them back home.”
As he rang the bell on the table, a man who seemed to be a butler came in. Kyle gave some brief instructions, and the man nodded and left the room. Only then did Angie slump down on the sofa. Her legs were weak.
She wasn't sure whether she should believe him or not. But even if he had taken the two elderly hostages, there was no need to bring them here. It would have been a hassle for him. He wanted Angie Ridsdel, not the two elderly.
And maybe Noah too...
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment