Chapter 43.2

It had started raining again days ago, the day she went to the forest with Ian. The continuous rain had resulted in the gloomy, wet weather that casted a depressing ambience for the people living there. Coupled with that a pandemic was going around in the capital.

Meanwhile, Lia’s health came back to normal at a surprisingly fast pace. The wound on her hand had healed leaving almost no trace and the pain she felt every time she moved was completely gone.

“They moved at someone’s order, is that it?”

In the hot season that came after the monsoon, Lia went to the police department with Kieran personally.

Police inspector Pablo, who was waiting patiently for her statement, couldn’t hide the expectation on his face.

“Yes, they’re anarchists and they were being supported by someone. The reason why they kidnapped me was monetary. They thought that the Duke was going to pay their ransom.” Lia said hurriedly, she didn’t not want to recall the incident.

“This doesn’t seem like it’s something the police department can take care of alone.”

At the inspector’s words Kieran carefully grabbed Lia’s hand. Her hand was shaking on her tapping legs. She had cold sweats just thinking about it.

“We can’t exclude the possibility of treason. Also…”

The inspector faded off for Lia. If there was someone behind it, it had to be connected to a noble. It might not necessarily be treason. They had concluded it as a vicious crime, but it was only a matter of time before the true reason behind it was revealed

“The so-called “doctor” was ordering them. It was dark in the control room, but I could make out that he was wearing glasses.”

“The young Duke already gave us descriptions; the problem now is the whereabouts…” The inspector saved his words.

The person in front of him was a high noble. It might have been a different story if he visited himself, but he couldn’t have a noble who personally came down stay in the interrogation room for too long.

“Anyway, thank you for your cooperation. This is something I’ll have to discuss with Sir Bryton. I’ll share information with you as soon as I receive any.”

Kieran and Lia left the police department after the interrogation. The sky that was washed clean by the rain seemed infinitely clearer, there was not a single dust particle floating.

“You go to the Academy. I’m going to the palace.”

In front of the two carriages, Kieran patted Lia’s head. He was being dragged by Marchioness every day in preparation for the engagement. Thanks to that, Lia didn’t even feel like the Marchioness was in the capital. If it was in Cosoar, it would be her that was being called every now and then.

Kieran pinched Lia’s cheeks, as she couldn’t hide her smile.

“You’re so mean, even though you’re my sibling. Are you that happy that you’re not on mother’s watch?”

“No. No way.” Lia shook her head feigning innocence.

“You lie better now.” Kieran chuckled.

“I always lied well, brother.” She said it as a joke, but Kieran understood what she meant.

“Then, I’ll be off first!”

Lia bid him farewell and went on the carriage. After it stopped raining, the place she always headed to was the place Ian had taken her. The only place where she could really embrace freedom. The lake in the forest was hidden by tall trees so well that it was hard for anyone to find it.

Lia got out the front door of the Academy and then headed into the forest, passing the stable on her way. The chirping birds and the sound of wind dancing with the branches surrounded her.

The closer she got to the lake, the faster she took off her jacket. In front of the majestic sycamore tree, she took out the basket of towel she had hidden, looked around for a last time and then took everything off but a thin shirt.

Each step she took going into the ice-cold lake, she felt goosebumps grow on her body. She didn’t mind. The sweat that was making her entire body sticky instantly cooled. After a few steps, Lia ran into the water without hesitation. She dove in the shallow end, wet the top of her head, and just floated with her arms stretched out.

The light that peaked through the branches lightly kissed her cheeks and the gentle breeze that blew by occasionally whispered tunes in her ear.

If someone saw her, it would have probably looked awkward, but right now it was exam season at the Academy, and everyone was probably at the library reading.

Of course, not everyone was like that, but no one would bother coming here in the forest.

No… maybe one? Didn’t he say he comes here to read?

That day, Lia had headed home after reluctantly turning down Ian’s temptation of going to a fancy restaurant. The young Duke had already left too.

Lia turned around and dove deep into the water. It was when she poked out her head after swimming at the deep dark end of the lake that she saw that under the tree where she left her basket of towel and clothes stood a dark horse.

Her eyes widened as she saw the shiny dark horse simply standing there and on it Claude looking down on her while holding the shirt she took off.

He was wearing a red vest and had a gun on him as if he had come out to hunt. He lowered his hand with the shirt. Lia, who was looking at him with a blank stare, naturally lowered her body into the water. He laughed as only her head poked out.

“It was you.”

Her heart began pounding at the voice she hadn’t heard in a while. Lia gulped and nodded, “Yes, it’s me.”

“Is swimming fun?” he asked, a bright smile playing on his lips.

“Pardon?”

“I said, is it fun?”

He got off the horse while still holding onto her shirt. He then kneeled in front of Lia and bent down to her. Whilst doing so, some string of hair that was wet with sweat came down and covered his blue eyes. Then his attractive and elegant lips curved softly. Her head turned completely blank.

“Should I come in?”

“No,” she protested.

“Why?” he teased further.

Lia, with a stiff movement, covered her breasts underneath the water. There was no valid reason she could come up with.

“Then, do you want me to go?”

She also couldn’t answer that.

There was a chaos that made her not know what she was even thinking whenever she was around him. The emotion that had caused the chaos made her want to cry as she went into the deeper part of the lake.

“Weren’t you hunting?” she managed to say.

“I was but I was told that there was a beast that was coming into my hunting ground without me knowing.”

“Me…?”

“Maybe,” Claude said with a small smirk on his lips, with that, he put down her shirt and stood up. He then tied the end of the rein to the tree and then started to take off his clothes.

“Let’s swim together, it’s been a while.”