Edmund left his study, trying to chase after Leonor. Sebastian and Nisya were nowhere to be seen when Edmund searched for them.
He arrived at the main hall and encountered Oleander, Marcus, and Jacob.
The three of them imdiately turned and greeted Edmund with smiles. Marcus looked unusually friendly, even though he had always acted cold and arrogant before.
However, now that Julian Aschwin’s proposal to beco a Marquess territory was being considered by the Duke, his attitude had softened.
Marcus knew that he, Jacob, and Lara needed to build a good relationship with the Aschwin Family, especially Edmund.
"Edmund, my nephew. How have you been?" Marcus asked.
"I’m fine. I need to go," Edmund replied.
Oleander was startled and imdiately stood up when she saw Edmund about to leave the room. "Where are you going? Stay here and keep us company, Edmund."
"I don’t have ti," Edmund explained, stopping in his tracks once more. "We’ll discuss that marriage plan another ti."
"Edmund?!" Oleander shouted, but Edmund ignored her.
He opened the door and ran forward while still wearing his fur-lined coat and noble shirt. The man noticed two guards standing at the front gate. Edmund imdiately questioned them.
"Did either of you see Lady Leonor?" Edmund asked.
"We saw her head that way, Viscount Edmund," one of the guards answered.
The direction the man pointed toward was west, the place where Leonor would most likely go to calm herself. Edmund knew exactly where she had gone.
After thanking them, Edmund sprinted through the city’s main road, drawing the attention of the citizens since it was unusual to see Edmund running alone through the streets.
His attention returned forward. He did not know what had happened to Leonor, but from the way she left his study earlier, sothing had clearly happened to her heart.
After running quite a distance, Edmund finally arrived and stopped in front of the orphanage. Sebastian and Nisya were already standing there, surrounded by a crowd of people.
Sebastian and Nisya turned toward him and imdiately explained the situation.
"What happened?" Edmund asked.
Edmund turned his head and was shocked to see everyone inside the orphanage fast asleep.
Crimson-red mist filled the entire orphanage building, trapped inside a magical do that prevented the mist from escaping.
"We can’t go inside. I’m worried the mist will have harmful effects on anyone who inhales it," Sebastian replied.
"Leonor?!" Edmund shouted.
However, no response ca from inside the orphanage. If the mist was truly that thick, then everyone inside had likely already been affected and fallen unconscious.
"Call the family soldiers and seal off this block. Don’t let anyone enter."
"I’ll do it," Sebastian answered.
"Nisya, make sure the citizens stay away from this place. Make sure they don’t learn anything," Edmund ordered.
"I’ll handle it, Lord Edmund," Nisya replied.
Sebastian and Nisya imdiately began carrying out their orders. Sebastian returned to Aschwin Mansion to mobilize the family soldiers, while Nisya struggled to manage the crowd.
Edmund remained standing in front of the orphanage. His eyes narrowed sharply as he stared ahead at the crimson mist, which no longer seed to grow thicker as though it had already reached its limit.
His fists clenched tightly. This was his fault. Edmund had not explained the real situation to Leonor. He never expected Leonor to react like this.
Not long afterward, armored soldiers from Aschwin Mansion arrived and began blocking the road from both sides. No citizen was allowed to pass under any circumstance.
Nisya returned to Edmund’s side and explained that all the citizens had been secured, while Sebastian also returned to report that the blockade was complete.
"Lady Leonor?!" Nisya called out.
"It’s useless. This magic do seems to block sound from both outside and inside," Sebastian answered.
"Then what are we going to do?"
"I’m going in," Edmund said.
Nisya and Sebastian looked utterly shocked, their faces turning pale.
"No, you can’t. Let do it instead. You’re too valuable to the Archie Territory," Sebastian insisted.
"You won’t be able to endure it. The only person who can pass through that wall of mist... is ."
"But—"
Nisya stopped Sebastian from arguing further. Their eyes t briefly before both of them reluctantly agreed.
Edmund had already accomplished things they considered impossible. For this matter, perhaps Edmund truly had a solution.
After all, they knew Edmund well. He was not the reckless, careless, or foolish type of man. He always thought through his actions carefully.
"Alright," Sebastian sighed. "Be careful, Edmund. We’ll wait here."
Edmund took a deep breath and forced himself through the crimson magical do that completely sealed the orphanage.
Nisya and Sebastian remained worried, continuously watching Edmund while helping as much as they could.
After struggling for so ti, Edmund finally entered the do and imdiately dropped to one knee.
It’s suffocating... the density of the mist is far worse than before.
"Lord Edmund?!" Sebastian shouted in panic, but Edmund only raised his hand briefly to signal that he was alright.
The man stood up with all his strength and continued walking forward, deeper into the mist. Soon, Sebastian and Nisya could no longer see Edmund’s figure within the thick crimson fog.
Inside the mist, Edmund looked around. Every orphanage resident had fallen asleep in different positions, matching whatever they had been doing before inhaling the rose pollen within the crimson mist.
Edmund sharpened his focus even more. Crimson mana radiated from his body, allowing him to move more freely. The suffocating sensation still lingered, but it no longer stabbed at him like before.
He walked deeper into the orphanage hallway while continuously calling Leonor’s na, and occasionally Lilith’s as well. His steps stopped once he reached the backyard.
Beneath a tree, a girl wearing a red dress sat with her knees pulled close, burying her face against them. Amid the silence, Edmund could faintly hear quiet sobbing.
"Leonor?" Edmund called softly.
The girl clearly heard the man’s voice calling her na. With swollen eyes, she slowly lifted her head and stared ahead.
There stood a man dressed in noble clothing, calling out to her. His face always brought Leonor a sense of peace.
"Sir... Edmund?" Leonor replied softly, her voice hoarse as tears continued streaming down her cheeks.
"It seems I made you sad and disappointed, Leonor."
"I’m just sad," Leonor replied.
"If you marry her and leave with her... I..."
Leonor tightened her arms around her knees, lowering her head again as she cried.
"I’m... afraid of being abandoned."
mories of Leonor’s loneliness began haunting her once more.
She had grown up surrounded by people who only cared about her strength. Leonor had never experienced the warmth of a family that genuinely loved her wholeheartedly.
Without using her. Without making her feel isolated. And always being there whenever Leonor ca ho to rest.
If Edmund married, he would leave, and his life would beco far busier, leaving no ti for Leonor.
"I won’t marry her," Edmund said firmly, imdiately drawing Leonor’s attention again.
The girl slowly lifted her head and looked straight ahead. Edmund’s expression was serious, without the slightest trace of dishonesty.
Leonor knew Edmund. He would never lie to her.
"That marriage was planned by my mother without discussing it with . I don’t want to marry through a plan like that."
"But soday, you’ll definitely get married, right? Humans are destined to marry and have children," Leonor replied.
Edmund smiled faintly and stepped closer before crouching fully in front of Leonor. Their eyes t for quite a while as Edmund reached out and wiped away her tears.
The gentle touch of Edmund’s hand brushing against her cheeks and tears gave warmth amidst the cold loneliness surrounding Leonor.
That... was the simple thing Leonor truly wanted.
"Even if I have to marry soday, I’ll marry the woman I choose. Not soone chosen by others. Not soone chosen by my family."
"Does... that woman already exist?" Leonor asked.
Edmund smiled softly, "Not yet."
"So, you won’t get married anyti soon?"
"So, you’ll still stay with ?"
"So, you’ll still guide , right?"
The man stretched out both arms and pulled Leonor into an embrace. The two of them hugged beneath the shade of the tree, surrounded by the dense crimson fog.
Only the two of them were there. No one saw them. No one heard their conversation.
"Of course," Edmund replied, "I’ll continue staying by your side, Leonor."
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