Chapter 94: Missing II.
Rosaline didn’t resist.
She seemed only half awake.
Her head naturally rested against his chest while her lips moved ever so slightly.
At first, Xandros couldn’t understand what she was saying.
He lowered his head a little closer.
"...Mother..."
Her voice was weak.
Barely more than a whisper.
"...Mother..."
She repeated the word over and over again as though searching desperately for someone she could no longer reach.
A shadow crossed Xandros’ face.
He gently adjusted her in his arms, making sure she was more comfortable before walking towards the door.
Sarah remained standing where she was.
Her eyes slowly drifted down towards her right palm.
A faint burning sensation spread across her skin.
She frowned.
When she opened her hand...
A delicate green symbol had appeared in the centre of her palm.
It looked almost like intertwined vines forming an ancient rune.
The slave-master bond.
It was complete.
Sarah let out a long, exhausted sigh.
"So it wasn’t a joke after all..."
She rubbed her forehead with her free hand.
From this moment onward...
Rosaline’s safety had become her responsibility.
If Rosaline lived...
She lived.
If Rosaline died because Sarah failed to protect her...
The bond would claim Sarah’s life as well and because of this bond she will surely die before Rosaline.
She groaned quietly before running both hands through her hair in frustration.
"How did my peaceful life end up becoming this complicated?"
She had spent years avoiding unnecessary dangers.
Now she had somehow become a bodyguard.
Not by choice.
By force.
"I really do value my life..."
she muttered bitterly.
"Far more than becoming someone else’s death slave."
Still...
The memory of Saline’s empty gaze surfaced once more.
Sarah shivered.
Whatever Saline had become...
Whether she was still truly Saline or something else entirely...
Sarah knew one thing.
She wasn’t someone to disobey.
Taking one final glance at the green mark on her palm, Sarah quietly pulled her sleeve over it before using her gaze to follow Xandros.
Outside, the evening air felt refreshingly cool after the heavy atmosphere inside the room.
The carriage had already been prepared.
Seth stood beside the horses, patiently waiting.
The moment he saw Xandros carrying Rosaline, he immediately opened the carriage door.
"My Lord."
Xandros gave a slight nod before carefully stepping inside.
He gently laid Rosaline against the cushioned seat.
Only when he was certain she was comfortable did he take the seat beside her.
Rosaline slowly blinked her eyes open.
The dizziness had lessened considerably, though her head still felt unusually heavy.
She looked around in confusion before her eyes finally settled on Xandros.
His eyes were already watching her.
"How do you feel?"
he asked quietly.
Rosaline managed a small smile.
"I’m alright."
Although she said the words, her voice lacked its usual energy.
The journey through the memories had clearly exhausted her.
She leaned sideways until her shoulder rested lightly against Xandros’.
He didn’t move away.
Instead, he adjusted his posture slightly, allowing her to rest more comfortably.
The carriage slowly rolled forward.
Outside, the rhythmic sound of the horses’ hooves echoed along the stone road while the wheels bumped gently over uneven cobblestones.
Golden rays from the setting sun filtered through the small carriage window, bathing the interior in a warm amber glow.
Rosaline watched the changing scenery in silence.
Her mind felt strangely empty.
Fragments of unfamiliar memories drifted through her thoughts like scattered pieces of a broken mirror.
Faces.
Voices.
A cave.
White hair.
Blood.
Before she could grasp any of them...
They disappeared once again.
Without realizing it, she closed her eyes.
The gentle rocking of the carriage slowly lulled her into a peaceful silence.
Beside her, Xandros remained awake.
Although his expression never changed, his gaze never once left Rosaline throughout the journey.
Every now and then, he adjusted the blanket draped over her shoulders whenever it slipped.
The journey back to the mansion passed in peaceful silence.
Only the rhythmic clatter of the carriage wheels against the cobblestone road and the steady gallop of the horses disturbed the evening air. Outside, the last rays of the setting sun painted the sky in brilliant shades of orange and crimson before gradually disappearing beyond the distant mountains.
Darkness slowly began settling over the land.
Inside the carriage, Rosaline remained quietly leaned against Xandros’ shoulder. Her breathing had become much steadier than before, and although traces of exhaustion still lingered on her face, the dizziness that had clouded her mind was beginning to fade.
She slowly lifted her head.
"I’m feeling much better now," she whispered.
Xandros studied her for a brief moment.
"Are you sure?"
Rosaline nodded gently.
"Just... a little tired."
Xandros didn’t reply immediately.
Instead, he reached out and carefully tucked a loose strand of her silver-white hair behind her ear before withdrawing his hand again.
"Then get some proper rest when we return."
Rosaline couldn’t stop the small smile that appeared on her lips.
"...I will."
Before long, the carriage slowed.
Through the window, the grand iron gates of the mansion came into view.
The guards standing on either side immediately straightened upon recognizing the approaching carriage.
The gates slowly creaked open.
Seth guided the horses through before bringing the carriage to a gentle stop in front of the mansion.
The front doors opened almost immediately.
Several servants had already lined themselves up in neat rows.
Standing at the very front was the butler.
As soon as Xandros stepped out of the carriage, the elderly man bowed respectfully.
"Welcome home, Your grace."
Xandros gave a slight nod before turning back to help Rosaline.
Although she insisted she could manage on her own, he still offered her his hand.
Rosaline accepted it without hesitation.
The moment both of her feet touched the ground, she realized she was no longer as weak as before.
The fresh evening breeze seemed to have cleared the remaining fog from her mind.
"I’m alright now," she said with a reassuring smile.
Xandros looked unconvinced but didn’t argue.
Instead, the two of them walked toward the mansion side by side.
As they entered the grand entrance hall, the warmth inside immediately replaced the cool evening air.
Golden chandeliers illuminated the marble floors, while maids hurried silently through the hall carrying trays and fresh flowers.
It was a scene Rosaline had become surprisingly familiar with.
She paused for just a second.
Only a few weeks ago...
Everything inside this mansion had felt foreign.
Every hallway.
Every servant.
Every room.
She had constantly reminded herself that this wasn’t her home.
Yet somehow...
Without realizing it...
That feeling had slowly changed.
Now, stepping through those enormous doors filled her with an unfamiliar sense of comfort.
A place she had once wanted to escape from...
Had quietly become somewhere she longed to return to.
A soft smile unconsciously touched her lips.
The butler noticed her expression before politely lowering his head.
Rosaline turned to look at him.
"Could you please ask Lily to come to my room?"
She wanted to tell Lily everything.
Well...where they went to.
The butler hesitated.
It was only for a brief moment.Barely noticeable.
But Xandros caught it immediately.
"...Certainly, My Lady."
His answer sounded respectful as always.
Yet...
Something was wrong.
Rosaline, still exhausted from everything that had happened, failed to notice the subtle change in the butler’s expression.
She simply nodded.
"Thank you."
As she turned to continue walking upstairs, the butler quietly addressed Xandros.
"My Lord..."
"There is something important I need to report."
His tone had become noticeably heavier.
Xandros stopped walking.
He looked from the butler to Rosaline.
Then back again, the old man seemed deeply conflicted.
His lips parted slightly as though he wanted to speak, yet no words came out.
Whatever it was...
He clearly wasn’t sure whether Rosaline should hear it.
Xandros understood immediately.
"We’ll discuss it later."
His voice was calm but decisive.
The butler looked relieved.
"As you wish, My Lord."
Xandros resumed walking.
Rosaline naturally followed beside him.
As they climbed the staircase together, Rosaline gradually realized something.
"...This isn’t the way to my room."
She looked at Xandros with quiet confusion.
He didn’t even glance in her direction.
"No."
He answered simply.
"You’re staying in ours,don’t you remember?"
Rosaline blinked.
For a brief second...
She completely forgot how to breathe.
A warm blush slowly spread across her cheeks.
She lowered her eyes before he could notice.
"...O-Oh."
She didn’t argue.
Truthfully...
She didn’t want to.
When they finally entered his chamber, Rosaline instinctively looked around.
The familiar furniture.
The large fireplace.
The tall windows overlooking the gardens.
Everything looked exactly the same as before.
Yet...
It somehow felt different.
Warmer.
Safer.
She slowly released a quiet breath.
Without realizing it, this room had become the place where she felt most at peace.
Home.
The realization surprised even her.
Xandros noticed the way her shoulders visibly relaxed.
"You should freshen up."
His voice gently pulled her back to reality.
"I’ll have dinner prepared."
He walked toward the door before pausing.
"After that, I need to take care of a few matters."
Rosaline smiled softly.
"Alright."
She watched him leave the room.
The moment the door closed behind him, the room became strangely quiet.
Meanwhile, Xandros made his way down the hallway toward his study.
The butler was already waiting outside.
The moment Xandros entered, he walked directly behind his desk before taking his seat.
Only then did he lift his eyes toward the old servant.
"You may speak."
The butler remained silent for several seconds.
His expression was unusually grim.
Finally...
"My Lord..."
He lowered his head.
"...Lily has been missing since this afternoon."
Silence filled the study.
The warmth in the room seemed to disappear in an instant.