Capítulo 18: 18. Flashbacks (11)
Marchioness Theroux's tears flowed even more. When she heard that Lizzy had found the boy at the slave auction house, it broke her heart when she learn that Johan having such hard time and suffered so much that make her almost fainted.
"If this continues, Sierra healthy would be worsen even more. First of all, we need to call the congressman to check Johan's condition and calm Sierra down."
The Emperor comforts his younger brother who has found his lost son and looks at Lizzy.
"So, did Mrs. Ludwig find Johan?"
"Yes, Your majesty. She said she came across a slave auction house that she entered by mistake. Lizzy has saved Johan!"
Catherine tried to admire Lizzy even more, but Lizzy waved her hand.
"It was just a coincidence, i only took him with me because I felt sorry for the boy. I didn't know any of this situation."
"Of course you didn't know because this is the biggest secret of the imperial family's."
The emperor smiled happily and nodded his head.
"You must be very surprised, but the boy looks very similar to my nephew. you can go home now, I will call you later after deciding on the right compensation for you.
"My pleasure, Your majesty."
Although Lizzy was a bit excited, she greeted him politely and returned to the Duke's residence.
'Great. If things go according to the original story, I will be announced as the recipient of the Imperial Medal before Edith reaches the capital.'
Lizzy strongly believes that the Duke, Duchess and Cliff, who had closed their hearts toward her, will surely return again.
* * *
Five years ago, the Emperor's youngest brother, Marquis Theroux, and his wife, Sierra, went through a painful experience that felt like their limbs were being ripped off. On the day of an outdoor banquet held at the imperial palace, their beloved youngest son Johan suddenly disappeared.
At first, they released all the knight to finding him only focused inside of the palace, thinking that the child might have wandered around and got a wrong direction.
However, the knight who searched the gardens around the palace returned with only Johan's shoes and clothes, along with a note saying, 'if you made a fuss about this, i'll surely kill this child.' It was only when they read the note that they realized the child had been kidnapped.
They anxiously waited the kidnapper contact them, however, it's been more than a week had passed but the kidnapper didn't contact them. Since then, Marquis Theroux and the imperial family have been working hard to find Johan, but they haven't found any clues of him and can't find him anywhere.
The imperial family keep Johan's disappearance secretly for fear that a bad person would take advantage about it or the group that had kidnapped Johan might harm him.
As if a miracle, after 5 years they had been searching for him, Lizzy found Johan at the slave auction house. Marquis Theroux was so relieved, as if the stone that weighing him had disappeared.
"The young master is health. The reason he don't remember the past it's because of the shock at the time when he was kidnapping rather than the head injury. Beside, 5 years is a long enough time for a child to forget the past."
Although they felt so pity about him when the congressmen explained his condition in words after the examinations, they decided to thankful that his body was healthy.
"And Sierra?"
"She talked with the young master Johan."
"I see, she was the one who suffering so much after Johan disappear."
How hurt she was, as a mother who lost her eight-year-old son? Marquis Theroux felt very happy and relieved for the first time in a long time. However, when Sierra returned to they room after talking with Johan, her expression wasn't so brightening. It makes him feel that something is wrong.
"Sierra. . . . ?"
"Honey. Something weird."
"What's so weird?"
Sierra, who was staring up the ceiling as if she was recalling some of a memory, opened her mouth after a while.
"You remember there was a butterfly-shaped mole on Johan's neck, right?"
"Of course. Why? He's doesn't have that mole?"
"No, it's not like that, he's has the mole on his neck."
"And?"
Sierra slowly making eye's contact with Marquis Theroux and said "The mole is in different parts of his body."
"What? How can he remember the rug that hanging in the house and the Othello the dog if he's not Johan?"
"That's what i mean."
* * *
"It's been a while since we've go down to the capital, so i feel like something is quite new." Edith said, while looking out the window of the carriage they were riding in. Killian, who was holding Erdin by her side, smiled at Edith who looked quite excited.
"It seems like just yesterday we went to Ryzen. We've been so busy that we didn't realize the time has passed."
"Right? Everyone's must be doing well, aren't they?"
"Is there anything special?"
The conversations and smiles they shared in the moving carriage were full of lightness and peace. But then the carriage suddenly shook violently.
"Oh my gosh!"
"Edith! Calm down! It's nothing."
Killian immediately calms Edith, who has been startled every time the carriage stops suddenly, since Shane's kidnapping. Edith smiled shyly and rubbed her chest, and Killian opened the carriage door and asked the carriage driver.
"What happened!"
"I'm sorry! There child suddenly ran in front of the carriage. . . ."
Edith poked her head out the door. When the escort driver's answer.
"The kid didn't get hurt, right?"
"Yes! The child is safe, but it seems he jumped on purpose to beg. I will drive him away immediately."
The knight looked like he was about to run immediately, but Edith stopped him.
"No. Bring him here so I can give him some money."
"But ma'am. . . . "
"It's okay."
After giving birth, Edith couldn't ignore the children who were beggars on the street. Although the money she gave them would be taken by the beggar boss, but she was relieved able to help the child from being beaten even for a day. After a while, the knight caught the disheveled looking boy and let him to Edith.
"Let me go! I can walk on my own two feet too!"
"You brat! How dare you act so arrogant in front the person who will helped you!"
The boy didn't hide his expression of displeasure at all despite facing a knight from a noble family, and bowed his head rudely as he was dragged to stand in front of Edith.
"I'm sorry for stopping the noble family carriage. I tripped on a stone and fell down."
"Are you hurt?"
"My knees is slightly scratched, but I'm fine."
Due to the hole in the boy's pants, his knee was visibly covered in blood from the injury as he fell on the stone floor, but the boy ignored the pain. Edith felt sorry for him, she took out a large number of gold coins and handed them to the boy. However, when the boy saw Edith trying to give him money, he frowned.
"I didn't mean to plead you!"
It's quite arrogant of a boy who looks like a beggar to say that in front of money.
"I didn't give this to you for that reason, just buy some medicine and apply it onto your wound."
"Just keep it, it will be heal soon. Then i'll take my leave." The boy bowed politely like a nobleman did to a lady and turned his back, but Edith caught him before he leave.
"Hey! Wait a minute. Do you have somewhere to go?"
"I just go where my feet take me."
She could see that a child who seemed to be in his early teens was trying not to be discouraged in front of adults. Just looking at his shabby clothes and thin body, he must hadn't family or adults take care of him.
Edith felt sorry for the child who pretended to be strong in order to survive in that rough back alley.
"I'm busy right now because I have to find work today! Then, goodbye!"
"That's great then. I think I can give you a job."
The boy who was about to leave turned his head.
"Really?"
Killian, who was next to Edith, narrowed his eyes and asked. "All of a sudden?"
But Edith ordered the boy seat beside the coachman and set off.
* * *
At the inn where they stayed overnight before entering the capital, Edith washed the boy and fed him well. He was a child with fair skin and pretty blonde.Then she sat down in front of the boy, his stiff expression having softened a little, and asked him a few questions.
"What is your name?"
". . . .Just call me whatever you want."
"Do have a parent's?"
"No."
Edith also asked where he lived, whether he had any colleagues he went with, and how he managed to find food and shelter, but the boy only gave vague answers.
Then the boy narrowed his eyes and spoke. "Are you sure you're giving me a job? If you're thinking of selling me somewhere, you should quit. Because i was able to escape from the cruel slave trader."
"You must have had a hard time."
Edith's comforting answer was unexpected, and the boy flinched.
"I'm Countess Ryzen. I'm on my way to the capital to celebrate the founding anniversary with my family there."
"Is that so."
"If you have nowhere else to go, would you like going to Ryzen and work with us? Our castle is always short of workers."
The boy, who was frowning and pondering something, asked in a more polite manner.
"What do you want me to do?"
"The most suitable option I recommend to you at this moment is to be our errand boy. However, if you want to wield a sword, you can grow up become a soldier, as a Knights in our territory, and if you have an interest in learning, you can work as an assistant in our administrative office."
The boy's eyes were shining. But at the same time, there's embarrassment look on his face.
"Well, buy the way. Is it Ryzen. . .so far from the capital?"
"About ten days by carriage. Is something wrong?"
The boy rubbed his palms against his pants and hesitated before speaking.
"Nothing. I'll come with you, ma'am."
Edith realized that there's something the boy couldn't tell her, but she didn't rush to ask him.
"I will stay in the capital in the autumn until winter come. I will introduce you as our new errand boy, and all you have to do is just stand by us and do small tasks for us."
The boy suppressed his grumble and replied politely. "I got it."
Edith had been watching the boy's behavior ever since.
'He's quite smart, unlike the kids who grew up on the streets. Is he descended from a fallen noble?'
The greeting he gave me in front of the carriage was too standard for him to imitate aristocratic etiquette. His attitude was rough, but he never used harsh words or bad swearing words. Seeing the sparkle in his eyes, he seemed would learn to do his work well.
'If I leave him to Linan, he will probably get a very capable worker.'
Edith named him 'Daniel', while thinking of the boy's future and learning a work as Linan's assistant.
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