I Thought I Was Married, But I Was Left Alone, So I'll Live as I Please. So Please Don't Mind Me Anymore, My Lord of the Border - Chapter 21

And so, two weeks passed.

“My lord, may I come in?”

After a knock, the head butler’s voice could be heard.

“Enter.”

As I responded, the door opened quietly.

“A letter has arrived for you.”

Nia received it from the head butler, glanced at the seal on the back, and slightly furrowed his brow.

“It appears to be from the acting lord of Kreuz.”

“Acting… Ah. For me?”

The very person who sent Ash here. The one who had sent that document announcing the termination of our contract along with the dissolution of our engagement.

Though I should be grateful for our meeting, he was a detestable man who had treated me terribly and pushed through a coercive contract.

Unconsciously, wrinkles formed between my eyebrows.

“Did he send me some abusive rant?”

“That’s unlikely. That man wouldn’t bother writing insults unless they served his interests.”

At Nia’s words, I recalled that greedy man and nodded inwardly. Indeed.

“Let me check the contents. A letter from him at this time can’t possibly mean anything good.”

“I thought that would be best.”

I broke the seal and skimmed through the contents.

I was greatly surprised to be unilaterally informed of the dissolution of our engagement and the termination of our contract.

However, as one who carries the blood of the Kreuz family, I am reconsidering entrusting the territory to you.

“No matter how I look at it, this seems suspicious.”

“Indeed.”

There’s no way the man who forced that outrageous contract upon me would say such noble things.

The letter was filled with obviously artificial, flowery language.

I want you to return once. Let’s talk.

It concluded with those words.

Then I looked at the final date and signature. The date was from ten days ago.

“What? It arrived quite late.”

Normally, letters are delivered via the magical postal service that connects all regions, taking no more than two days to arrive no matter the distance.

A ten-day delay is strange no matter how you look at it.

“It seems the replacement of new equipment took about a week, during which we couldn’t use the service.”

“I see, so that’s why it arrived now.”

Relieved that the content wasn’t as bad as I’d expected, I let out a small sigh.

“What do you think of this content?”

“The only certainty is that it’s not out of goodwill.”

“Right… I need to tell everyone to be careful.”

“Yes, indeed.”

At Nia’s response, my heart leaped.

But this gave me a reason to see Ash.

“That’s good news.”

I nodded slightly at Nia’s quiet words.

Looking at his face, I saw Nia smiling faintly for the first time in a while. His expression showed clear relief.

It seemed I had caused him quite a bit of worry.

I let out another small sigh.

The fog in the depths of my chest seemed to have lifted slightly.

I smiled wryly, thinking I’d never be so grateful for a suspicious letter again.

“Yes. I’ve found the perfect excuse.”

I can see Ash again.

I wonder if he’s doing well.

What is he doing now?

Is he feeling lonely without me visiting?

Or is he stretching his wings, feeling refreshed?

If so, that’s fine too. But I hope he’s smiling.

Whatever the case, I must go and see for myself.

Even though our engagement was dissolved and our connection severed, my feelings for Ash hadn’t diminished in the slightest.

That fact felt strangely proud.

“It’s too late today. I’ll go first thing tomorrow morning. Nia, please make the arrangements.”

“Understood.”

Before Ash completely forgets about me.

This time, I won’t just impose unilaterally. I’ll face him properly and court him as many times as it takes.

I hope we can choose a future where he can smile together.

That future would be meaningless without Ash.

The weight in my chest loosened slightly. Outside the window, the sound of the wind had grown stronger than before.

Still, I never doubted that this night would end peacefully.

—Contrary to my lightened feelings, by that time, something irreversible had already happened.

The next morning. Slightly earlier than usual.

First, his house.

Heading toward the apothecary, I found Tom and several alchemists gathered in front of the shop.

Usually laid-back, they were now visibly anxious.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

An unpleasant premonition crossed my heart.

“Ah, Margrave! Has Ash come to see you!?”

“He hasn’t returned to the association or his home…!”

“We asked at the tool shop and material shop. They said he should have returned after shopping yesterday…!”

“We found what looked like his shopping in an alley. But Ash is nowhere to be found.”

“His half-brewed potions are still here!”

“What?”

My mind went blank.

“Form a search party immediately.”

My voice was slightly higher-pitched.

Noticing the tremor, the last remnants of my calmness desperately suppressed the despair threatening to collapse from under my feet.

In the corner of my vision, I could see the alchemists’ faces twisting with anxiety.

If I don’t lead them here and now, then who will!

Chastising myself, I tightened my resolve.

“Search the town first! Go!”

I gave orders to the knights who had been following me while organizing what needed to be done.

“Yes, sir!”

As the knights swiftly scattered, the alchemists also began to move.

“Thank you!! We’ll search again too.”

Watching their backs as they ran off in different directions, I clenched my fists.

“Ash, where have you gone…?”

Ash is gone.

That alone makes the world lose its color.

Even though the morning sun should be shining, it feels as dark as midnight.

Even the gentle scent of herbs floating in the air stung my nose coldly.

The depths of my chest felt chilled, as if grabbed by a cold hand.

The city noise that should have been close just moments ago suddenly felt distant, as if separated by many walls.

From the pit of my stomach, a shapeless, unpleasant premonition slowly crawled upward.

Images of Ash surfaced and vanished one after another.

His bright voice, his embarrassed smile. The way he hummed while mixing potions.

Each one grew more distant. As if they were just a dream from the beginning.

Wanting to deny that reality, I couldn’t move a single step.

I saw Nia arriving with a pale face after receiving the report.

My heart dried up terribly with the premonition that something precious was being destroyed by someone’s hand.

Clenching my teeth, I forced my trembling fingertips to still.