Missing Cinderella

Chapter 40 

“… It looks like he’s got a thorough hold on his servant.” 

Nina’s mutter clearly echoed throughout the small treehouse. An awkward silence ensued. Siella quietly turned her head to the man sitting on the bed, then back to the man who was standing in front of her. His face was white and stiff, staring at the strangers with mouth gaping open. 

“We recently moved to the nearby old winery.” 

“…” 

“We were just about to head back.” 

After Siella broke the ice, the man hurriedly spoke up as he recovered from his embarrassment. 

“Ah, I am Tristan. I am an escort knight for His, err, my young master.”

“Very well, then, we will take our leave, Sir Tristan.” 

“Yes? Oh, take care.” 

Tristan moved slightly to the side at Siella words, clearing the way with his large body blocking the way and opened the door for them. Before Siella left the treehouse, she looked back one last time and spoke to the man sitting on the bed in silence. 

“Take care of yourself, Mr. Oad.” 

The man had great eloquence when speaking and was very sly, but he looked rather gloomy when he was silent. Siella felt sorry for him, a feeling closer to sympathy than pity. Perhaps that was why when she quietly left the treehouse, she was left with a strange feeling when she made eye contact with him. 

Nina spoke as they walked slowly to the front of their house. 

“Siella, don’t tell Lena what happened today.” 

“Huh?” 

“Lena will definitely scold me if she finds out, so let’s keep it a secret.” 

“Oh….” 

Siella immediately knew what Nina was talking about. Unlike Nina who had a bit of a reckless side, Lena had a very rational side, which was a bit unusual for someone who had been working as a mercenary for a long time. 

“Okay, let’s keep it a secret.” 

As Siella nodded, Nina smiled brightly, seemingly relieved, and led her into the house. 

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Meanwhile, the treehouse that Siella and Nina left had fallen into a heavy silence. 

Tristan glanced at Otestad, who seemed to be in deep thought, and quietly approached him. Ottestad’s left leg was tightly wrapped in a bandage. One of its corners was stained with dark red blood. Kneeling down on one knee, Tristan stared at Ottestad’s injured leg with trembling eyes and then spoke in a deep, hushed voice. 

“Please forgive me, Your Highness. I should have come back sooner….” 

“I’m fine, so raise your head.” 

Ottestad lifted Tristan’s head, which was lowered deeply in defiance. He locked eyes with him for a moment, then glanced around and asked him, lowering his voice. 

“What about the thing I asked you to look into?” 

“I checked, and the timing was just right.” Tristan answered with a stern face. “It happened on the day of His Highness the Crown Prince’s coronation… and we became certain of the circumstances where the Second Prince let that woman inside Nocturm.” 

Ottestad pondered for a moment at Tristan’s words, and muttered, “Then… it seems highly likely that it wasn’t just a simple coincidence that Duke Nocturm’s fiancée left him and moved here.” 

“Yes. Even so, the timing….” Looking at the darkening expression on Ottestad’s face, Tristan lowered his head before continuing his words. “I’ve heard of several frictions between the Duke Nocturm and his fiancée since she entered the mansion.” 

“Is that so?” 

“Yes, so perhaps what Your Highness thinks is correct.” 

That the Second Prince succeeded in pushing his way through the Nocturm Duchy – by using that woman, Camellia. Having succeeded in keeping Camellia by Eschert’s side, Cassius’ next goal must be to gain Eschert’s cooperation and the Nocturm family. After all, a man blinded by love would do anything for the woman he loved. 

However, Ottestad found it a bit surprising that Eschert had accepted Camellia quite quickly. Of course, it wasn’t entirely impossible since Camellia was Eschert’s benefactor who had taken care of Edwin, but still…. 

“But she doesn’t seem to remember you at all, Your Highness,” Tristan said carefully. 

Ottestad, snapping out of his thoughts for a moment, slightly nodded his head with a laugh. 

“Yes, I also noticed that.” 

Ottestad recalled Siella introducing herself as Ella, as if trying to hide her identity. Anyone would know that she was being wary of him. Siella doesn’t remember him at all. She had been through so much in the past, so it was only natural that she couldn’t recall their connection from her childhood. 

If anything, he thought that he was rather the odd one out for still retaining such vivid memories of the first day they met and the many times they’ve crossed paths since then. 

(T/N: Is this the childhood friend trope? Or the one-sided crush type of love story?)

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

“Come on in.” 

At Siella’s words, Lancellot, who had been quietly standing in his place and looking around, nodded at her and walked inside the house. 

“Well, if you’ll excuse me.” 

Lancellot was carrying a black suitcase, as he always did when visiting her. Siella stared at Lancellot’s unchanging demeanor before taking a seat. 

“You are looking well, Miss Siella,” Lancellot said as he took his seat. 

Siella smiled faintly and nodded. 

“I’m good. I’m still getting used to taking care of myself now… but I think I’ll like living like this more and more every day.” 

“Hearing that makes me feel at ease as well. I’m really glad to hear that.” 

Having said that, Lancellot stifle a chuckle inwardly at Nina’s attitude who was standing guard behind Siella and glaring at him with fierce eyes. 

“As I thought about last time, you’ve chosen a very loyal person to escort you.” 

“Ah, come to think of it, I didn’t get a chance to introduce her to you.” As she looked back at Nina with a smile, Siella said, “This is my escort, Nina. Nina, this is Baron Diure who has been helping for a long time.” 

Lancellot stood up from his seat and offered a handshake to Nina, “Please feel free to call me Lancellot.” 

“Uh, you can just call me Nina for convenience.” 

“Sure.” 

Siella let out a small laugh as she watched Nina awkwardly take Lancellot’s hand for a handshake. 

“Actually, I have one more escort, but… she’s out of town right now. I will introduce her to you later.” 

“Oh, really? I look forward to seeing what kind of person she is.” 

Lancellot sat down again and lightly replied. Siella poured tea into the teacup as best as she could without asking for help from Nina. She offered it to Lancellot first, and he accepted it without hesitation. Siella also slowly picked up the teacup and brought it to her mouth. 

“You have made a very great choice choosing Jenard as your new home.” 

When Siella had emptied her teacup halfway, Lancellot broke the silence. 

“It’s a port city with tons of people coming and going every day, so the people here don’t really care whether someone moves in or leaves.” 

“…”

“That may also be a disadvantage, however. I’m sure the Lady is also keeping that in mind.”

Jenard was a place where even if someone were to disappear overnight, it wouldn’t be made into gossip. Siella was also well aware of what Lancellot was concerned about. 

“Moreover, I am saying this after thinking long and hard….” Lancellot looked at Siella with a serious face and carefully continued his words, “There’s someone who’s eager to meet you, my Lady.”

“… Me?”

Bewildered by his sudden words, Siella blankly blinked her eyes, but Lancellot nodded his head without hesitation and asked her, “Yes. Would you like to meet that person?”