Odalisque - Chapter 193

Pow!

With a dull sound, Camille’s body tumbled to the ground. Demus had just released his hold on him roughly. Camille must have bumped into something as he fell, for he let out a short groan and grabbed his shoulder, all the while giggling in amusement.

It was as if he was laughing at him, which caused Demus’ expression to become even more menacing.

But instead of punching Camille, Demus turned around. Roman, who had searched the train with his men, was entering the warehouse. Roman’s forehead was covered with sweat, as if to prove that he had been running hard.

“… They aren’t here.”

That was the moment when Demus’ barely-contained rationality collapsed.

***

Despite a second and third search, there was no sign of the Rhodes sisters on the train.

Demus checked Liv’s house again, just in case, but it looked the same as when he left.

As he stared up at the starless, pitch-black sky, Demus reached into his pocket. A tattered, crumpled piece of paper rested in his hand.

He didn’t need to unfold it to know the contents. In his mind, he could clearly recall the neat handwriting and the few lines of brazen sentences.

“My Lord, the young master of Eleanor insists on being released.”

Adolf’s voice was full of frustration as he reported. He was worried about how they would handle the situation later, considering that the person they had been forcibly detaining from the train station until now was a direct member of the House of Eleanor.

After being silent for a moment, Demus asked in a cold voice.

“Have you gotten a hold of his ticketing history?”

“Charles is checking it out. He used a false name, so it’s taking a while to verify, but it should be done soon.”

Based on Liv’s recent movements, she wouldn’t have been able to go to the ticket office to buy a train ticket on her own, and it would have been difficult to do so quickly on the day she arrived at the train station due to the crowds. The most likely scenario was that Camille bought Liv’s ticket in advance.

The presence of Camille at the train station suggested that Demus was likely right.

“How about Roman?”

“He went to ask the officers in Buerno for cooperation.”

In a slim chance, Liv might not have left yet.

In that case, they’d have to scour the city of Buerno, and the easiest way to do that would be to enlist the cooperation of the local officers. It wouldn’t take much to get them to cooperate. Therefore, Demus decided to send someone to the police office. It was a little late, but it was better than nothing.

Perhaps I should have gotten the officers involved when I realized she was gone.

Reflecting on his actions in hindsight, Demus frowned.

It had never occurred to him in the first place that Liv and Coryda would ever decide to disappear.

Yes, that was the problem. He truly hadn’t imagined that Liv would dare to leave him. Let alone that she would run away like this without anyone noticing.

What was the reason? Why would she run away like this? What was it that she lacked?

Since meeting Demus, she had been living in abundance, and even the illness of her dear sister had improved markedly. He even had told her that he would take care of the bloody problem of the nude painting, so why…

“You are already in possession of everything I have, my Lord.”

She had told him that.

“Demus.”

Was her sweet voice as she whispered it a damned act?

The more he thought about it, the more he felt sick inside. However, he could not allow himself to be consumed by these feelings.

As soon as he got confirmation of her train ticket, he would be able to catch up with her.

Chasing after someone was nothing new to Demus. Although he’d been out of action for a long time, he’d spent his life on the battlefield, and he was no stranger to chasing fleeing enemies and deserters.

It wouldn’t take long to catch her. Once he had her, he would bring her straight to the Lanxess manor. Thereupon, he would lock the door and shackle her so she could never get out again.

That would make her realize how undeserving she was of the treatment she had received.

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