Chapter 19

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: Chapter 19

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As I was brushing my hair to head to the orphanage, shocking news made me leap to my feet.

"A landslide on the south side of Agil Mountain?"

Agil Mountain was located in the southern part of the Rockton Viscount's territory. Passing through the long road at the base of the range led straight to the Bellomon ducal lands.

"The Rockton Viscount's territory is right above the ducal lands, so it seems our territory was affected too."

"If the Bellomon ducal lands took damage as well, then the landslide must have been massive."

"Yes. They say the Rockton Viscount's side requested help because they're short on manpower for recovery."

"Any injured? No casualties, right?"

"It rained so heavily that no one wanted to go out, so they say there aren't many victims."

"'Not many' still means there are some victims, doesn't it?"

"Yes. Apparently, a carriage traveling along the road beside the collapsed mountain got buried in the dirt. And that carriage..."

Riley shook her head as if there was no tragedy quite like this one before speaking.

"It was from the Agris Marquis Family."

"What?"

My mind blanked out for a moment. Who was riding in that carriage right now?

"The Agris Marquis Family. You know how the Agris Marquis has been traveling all over the empire since last year for some reason? Like something terrible would happen if he stayed put in his territory."

Riley added something more, but it didn't register in my ears.

Why of all times did the Agris Marquis—who hadn't even bothered to reply to my letter—have to...

"Gasp, surely... the marquis wasn't riding in that carriage, was he?"

Was he on his way to the ducal lands to pick up Amelia? Too impatient to even send a reply?

"Is that why they're gathering soldiers?"

"Gathering soldiers? What are you talking about?"

"I saw Sir Jillian hurriedly assembling soldiers. He said they have to rescue the carriage no matter what. Thinking about it, unless the person in the carriage was the Agris Marquis... Oh my, miss. Are you all right?"

Riley urgently caught me as I staggered, losing my balance.

"How could this happen..."

We were finally going to meet. And now, all that was left were things to be truly happy about.

'It's my fault.'

I never should have sent that letter. If I hadn't, the Agris Marquis wouldn't have come all the way to the ducal lands in this foul weather.

I should have let things follow the original story, even if it meant waiting a little longer.

How am I supposed to face Amelia now?

I pictured Amelia's innocent face. The Amelia who had cast aside all doubts and chosen to believe in me.

'No time for self-recrimination, Lucella. Think of Amelia, who's probably worrying all alone right now.'

I shook my head vigorously to dispel the negative thoughts.

"Riley, is the Agris Marquis safe?"

"It's not confirmed yet. The good news is that it seems the boulders rolled past the carriage..."

"So there's a chance?"

A chance that Claude Agris was alive.

"Pardon?"

I bolted out of the room, leaving Riley tilting her head in confusion behind me.

No matter what, I had to save the Agris Marquis.

I immediately boarded a carriage and headed straight to the landslide site.

Fortunately, the rain had lightened to a drizzle, allowing me to reach the destination without issue.

"We've arrived."

After the coachman's announcement, I stepped out of the carriage and couldn't hold back my shock.

"My God..."

A wide road, big enough for at least two carriages side by side, was completely blocked by collapsed rocks and dirt.

Sir Jillian and the soldiers, who had arrived early, were shoveling the piles of earth, setting up braces to prevent further collapses from the mountain.

"We have to rescue them quickly before the rain picks up again!"

Sir Jillian, who had been shouting orders at the soldiers, turned at the sound of footsteps.

"Lady Lilfrey, what in the world are you doing here?!"

His face twisted in dismay upon spotting me.

"Things are chaotic enough already, and now you come all the way—"

"Out of my way."

I shoved past Sir Jillian blocking my path and pushed forward.

Beyond the soldiers diligently at work lay a mountain of dirt and splintered wood debris. No sign of the carriage anywhere—impossible to tell just how much had come down.

"You can save them, right?"

I asked in a trembling voice. But Sir Jillian's gaze, fixed on me, was filled with irritation.

"Don't take up space like an obstacle. Step back."

"Answer my question! Can you save them or not?!"

"..."

Sir Jillian's eyes shifted as he stared at me like I was in the way. He'd sensed the unusual air about me.

"We're doing everything we can."

"Haa..."

"If it was someone outside the carriage, maybe not, but if it's the Agris Marquis inside, he might still be alive."

"Please, let that be the case..."

I paced anxiously in the rain.

I desperately wanted to lend a hand, but it was obvious I'd just get in the way.

"..."

Sir Jillian stared openly at my face, but I had no spare energy to care.

There had to be some way.

After racking my panicked brain furiously, I came up with one viable idea.

"What's the nearest village from here?"

"The one at the end of this road. About ten minutes by carriage."

With his answer, I climbed right back into the carriage.

"Lady? Where are you going all of a sudden?"

No time to reply. I urged the coachman onward to the village at the road's end.

"Ugh..."

Claude Agris opened his eyes amid a splitting headache.

Even with his eyes open, everything was pitch black. As if they were still closed.

Soon enough, he recalled what had just happened.

"A landslide."

The debris from the collapsing mountain had been plummeting toward the carriage at terrifying speed.

Upon witnessing it, Claude had immediately opened the hatch in the carriage floor.

The small compartment beneath was designed for hiding in emergencies—like surprise attacks or accidents. Thanks to it, Claude had saved his life.

The lack of memory after that meant he'd passed out briefly.

"Worth every coin."

Though his head seemed to have taken a bit of a hit.

Claude gave up trying to touch his throbbing head. The space was too cramped for even simple movements, and his burly build didn't help.

Deciding it was best to get out of this tight spot, he tried opening the door connecting to the carriage interior.

But the door wouldn't budge, let alone open. The soil, soaked and heavy with water, was blocking it solid.

"So close..."

Just past this road lay the Bellomon ducal lands. Even accounting for the rain, he'd thought he could reach Vusnie Orphanage by the end of the day.

Stranded here instead. With no idea how much time had passed.

"Amelia..."

Claude thought of Amelia waiting for him at the orphanage.

The child who would have become an orphan for good if he'd lost his life.

That thought made him grateful to be alive. No matter how long it took, as long as he was breathing, he could still see Amelia.

'The question is when I'll be rescued.'

Once they realized the person buried was the Agris Marquis, rescue efforts would move fast. But he couldn't guarantee it would take mere hours.

No, it might even take days.

Anyone else might have panicked, but not Claude. He possessed a mind and body unbreakable even in darkness.

He closed his eyes, praying time would pass swiftly. He kept his senses attuned outward, hoping to hear voices calling for him.

When the wait felt unbearably long, he thought of Amelia again. He prayed for the souls of the coachman and servant, who had likely perished due to his haste.

Yet no matter how many times he repeated this, no sounds of rescuers reached him. Not even the crawl of a single ant.

"Hoo."

Claude let out a sigh.

Trapped so long in the confined space, oxygen was running low. Muscle aches he'd ignored before now surged in. From tumbling about in the narrow confines.

And it was midwinter. No escaping the chill seeping from the floor.

'If only a bit more air could get in, I could hold out.'

But no matter how hard he pounded the door with his fists, it didn't yield.

'Am I destined to face my brother without ever finding Amelia?'

He sensed death drawing near.

"Woof!"

A presence stirred not far away. The sound of crumbling dirt came with an animal's cry.

'No way.'

Here to save me?

"Woof woof!"

No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than the presence returned.

"Over here! I'm here!"

Claude pounded the ceiling with his fist and shouted.

"Are you okay?"

The responding voice was a woman's, oddly laced with moisture.

Had they enlisted women for the rescue? The question was fleeting as Claude raised his voice again.

"Yes! I'm fine!"

"Just hold on a little longer!"

As the voice cut off, sounds of digging resumed. A dog's barks echoed intermittently.

Salvation drew nearer to Claude.

A little more, just a little more. As he repeated it to himself over and over.

The ceiling hatch flew open, blinding light pouring in.

"Found you!"

Along with the face of a woman whose eyes brimmed with tears, for some reason.