ONE NIGHT STAND WITH HOT DUKE-Chapter 206: Leranth

The words fell like a stone.

Noel’s face immediately went pale.

His hands clenched at his sides, but he lowered his head. "...Forgive me."

Vedseel closed his eyes briefly.

He knew Demian was angry.

But he also knew that anger wasn’t entirely directed at Noel.

Most of it was directed at himself.

Demian looked back at the long road stretching ahead of them.

Inside his chest, the unease continued to throb.

Valerie.

Her name lingered like a shadow that never truly left him.

And now, for the first time in his life he didn’t know where to look for her.

Vedseel watched Noel for a moment after Demian’s words fell like the edge of a blade.

Noel still kept his head lowered.His hands were clenched tightly, yet he didn’t defend himself.

Vedseel finally let out a long sigh.

"That’s enough, Demian."

His voice wasn’t loud, but it was enough to make several soldiers lift their heads.

Demian didn’t turn.

His gaze remained fixed on the long road leading out of the village.

Vedseel continued, more serious this time.

"You have every right to be angry."

He glanced briefly at Noel.

"But Noel isn’t the only one who failed to protect her."

The wind swept past them.

Demian finally turned his head slightly.

His eyes were cold.

Vedseel didn’t avoid the look.

"Don’t act as if everyone else is the only one to blame."

Silence fell.

Some of the soldiers even held their breath.

Not many people in this world dared to speak to Demian Morvex like that.

But Vedseel had always been the exception.

Demian stared at him for a long moment.

Then he spoke quietly.

"Then say it."

Vedseel raised an eyebrow.

Demian continued,

"Haven’t you been saying this whole time that you know where she is?"

His voice was low.

"Show me the way."

Vedseel didn’t answer immediately.

He looked at Demian as if trying to confirm something.

"If I show it to you now," he finally said, "you have to stop conducting investigations like this."

Demian narrowed his eyes.

Vedseel pointed toward the village behind them.

"You bring dozens of soldiers and question everyone you meet. That only makes people suspicious."

He added quietly,

"And if Valerie truly wants to hide... then you’re only pushing her farther away from you."

Demian fell silent.

Those words were clearly unpleasant to hear.

But he knew Vedseel wasn’t wrong.

A few seconds passed.

Finally, Demian said briefly,

"Fine."

Vedseel lifted an eyebrow slightly, a little surprised Demian agreed faster than he expected.

"Really?"

Demian looked at him flatly.

"If you’re right, we won’t need to search anymore."

Vedseel exhaled softly.

Then he said,

"The caravan that took Valerie didn’t pass through the main route."

Demian’s attention sharpened immediately.

Vedseel pointed west toward a quieter stretch of forest.

"They took an old trade road. That path is rarely used because it’s longer."

He continued,

"The caravan headed toward a small town on the western border."

Demian narrowed his eyes.

"What town?"

Vedseel answered without hesitation.

"Leranth."

Several soldiers exchanged glances.

The town was small, almost insignificant on the kingdom’s map.

Demian thought for a moment.

"Why there?"

Vedseel shrugged slightly.

"Because no one would think to look for her there."

He added,

"And because there’s someone there who can protect her."

Demian’s gaze immediately changed.

"Explain."

Vedseel looked at him for a few seconds.

Then he said quietly,

"Valerie isn’t alone."

Demian stiffened slightly.

Vedseel continued,

"An old merchant helped her. And in Leranth... there’s someone who owes me a favor."

Demian narrowed his eyes.

"Who?"

Vedseel smiled faintly.

"Someone who would never betray information about Valerie."

He paused before adding,

"As long as we don’t arrive like an army about to invade a small town."

The wind blew again.

Demian looked toward the west.

Toward the forest Vedseel had indicated.

Then he finally said to the soldiers,

"We’re not entering the village again."

The soldiers immediately straightened.

Demian continued in a calm but firm tone.

"We turn toward the western route."

He glanced slightly at Vedseel.

"And you’ll lead the way."

Vedseel smiled faintly.

Finally.

He had been waiting for Demian to say that since morning.

But before they moved Noel suddenly spoke quietly from behind.

"Your Grace..."

Demian didn’t turn.

Noel continued carefully,

"If we truly find Lady Valerie..."

He paused for a moment.

"...what will you do?"

Silence fell again.

The question made several soldiers hold their breath.

Demian stood still for a few seconds.

Then he answered without emotion.

"I’ll bring her home."

Vedseel didn’t immediately answer Noel’s question.

He simply stared at the old map spread across the wooden table inside their travel tent. His fingertip stopped at a tiny mark on the far northern edge of the kingdom’s map.

An island.

Demian narrowed his eyes.

"Leranth..."

Vedseel nodded slowly.

"Yes. Leranth isn’t just a small town."He tapped the point with his finger.

"It’s a port city built on an island in the north. The coldest island in the kingdom."

Noel, standing behind them, looked surprised.

"That northern island?" he murmured.

Vedseel continued, 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"A place where the temperature almost never rises above freezing."

He lifted his head slightly.

"Even during summer."

The night wind pushed against the tent cloth, making the oil lamp inside sway gently.

Vedseel spoke again.

"In Leranth, the temperature often drops far below zero. The sea around it is almost always filled with broken sheets of ice."

Demian stared at the map without blinking.

The island was very far away.

And very isolated.

Vedseel continued in a lower voice,

"The caravan that took her is likely heading to a small harbor on the western coast. From there they’ll cross using an ice ship."

Noel looked increasingly uneasy.

"Lady Valerie... went to a place like that?"

edseel shrugged.

"That’s exactly why it’s the perfect place to hide."

He looked at Demian.

"No noble wants to live there. Too cold. Too remote."

He added,

"And the people of Leranth don’t like outsiders who ask too many questions."