Sustaining The King’s Life - Chapter 233

Sheila was biting her nails as she walked with Anakin, Ezekiel, Orwell, and Lilianne. She was having this unsettling feeling since earlier. The black wisp was still following Lilianne, and it wasn’t just any black wisp upon closer inspection.

A wisp carrying Warlock energy.

Sheila was trying her best to conceal her presence, while also searching for a way to capture the-wisp.

This could count as a huge step into finding the Forsaken.

It was unfortunate that only clairvoyants are able to see entities like this. However, Orwell—who has been exposed to different kinds of magic—looked like he was feeling something was off.

“Uncle,” Sheila, who was pretending to be a niece of Orwell, tugged his shirt.

“Yes?”

“Can I talk to you for a second?”

Orwell then smiled at the two siblings and Ezekiel Unsterblich before he and Sheila excused themselves out.

“Are you feeling it as well, Priestess?” Orwell asked.

“Yes. Not only feeling it. I saw it.”

“Saw it?”

“Yes,” Sheila answered. “There is a black wisp following the Disfiegro Lady.”

“What?”

“Don’t look back.” Sheila said. “The wisp will notice we detected its presence. It’ll force Lilianne to avoid us.”

“…And when that happens, we wouldn’t be able to catch it.”

Sheila nodded.

“Then what should we do?” Orwell asked.

Sheila sighed.

“We need to trap Lilianne Disfiegro.”

“How?”

“Who is the person who’s capable of persuading her, and knows of our real agenda?” Sheila said.

And then Orwell’s eyes lightened.

“Yes,” Sheila retorted before Orwell could even answer. “She will surely listen to her betrothed.”

—

Orwell had researched in Magierstadt for years. He had contributed in research and other academic pursuits. Many people in Magierstadt—from the normal folks to the professors—recognized him for his abilities and due to him staying in the academe for three years. One of the research that Orwell participated in was the research regarding Zweite’s Dark Castle. It was a castle that was now long gone and its remnants are nothing but bits and pieces of the palace that was nothing but the forgotten glories of the kingdom itself. The research was getting dangerous—it was the moment the researcher magicians were able to locate and trap the cursed souls of the undead royals. As soon as that happened, the research was put into a halt, never to be meddled with again.

But then, Faustina reported that the undead royals’ souls were used for the examination. The souls that were cursed under a warlock spell. Of course, there isn’t any law that forbids the usage of cursed souls in such activities. Surely, Magierstadt had measures undertaken for things like this and it is most likely they consulted with the Court before pushing through such exam.

But Orwell knew that it was still dangerous.

And so, when the priestess contacted him for an undercover investigation, he didn’t have any other reason to decline because he wanted to investigate Magierstadt himself. It was an odd thing to do, to doubt your second home—but he was a citizen of Feuersturm before he was a student in Magierstadt. The king, also, had all the reasons to doubt the country.

This country was the origin of the Forsaken.

Magierstadt, ever since the scandal, was rebuilding its reputation one step at a time. Of course, none had forgotten that the Forsaken came from the Unsterblichs, and perhaps even Ezekiel had already lost track of how many people used this against him. Which is why when Orwell felt as if there is a heavy air surrounding him, and when Sheila told him it was a black wisp, he had confirmed his suspicions.

This country is harboring something dark within its land.

Magierstadt has an impeccable security system; Sheila was able to barely pierce through it—and she needed help from the inside. She said the glamour wouldn’t even last that long, so they needed to gather intel as fast as they could.

The intel arrived quicker than expected.

Orwell speculated that not only the country was harboring a dark secret…

It was also trying its best to hide it.

If there is Warlock magic floating around, the security system should be quick enough to detect it. But why isn’t there any actions being addressed? Had they gone lax? What happened?

“Oh, Ezekiel, Anakin, do you want to go with me to a shop that made me climb towards Ianua I?”

Anakin’s eyes gleamed the moment Orwell said those words. Ezekiel only smiled; he was already in the first Ianua, after all.

“Also, I’m going to buy Faustina a present. Do you guys want to tag along to know what she wants, too?”

That statement alone was enough to capture their interest, and it was even more effective than the shop bait for Anakin.

“Oh, and Lady Lilianne, they’re only permitting magic users.” Orwell smiled. “Can you take care of my niece for a while? I bet Ezekiel will find that endearing since I’ve heard you’re very good with kids. Don’t you think that’s admirable, Ezekiel?”

Lilianne blushed as she glanced towards Ezekiel, who gave her a gentle smile.

“It is.”

Lilianne’s cheeks reddened as she faked a cough.

“Sure, of course. It’ll be my pleasure.” She then held both of Sheila’s shoulders. “Go on ahead. I’ll take care of her.”

Orwell glanced towards Sheila, who then smiled at him.

‘They took the bait.’ She mouthed.

Orwell nodded.

“Goodluck,” he replied as he and the two young men vanished to the crowd.

—

Lilianne immediately drew away from the little girl as she crossed her arms to her chest. She raised her brow when Orwell’s niece looked up at her.

“What are you looking at?” She scowled. “Come on. We should sit down somewhere. My knees already hurt.”

Not only did she only spend minimal time with Ezekiel, she also have to babysit! She expected this visit to be fun, and not stressful at all!

‘It’s all her fault.’

The voice in her head was vicious, and it was hers.

Lilianne guessed she was hearing things now due to stress and annoyance. She had never been this irate before. If it weren’t for Ezekiel’s smile, then she would have rejected babysitting.

“Lilianne,” the little girl tugged her skirt.

“What is it?” Lilianne raised her brow.

“I want to go to the forest.”

Lilianne scowled. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

The little girl didn’t look pleased. “Don’t you want to see the fruit of your labor?”

“The fruit of my…” Lilianne’s eyes widened in fear. “H-how did you know?”

—

So I was right.

Sheila had taken a gamble. Who would’ve guessed that she had hit right on the spot?

“Of course. I have strong magic like Uncle Orwell. You know that Uncle is a genius, right? That makes me a genius as well.”

Sheila had seen the terror in her eyes as she stares down at her. Although Sheila couldn’t exactly see the facial expression, she could feel it.

Even though Lilianne was an elegant, beautiful, sociable and influential Lady, she wasn’t that bright. She didn’t have any special talent other than her beauty. She was also a scandal-causer, so if people will find fault on her, then she wouldn’t be able to handle it.

“Just go to the forest with me. I want to see it too.” Sheila smiled. “I wouldn’t tell anyone. I promise.”

And just like that,

Lilianne agreed.

—

How?

How did that little girl figure out?

She made sure that that girl will run away crying. But the forest… did she end up in the forest? Surely, if Ezekiel knew that Lilianne harassed that girl and she ended up in the forest, it wouldn’t be good for Lilianne.

The two of them then sauntered their way into the forest. Lilianne was having an unsettling feeling considering how dark it was. The little girl didn’t even look like she was intimidated by the darkness and the sinister feeling the forest emits, like how normally kids will. Is this because she’s the niece of a magician?

“We’re here.” Her voice was so little that Lilianne wasn’t able to hear what she had said.

Lilianne then slowly lifted her gaze as she hears footsteps.

Her eyes then met chocolate-brown ones, but then…

Lilianne’s gaze shifted to sapphire-blue ones.

Ethereal.

Captivating.

Breathtaking.

Blue eyes similar to jewels and platinum-blue hair impossibly white, gleaming from the moonlight. His eyes was glued to Lilianne’s; and that’s when Lilianne’s heart throbbed so loud against her chest. Her cheeks reddened the more he drew closer.

“Your Majesty.” The child bowed.

‘Your Majesty…?’

Lilianne’s eyes widened, realizing immediately who it was.

“Y-you’re… the king… of Feuersturm?” Lilianne whispered under her breath.

The king wasn’t expressionless, but he didn’t display any visible expression…

However…

“You are Lady Disfiegro,” the king’s voice was gentle, and Lilianne couldn’t calm the loud thumping of her heart as he walks closer.

Lilianne then snapped back to reality as she gracefully bowed down.

However—

The king then seized her by the waist, drawing her closer.

“Your majesty?!”

The king smiled gently at her, and leaned down to her ear.

“Fall asleep, My Lady.”

Lilianne doesn’t know how—but she felt a sudden, pleasant drowsiness in her body.

She didn’t suppress the urge to sleep, because now she had felt as if she had found something pleasant that was akin to a dream.

She met his eyes one last time.

Her fiancé.

Now… her first love.