Seduce the hero's mother (GL)

Chapter 165: Chapter 16. Strange Symptoms

«You're really not going to do anything?!» — Maxie was dumbfounded when she learned that I wasn't going to do anything about my recent abduction.

Immediately after my rescue-the Marquis's daughter intended to launch an investigation into this outrageous incident. But I stopped her.

— Listen!» she tried to reason with me, «it was obviously done for a reason! Otherwise, do you think those dogs would have had the courage to kidnap you?

Maxie was sure it was done on someone's orders. As a matter of fact, I was of the same opinion myself. In spite of that, I prevented her from starting the inspection.

— Camilla's wedding and coronation are in less than a month. Do you think we have time to deal with it?

— But…!

— Besides, I'm already safe and these people are in jail. We can come back to this later.

The kidnapping of the Archduchess was indeed a serious crime. Not only that, but I was put on the slave market as a commodity. All this is enough to sentence to death all those who took part. On that basis, I understood perfectly well Maxie's indignation.

Still, my life is nothing compared to the future that awaits the country after Camilla's ascension to the throne. That's why I made it my main task.

After all my persuasion, Maxie had to accept my decision. However, she was determined to punish the villain immediately upon our return. Then I would not stop her any longer.

Before we set out for the rest of the journey — I wrote a letter to Andrew. Specifically, I ordered him to help settle all the freed slaves. Most of them had lost their jobs or homes altogether because of their long absence.

They would find themselves on the streets after they were freed. Even though we had not been together very long — but I sincerely sympathized with these people. Andrew had to help me with that. I also asked to get Dylan settled at Ashford Manor. His sister, too, should have been found as soon as possible.

Once all the weight on my soul associated with this was gone — I was able to focus on business again. We continued on to the Oberon Empire.

Luckily, no unnecessary adventures were encountered thereafter. We made it safely to the village of Sorus — where I hadn't been in over two years.

Old memories of the place came flooding back. It was hard to believe that so much time had passed since then.

Maxie and I were the first to climb the mountain, while Razor lingered in the village to reconnoitre. We were to rendezvous in about half an hour.

Surprisingly, I still remembered the path to the elder's cabin. We had walked through the woods before we reached the right house.

It looked even more abandoned now than before. In the back of my mind, it made me uneasy.

— Elder Ileas!

I knocked on the door, but there was silence on the other side. He couldn't be ignoring us again, just like the last time.

I knocked nonchalantly a few more times, assuming he just didn't hear.

Still no answer.

Maxie frowned and peered through the dusty windows.

— There didn't seem to be anyone there.

— What?» I was surprised, «You mean he's moved out?

— People his age usually stick to one place for decades. Why would he move?

— But then…

— Maybe something happened,» she suggested, «Anyway, I'm going to break down the door.

— No way! — I resented her, «We're here to visit! Who does that?

— We've waited long enough,» Maxie protested stubbornly, «Or are you going to wait any longer? You said we didn't have time.

I pursed my lips.

Breaking down someone else's door really didn't seem like a good idea. Besides, we hadn't seen each other in two years. Not the most pleasant first meeting.

Still, Maxie was right, too. We couldn't wait any longer.

Noticing the doubts on my face, the girl waved her hand.

— What's the big deal? It's just a door. We'll get a new one later. We'll make sure it's okay.

I sighed and finally accepted it.

— Do as you wish.

After I agreed, Maxie got right down to business. As it turned out: the door didn't even have to be kicked in. The door swung open because of her old age, and she only had to knock it open a little.

There was a lot of dust inside, too, which made me cough. Maxie covered me with her cloak.

— Careful.

I was even more discouraged when I entered the house. There was a thick layer of dust all over the furniture. And the place itself seemed long neglected.

But how could it be?! It can't be that the Elder had really moved out. Otherwise, he wouldn't have left so many of his things here…

Various and not the most pleasant conjectures overtook me. Maxie frowned, too.

As we studied the house-we were not eager to jump to conclusions. Perhaps the worst would come to pass after all.

All our earlier doubts, however, were dispelled by Razor. The second prince came toward us about a couple of minutes later.

The guy was clearly running this way and looked out of breath.

— Bad news!» he sighed. — He exhaled, leaning his hands on his knees.

— What kind of news? — Maxie immediately interjected.

— They say in the village that the Elder is dead…

— WHAT?!

I was inevitably taken aback by the news.

Razor looked at me sympathetically and chose his words carefully:

— We don't know exactly when it happened… But a year ago, a resident accidentally discovered his body in the house when he came to ask for help. They say that even then he…» The boy hesitated and looked at me again.

But it was clear without words. Maxie and I looked at each other sadly.

One way or another: we should have expected something like this to happen. Lloyd Ileas was long past his prime-and by the time we met, he was clearly on his last legs.

Even before we parted, he seemed to be in considerable pain. So it seemed a natural outcome.

But let it be so… I felt regret: that I could not even say goodbye to him one last time. It felt as if a close relative had died, even though we didn't know each other that well.

Of the three of us, I was the most upset. Maxie patted my shoulder.

— You can come out if you don't feel well.

I shook my head.

— It's okay… we have to find what we came for.

I couldn't give in to unnecessary emotion right now. Elder Ileas was a good man-and I didn't regret meeting him. Surely he wouldn't have minded helping us himself.

After a few minutes, I was able to pull myself together and begin my search. We needed this book to figure out where it all started.

After roughly explaining what it looked like, Maxie and Razor began to search along with me. This proved a bit difficult due to the fact that all of the books were dusty. And some had deteriorated and rotten altogether.

I went through the shelves one by one, and at one point I even thought she was gone.

But…

— I found it!

Maxie suddenly shouted from the other side of the bookcase. Razor and I both abandoned our search and headed toward her at the same time.

— Is that her?

She slid me a book, at first glance looked more like a collection of children's tales. On the cover was the only readable title: «The Goddess and the Demon.

I felt a great relief.

— Yes! It's her!

The Marquis's daughter smiled.

— You see, I bring you luck.

I took the book and opened the first page I saw. Maxie looked inside and frowned.

— And what is all this nonsense? It doesn't make any sense…

— We'll have to find a dictionary of the ancient language,» I suggested, «It'll take a long time, but I think we can decipher it.

Maxie's expression turned sour. She hated digging through papers, much less doing such tedious things.

— Well, you and the Prince will manage just fine without me! — She shrugged us off at once, «I've already found the book. It's enough.

I chuckled involuntarily.

— Razor, what do you think?

I showed the second prince the book I had found, and at that moment I noticed something strange. Seeing its contents — the expression on the boy's face suddenly distorted.

— The head! — He suddenly grabbed his hair, — My head hurts!

— What?» I stammered.

The longer Razor stared at the book, the more his symptoms grew. Eventually he broke down and collapsed unconscious.

Maxie and I were equally shocked.

— What was the matter with him?