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 25

On the evening of the fourth day after leaving Graphica, we finally arrived at Kreuz.

We had ridden without rest, day and night.

A distance that should have taken a week was forcibly covered in nearly half the time.

Our faces, exposed continuously to the wind, were completely dried out, and the taste of blood lingered in our throats.

The horses’ breath foamed white, and the fingers of the alchemists unaccustomed to riding were torn from gripping the reins too tightly.

Still, no one stopped. There was no way we could stop.

Seven days had already passed since Ash was taken.

And at last, we entered the town where the Kreuz lord’s manor stood.

“This is terrible…”

“This isn’t Kreuz.”

Quinn and Slay looked around in dismay.

Even though it was daytime, the town was dim, with no lights visible beyond the broken windows.

The wind carried not the scent of medicinal herbs, but the stench of decay.

Nowhere remained any trace of the territory Ash had once proudly described with a smile, saying, “It’s a nice place. You should come visit sometime.”

I wanted to head straight for the manor and find Ash. I wanted to rescue him as quickly as possible.

I wanted to press my sword to the throat of the man who had reduced the place where Ash grew up and loved to this ruined town.

The urge to kill rose in my throat.

But now was not the time to wield a blade.

I would crush them coldly and thoroughly. So that no shadow would ever fall upon Ash again.

To ensure Ash would never be wronged again, I had to burn away even their escape routes.

This wasn’t merely suppression. It was also “atonement” for Ash’s future.

“First, we confirm where Ash was taken. Gather information.”

My voice was lower and more hoarse than I intended. I desperately suppressed the anxiety welling up deep in my throat.

At my words, the knights swiftly dispersed.

“Margrave of Graphica. We’ve been expecting you.”

A knight on horseback approached, coinciding with our arrival.

“This is a letter from Count Grey.”

“Did it arrive in time?”

I broke the seal and looked inside.

The royal seal was stamped on the warrant.

An official permit recognized by the kingdom.

With this, we could march in openly.

I felt blood finally returning to my slightly trembling fingertips.

To avoid being seen as using unjust force, I had obtained “permission to enter under the pretext of inspection” from the king’s inspector, Count Grey, before departing.

I never expected it to arrive in time. The Count had truly moved seriously.

“The Count himself will be arriving later.”

“That’s a relief.”

With those words, the breath I’d been holding eased slightly. But the restlessness in my chest wouldn’t cease.

I hadn’t found him yet. I hadn’t held him yet.

Until I saw Ash’s face, nothing was over.

Soon, the knights returned one by one and began reporting.

Someone had seen a strangely hurried carriage entering the manor two days ago.

Then Quinn and Slay, who had gone to the Kreuz Alchemy Association, returned as well.

“Just as we thought, the acting lord is forcibly confiscating the alchemy association’s medicines.”

“Everything was gone.”

Using the medicines Ash created to make people happy for his own selfish desires.

The lowest act, trampling on his will.

I felt a disgusting sound rise in the back of my throat.

“…Prepare to breach.”

Under normal circumstances, I would have wanted to thoroughly secure evidence first.

But with Ash’s life at stake, I couldn’t afford to be leisurely.

This time, I had to save him.

To never repeat the self who couldn’t face things head-on that day.

“Let’s go!”

Accompanied by the knights, I stormed into the manor.

Beyond the gate Ash had proudly spoken of lay a beautiful medicinal herb garden.

Though inferior to Graphica’s, he’d boasted about it—now it was unrecognizable.

Where medicinal herbs should have been, tasteless statues stood arranged in a nonsensical pattern.

My anger toward the acting lord, who trampled everything Ash held dear, grew.

I would take Ash from this place. Never again would he cast a shadow in this mansion.

Pressing the document forward, I reached the front entrance, where thuggish men and an exceptionally fat man emerged from inside.

This obese man was the one claiming to be the acting Baron of Kreuz—Ash’s uncle.

The root cause who exploited Graphica and Kreuz, and drove Ash out.

Just seeing his face made the anger accumulated in the pit of my stomach ignite instantly.

I gritted my teeth, suppressing the impulse to draw my sword and slit his throat right then.

“And what business might this be?” he asked, looking at me with an insolent smile.

“The other day, Ash Kreuz, son of Baron Kreuz and benefactor of Graphica, was taken by persons unknown.”

Just uttering Ash’s name made the acting lord behave suspiciously.

“And why come here?”

Though his mouth smiled, his gaze wandered, and cold sweat beaded on his temples.

This reaction just from mentioning Ash’s name. It hit far too close to the mark.

“A Kreuz carriage was witnessed in my territory, and we obtained information that it entered here.”

“Ah, that. I heard you broke off your engagement, so I sent for him.”

His mocking smile twisted his greasy cheeks.

Each time he laughed, the gold rings on his fingers glinted.

“I wish to confirm Ash’s safety.”

Implying I wanted to see him, the acting lord began sweating profusely, sluggishly.

“W-well, my nephew is heartbroken…”

As he began stammering excuses, blatantly armed thugs started gathering.

The tension escalated.

“That Ash would never leave behind medicines mid-synthesis and disappear. Ash was taken.”

When I stated that clearly with conviction, the acting lord dropped his ingratiating smile.

“Kill them!” the fat throat roared.

Hearing that, I slowly uttered low words.

“…Capture them all alive. Let the law make them atone for their crimes.”

The sound of swords being drawn rang sharper than any shout.

The knights and the thugs moved simultaneously.