Georg stormed into his father's study, his heart racing with a mix of determination and fury. The moment he stepped inside, he locked eyes with Johann, who was seated behind his imposing desk, poring over some papers. The air in the room felt heavy, the tension palpable as Georg took a step forward, fists clenched at his sides.

"Father," Georg said, his voice low but sharp. "I need to know what happened to Maria."

Johann looked up, his expression shifting from surprise to a practiced calm. "Georg, this isn't the time—"

"No, it is the time!" Georg interrupted, his frustration boiling over. "Hede told me what you said about her. That she ran off with another man. Is that true?"

Johann's brow furrowed, and he leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Yes, it's true, Georg. She left without a word, abandoning her responsibilities here. It's for the best."

Georg felt a surge of anger. "For the best? You expect me to believe that? Maria would never do that! You're just saying this because you never liked her. You've always treated her like she was beneath us."

Johann's demeanor hardened. "Maria's background was always a concern. She didn't belong in our world, Georg. She may have been a friend to you, but she was nothing more than the gardener's niece. You're about to embark on a life of service to your country, and I won't have any distractions."

"That's not a reason to lie!" Georg shot back, the words spilling out before he could stop them. "You can't just rewrite the truth because it makes you uncomfortable."

Johann's expression darkened, and he leaned forward, his voice lowering. "You want to know the truth? If you go ask her uncle, Franz, he'll tell you the same thing. He's ashamed of her, Georg. He resigned from his position because of the disgrace she brought upon our family. You really think he'd lie for her?"

Georg's mind raced, his father's words churning in his gut. Franz had always been distant, but he had never known him to be malicious. "Why would you do this?" Georg demanded, his voice breaking slightly. "Why would you want to hurt her like this?"

"Because I'm protecting you," Johann replied, his tone clipped. "You need to focus on your future, not be distracted by a girl who has clearly moved on. Trust me, Georg. This is how it must be."

Georg stood there, his breath coming in sharp bursts, disbelief and anger swirling within him. He could feel his father's disapproval wrapping around him like chains, weighing him down. It didn't make sense—Maria was kind, loyal, and had always been there for him. The thought that she could just abandon everything felt impossible to accept.

"Don't you see?" Georg pressed, desperation creeping into his voice. "You're the one who's trying to ruin this! You're pushing me to forget about her, to turn my back on someone who meant so much to me. You don't even care what really happened!"

Johann's gaze hardened, his jaw tightening. "Enough! This conversation is over, Georg. You have your duties to attend to, and you will not waste your time on someone who is no longer part of your life."

With those final words, Johann dismissed him with a wave of his hand, signaling the end of the discussion. Georg felt a surge of helplessness wash over him as he turned on his heel, storming out of the study. The door slammed shut behind him, echoing the frustration and anger that consumed him.

As he walked through the halls of the estate, the walls felt like they were closing in. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was being manipulated, that his father was hiding something beneath the surface. The stories he had heard from Hede and Johann didn't align with the Maria he knew, and the thought of her possibly suffering because of Johann's lies fueled his resolve.

Georg knew he had to find out the truth for himself. He needed to speak to Franz, to confront the man who had always seemed indifferent to him but might hold the answers he sought. If there was even a shred of truth to what his father had said, Georg needed to hear it from Franz directly.

The next morning, Georg woke with a renewed sense of purpose. He had spent a restless night tossing and turning, thoughts of Maria and his father's lies swirling in his mind. Determined to find Franz, he rushed through breakfast, hardly touching the food on his plate, and made his way through the estate.

As he walked the halls, he decided to question the household staff. He approached the kitchen first, where several workers bustled about, preparing for the day. Georg cleared his throat, drawing their attention.

"Excuse me," he began, his voice steady but urgent. "I need to know if anyone has seen Franz recently. I understand he's no longer working here, but I'd like to know where he might be."

The room fell silent, and a few of the staff exchanged wary glances. Finally, a maid spoke up hesitantly. "Franz? He... he wasn't very friendly with any of us. I don't know where he might be."

Georg nodded, his frustration growing. "I understand. But any information would be helpful."

The questioning continued, but it was tedious and largely fruitless. Most of the staff described Franz as intimidating and distant, recalling only snippets of their interactions with him. Each refusal chipped away at Georg's patience, but he pressed on, unwilling to give up.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of questioning, the driver of the family car entered the kitchen. Georg recognized him as someone who had been with the family for years, someone who might have seen more than most.

"Excuse me, sir," Georg said, turning to him. "Do you happen to know where Franz has gone?"

The driver paused, tapping a finger against his chin in thought. "I saw him a few days ago," he replied slowly. "He was working as a mechanic at a car repair shop in South Tyrol. I was there getting a wheel fixed, and he was... well, he didn't look too happy, but he was working."

Georg's heart raced at the revelation. South Tyrol was a distance away, but now he had a lead, a glimmer of hope that he could finally get the answers he needed.

"Thank you," Georg said, gratitude flooding his voice. "That's very helpful."

With the driver's words echoing in his mind, Georg felt a sense of determination wash over him. He would find Franz and uncover the truth about Maria, no matter what it took.

He turned on his heel, ready to set out for South Tyrol, eager to confront the gardener's uncle and finally discover what had really happened to the girl he had left behind.