# Chapter 16
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Episode 16
"photo?"
The photo, which looked as old as a storage box, contained a peaceful mansion.
This mansion...
.
'I remembered.
'The villa in Edenbahir where I went to play with my father seven years ago.'
Thanks to the consideration of the Duke of Edenbahir, a room was able to be fully decorated like Anita's room.
I vaguely remembered moving dolls, clothes, shoes, books, etc., that I used there as a child.
There was a folded document underneath the photo.
Owner Vincent Wöröni.
'...
'It's my father's name.'
Anita examined the documents carefully.
Looking at the building area and listed structure, it seemed clear that the villa in the photo was a land registry.
It was not the Edenbahir family's villa, but Wöröni's villa.
The next document was a kind of receipt.
Judging by the fact that it was filled with a furniture payment list, it looked like a piece of villa furniture.
'Payment date...
'Just a year ago?'
Eight months ago, a considerable amount of money was paid to the human resources center.
In a brief memo:
It was written that the brokerage fee for the employee who would be hired in July of the next year had been paid in advance.
'In July next year...
.'
It's snow.
Anita absently checked the list of remaining payments.
Surprisingly, even groceries were provided.
It was as if they were preparing to move.
'That can't be possible.'
The reason my father moved from his hometown to Chabalon was because of success.
Her father's ambition was so vivid and passionate that young Anita recognized it immediately.
Status limitations.
Money and education are the only means to overcome this limitation.
Her father was a man who would cross a straw bridge for Anita's education and wealth.
Shabalon, the golden city to achieve my father's goal.
Wouldn't leaving Shabalon be the same as throwing away all the wealth and fame you've achieved so far?
What if that father was preparing to emigrate without Anita's knowledge?
'Did you know what happened today?'
Maybe that's why I tried to open Shavalon in advance.
Anita's heart began to beat with excitement and anticipation.
Perhaps her missing father is waiting for her in this villa.
No, I was sure.
—Otherwise, the duke wouldn't take me here.
Anita kept the documents and photos in her bag.
Now that I knew the truth, there was no need to delay any longer.
The location of the villa is Buedort, 20 hours by train from Chavalon.
There will be a train leaving tomorrow morning.
Just before leaving the warehouse, she asked the man who opened the closet.
"Can I know when my items were stored?"
The man shook his head urgently, avoiding Anita's eyes.
"No, no, I don't know.
"I don't know anything, so please quickly take it off."
"so...
"Can you pretend you didn't notice I'm here today?"
"I, I, I didn't see anything."
"thanks."
Anita lowered her head and left the warehouse.
I felt my steps gradually getting faster.
After all, my father wasn't dead...
.
"They said they don't know where it is."
It was a voice filled with a faint smile.
However, it is difficult to accurately determine whether the laughter is ridiculous or joyful.
"Did you hate me enough to lie?"
Anita turned away at the bad-tempered rebuke.
There stood a gray-haired nobleman wearing a jeweled butterfly mask.
The sight of her standing on her back made Anita regain the tension she had lost.
The fact that I didn't know his identity was quite bothersome, but I had no intention of paying attention.
Anita casually made up a false excuse.
"It's true I didn't know."
"I'm sorry, but I've already memorized the pattern.
Every time I lie, I don't smile with my eyes, just with my mouth.
Oh, maybe you don't know yourself."
However, the way the man handled the conversation was so skillful that I couldn't help but notice the corners of my mouth.
...Are you just smiling?
I thought, this is what happened, let everything happen as it should.
"Yes, I didn't know.
Thanks for letting me know."
"So, did you find what you wanted?"
A man who was looking for a green file like her.
This would mean that the man is not someone who "hides" things like his father or the Duke of Edenbahir, but is closer to "looking" for things like Anita.
"no.
Unfortunately, I couldn't find it.
"I think I lost it because it's been so long."
The man let out an unexpectedly short exclamation.
"Now your eyes are smiling too.
"It's like a charm."
"...
"Thank you."
This man is uncomfortable.
However, it was difficult to ignore him and treat him as a non-existent person like before.
Does this man know anything?
Suddenly he approached Anita, held out a flower and asked.
"Very well then, ma'am.
"What's your name?"
It was the blue rose that she rejected when they first met.
"Rosa Eburg."
"Oh.
"I don't want you to know even if I die, is that it?"
I had no intention of revealing my name.
That moment when anxiety started to prevail over curiosity and I was about to leave.
"sister!"
Wasn't the boy running from afar and suddenly grabbed Anita's hand?
"Oh my God!
You've been looking for this for a while.
Let's go home quickly.
I'm hungry."
"what?
Kid, wait...
."
"hurry!
"Brother is also waiting for you, so come quickly!"
brother?
The boy's leadership was so natural that Anita was dragged out of the garbage dump.
The place where the boy, who had been running for some time, stopped was in front of an old-fashioned four-wheeled carriage parked in front of the amusement park.
"I brought you."
A silver coin bounced between the carriage doors.
The silhouette I saw at first glance was that of a man.
'Who is this?'
The boy carrying the silver coins tilted his head towards the man in the carriage.
"thank you.
"Please call me again, Nari."
As Anita caught her breath, the air in the dark and gloomy alley turned cold.
No matter how much I thought about it, I felt like I helped her.
"I don't know who you are, but thank you for your help...
."
It was then.
The opening in the door opened wider and a white hand reached out.
Anita immediately recognized the stranger's identity just by the appearance of his hands.
It was Lancelot.
"How long do you plan to stay there?
"Hand in hand."
oh.
'I see, it was him...
.'
I just checked the voice and a sense of relief I had never felt before came flooding in like a tide.
When I held his hand and entered the carriage, the wheels began to turn as if I had been waiting.
Anita lowered her head, took off her hat and fixed her hair before looking directly at Lancelot.
His face was full of boredom as he looked at the view of the amusement park passing through the white curtains covering the window.
'I am also seriously ill.'
I can't believe I feel excitement and joy despite seeing things like this.
Furthermore, despite my busy schedule, I haven't found time to collect myself?
I was happy even if the interest only ended there.
So much so that my heart is happy.
"How do you know I'm here?"
"Because you told the butler."
Oh, I did.
"I didn't expect to be captured by a clown.
Did they get dragged into the garbage disposal?"
As if reacting to an indifferent voice, the strange scene of the old warehouse flashed through Anita's mind.
[Don't show it to anyone.
For Lancelo too.
This is an item prepared by the Duke for Lady Anita.]
Although it is Duke Edenbahir's request.
'I cannot completely deceive Lancelot, who is helping me.'
Anita decided to find a suitable compromise between Duke Edenbahir and Lancelot's instructions.
"I went there for a bit because I had some business to do."
The slowly rolling eyes encouraged me to respond.
"one.
"I'll tell you what happened later, not now."
"Why?"
"It's like a woman's secret."
Lancelot, who was perceptive, did not try to delve deeper.
Lancelot's look, taken from her, was exactly like that.
Anyway, you don't have any secrets from me.
Even if you succeed, it won't last long and you won't be able to open your mouth on your own.
Because it was the truth and not pride, Anita's mouth felt a little bitter.
She managed to strike up a conversation while carrying the bag containing the photos and documents in her arms.
“Anyway… Thanks for the help.
"I was a little embarrassed."
"It felt like we knew each other."
"Who?
That man in the butterfly mask?
No matter how much I think about it, he's someone I can't remember.
"His behavior is suspicious."
After remaining silent for a moment, he warned in a stern voice.
"Don't go out alone from now on.
"That's right in your situation right now."