CHAPTER 107
Translator: Rae
***
The Ending of the Disappearance Cases
Whitney climbed into the carriage as Cheston saw her off. Her heart was still pounding as she rode back to the duke’s estate.
Summer had never settled so warmly in her memories before. The scorching sunlight, the heat of a midsummer day brushing against her skin—everything seemed beautiful.
Feeling uplifted, Whitney closed her eyes and quietly savored the breeze drifting into the carriage. She relished the clatter of the carriage wheels, the rustling of leaves swaying in the wind, and the occasional chirping of birds.
‘Once the banquet begins, I won’t have the chance to enjoy this kind of peace.’
Enjoying the moment of leisure, she opened her eyes and turned to Zegmon.
“Did you say the Kennedy Mercenary Group are arriving today?”
"Yes, they should be here by evening.”
“I just hope the duke’s estate suits them.”
“I’m sure it will. After all, Your Grace even won over Sir Randy.”
Whitney offered a faint smile at Zegmon’s words. Sir Randy had adapted faster than expected. Not only had he grown close to the servants while staying at the estate, but he had also begun to familiarize himself with the surroundings.
It was surprising how quickly he blended in as if the mansion were his own home. Though his expression remained stern, it was clear that he was one of the kindest people she had met.
“I believe they mentioned bringing a gift.”
“...A gift?”
Whitney couldn’t quite guess what kind of gift they would bring. But she would find out soon enough, so she simply gave a small nod.
The carriage came to a halt in front of the duke’s estate, and as the door swung open, Whitney took Zegmon’s hand and stepped onto the ground—only to freeze in place. Waiting for her was a formation of dozens of knights. With disciplined precision, they bowed in greeting, their gazes fixed intently on her.
“...W-Welcome.”
She stood before the estate and addressed them, unable to understand why they had arrived so much earlier than expected. They weren’t supposed to be here until the evening.
But more than their unexpected arrival, what truly made her vision spin was the sight of two men bound tightly with rope among the knights. Surely… this wasn’t the gift they had mentioned.
Whitney barely managed to steady the feeling of her heart dropping to the ground. She turned to Sir Randy, silently demanding an explanation with her gaze. Understanding her unspoken request, he immediately stepped forward and spoke.
“These men were attempting to cut off the water flow in the Harbes Mountains. We didn’t k*ll them—they’re still breathing.”
“...Isn’t that beside the point?”
The real concern was whether these men were even conscious. Their faces were so battered that it was hard to tell if they were still aware of their surroundings. Whitney shot a look at Sir Zegmon, but he awkwardly averted his gaze.
“There may have been a bit of rough handling. Mercenaries aren’t exactly known for their gentle touch…”
"They still can talk, right?"
“Of course, Your Grace. They may look like this, but they respond quite well to questions.”
Randy let out a booming laugh before nudging one of the bound men with his foot. Instinctively, both captives straightened their backs and shouted in unison with trembling voices.
“Hiik! We’re sorry! Please spare us! We were just blinded by money! We were only told to cut off the water flow, nothing more!”
Whether out of fear or some form of conditioning, they screamed as if their lives depended on it—perhaps because they did. Their frantic cries echoed so loudly that Whitney’s ears began to ache. Meanwhile, standing proudly beside them, Randy and the Kennedy Mercenary Group puffed out their chests, looking immensely pleased with themselves.
"So did you find out who was behind this?”
“Of course. It was a noble from the capital—a count’s family, I believe. They said the name was… Dravich?”
Randy gave the man another light kick, and the captive frantically nodded.
“Y-Yes! That’s right! It was the Dravich Family! They paid us!”
“...The Dravich Family?”
She knew they were utterly loyal to the queen, but to go this far? This was beyond mere devotion—it was madness.
The Dravich Family was none other than Lady Liona's family.
***
Cheston pulled his cloak tightly around him, preparing to leave the castle. Cheston pulled his cloak tightly around him, preparing to leave the castle. He planned to travel to Yohareim with the men his father had sent. There was nothing more certain than seeing things with his own eyes—he needed evidence.
“Your Highness, a letter has arrived from the informant.”
“A letter?”
Just before mounting his horse, he took the letter and unfolded it.
[We have identified the nobles from the capital involved in this matter. The Baron of Leonhardt, the Count of Eddington, and the Count of Dravich.]
“About the Count of Eddington, I believe they were indebted to the duchy. Their daughter even attended Lady Helene’s banquet.”
Recalling bits and pieces of information he had picked up while dealing with the Viscount of Wieg, Cheston furrowed his brows. Just how deep did this web of connections run?
If it was the Leonhardt Family, then they were related to the one who had given Whitney an invitation at the previous banquet. Had they tried to forge a connection with her because of the queen? But if that were the case, why did the two families seem to be at odds? Something didn’t quite add up.
Regardless, one thing was clear—people kept circling around Whitney, trying to entangle her in their schemes. The thought unnerved him. This pressure would only continue to mount until the fight was finally over.
“Is something the matter?”
“Nothing, ride on.”
He pulled the reins of his horse, and the group surged forward, slicing through the wind. By nightfall, it would be easier to slip into the crowd unnoticed.
It was well past sunset when Cheston and his knights arrived in Yohareim. The town had an unusual tension hanging in the air—almost no men were in sight.
Dismounting, they disguised themselves as mercenaries and scattered to observe their surroundings. The moment children caught sight of them, they rushed to lock their doors. From the nearby tavern, a few figures—presumably men—were nursing their drinks while stealing wary glances in their direction.
"Aaron, follow those men.”
Cheston settled down and ordered a beer. As he casually took a sip, he struck up a conversation with the innkeeper, his tone light and unassuming.
“Not many people around here, I see. We’re just passing through, but it seems like outsiders aren’t exactly welcome.”
PAGE 4
“People have been disappearing around here. It just keeps happening. We can’t let our guard down for a second.”
“So that’s why everyone seems so on edge.”
“Exactly. The town sits on the main route, so we get plenty of travelers. We need them to survive, but at the same time, we can’t just turn them away—even if it means taking the risk.”
Cheston nodded as he accepted the drink set before him. Just as he was about to take a sip, a sharp scream rang out from outside.
Without hesitation, he sprang to his feet and rushed out of the tavern—only to stop short at the sight before him. A slender woman was strangling a man with a rope, her grip unrelenting as he clawed at the restraint around his throat.
"Help me!"
The woman’s voice rang out, unwavering, and in an instant, people poured out of their homes. Their eyes burned with fury as they charged toward the man struggling under her grip.
“Give me back my brother! Where did you take him?!”
The bound man thrashed, clawing desperately at the rope, cutting off his breathing. His face had turned d*athtly pale, his breaths growing ragged and uneven as if he was moments away from suffocation.
Cheston stepped forward, effortlessly pulling the enraged villagers back. Then, with a swift motion, he unsheathed his sword and sliced through the rope around the man’s throat. The sudden force sent the woman stumbling backward, but before she could hit the ground, one of the knights caught her, steadying her in place.
“If you k*ll him, you won’t find out where your brother is.”
The girl’s glare was sharp enough to cut. She thrashed in the knight’s hold, screaming as if she would lunge for the man’s throat next.
“We found him!”
A shout rang out from the distance. Cheston immediately turned his head toward the voice. He gave a small nod to the knight restraining the girl before lowering himself to one knee, and meeting her gaze.
“It sounds like we found your brother. Do you want to come with me?"
“...And how do I know who you are? For all I know, you could be another one of those people trying to take me and my brother away!”
Her breath came fast and sharp, her wild eyes flashing with distrust. She lunged forward, fingers curled like claws, aiming for his face.
Without hesitation, Cheston picked up the child from the ground, carrying her effortlessly as he strode toward the knight. The girl thrashed violently in his grip, and for a moment, he wondered if she might actually leave a mark. His tone turned firm, a warning laced in his words.
“If you scratch my face, you’ll be in big trouble.”
“I’m already in big trouble the moment a stranger grabs me! My brother was taken just like this—do you think your face is what matters right now? If I had a knife, I’d drive it straight into your chest!”
The girl continued to spit out venomous words, her sharp tongue as fierce as her struggling hands and legs. At this rate, she would hurt herself—or leave him in a rather sorry state. Injuries could be treated, but the consequences of mishandling this situation wouldn’t be so easily brushed aside.
Cheston finally set her down once he had put some distance between them and the crowd. Then, without a word, he reached up and removed the cloak draped over his shoulders.
Under the dim moonlight, his golden hair caught a faint shimmer, and his deep blue eyes became unmistakably clear.
Many people wouldn’t recognize his face—his portrait wasn’t widely known—but the moment anyone set eyes on him, they would become slightly suspicious about his identity. The golden hair alone marked him as a prince of the Luowen Kingdom, a clear testament to the royal bloodline of the Clifton Family.
"Cheston Clifton, the Second Prince of the Kingdom of Luowen. It's my name, little one."
“…”
The girl’s face, flushed red from struggling, turned d*athly pale in an instant. Her eyes widened before she quickly dropped her head, her small frame trembling helplessly.
“I came to investigate the strange occurrences in this town, so you don’t need to be afraid.”
“…Really?"
“Yes. But you must not speak of this to anyone.”
He lifted a finger to his lips, a mischievous smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
The girl nodded vigorously, her earlier defiance completely gone. With her now calm, Cheston turned and walked back toward his knights. As they approached, a modified carriage came into view—reinforced with iron bars, ensuring that whoever was inside wouldn’t escape.
There were young children and unconscious women in it.
“...So they really were trafficking people.”
Inside the carriage, the captives bore the seal of the Kingdom of Luowen on their bodies—a grim mark of ownership that should never have existed.
***
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