Chapter 35: A Desperate Pursuit

A loud knock startled Hawk.

He quickly closed the box with the necklace and slipped it into his pocket.

“What’s the matter?”

“It’s Anna, sir.”

Opening the door, Hawk found Anna, her face pale.

“Why so frantic?

What happened?”

“It’s the lady…”

“What about Fine?”

“She’s gone!”

Hawk’s brow furrowed.

“Gone?

You don’t mean she’s just out for a walk?”

Anna’s demeanor suggested otherwise, but Hawk forced calm to steady himself.

“Well, this was…”

With trembling hands, Anna handed him an envelope addressed to “Hawk-sama” in elegant handwriting.

It was unmistakably Fine’s.

Having reviewed her documents countless times, he couldn’t mistake it.

Suppressing his panic, Hawk opened the envelope.

—

Dear Hawk-sama,

The two years with you have been truly happy.

Thank you for cherishing someone like me.

Please spend your days with the one you love from now on.

Even from afar, I wish for your happiness.

May Rosaider’s lands be blessed with abundance.

Fine

—

Enclosed was a divorce application, already signed by Fine, awaiting only Hawk’s signature for submission.

“The one I love?”

Hawk crushed the document in his fist.

“I love only you, so what’s this about?”

He glanced at the vow tattoo on his arm.

‘No abnormalities…’

The vow would lose effect if broken, cursing the violator.

Since it was still the final day of their two-year agreement and no curse had activated, Fine’s actions weren’t betrayal but a sincere, misguided choice.

‘Does she think I have a lover and is stepping aside?’

Hawk realized Fine was under a grave misunderstanding.

“Sir, what should we do…?”

Anna asked, her voice trembling.

“I’ll find her and bring her back.

Anna, keep searching the mansion for her.”

“Understood.”

Nodding vigorously, Anna hurried to check possible places.

Alone, Hawk looked to the ceiling.

‘To leave without a word…’

Fine always exceeded his expectations.

‘But the Rosaider motto is “Crush your enemies thoroughly.

Seize what you want by any means.” And Fine, what I truly want is you.’

Determined to find her, Hawk summoned Carl and his most trusted men.

“Fine is gone.”

The gathered subordinates froze at his words.

“We’re searching immediately.

A woman alone, without a horse, can’t have gone far.”

“Yes, sir!”

The men dispersed to search the area.

Hawk himself went into town.

Though he expected to find her quickly, her absence fueled his growing anxiety.

‘Could someone have taken her…?’

A chilling thought crossed his mind.

Then, a child limping across the street caught his eye, a handkerchief tied around their knee, embroidered with a familiar pattern.

“Hey!”

The child flinched at Hawk’s shout.

“Where’d you get that handkerchief?”

“Some kind lady gave it to me.

I fell, and she helped me.”

“When?

Where?”

“Around noon, at the fountain plaza.”

“The fountain plaza?”

The plaza, a popular gathering spot in Rosaider, surrounded a fountain.

As Hawk processed this, a voice called, “My lord!”