If You Wish to Have Me - Chapter 143

Perhaps he had read that Kisa had no intention of backing down.

A heavy sigh escaped from Gale’s lips, his brow furrowed with fine lines.

“There’s no need to worry about that too.”

And right after that muttered remark, Kisa bit her lip slightly.

“So you’re saying there are other matters that others are currently focusing their attention on.”

“…….”

“I’m asking you this, Mr. Gale. Please don’t hide it and tell me. I’m the person involved in this case. I need to know what’s happening because of me.”

Even if knowing wouldn’t immediately enable her to do anything about it.

Their gazes met in the air, and Gale, who had been rubbing his brow, finally opened his lips.

“Lady Manoa told me not to say anything, but… honestly, I think you have the right to know as well. She has a tendency to think of young people as too immature.”

He moved his body, which had been leaning diagonally against the wall, to properly face Kisa.

“Very well. I’ll tell you.”

Kisa’s face brightened for a moment, then immediately became serious again.

The story that was about to unfold was unlikely to be good news for her.

“I’m not sure where to start.”

The man scratched his head briefly before asking Kisa.

“I previously informed you that you’re currently considered to be bedridden with a sudden illness in Sorbi.”

“Yes, and also that the wedding was temporarily postponed rather than canceled for that reason.”

In fact, it was a situation Kisa had somewhat predicted even before leaving that place.

Her father, who valued the union with the Hillan family so highly, and Seyard, who showed abnormal obsession with Kisa, would never simply give up on the marriage.

They would surely make some excuse to postpone the ceremony and then search for the whereabouts of the runaway Kisa.

Indeed, according to the news Gale had delivered during his last visit, things were proceeding as expected.

As a result of Manoa’s trading company’s attention, they had detected signs that both the Hillan and Vansfelt families were secretly deploying people and making moves.

‘However, if there’s one problem…’

That was all Kisa knew.

Whether out of consideration for Kisa, Gale hadn’t provided any further information, and there were limits to understanding the situation there through newspapers in this place.

Even though they were neighbors, it was still a different country, so the basic level of interest was different, and moreover, not all newspapers made it to this quiet small village.

The news accessible here was at most something like: the wedding of a high-ranking duke from the neighboring country, which even the king was to attend, fell through because the bride fell ill.

While it seemed to have become quite the topic of conversation in Octava due to all the commotion in Sorbi, it failed to capture the interest of the people in this village more than the new products arriving at Mana’s general store.

“I didn’t tell you in detail then, but actually, in Sorbi, questions are being raised quite openly about whether you really fell ill.”

At Gale’s words, Kisa placed her hand on her cheek.

“That’s inevitable. More than a few people witnessed me walking around the streets in good health just days before the wedding.”

She had not only attended gatherings but had also gone out shopping in the commercial district with Aria.

Moreover, the wedding wasn’t canceled a day before, but was suddenly halted on the day itself after all the distinguished guests had been summoned. How could they not be suspicious?

“Some speculate that you had a serious accident and Vansfelt is covering it up by claiming illness, others think it’s something the Count orchestrated to extract more from the Hillan family, and there are even those who say you were shocked to discover the Duke had another woman and refused the marriage.”

As if he had decided not to hide anything anymore, Gale laid out Sorbi’s current situation to Kisa without reservation.

“Of course, some of them have hit upon the right answer.”

“…….”

“Anyway, the abundance of rumors works to our advantage.”

“With people’s attention focused on it, the two families would find it difficult to take aggressive action.”

If they showed signs of searching for Kisa, the public would immediately arrive at the truth.

Gale nodded slowly.

“Exactly. Our prediction was correct. Only half of it, though.”

“Only half?”

“Your father seemed to be careful about his movements in various ways. Perhaps to appear like a father with a sick daughter, he not only refused to attend any social events but also refrained from meeting other people altogether. Vansfelt’s subordinates probably also have limitations in their search range as they try to move without being noticed.”

“……But?”

Kisa felt her voice trembling slightly as she urged him to continue.

“Duke Hillan is different.”

As expected. His presence struck into her heart, making her feel slightly dizzy.

“At least from what I could see, he seemed completely unbound by such rumors.”

Gale’s explanation continued.

“For some time after you left, he seemed to be staying home and not going out, but then suddenly resumed his activities. He even attended the 40th wedding anniversary banquet of the royal couple held just a few days ago.”

Seyard, who appeared in public, consistently told the people who flocked to him with curiosity the following:

[The prospective bride’s illness was not serious, but she needed special care for some time to fully recover, and her choice of convalescence was to approach the marriage in perfect physical condition.]

“Did people believe what he said?”

“At first, many were suspicious, but the Duke’s attitude was so calm and composed, unlike someone who had met misfortune, and as he continued to appear before others saying the same thing, public opinion began to change little by little.”

Somehow, Kisa could vividly picture in her mind his ability to make lies appear as truth.

Hadn’t she herself received suspicious feelings several times yet continuously tried to believe him?

“Actually, because of that, the rumors have considerably died down compared to the beginning. Recently, the fact that the youngest princess is in a passionate relationship with some musician was revealed, which also shifted people’s attention.”

“What did you say?”

Perhaps because Kisa’s reaction was larger than expected, Gale looked somewhat flustered.

“Ah, you didn’t know. Well, it’s something that broke just a few days ago, so the news probably hasn’t reached this village yet.”

“By youngest princess, you mean Princess Arta?”

“That’s right.”

“Does saying she’s in a passionate relationship mean that musician is currently in Sorbi?”

“Yes, well. From what I heard, that seems to be the case.”

“Then is that musician’s name perhaps… Gabriel?”

“Pardon?”

It was a question she had asked with some confidence, but an unexpected answer came back.

“Well, I’m not particularly interested in such matters, so I didn’t read the article carefully, but I’m certain it wasn’t a name like that.”

Kisa blinked for a moment, not understanding what this meant, but soon felt relieved.

At any rate, it was fortunate that Gabriel, who had gone to the trouble of escaping and hiding, hadn’t been caught by Arta.

‘What’s going on here?’

A romantic scandal between Princess Arta and another musician.

What immediately came to mind was the speculation that the princess, unable to forget Gabriel, had started dating a similar man, but there was no way to know the detailed circumstances.

Along with the impression that her tastes really didn’t change, she wondered whether the two’s romance had been revealed to the world by coincidence.

‘Maybe Seyard…’

No, the important thing wasn’t the truth behind the princess’s love affair.

Even if she suspected, it wasn’t as if someone would tell her the truth.

Kisa decided to focus on Seyard’s recent activities that Gale was telling her about.

“So, regarding Duke Hillan’s movements, are there any other notable points?”

Perhaps it was her imagination, but she felt like he had something else he really wanted to say.

Upon hearing Kisa’s question, Gale lowered his gaze.

After a brief silence, he spoke.

“Actually, he came to our trading company.”

Kisa’s breath caught. But she mustered the courage to ask what she needed to ask.

“……Is that really true?”

“Yes, he met with Lady Manoa face-to-face and asked directly. Where is his fiancée?”

At that moment, her heart seemed to drop.

Not knowing how to respond, she could only breathe heavily for a while.

It felt as if Seyard had followed her right to her doorstep and was strangling her.

“Miss.”

Noticing Kisa’s abnormal state, Gale stepped toward her.

But Kisa held out her palm to stop him, then supported herself against the nearby wall.

Though she felt sorry for him, this way felt more stable.

How much time had passed? Having barely calmed her racing heart, Kisa moved her dry lips.

“I’m fine now. Please continue telling me.”

“But your complexion—”

“I’m really fine. I need to know. What exactly did Seyard say when he met Miss Manoa?”

Gale silently stared at Kisa for a moment before opening his mouth.

“Don’t be too anxious. He didn’t meet only Lady Manoa.”

“What do you mean?”

“This is something Lady Manoa learned later by contacting other people.”

Kisa listened blankly to what he was saying.

“Duke Hillan…..reportedly visited everyone who had been close to you at the gatherings.”