I’ll Be the Heroine’s Competent Divorce Partner - Chapter 153

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 153

 

‘Elodie.’

 

What should I do?

 

If Marquis Bartsen really harms Elodie…

 

Joshua took a deep breath.

 

It was to somehow regain his composure.

 

But it was completely useless.

 

Just thinking that Elodie might get hurt made his entire body stiffen with fear.

 

Just as Joshua was biting his lower lip until it bled.

 

“Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

 

“…”

 

“Your Highness!”

 

A sharp voice called out to him.

 

Joshua, coming to his senses, quickly lifted his head.

 

His friend’s ash-gray gaze was staring directly at him.

 

“This is not the time to lose your reason like this.”

 

“…Richard.”

 

“Don’t we need to save Marquis Lucerno?”

 

At those words, light gradually returned to his turbid violet eyes.

 

Richard, inwardly relieved, continued speaking gently.

 

“If we think positively, doesn’t this mean the Marquis’s safety is guaranteed for the time being?”

 

Marquis Bartsen’s purpose was clear.

 

To take Elodie hostage and escape from the Empire.

 

Then he wouldn’t cause her great harm until he achieved his goal.

 

‘Of course, he could have already killed her and be threatening us while pretending she’s still alive, but…’

 

Richard shook his head inwardly.

 

Such assumptions were useless.

 

Right now, they had to move assuming Elodie was alive.

 

“He probably hasn’t left the country yet. You know, don’t you? That illegal emigration requires far more funds than one might imagine.”

 

“…Yes, that’s right.”

 

“Since he fled so hastily, he couldn’t have taken enough funds and supplies with him.”

 

Having said that, Richard gripped Joshua’s shoulder tightly.

 

His ash-gray gaze, which had been quiet all along, now shone as sharp as broken glass shards.

 

“Pull yourself together. You’re the only one who can save Marquis Lucerno right now.”

 

At those words, Joshua completely came to his senses.

 

He closed his eyes tightly and opened them again.

 

His violet eyes were burning like flames, but he had clearly regained his reason compared to before.

 

“Richard.”

 

“Yes, Your Highness.”

 

“Deploy as many informants as possible to find where Elodie might be. I’ll also deploy the security forces, but there will be limits.”

 

“Understood.”

 

Richard nodded.

 

“And I…”

 

Crunch!

 

The note crumpled in Joshua’s grip.

 

A fierce voice flowed through his clenched teeth.

 

“I’m going to Bella Atelier.”

 

The place where Elodie was kidnapped.

 

He had to see that scene.

 

* * *

 

Bella Atelier was temporarily closed.

 

Ropes were set up at the entrance to prevent civilians from entering.

 

Security officers were moving about busily.

 

“We’ve preserved the scene as it was.”

 

A security officer reported to Joshua as he entered the scene.

 

Joshua nodded and was about to take another step.

 

But then.

 

A woman desperately clung to Joshua.

 

“Your Highness! Please find Elodie!”

 

It was Isabel.

 

She had worried so much that her face was completely pale without any color.

 

Her eyes were even red and swollen from crying.

 

The security officer carefully spoke up.

 

“Count Delaney was the first to discover the scene.”

 

“…”

 

Then was Count Delaney also the first to confirm the note left by Marquis Bartsen?

 

Joshua’s eyes darkened deeply.

 

She must have been very shocked.

 

Especially since Isabel and Elodie were very close.

 

“E-Elodie… If I had known this would happen, I should have stayed by her side…”

 

Isabel trembled and shed thick tears.

 

Joshua unconsciously clenched his fists tightly.

 

Elodie.

 

Where are you now…

 

“Sob, sob…”

 

Isabel’s crying grew even louder.

 

Unable to watch any longer, the security officer held Isabel back.

 

“I’ll escort Count Delaney. Your Highness, please go inside.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

Joshua nodded in greeting and glanced at Isabel sideways.

 

Then he called her in a low voice.

 

“Count Delaney.”

 

“Yes, Your Highness.”

 

Isabel wiped her tears and looked at Joshua.

 

“I will find Marquis Lucerno no matter what.”

 

“…”

 

Her green eyes widened.

 

“The Marquis, no, Elodie is…”

 

Joshua trailed off for a moment, then finished with emphasis.

 

“A very precious person to me as well.”

 

With those words.

 

Joshua signaled to the security officer with his eyes.

 

“Escort Count Delaney.”

 

After Isabel left with the security officer’s support.

 

Joshua entered the small study arranged at the back of the dress shop.

 

Actually, it was too modest a space to call a study.

 

A large desk and bookshelf, along with a long sofa that could seat several people, were placed there.

 

I heard that they sometimes held brief meetings in this study as well.

 

‘So this is where Elodie was kidnapped.’

 

Joshua looked around with sharp eyes.

 

From the circumstances, it seemed Elodie had encountered Marquis Bartsen here and was dragged outside due to his threats.

 

There didn’t seem to have been any resistance or physical struggle in the process.

 

‘That’s fortunate, at least.’

 

If she had rashly tried to escape and gotten hurt in the process…

 

Just the thought of it sent chills down his spine.

 

Just then.

 

Joshua’s gaze fell upon the desk.

 

A neatly organized file of documents caught his eye strangely.

 

That was because one of the middle pages in the file was unnaturally folded and sticking out.

 

Joshua picked up the file.

 

“This page is…”

 

The folded page contained information about transporting dresses to the Maltz Duchy.

 

It was an explanation about which merchant group’s ship to select for maritime transport.

 

He slightly furrowed his brow.

 

‘Why did Elodie fold this page?’

 

Did she simply fold it without any particular meaning?

 

That didn’t seem likely.

 

Even in the urgent situation of being kidnapped, there must have been a reason why she felt compelled to fold this document.

 

After being lost in thought for only a moment.

 

Shock appeared on Joshua’s face.

 

‘Could it be!’

 

* * *

 

Richard watched from a distance as Joshua entered Bella Atelier.

 

‘Marquis Lucerno… I hope she’ll be safe.’

 

Although he had decided to put aside his feelings for her, he couldn’t help the ache in a corner of his heart.

 

Just then.

 

‘Hmm?’

 

His pale gray eyes narrowed.

 

In the distance, a woman with a familiar appearance was being supported by a security officer as she came out.

 

‘Count Delaney?’

 

It was Isabel.

 

Her beautiful blonde hair was completely disheveled, and her pure face was covered in tears.

 

She clearly looked like she had received a great shock due to Elodie’s kidnapping.

 

“…”

 

Richard fell silent for a moment.

 

In truth, Richard and Isabel weren’t particularly close friends.

 

But the reason he couldn’t bring himself to walk away was…

 

‘In any case, the decision was my own to make.’

 

The night of the ball.

 

It was because Isabel’s confident face as she said those words flickered before his eyes.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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