Chapter Text
Kaelus dragged the coffee cup to his lips, taking a quiet and long sip of it as he read the document on his hand. It has been a month since the last time he actually had peace but he can't say he isn't feeling peaceful now too. It's just not in the same meaning as peace for him. And right now, he still can feel the fact that he is alive because of Hestia. His deceased wife.
He doesn't want to feel that again, and Hestia probably wants the same too. She wouldn't want him to feel sad over her own death. It's like she was just wanting his own happiness... Well, thinking about it; it just might be right. Which would be pretty, sad. But to live a life that was truly owned by her is something he can't cast away. She was the true owner of his life. Saving it, repairing it just for him. Just for him to be happy.
It feels nice to think about the times they had spent together. Like a fairytale, maybe no one would believe if he told them the story. It brought a smile to his face.
But his thoughts were cut in half with a knock on his door.
"It's Uros, my lord."
Uros, making sure to check up on his lord everytime since the death of the Duchess; seemed to check less in these times. Since he didn't show anything in a bad way. Something else to be grateful about. Kaelus payed no mind at him and told him to go inside instead. Putting the document away at the sound of the door closing.
The butler had a letter in his hand and bowed first, speaking after it while holding the letter to him.
"The graveyard of Illion has sent a letter, my lord."
Oh, what a happy letter to be seen. It's actually unusual of them to send a letter, since he doesn't really have any matters to do there.
He held the letter in his hand for a moment before opening it up, taking the paper inside of it to read. The writing seemed a bit in rush and it was short. As if they wanted to tell this as soon as possible. Sighing, he read the letter. His eyes widening when the sentence ended. Clenching his hand that caused the paper to slightly crumble, he raised himself from his chair.
"Uros. Prepare a carriage to the graveyard. Quick."
The main butler was caught off guard but bowed down with respect toward his lord, leaving the office to prepare a carriage.
As the last person inside the room, Kaelus sat back on his chair with a frown. Looking at the paper once again. The paper was slightly crumbled but it was still readable.
"...What do you mean her grave is empty..."
They found her grave open. And empty? Who would kidnap a dead person? Who would want a dead person's body? Why? A revenge on her would be too foolish after a long month of her death. But it's not impossible. The thing is. Shouldn't the body be too hard to take with? What could it mean that the grave was completely empty. Nothing else was inside of it?
Did someone. Kidnap her even before this? It's not impossible too. It would make sense too. Someone else could have kidnapped her body even before this. But why is the grave open? Did anyone else came there to her grave? Ugh... This is not just frustrating but also angering.
Just when he was actually getting happy over a memory, something just had to ruin it. He clenched his fist even tighter, making the paper into a small ball and throwing it aside before taking the coffee cup into his hand once more. It's still warm. He wonders if it'll still be as warm as it is right now when he comes back. Maybe, maybe not. It's not for him to decide.
Standing up, all that he could do right now is probably get ready. If he finds the person who did it, he'd show no mercy towards them. No matter the reason.
***
He hasn't been inside the carriage for the entire week. It doesn't feel any different if he is going to be honest. But it does feel lonely inside. Especially now that he has remembered her presence not being here, it felt a bit more lonely.
The roads of Illion, it just looks as he remembers. It's not much long since he last visited this place. Being the Duke, he didn't really had time to visit it. The credit goes to Uros actually for dealing with here.
It's good to see it in a great condition. A lot of things have been taken care of carefully. Which made him feel less worried about his land. The graveyard was rather far away from the crowd, walking to there would've taken probably a few hours, but with a carriage at least 15 minutes. Probably not to disturb the souls of the dead? He read about the rumors and stories of the dead. Never took it seriously that much.
After a 15 minute or more trip to the graveyard, the door finally opened and he got out of the carriage to meet the sun in the sky. Shining bright to all the graves on here. It was an unpleasant sight to see but nothing out of the ordinary. He walked carefully on the path. He knew exactly where her grave was, even so it was easy to locate the grave when there is people next to it. Waiting for him. It also felt unpleasant too.
But seeing the grave actually being completely empty, almost as if it has been cleaned everyday is just much more unpleasant.
"Is there a possibility the body have been kidnapped before all this?"
He was the first to speak, immediately pointing out the most believable story of this situation. But the workers just shook their head. To turn it in their way, digging to the coffin would take perhaps about 5 minutes if you are fast, but to think that you'd have to run with the body but also to bury the empty coffin once again would take a lot of time. And in their defense, they take a stroll around the graveyard about every 5 minutes.
Still a possibility of the kidnapping being at night or the kidnapping being with not one but multiple people. Though all of the possibilities, there were no evidence to make one of the schemes understandable.
The workers wouldn't have tried to do anything to the Duchess, would they? From what he heard, she had also helped the graveyards situation a few months ago. Not one of them was ungrateful for the help she gave. Well, at least that's what she said to him.
She was really that kind of person, who Kael cannot understand anything while talking to her but somehow she managed to make him less worried about things. Ah, this is almost giving him a headache now. Not because of the memories but the situation. If there is nothing about an evidence, then the situation is far more complicated.
Unlike Diana, Hestia wasn't someone with bad relationships others than her highness the crown princess. But to think that Diana would do something like this... It felt a bit disturbing. Though it is possible, which made him feel much more angry at this point. Everything relates back to Diana now? Hestia wanted his revenge, to make Diana apologize to him. Did Diana apologize? No, perhaps it's because he doesn't even want to see her.
He sighed turning his head away from the empty grave. Looking at it for a longer time might not be the best idea right now, so it'll be better if he leaves right now.
"I shall take my leave now, if there is anything suspicious. Anything. Inform me first."
He spoke, making his words stuck in the heads of the workers. Silently ordering them to not forget it before starting to walk away from that place. The workers did not dare to say another word after him. Instead, they went away from the grave just like him on the other direction.
Kaelus entered the carriage, sitting on his seat carefully. The carriage started to move now, going slowly at his command. He gave a sigh, putting his fingers on the bridge of his nose. At the time when he wanted to forget about everything and anything, the topic came back to him once more. In this entire month, it felt almost impossible to forget about her. The woman who basically saved his entire life.
Does it still feel unreal? Maybe. Did he try to forget about her? Sadly, yes. Everytime, he tried to tell himself that no one like her could have existed. No one could've done the same as her, not even in a million years. Yet, did he forget her? Ah, it would feel like a sin to be able to forget her. With the things she did that affected him, affected the entire empire; would it even be possible? Maybe. Maybe not.
He smiled at himself. Feeling frustrated because of his thoughts.
"Really... What kind of spell did you use on me, Hess?"
Kaelus whispered to himself. Whatever she did made him almost think about her everytime. It felt almost like what happened when he was heartbroken by Diana. But there was always a difference between the two. Diana chose someone else, but Hestia stood by his side every single time. Even in the slightest time when he finds somethings they both resemble, there is always a difference that pops up instantly. He couldn't forget about Diana if Hestia was never there. And now, who will make him forget her? The question is: is he willing to forget her? That's a tough one.
"Turn the carriage back towards the graveyard."
Kael sighed, his head slightly tilted to the other way without his own will as the carriage made a turn. Guess for a while, he might try to live with knowing that fact. A short visit to her grave once again. Maybe her spirit will acknowledge his presence. Well, that's what he hoped when he came to the graveyard everytime. The thought made him wonder if their roles were switched, how often would she visit his grave? No. Probably she wouldn't even leave. He slightly frowned. That felt wrong to him...