Chapter 20
“…What? Peter’s gone missing?”
The next day, Natasha heard some startling news from Madame Sherry, the pub owner.
“Yes. He didn’t show up for work yesterday without notice, so I thought that troublemaker had just gone off drinking again. But then the inquisitors came, saying no one had heard from him since the day before that. Not a single witness! Can you believe it?”
In that moment, Natasha remembered the uninvited visitors from the night before. They must have been inquisitors, investigating Peter’s disappearance.
“Anyway, since he vanished without a trace, it doesn’t look like he ran away. The inquisitors think he might’ve been targeted by thieves or worse. Tisha, you be careful too. The world’s not safe these days.”
“I will. Don’t worry too much and take it easy today. I’ll work harder to cover for Peter.”
“That’s kind of you to say.”
Madame Sherry brought over a handful of snacks, telling her to eat while she worked. Even though Natasha politely declined, her apron pockets ended up stuffed with candies and chocolates.
To lighten her bulging pockets, she unwrapped one and popped it into her mouth. The sticky sweet apple flavor clung to the roof of her mouth and her tongue, switching places as she sucked on it.
Peter’s disappearance…
Peter Sabrina had been bothering Natasha since her first day at the pub. He constantly dumped his tasks on her, which she tolerated. Even when he blamed her for his own mistakes, she let it slide. That is, until the day he said he liked quiet, gentle girls like Tisha—and confessed his love.
After she firmly rejected him, his behavior turned violent. He started harassing her and even tried to follow her home once. She was so scared that night, she didn’t dare return home and wandered the streets instead.
The news of Peter’s disappearance was a little shocking, but it didn’t leave Natasha deeply shaken. She didn’t want to stir up conflict, so she had kept quiet all this time. His absence brought her more concern over who would mop the floors than sorrow over what had happened to him.
Still, there were moments she disliked how cold and cynical she had become.
“You worked hard today, Tisha. I added double your usual pay.”
“Thank you, Madame.”
Despite her tired and worn-out face, Natasha smiled. With that much pay, she no longer had to worry about saving up for the carriage fare.
Just as she was about to leave, Natasha suddenly froze and turned back. She stepped away from the door and returned to the kitchen.
“I just remembered—I forgot something. Just a moment…”
Ignoring Madame Sherry’s curious question, Natasha quietly hid herself by the chimney in the kitchen.
Soon after, the bell at the pub’s entrance rang. A dull voice began announcing closing time, but then faded mid-sentence.
“As I said before, Peter didn’t show up for work the day before yesterday. He often skipped work, so I didn’t bother checking on him. Honestly, firing him would’ve been better for the pub.”
The inquisitor writing down her statement gave a small nod. Madame Sherry, who had looked tense as if she were the suspect, relaxed a little.
“Any updates?”
“Not yet. We’re continuing to question the townspeople. With no clues left behind, the investigation isn’t progressing. All we can do now is narrow down suspects and interrogate them thoroughly.”
“If you think thieves were involved, then it’s a matter of identifying suspicious outsiders.”
“Exactly. Thank you again for your cooperation.”
“I only did what was necessary. He worked here for quite a while, after all…”
Hearing their conversation from the back, Natasha froze.
If they’re targeting people with suspicious identities…
There was a good chance her forged ID would be discovered by the inquisitors. If she got caught up in this, they could dig up everything about her.
I’ll just say I lost it.
That was the best move for now—claiming she had lost her identification card.
The inquisitors had said they’d return to the pub tomorrow to speak with the employees. If Madame Sherry would act as a witness for her, then Natasha could prove her identity and alibi, and avoid falling under suspicion.
It’ll be fine. This is nothing. Don’t panic.
Trying to suppress her growing anxiety, she made her way back home.
Then, as she crossed the hill and finally reached her house—
“…Ah.”
Her mental preparation crumbled instantly. All the reassurance she’d built up came crashing down.
Standing in front of her door was a group of inquisitors.
That in itself wasn’t a problem. She had expected something like this.
The Letius Imperial Knights…
What truly worried her was that the investigator standing at her door belonged to the Letius Imperial Knights.
There was no reason for the high-ranking Imperial Knights to personally investigate a missing young man from a quiet village like this.
Sensing that something wasn’t right, Natasha instinctively stepped back. Unfortunately, her foot landed on a dry patch of leaves, and the rustling noise broke the stillness.
There was no way trained knights wouldn’t catch that. Noticing her sudden stiffness, a few of them exchanged quick glances.
Don’t run.
Running would only make her look suspicious. Anyone watching would assume she had something to hide.
So, Natasha forced herself to appear calm, walking forward as if she had somewhere to be. Though her nerves tensed under their silent scrutiny, she held her composure and acted like someone with a clear destination.
Then, one of them—the man who looked like the highest-ranking among them—stepped toward her. His white hair, gently swaying in the breeze, came to a stop as he moved.
He addressed her with calm, formal politeness.
“May I ask for your cooperation? Are you a resident of this village?”
“No, I’m just visiting a friend.”
“At this hour?”
“She asked me to bring her something. Is there a problem?”
“No, nothing at all. Sorry to disturb you so late. Please take care on your way.”
“Thank you. And thank you for your service. Have a good night.”
She managed to hold her voice steady. Thank goodness. She hadn’t slipped up.
Now all she had to do was follow through—actually arrive at the friend’s house she claimed she was headed to.
That was the tricky part.
Where… where should I go?
The alley she had taken led to the very edge of the village. Behind her was a dead end. Ahead, there were only a few houses left.
She had to pick one—and do it convincingly—right in front of the knights.
Should I pretend I took a wrong turn?
No. That wouldn’t work. Once they started doubting her, no excuse would be enough. They might even offer to escort her to this “friend’s” house. If that happened, everything would unravel.
You’re almost out of road, Natasha. You have to stop.
Each step felt like it was stealing time from her life. She could feel their eyes drilling into her back, watching every move, every shadow.
But once I stop… then what?
No answer came. Instead, her feet moved on their own and stopped in front of a house. She remembered someone mentioning that a new neighbor had moved into this place a few weeks ago. It had been vacant until recently.
Natasha knocked.
Are they home?
Would someone be awake at this hour? What if they were asleep?
Would they let in a stranger?
What if they slammed the door in her face?
A disappearance had just occurred. Everyone was likely on edge. No one would open their home to someone unfamiliar.
Please… just open the door. I’ll explain anything—just open it.
Natasha knocked again, more urgently.
She could feel the knights growing more suspicious by the second. She didn’t dare look back. If she locked eyes with them, everything would be exposed. Her fake ID. Her real identity.
Then—it happened.
The door opened slowly, quietly. A large, strong hand reached out, gripped her waist, and pulled her inside.
The door shut behind her.
What filled her vision was a room she had never seen before.
Though someone had just moved in, the place was already tidy and neat. But there was no furniture—just emptiness. For a moment, she doubted whether anyone actually lived there.
She looked up and faced the person who had pulled her in.
The lighting was dim, so his features weren’t clear at first. But as he tilted his head and the clouds above shifted, the pale light of the moon lit the room.
“I was just about to come find you,” he said.
“…”
“But you came first. How fortunate for me.”
Natasha froze.
She knew that face.
Eyes the color of blood, gleaming even in the dark. Hair that shone like silver under the night sky. A striking, almost violent beauty. A cold, imposing presence. And a body that showed strength, rank, and elegance all at once.
“You’re…”
Sieghart Aschart.
Those red eyes swept over her slowly, studying her in silence. His sharp, regal face moved just slightly—his gaze tracing from her head to her feet and back again. Even such a small movement held a kind of unsettling grace. It was a chilling display of power wrapped in polish.
Sieghart. The very man she had gone to such lengths to escape. She had traveled far, risked everything, and made impossible decisions—just to stay away from him.
But now, he was here. And in that moment, all her carefully built plans began to collapse.
Why is he here?
Why is he standing right in front of Tisha Winter—looking down at her with such certainty?
As if he had known she would come to him.
Please, just open the door. I’ll explain everything once I’m inside.
Natasha knocked again, this time more urgently. There was still no response from inside.
She could feel the knights behind her growing suspicious. Her body tensed, but she didn’t dare turn around. If she made eye contact, it would all be over—her forged identity, her real background, everything would be exposed.
Then it happened.
The door, which had been firmly shut, opened quietly with smooth precision. A large, strong hand reached out and wrapped around her waist, pulling her into the house.
The door closed behind her.
What she saw next was a room she had never entered before.
Despite being newly occupied, the house was spotless. But it was completely empty. Not a single piece of furniture. It felt so lifeless that she began to wonder if anyone truly lived there.
She lifted her head to see the face of the person who had pulled her in.
In the dim lighting, his features were hard to make out. But just as he tilted his head, the clouds outside shifted, and moonlight filled the space. The pale light revealed the figure standing before her.
“I was planning to visit you soon,” he said.
Natasha didn’t answer.
“But since you came to me first, I consider it a privilege.”
Her breath caught in her chest.
She recognized him instantly.
Crimson eyes that gleamed with a sharp intensity. Hair that shimmered even under the faint glow of moonlight. A fierce face with a strikingly refined appearance. Broad shoulders and a powerful presence that spoke of both status and strength.
“You’re…”
Sieghart Aschart.
His blood-red eyes moved slowly, examining her from head to toe. His expression didn’t change, but the way his gaze traced her figure made it feel like he was memorizing every detail. Even that subtle motion had an air of sophistication, though it felt more like a calculated habit than natural grace.
Sieghart. The man she had gone to great lengths to escape.
To get away from him, she had traveled to a distant place, taking risks without hesitation. She had poured everything into making her disappearance complete.
But with a single moment, his presence dismantled everything she had built.
Why was he here?
Why was he standing in front of Tisha Winter as if he had every right to be?
As if he had known from the beginning that she would return to him.
