I Was Confessed to by the Person I Was Admiring

Chapter 96: Lucia is missing

Dora was waiting there, and everything was prepared. All that was left was to change clothes. Honestly, I still wasn’t used to dressing up too much. Nevertheless, I continued to try to get used to it.

“Haah.”

I let out a sigh unintentionally, but Dora, who was used to it, didn’t mind.

“Now, now, let’s make you look extra beautiful today!”

“Yes.”

I answered with a completely uninterested voice and moved as Dora instructed. At that moment, the door opened without any warning.

Startled, both Dora and I couldn’t even scream as we looked at the person who suddenly entered.

She had brown hair mixed with white, and was wearing a yellow dress. She was a middle-aged woman with a medium build. She seemed to be overflowing with fatigue from her face and looked like she could collapse at any moment.

For a moment, I couldn’t remember who she was and stared at her for a while before finally realizing who she was.

It seems that I couldn’t connect her with the impression I had seen so far because she looked completely different.

I called out the name of the person who suddenly appeared.

“Mrs. Morena?”

It seemed that she had run here as she was out of breath and looked like she was in pain. Her hair was messy and her clothes were slightly disheveled, but she didn’t seem to care about that at all as she looked around the room with a despairing expression.

“W-what should we do? Oh, my God, oh, my God. It’s my fault for not looking more carefully.”

“Excuse me, what happened?”

Without stating her business and suddenly opening the door, Mrs. Morena sat down alone in the room. I couldn’t help but ask her.

Normally, I would condemn such rudeness, but she seemed so desperate that I couldn’t do that.

Then, Mrs. Morena slowly raised her face and said in a desperate voice, “Lucia, Lucia is nowhere to be found. Lorraine-sama, do you know any place where she might have gone?”

When asked, the first place that came to mind was Paolo’s shop.

But Lucia didn’t know the location of that shop. Neither Dennis nor I had told her, and there was no way for her to know.

That’s what I thought, but I had a bad feeling and said, “Dora, could you take a look at the book with the red spine over there?”

“Huh? Okay.”

Although she tilted her head suspiciously, Dora picked up the book with the red spine from the stack of books on the table and flipped through it as instructed.

As I struggled to move while changing clothes, I asked her, “Is there anything stuck in there?”

“No, there’s nothing.”

To convey the accuracy of her words, Dora opened the book and showed me while flipping through it. I felt my body go limp. 

I’ve been had――.

“We have to go look for her right now. Call Dennis, hurry!… Lucia must have gone to that store.”

“Uh, y-yes.”

“Lorraine-sama, do you know where that child is?! If so, I will go! I will take responsibility and bring her back!”

Mrs. Morena screamed like a banshee. Then, Dennis appeared with a troubled-looking Dora.

“What’s wrong?”

“It seems that Lucia took the paper I wrote Paolo’s address on. Oh no, what should we do?”

She might have already left this mansion. Moreover, judging from the situation, she probably went secretly and without any companions. A young girl wandering around that place alone at this time.

I cursed my own stupidity.

“I understand the situation. Then, we will search with the servants. Lorraine-sama and Mrs. Morena, please wait at the mansion.”

Dennis made her stern face even sterner and spoke in a harsh voice.

Then she immediately tried to leave, so I raised my voice.

“I’m going too!”

It’s definitely my fault. 

If Lucia had caused trouble for Paolo or the guests, I would have to apologize. That’s what I thought, but…

“No, it’s not possible.”

I was flatly refused and intimidated by a sharp gaze, making me tremble with fear. The force was so powerful that my spine shook. But I couldn’t give up. I couldn’t leave everything to the servants.

“Please, don’t go alone. I don’t care how many attendants there are, please take me with you!”

“No, it’s not possible. It’s dangerous outside.”

“But it’s my fault. It’s because I accidentally let slip that this happened. I can’t just sit here.”

“Still, please wait here with Mrs. Morena.”

I looked at Dennis, who wouldn’t budge, with resentment. What she said was reasonable, but it was frustrating for me, who was so worried and couldn’t do anything.

As I was at a loss as to how to persuade her, Mrs. Morena spoke up.

“Take me with you! If we stay here like this, what should we say to Baroness Palmara? Oh, if only I hadn’t taken my eyes off her for a moment because I wasn’t feeling well. Hey, please take me to that shop.” 

“No, but taking a lady to that neighborhood…”

“It’s okay. It’s my fault that this happened, and I won’t be able to sleep until I see that child safe and sound. My heart is already weak, and I might kick the bucket if we don’t hurry. Come on, let’s go.”

Mrs. Morena pulls Dennis’ arm with a force that seems like she’s about to run, despite her previous lazy demeanor.

Seeing Dennis’ perplexed expression, I thought it was a good opportunity to speak up.

“That’s right, Dennis. Mrs. Morena is right. But it’s cruel to take Mrs. Morena, who has a weak heart, outside. I’ll go instead. That way, Mrs. can be at ease, right?”

“But…”

Dennis was cornered by me and Mrs. Morena and seemed a bit flustered, but he still wouldn’t give in. Then, Mrs. Morena said even more forcefully.