To You Who Will Destroy Me - Chapter 171

Meanwhile, Irel was struggling with her investigation. It was only natural—unlike Varkan, she didn’t have an extensive network of informants or the brute strength to intimidate others into talking.

If Varkan was someone who could shake the world with a snap of his fingers, Irel was more like a small piece of fluff blown about by the winds. To uncover any information, she had to rely on her own efforts—walking, asking, and searching relentlessly.

“Ugh.”

“Are you all right, my lady?” Jin, who had been following her diligently, asked with concern. He had become even more enthusiastic about his role as her guard, eager to protect her in Varkan’s absence.

Of course, when Varkan was present, Jin was quickly dismissed from her side.

‘He’s here because Varkan’s not,’ Irel thought. She wasn’t naïve. Varkan had probably given Jin orders to stay close to her, worried that she might run into trouble while he wasn’t around.

“I’m fine, Jin,” Irel replied with a faint smile. Still, after walking around the fortress for over an hour and a half, she was feeling exhausted. Her thick winter dress was as heavy as armor, and the fur boots she wore felt clumsy and cumbersome.

All this effort was for one purpose—to find Masaka Sahar.

‘He’s a key figure in this incident.’

Lieutenant Mina, being a long-time loyalist to her father, had been tight-lipped. But when Irel hinted at the information she’d gotten from Sir Milo, Mina had briefly looked flustered.

‘Where did you hear that?’

It was clear that Mina knew something about her father’s injury. Sensing this, Irel had decided to appeal to her sense of compassion.

‘Please, Lieutenant Mina, don’t hide anything from me. I know that the man who left his position did something to my father. How could a daughter not know what happened to her father?’

Irel’s earnest plea caused Mina’s eyes to waver, but she quickly regained the calm composure of a seasoned soldier.

‘I’m sorry, Lady Irel, but this is Frost La Hill. Your father is not just your family—he is the commander here. As his subordinate, I cannot disclose his personal matters to civilians. I ask for your understanding.’

Since military law was involved, there was no point in pushing further. Disheartened, Irel left Mina’s office, feeling like the lead she had been following had suddenly been cut off. She was back to square one.

It was frustrating. She needed a break to clear her head. Stepping onto the nearest balcony, Irel took a deep breath, letting the cold air fill her lungs.

“Are you sure you’re not cold, my lady?” Jin asked, his voice full of concern. Irel shook her head. The stone walls were cold to the touch, but the chilly air helped her think more clearly.

How long had it been? Just a few minutes later, the sound of someone knocking on the door of Mina’s office reached her ears.

Creak.

The door, which had remained firmly closed to Irel, opened easily for the knock. Not only that, but Mina’s voice carried out in the breeze.

“Have you found him?”

“No, ma’am. I’ve circled the fortress once but still haven’t located him.”

Mina sighed in frustration at her subordinate’s report.

“Where on earth has Masaka Sahar gone this time?”

Hearing that name, Irel’s ears perked up. Jin, standing beside her, seemed to have the same reaction, both of them discreetly listening in on the conversation.

Luckily, neither Mina nor her subordinate seemed to realize Irel was still nearby. The subordinate spoke again, trying to reassure Mina.

“I’m sure Lord Sahar will show up soon. He always does when needed.”

“The problem is he never shows up before then,” Mina replied sharply.

Mina, a soldier through and through, clearly believed that proper duty meant always being prepared and in position, ready to respond at any moment.

No matter how special Sahar was, the way he often vanished irritated her. She clicked her tongue in disapproval.

‘Hmm.’

Irel realized that the information she had accidentally overheard was quite valuable. Mina had even given her an extra hint at the end.

“Go find him again. I need to have a serious talk with him about keeping quiet.”

A “serious talk”? About keeping quiet? That certainly implied a lot. It was enough to confirm to Irel that finding this Masaka, Sahar, was crucial.

However, there was one thing she hadn’t considered.

‘How am I supposed to find a man even trained soldiers can’t locate?’

She had underestimated the challenge. Unfamiliar with the layout of Frost La Hill, Irel had been wandering aimlessly through the expansive fortress, determined to find Sahar.

“Apologies for not being of more help, my lady,” Jin said sheepishly from behind her. Earlier in the morning, Irel had looked fresh and regal, like a crisp, proud cauliflower. But now, after so much fruitless searching, she was beginning to wilt.

“I’m afraid tracking isn’t one of my strong suits…” Jin trailed off. Normally, Masakas could sense each other’s presence if they were nearby, but Sahar’s presence was unusually faint.

Even worse, Sahar’s aura seemed to be scattered all over the fortress, making it impossible to pinpoint his exact location.

‘If only Yan Louis were here…’

However, the moment Yan Louis had sensed the tension between Irel and Varkan, he had quickly made his exit. It was a smart move on his part; after all, there’s rarely anything good to be gained from getting involved in a superior’s marital conflict.

In contrast, Jin, as her guard, didn’t have the luxury of leaving. He had to stay by Irel’s side no matter the situation.

‘At times like this, maybe being an informant isn’t such a bad option after all,’ Jin briefly considered changing his career path.

“Jin,” Irel spoke, breaking his thoughts as she caught her breath.

“Aren’t you cold?” she asked, her concern evident.

“No, my lady. I’m a Masaka, so I’m used to it,” he replied.

“I’m sorry. It must be tiring, but please bear with it a little longer. This is important to me.”

Jin looked at her silently. Sitting under the pale northern sunlight, she reminded him of dried mistflowers—white, delicate, and beautiful, yet fragile, as if a touch would cause her to scatter into the wind. And despite her own weariness, she was the one asking after his well-being. Seeing the strands of hair stuck to her sweat-dampened forehead, Jin felt a pang in his chest.

‘Yes! This is where I belong!’

Forget being an informant, Jin thought. He shook off his wandering thoughts and stepped forward, offering his arm with a flourish.

“Allow me to escort you, my lady,” he said gallantly.

“Thank you, kind sir,” Irel replied, eyes wide with surprise before smiling as she took his arm. Together, they resumed their search for Masaka Sahar.

The northern region was a place where one could easily freeze to death if not careful. For this reason, the interiors of the fortress were designed to prioritize warmth and practicality. Unfortunately, this also meant that the rooms and halls lacked distinct features, making it easy to get lost.

Before long, Irel and Jin found themselves in a rather dire situation.

“Where are we now?” Irel asked.

“Um… I’m not sure,” Jin mumbled, embarrassed. After all, they were both new to the fortress, so it wasn’t entirely surprising they had lost their way.

“This is bad,” Irel sighed.

A person getting lost in her father’s workplace? That would be her.

She glanced around at the unfamiliar surroundings. She suspected they were near the northwest tower, but she couldn’t say for certain.

‘There aren’t many people here,’ she noted.

This area, perched on the edge of the mountains, was less guarded due to the low threat of invasion from this side. The lack of defenses also meant fewer soldiers to ask for directions.

“My lady,” Jin called.

“Yes?”

“The interior layout is confusing. Perhaps we should go outside to get our bearings?” Jin suggested, his idea sounding quite reasonable.

“That sounds like a good plan.”

With an exit nearby, Jin led the way outside. They emerged into a small garden atop the tower.

“This seems to be a lookout and resting area,” Jin observed.

But it looked as neglected as any forgotten corner of the fortress. Overgrown bushes, untamed plants, and trees with unruly branches filled the space.

“Looks like no one comes here often,” Irel muttered, letting out a sigh at the wilderness-like scene before her.

“Shall we rest here for a bit?” Jin asked, noticing how exhausted she seemed.

“Yes, let’s stop for a moment,” she agreed.

Irel sat down, leaning against the base of a large tree. Jin quickly took off his coat and spread it out on the ground for her to sit on. The thick wool kept the cold from seeping up through the earth, offering her a little warmth.

“Wait here, my lady. I’ll go scout ahead and see if I can find the way back.”

Jin glanced at the setting sun, already casting long shadows. The temperature would drop even more once night fell, and it would grow dark quickly. He needed to make sure Irel was safely back inside before then.

“Thank you, Jin. Sorry to trouble you,” Irel whispered, gratitude filling her voice. She settled in against the tree, waiting quietly.

‘How long has it been since I sat on the ground like this?’

The cool, slightly damp smell of the earth rose up from beneath her, but the fresh scent of the grass was soothing rather than uncomfortable.

With her eyes half-closed, Irel absentmindedly ran her fingers over her sleeves. The heavy layers of clothing Varkan had insisted she wear felt burdensome. He was surprisingly sensitive when it came to her catching a cold or getting sick.

‘So fragile,’ she thought, smiling slightly.

His words were harsh, but she’d never taken offense. After all, the look in Varkan’s eyes and the warmth in his voice whenever he spoke of her well-being had always been filled with tenderness.