My Arrogant and Insolent Shadow - Chapter 29

Hael thought back carefully to the Yurisiel he had seen in recent days.

Every time she left the young master’s room, she looked completely drained.

No, not just that. She often came out with tears in her eyes.

Even so, did she still not want to take the medicine he brought?

Would she rather cry and accept medicine from that young master instead?

That couldn’t be. Hael convinced himself it was only because Yurisiel was trying to protect him, again.

He tried to push away the unease rising in his chest.

Time passed in silence. Yurisiel, who had been hesitating, finally opened her mouth.

“I know what you’re thinking, but I can’t quit that job.”

Her voice was firm, as if the decision had already been made.

“Why not?”

“It’s not just about the medicine. The pay is good, the housing is stable, and…”

As she spoke, her face turned even more pale.

Just thinking of the young master cast a shadow over her.

Even as she tried to look composed, Hael could see her pride fighting against the weight she carried. She looked like a tree withering in place.

“Anyway, that’s how it is. So you should take this back.”

“…”

“You might still be able to get a refund.”

“No. Once it’s given, it can’t be returned. So do what you want with it. Keep it or throw it away.”

In truth, Yurisiel was right. The medicine was rare and expensive. If he returned it, he could likely get all the money back.

But still…

Why was it okay when it came from the young master, but not when it came from him?

Hael couldn’t hide how hurt he felt. Yurisiel never asked anything from him, not even once.

Sure, maybe he couldn’t give her a place to live. But still.

Frustrated, Hael pushed the medicine into her hands and walked away.

Fifteen days passed since Britt had been sold.

At Hael’s family estate, the sight of patrol guards coming and going had become a daily routine.

Today, two officers arrived again. One of them was holding a lead rope, and behind them stood a man.

When Lady Catherine came downstairs, one of the officers, the older of the two, stepped forward.

He took off his small-brimmed hat, bowed politely, and explained his reason for coming.

“We believe this is the horse that went missing from your ranch. Can you confirm it?”

Lord Olga came rushing down behind Lady Catherine. He couldn’t hide his shock.

Despite its unkempt appearance, the horse’s shining mane was unmistakable.

There was no doubt. It was Britt.

Still, just to be sure, Olga ordered a servant to call Hael, who had looked after Britt every day.

When Hael came running, he looked noticeably thinner, even in just a week’s time.

“Britt is back?”

And with officers?

A servant’s earlier words echoed in Hael’s mind. Someone had caught the thief who stole Britt.

That couldn’t be. The real thief was standing right here.

Out of breath, Hael rushed to the stable. There, to his disbelief, stood Britt.

Held by the officer, it was clearly him.

Hael had spent every day with Britt. He would never mistake him for another horse.

Behind the officer stood the second guard and a man wearing a low-brimmed hat.

Frozen, Hael stood in place, unable to collect himself.

Lady Catherine, noticing her son’s reaction, frowned and asked him directly.

“This is Britt, isn’t it?”

“…Yes.”

His voice was barely audible, filled with confusion and guilt.

But Olga and Catherine, too caught up in the moment, didn’t notice their son’s expression. They focused only on Britt, overjoyed.

“It’s him. This is our Britt.”

Olga agreed, confirming it as well.

“Who in their right mind would steal a horse from someone else’s ranch?”

Just then, Britt suddenly broke free from the officer’s grip and bolted forward.

He ran straight to Hael and threw himself against him.

Hael stood there, stunned, holding Britt tightly in his arms.

Catherine watched the scene and felt an odd sense of déjà vu, though she dismissed it quickly.

After all, her son had always been closest to that horse. It was natural he’d be overwhelmed.

Britt was one of their finest horses, and he had always followed Hael more than anyone else.

He had probably been scared, dragged around by strangers all this time.

But that wasn’t the issue now.

They needed to find out who had done this and make sure that person could never set foot in Alphonse again.

The last few weeks had been agonizing.

The officers, who had taken on the case, had first suspected an animal attack. There were no witnesses and no evidence left behind.

But Olga and Catherine were certain that wasn’t the case.

If an animal had attacked, there would have been blood. The ground would have shown signs of a struggle.

And a horse as well-trained and obedient as Britt would never escape the pen on his own.

Someone had clearly stolen him, knowing exactly how valuable he was.

Even the officers couldn’t find a single clue. There was not a trace of evidence. The theft had been carried out with such precision, it left everyone frustrated and exhausted.

And then, out of nowhere, Britt returned.

Alongside a stranger no one recognized.

“Could that man be the thief?”

Only then did Lady Catherine look more closely at the man standing behind the officer, his wide-brimmed hat casting a shadow over his face.

His clothes were woven from luxurious silk. Even she, who lived in comfort and enjoyed finer things in Alphonse, had never worn something of that quality.

Someone like him, stealing a horse? It was hard to believe.

After inviting the man and the two officers into the drawing room, Lady Catherine waited until the tea was served before getting straight to the point.

“Where did you find Britt?”

As she recalled the days she and her husband had spent frantically searching, the officer finally answered with a heavy tone.

“He appeared in the recent horse race. That horse, Britt, was entered in the event.”

“In a race?”

“Yes. It’s common practice to introduce a few new horses into the competition.”

“That’s true.”

New horses were added to stir up unpredictability and make the race more exciting.

The officer continued.

The lord who hosted the race had been having trouble finding a horse that could match the competition, and when word got out, the man in the hat offered to lend Britt.

At that point, the man finally spoke.

“Lanod is a very close friend of mine.”

“Lanod… You mean…”

“Yes. He’s the butler who works at the lord’s estate.”

The realization made Lady Catherine shift in her seat. This man wasn’t just anyone. He was close to the most trusted person in the lord’s household.

Still, she couldn’t stop herself from circling back to the issue.

“But how did Britt…”

She didn’t finish the question, but her eyes made it clear what she wanted to ask.

The man picked up on it and answered with a calm smile.

“There was an auction in Bronze Village recently. I bought him there by chance.”

Lady Catherine clenched her fists. Her anger was barely contained.

“Then the thief must have gone to the auction and sold Britt as if nothing was wrong.”

The man lifted his hands slightly in a gesture of surprise.

“I was shocked myself. I paid the full amount, so when the officers came to me, I didn’t understand what was happening.”

At this point, it became clear that he, too, was a victim.

As much as Lady Catherine and her husband wanted their horse back, this man had no idea Britt had been stolen.

Olga and Catherine exchanged glances. The tension on their faces was unmistakable.

“Did you happen to see the person who sold him?”

“I didn’t see his face, but I did check his name and the information he gave me.”

“Then… does that mean he’s been caught?”

Lady Catherine’s voice rose slightly, filled with hope.

An officer stepped forward and spoke, this time looking slightly uncomfortable.

“Actually, that’s why we’re here. I believe there’s been a misunderstanding.”

“What do you mean?”

The man slowly turned his head, eyes drifting toward the back of the room.

Hael stood there silently, having watched the entire conversation unfold.

Their eyes met.

And in that instant, the memory returned like a shock.

That man. He had seen him before.

He was the one at the auction. The one who bought Britt.

Hael swallowed hard. His throat felt dry and tight.

The man looked at him with a calm, unreadable expression.

Did he know everything?

No, that couldn’t be. Hael tried to convince himself, but his chest tightened with dread.

The man didn’t take his eyes off him. His gaze was steady, almost too knowing.

Then, finally, the man spoke.

“The person who sold Britt was your son.”

“…!”

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