The Fake Madam Disappeared
Vol. 1 - Ch. 69

Daphne opened her eyes just as the afternoon began to settle in. No matter how late she had fallen asleep, waking at this hour was unusual. Still hazy with sleep, she stared blankly out the window.

‘Was it because I pushed myself too hard yesterday?’

She tried to rise from bed, but a sudden wave of dizziness made her stumble.

‘I’m so thirsty…’

Out of habit, she reached for the small table beside her bed, but her hand found nothing. Of course, Anna was gone now, and with her, the ever-prepared glass of water.

Thinking of Anna, Daphne bit her lip hard. It was clear something terrible had happened to her because of Daphne. Yet, for some strange reason, Daphne was convinced that Elizabeth hadn’t killed her.

‘As long as she’s alive.’

That was enough. Just knowing she was alive.

Placing a hand over her erratically beating heart, Daphne took a deep breath. Once she felt a little more stable, she tugged on the bell rope.

It was a while before a maid finally entered the room, and she appeared more tense than necessary, visibly nervous for reasons unknown.

“Y-you called, Madam?”

“Would you bring me a glass of water?”

“Y-yes, of course. Just a moment, please.”

As soon as Daphne finished speaking, the maid practically bolted from the room like she’d been pushed in and was eager to escape.

Daphne watched her leave, a growing sense of unease creeping in. As the door began to close, she caught the faint sound of voices. Slowly, she rose from her seat and made her way toward the door.

‘No... It can’t be.’

Sweat rolled down her forehead, born of growing anxiety. She grasped the doorknob with her clammy hand and twisted it to the side. 

Click.

But the knob wouldn’t budge, as if something was blocking it.

“Madam.”

It was Chris, vice-captain of the Black Knights, speaking from the other side of the door.

“Is there something you need? Shall I summon the maid again for you?”

“…I think I deserve an explanation.”

Daphne struggled to keep her breathing steady as her heart raced.

“…It’s by His Excellency’s order.”

“He ordered this? He’s the one who locked me in?”

“You’re not being imprisoned, Madam. It’s just… for today…”

“Open the door.”

She yanked the knob forcefully.

“I said open it!”

Her breathing turned ragged, shoulders rising and falling with each gasp.

“…I’m sorry.”

At those words, dizziness washed over her. Daphne squeezed her eyes shut, then reopened them.

She rushed to the window. Up close, she saw that iron bars had been installed. Below, knights stood guard.

Daphne slumped against the wall and slid down to the floor. Her lips trembled, quivering uncontrollably, and not just her lips. Her whole body shook.

What else could this be but livestock? Am I supposed to stay here, locked away, until I give birth? And after that… what happens to me?

“…Ha… haha…”

A hollow laugh escaped her lips.

The moment passed. Daphne staggered to her feet. This wasn’t the time to break down. She needed to escape now.

She rushed to the window, searching desperately for a weakness. But the bars were dense, and this was the third floor. Escape was nearly impossible.

She forced herself to inhale slowly and exhale just as deliberately. Then, standing before the mirror, she fixed her disheveled hair and smoothed her wrinkled clothes. At last, she walked to the door.

“I’m going to see Damian. Open the door.”

“I’m sorry, Madam. I cannot open it until His Excellency returns.”

Daphne stepped back, eyes fixed on the door. If she kept arguing, they might catch on to her plan.

Then, a sudden thought struck her. Lifting her dress, she reached up under her thigh. After one deep breath, she pressed firmly on an old wound.

A wave of pain hit her, and sweat soaked her body almost instantly. She didn’t even notice when someone entered the room. She was too focused on making the wound reopen.

Just as a muffled groan escaped her lips, a hand suddenly stopped her.

“Madam!”

Baroness Nouvelle grabbed Daphne’s hand in alarm.

“What are you doing?!”

“Baroness.”

Daphne looked at her, calm despite the Baroness’s shocked expression.

“I need to get out of here.”

“Madam…”

“I’m not asking for help. Just ignore me.”

She pulled her hand free.

The Baroness, momentarily stunned, realized what Daphne was doing – trying to reopen a barely healed wound. In a rush of urgency, she grabbed her hand again.

“…I’ll help you. Just please, stop this.”

Daphne hadn’t expected that. She was left gasping from the pain and surprise.

“Wait here. I’ll bring something that might help you escape.”

Baroness Nouvelle left, adding sternly that Daphne must never attempt such a thing again. Alone now, Daphne wiped the cold sweat from her brow and pushed back her damp hair.

Soon, the door flung open again.

Thinking it was the Baroness, Daphne stood but froze.

“…Olga?”

It was Olga.

“Shh.”

Olga raised a finger to her lips.

“I don’t know how long the drug will last. I just managed to knock out the vice-captain. Follow me quietly.”

Looking into Olga’s red eyes, Daphne finally understood what Sergei meant in his letter when he said: ‘I’m coming for you.’

Sergei had planted someone inside Edmund’s estate. The shock of it made Daphne swallow hard, but she followed Olga without a word.

As they passed the door… 

“…Madam?”

Chris, who had been standing upright unconscious, suddenly woke.

“Head for the back door,” Olga whispered quickly, even before Daphne could turn around, and launched herself at him.

“For peace and eternal rest, all things shall go according to His will. For peace and eternal—”

“Madam Olga, let go of me!”

Daphne didn’t miss the moment. She ran.

Rounding a corner in the corridor, she came face-to-face with Baroness Nouvelle. They stared at each other in mutual shock.

“Madam!”

Behind her, Chris began overpowering Olga. Seeing this, Daphne moved again, and the Baroness stepped aside to let her pass.

Mouth agape, Daphne dashed past her and made it to the back door. A carriage she didn’t recognize waited there. The moment she climbed aboard, the wheels turned, as if they’d been waiting for her.

“Madam!”

Chris’s voice rang out behind them, but it grew fainter and fainter until he was just a speck in the distance. Only then did Daphne allow herself to relax.

“I never imagined he’d drug and confine my own sister.”

Startled by the voice beside her, Daphne whipped her head around. It was Sergei.

Before she could calm her pounding heart, she grabbed him.

“How do we save Damian?”

In the deep, dark hours of the previous dawn, a letter from Sergei had arrived for Daphne. It said: ‘I can tell you how to save Damian. Leave the estate tomorrow.’

“Don’t rush, sister. There’s something I want to show you first.”

His unbothered tone left Daphne with no choice but to remain silent.

— — — 

And so, they arrived at none other than the Imperial Palace.

“…This is what you wanted to show me?”

Daphne asked, staring at the grand engagement ceremony before her.

“Yes. What do you think, Daphne?”

What did she think? Daphne looked at the beautiful couple at the center. She felt… nothing. Absolutely nothing, except the need to save Damian.

“…Just tell me how to save him.”

“Alright. You’ll need to go to the temple in the Black Forest. Bring back the water from the altar and have him drink it. That should awaken him.”

“Are you sure?”

“What do I gain from lying to my own sister?” Then Sergei added with urgency, “You’d better go before the sun sets.”

“…Wait.”

Daphne murmured, locking eyes with Edmund from across the room.

“There’s something I need to say to him.”

* * *

‘Daphne?’

Edmund couldn’t believe his eyes. Just moments ago, their eyes had met in the nearby forest. It was definitely her. But when he looked again, she had vanished.

Thinking he must have imagined it, he was about to turn away when Alec approached him.

“Your Excellency, Madam has disappeared.”

“What?”

“And Madam Olga’s eyes were red.”

“What’s going on here?”

Elizabeth appeared, having stepped away briefly.

“The engagement is about to start. It might rain, so we should move inside… Is there a problem?”

“…Give me a moment.”

“Edmund? Edmund!”

Elizabeth frowned as she watched him disappear without waiting for her reply.

Something felt… off.

‘I’m going after him.’

Elizabeth followed the path Edmund had taken into the forest.

* * *

‘I was right.’

It wasn’t a mistake. It was Daphne. Edmund sprinted like a madman toward where she had vanished. But he was too late. Not a single trace of her remained.

Then, he heard the sound of running water. As if entranced, he followed the sound, pushing through the brush. Finally, he reached a stream that flowed near the engagement venue, and there stood Daphne.

“…Daphne.”

She turned at the sound of his voice. She looked even paler and thinner in the daylight than she had in the dim room the night before.

“Is that why you weren’t there earlier? Because of the engagement?”

Her voice was flat, dry.

“You didn’t have to hide it like that. You could’ve just told me.”

“…Doesn’t this bother you?”

Daphne didn’t respond.

“There’s one thing I need to ask.”

She stepped closer to the water. Sensing something dangerous, Edmund stepped forward, but Daphne raised a hand to stop him.

“Don’t come any closer. Just answer.”

“Edmund, are you there?”

Elizabeth’s voice rang out. The sound of footsteps rustling through the underbrush followed.

“Daphne, let’s go somewhere else and—”

“No. I want to ask here.”

“Edmund?”

Elizabeth’s voice drew nearer. Daphne spoke slowly, meeting his eyes.

“Have you ever loved me? Even for a single moment?”

The rustling stopped. Elizabeth was right behind him now, and Edmund couldn’t turn around. His mind was filled with nothing but Daphne’s question.

Elizabeth was there. Depending on his answer, Daphne might live… or die.

“…No. Never.”

“I see.”

A faint smile spread across Daphne’s lips.

It was the same smile she’d shown at dawn – a fragile, fleeting smile, as if she had nothing left to lose.

“…Thank you.”

Her body tilted forward.

Splash!

The chilling sound of water echoed in Edmund’s ears.

Raindrops began to fall.

T/N: Wait… did she just…? 😨

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