By the time they returned to the castle, the sun had fully risen. Since the prolonged banquet took place just before an official holiday, there were no formal duties or routines scheduled for today.
Though unaware of the details, those high-ranking courtiers who sensed that something had happened, including Lady Samlet, followed him with anxious expressions.
“Gather all the courtiers within the castle.”
He had managed to obtain a few strands of hair easily, but the departure was hasty, and a thorough investigation had not been conducted yet. Searching through the space where he had stayed might reveal some clues.
It was an entirely unexpected situation, but it was apparent that this disappearance was not an impulsive or sudden decision. Everything, from the wig and cushion laid on the bed as a deception to the note left on the greenhouse windowsill, hinted at a well-planned action.
If he had decided to leave secretly, he would have made preparations in advance, and there would undoubtedly be remaining traces. Although it hadn’t been long since Gezell learned about him, Rensley Maelrosen, known until now, was not meticulous or thorough compared to his strong actions. Gezell summoned Lady Samlet quietly.
“Search the entire castle thoroughly, focusing on the second-floor chambers of Sir Maelrosen and the Grand Duchess. Bring me anything you find.”
“Your Grace, has something happened to Sir Rensley?”
“I will explain the reasons later. For now, instruct the courtiers. After the banquet, inform them that the Grand Duchess has moved her bedroom outside for her health.”
“Understood.”
Samlet hurriedly ran off, and Gezell contemplated his next move. First, he needed to investigate the people around him. There might be one or two individuals who shared the plan. It could be among the members of the Knights, or perhaps the castle workers or people from the external tavern.
Places such as the common room and training grounds used by the Knights also needed to be explored. This task would be entrusted to Anton, the Knight Commander. He didn’t want to involve the Knight Order in the search, but there was also his tacit approval of the reasons behind this incident. Such cooperation might be necessary for him as well. And…
Despite the bustling servants busy since early morning with the fallout of the bombshell, Gezell moved forward, leaving the chaos behind. He walked towards the corridor leading to the backyard, which, even at this time, remained quiet. As he stepped outside, the newly rising sunlight delicately illuminated the top of the greenhouse.
Staring blankly at the dazzling golden reflections on the glass, Gezell entered. Since he had discovered a note left by Rensley inside, there might be other clues. He wanted to personally investigate the greenhouse without entrusting it to someone else.
Creak. Opening the door and stepping inside, the commotion outside seemed to disappear. Instead, a warm, clear, and vibrant warmth, like someone’s smile, greeted Gezell.
“Your Grace, have you come?”
The familiar and spirited voice seemed to echo in his ears. Gezell stood still, waiting for the premonition to become reality. He could almost envision the approaching figure of the man with an expression of embarrassment, claiming it was just a joke, that he wanted to briefly enjoy the outside of the castle before the banquet ended.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
However, the greenhouse remained eerily quiet, seemingly mocking Gezell’s anticipation. He swallowed a breath and took a step forward.
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He first examined the spot where the note had been tucked, but there was no sign of any special items. Lowering himself to inspect the floor and walls, he then moved on to another display. Furniture that neatly organized basic farming tools such as flowerpots, seedlings, and a sickle had accumulated among some miscellaneous items.
A book with pages marked like it had been read but seemed different from the last thrilling thief story he had described. A dried half-cookie fallen with forgotten fruit. A pen, ink, pencil, and a few blank pages… All were just random items that didn’t provide much help in understanding the situation.
However, when Gezell noticed a pair of discarded shoes, his expression showed a renewed contemplation. They were the leather boots frequently worn by Rensley.
Although Aldrant experienced heavy snowfall and frequent ice, requiring most people to wear boots with metal studs for outdoor activities, inside the castle, leather or thick cloth shoes were sufficient for the inhabitants. Rensley seemed to have changed shoes here. The fact that he left the note under the watering can and all the other signs hinted that the greenhouse served as his base.
‘This greenhouse wasn’t designed for this purpose…’
Gezell felt a bitter taste in his mouth as he stood up.
He couldn’t know anything yet. If it was a planned action, Rensley might have carefully charted his course before departing, or perhaps, even leaving his footprints ending at the edge of the cliff could be part of the operation. Rensley Maelrosen was a clever person. If he hadn’t used tracking magic, Gezell wouldn’t have thought he would slip into the forest.
‘But if it really is the end…’
If these ominous speculations were true…
He closed his eyes tightly at the horrific words that crept unexpectedly into his mind. Touching his forehead with his fingertips, Gezell looked down at the dark brown soil where various plants were growing.
…No, that can’t be. People may deceive others, but magic doesn’t lie. Rensley Maelrosen must still be hiding in the forest. It has to be.
With a quiet deep breath, as if burying his anxiety beneath his chest, Gezell pulled out the note he had placed in the front pocket.
Rensley Maelrosen’s lively handwriting was surprisingly neat. Although he had mentioned that his education as royalty was lacking, his handwriting was not much different from that of a well-educated noble. It seemed a bit hastily written, with some letters at the end seeming to fly off or ink splatters, but that was all.
He examined the note as if investigating for hidden codes or riddles but found nothing. Folding the paper neatly, he placed it back in the front pocket. Nothing was resolved, and no clues were found. Only questions grew like tangled vines.
If he thought it was the end, wouldn’t he have left more than just these playful lines of writing?
If he intended to leave with the thought of not returning, shouldn’t he have explained more?
Since realizing that Rensley had disappeared, Gezell had been trying to pry into Rensley’s thoughts, but it remained pitch dark. It felt as if he had encountered an unsolvable problem for the first time in his life.
He pleaded for him not to leave, saying he didn’t want him to go. He promised that he would grant anything if Rensley desired it and that he could travel anywhere he wished. He would be satisfied as long as Rensley returned.
He, too, responded that he would do the same. Since then, there had been no request to leave or a plea to let him go. He was a man who would often nag more than the troublesome attendants.
Nonchalantly discussing his upcoming new marriage and asking who he was planning to marry. He teased Gezell, saying that even he, born as an illegitimate child, with his limited education as royalty, could meet new people, fall in love, and get married someday. He even teased Gezell that he would be the one to introduce him to the lively new bride.
Yet, he never stated what he truly wanted.
‘I love you…’
Leaving behind such words, he disappeared on that night. Why, exactly?
“Your Grace, it’s Samlet. May I come in?”
While standing in one place, locked in tent-like thoughts, Gezell heard a knock on the door. Only then did Gezell snap back to reality and answered quietly, “Come in.”
Samlet cautiously entered, and Gezell examined her expression for any signs of news. Her expression was not exactly cheerful, not even as a joke. Gezell’s hopeful anticipation, even if not for significant clues, leaned towards more optimistic news, and fear had begun to bud in his heart.
“Have you found anything?”
“I couldn’t find anything special, but this…”
Samlet extended both hands, revealing an item hidden behind wide and thick sleeves. It was a common leather-covered notebook found in each room of the Grand Castle.
“It was found by the janitors cleaning the banquet hall, as they were about to throw it away. They happened to notice it, and it seemed to be Rensley’s belongings.”
“…It is indeed his.”
After flipping through a few pages, Gezell nodded. Pages with sketches of Cornia and trivial scribbles were somewhat familiar to him. Samlet sighed and provided further explanation.
“It seemed odd that a notebook was left in the banquet hall, so I checked… I didn’t read the contents. Even just looking at the first page, I could tell it was written by Rensley. Your Grace, is something wrong with Rensley’s well-being?”
“Can you give me a moment alone? Please wait a bit longer for an explanation.”
“Understood.”
Although Samlet had been meticulously beside him, she retreated without any formality, her face filled with concern. Watching her leave the greenhouse and return to the main tower, Gezell sat down on the chair placed next to the shelf.
He betrayed the hope of finding a plan to leave the castle or a written path after leaving. The notebook was filled with random thoughts that came to mind at various times—doodles, brief impressions of the book he was reading, cooking recipes, and whimsical drawings with a pencil. Gezell carefully examined each page, not wanting to miss even a small clue.
There were several passages that could evoke laughter, but Gezell’s expression remained consistently serious. As he flipped through the pages at a steady pace, his gaze and hands suddenly stopped when he reached the middle of the notebook.
An entire page was filled with a pencil drawing. Unlike sketches mainly depicting landscapes, still life, and people, this page featured animals, a black bear wearing a large crown, in a unique style.
“We don’t raise bears in the castle. In fact, encountering a bear while roaming the forest or mountains is considered one of the disasters that people in Aldrant want to avoid the most.”
‘A bear. Why would Lord Maelrosen draw such an image?’
Frowning, he read the name written under the drawing, and his eyes widened slightly. After reading the name below the drawing several times, elegantly written in a fancy script that even included the embellishments of the Grand Duke’s flag, it was Gezell Jivendad’s own name.
Gezell stared intently at the drawing. Although he had read some books on art and drawings, those books only explained the meanings behind the works of famous artists. He had never read a book that taught how to interpret doodles made by ordinary people.
For a while, Gezell’s brow wrinkles gradually disappeared as he stared at the drawing. However, his expression became even more gloomy.
Even if he tried to interpret it positively, a bear was just a predatory beast that threatened people’s lives. Even if captured, it had little value, as neither its meat nor its skin held much worth and would only circulate among poor commoners. The people were so afraid of encountering bears that they tried to avoid it like any other disaster.
It was difficult to pinpoint the exact reason, but at some point, Rensley Maelrosen seemed to perceive himself as useless and threatening. Perhaps the issue lay in how firmly Gezell had refused when Rensley first expressed the desire to leave Roudken. If Rensley had been afraid that he might turn as predatory as a bear, and Rensley had left the castle quietly without a second request, the situation would not have been so hard to understand.
As if avoiding the conclusion, he turned to the next page. After several pages of similar banter and blank sheets, a different page appeared this time.
Gezell held the notebook a little closer and examined the writing. Although there was a lot written, it was difficult to recognize. It was all covered with thick black lines, erasing the long-written text.
Giving up on understanding each individual character, Gezell flipped through the subsequent pages. From the erased pages onward, each page was similar. Something long had been written, only to be completely erased. The meticulousness in the writing and the nervousness felt in the erased lines gave a sense of Rensley Maelrosen’s irritable mood. Before erasing, it could be inferred that the writing was quite carefully crafted.
Gezell pulled the makeshift table that had been placed at a distance. He unfolded the notebook on the table, which he had been holding until then, and rested his chin on his fingers.
Reading the messily erased writing and trying to deduce the content would take some time. Although it was challenging to concentrate when feeling anxious, he couldn’t change the situation with impatience alone, so he needed to be careful.
Gezel.. this notebook is the hardest book you are going to read 🥲
Thank you!
Gezell’s gonna suffer for a bit and I like it lamoooooo😂💛
thank you for the chapters
ur welcomee~😁💛
Bears useless and predatory ? Can someone tell this dork he’s like a big fluffy Black cuddly bear in Rensley’s mind lmao. No need to rationalize it too much it’s just stupid doodling 🤭
Stupid boy burn a little in this angsty fire 🔥
Thanks bro . Clean work as always 💗
Gezell’s not only gonna suffer with Rensley’s absence, he’s also getting shot with his own thoughts lmao
I’m just sooooo happy we finally reached this volume, I was waiting DESPERATELY for other to read my fav volume lol