The Lost Heir: Battle Of Royalties - Chapter 117

Diana could feel the warmth from the man’s voice as well as the redness of her cheeks. It was because for the first time in weeks, Liam initiated a conversation with her. She wanted to release tears of joy but she tried so hard to keep them at bay because it may ruin the beautiful night at the moment.

Yeah, she couldn’t sleep so she rose up and went out from the tent and sat near the bonfire. She was writing something in her journal when someone came to her.

Liam.

“T-thank you.” She smiled as she closed her notebook and put it back inside her bag. “Where did you get this?” She was pertaining to the red scarf. Liam sat on the rock beside her.

“Oh that?” He twitched his lips as he looked up. “I got it from the town chief a while ago. He was insisting to give a lot of things as a repayment but I rejected them all, except for that.”

She knew she shouldn’t be but her heart skipped a beat. The thought that Liam remembered her gave her so much joy.

“I must say you have good eyes.” She chuckled teasing the man.

He laughed a little before his eyes landed on the woman’s face. He was watching her as she traces the scarf with her fingers.

She looked calm and… happy. He smiled within.

“What do you think will happen to Eugene and his men?” She wanted to talk to him a little more so she took the chance to asked him about the men they left at that town.

“That depends on their decision now.”

Diana looked at the man whose eyes were now at the fire. “What do you mean?”

“I gave them the option to choose what kind of life they want to have moving forward. It’s up to them whether to choose life or the other way around.”

FLASHBACK:

“What?! Pay them back in double? No, not a chance. I rather die than live a life of poverty once again!” Eugene whɨnėd.

Indeed, paying the villagers back in double will render them penniless and homeless. And Liam knew what comes next— these thugs may leave the town but they will surely find another victim. That would mean another evil deeds will only spring in the near future.

“Besides, how can we pay them when you emptied our treasury?” He glared at the young men.

Cole and Asher looked at each other knowingly. They were seemingly communicating telepathically.

The thing is, they didn’t empty his treasury. They wanted to laugh playfully but they held it in specially when Liam stared at them sternly. It was as if giving them a warning.

“Mr. Willy, do you have a better resolution in mind?” Liam faced the town chief who in turn, looked at his officials.

“Whatever your decision is, we will support you at all cost.” One of his officials stated.

“I think its better to leave the money to them.”

Liam and the others instantly glanced at the town chief upon hearing his statement. His officials were even more surprised. They know that their chief was a good man but they never thought he would be this stupid. This should be a good chance for them to get back all their money from these scumbags. They thought.

The town chief must have read what’s on their mind therefore he let out an ‘it’s okay’ smile.

“Please don’t look at me as if your gonna eat me.” He joked. “We must also admit that for the past few months, we had peace from outside raiders and its all thanks to them.”

His officials lowered their heads. The town chief was right after all.

“Let them keep the money.” It was the town chief’s request.

Eugene was rendered speechless. He didn’t expect that from the town chief either. He thought he would condemn him and his group but he was wrong.

Liam smiled within him. He must say the people in this town are good people. “What can you say?” He asked the fake chief.

He was silent for a few minutes. He couldn’t speak since he was lost with words. However, seeing the beaming town chief, his heart softened up a little. Though he looked away immediately.

“I can give back their money but not in double.” He tried to avoid Liam’s eyes.

“But brother!” Nej, his younger brother whose been silent since the meeting started wanted to protest but he halted when Eugene looked at him shaking his head.

“It’s okay.” He gave an ȧssuring smile to his younger brother. Then he faced Liam once again.

“I’ll pay them back as long as you return what’s mine.” He was pertaining with his gold bars.

“Since you agreed to repay them then your gold are all yours. We don’t have the intention to keep what’s not ours.”

“Then what’s the point of stealing them?” He hissed.

“We originally planned to stretch it to everyone in this village as soon as we dispatch you.” Asher buŧŧed in irritatingly. “Just be thankful that brother Liam pitied you. Tsk!”

“Asher.” He warned the man with his eyes before turning his attention to Eugene and his companions. “I have a proposition for you and your men.”

Eugene furrowed his brow while Nej and Eugene’s personal ȧssistant looked at Liam mystified.

Seeing their confused faces, Liam proceeded with his proposal. “If you want, you can keep your work as the town’s gatekeepers…”

Liam gave them options to choose from. Join the Shadow Knights and undergo training under Gareth, the captain of the Alpha team or leave the town for good.

That moment, Willy, the town chief expressed his willingness to receive the group if they choose to stay.

Or if not, Eugene and his team can work as gatekeepers of the said town but they have to agree with the payment options according to the town’s basic salary. Also, they must agree that their group will be subjected to the Alpha team as they conduct inspection twice a month.

“Are you trying to recruit us in your group now?” Eugene muttered.

“We are not forcing you to join the team. But if you decide to do so then I ȧssure you, you’ll get the full benefits of becoming a true member of the Shadow Knights.”

Eugene was seemingly in deep thought.

“I’ll give you time to think about the offer. And I hope you won’t mind if I lay this proposal to all your members. Most of your men are young lads like them…” His eyes landed on Cole and Asher. “They still have long lives to live so we would like to help them.”

**Liam hand Eugene and his men to Gareth for the time being. But before they left the town, most of the young men joined the Shadow Knights.

***End of Flashback***

Due to some unexpected events, they left the town at around one in the afternoon. Therefore, they decided to camp at Mount Gibbo when it was already dark. The men was obviously exhausted since last night. Looked like breaking in the treasury and dealing with Eugene and his men greatly exhausted the team.

Before they left the town, Liam had to join the town chief and his officials in an in-depth discussion while Cole and the others dealt with Eugene and his remaining men. Cole also instructed the captain of the Alpha team to send him reports about Eugene and his men whatever their decision may be.

“You should go back to sleep. You’re as tired as the others so you should get proper rest too.” Diana broke the silence.

“Aren’t you going to bed?”

“Later. I just need to sort some things in my head right now.” She heaved a seemingly sad sigh.

Liam looked at the woman whose head was hanging low. What is she thinking? He was trying to read her thoughts but to no avail.

“I want to remember much about this place.” She stared at the man who was looking at her. Their eyes met. “And you too.” She smiled but Liam can fill the sadness behind her sweet smile.

Her eyes speaks it all.

“I want to engrave your face and everything about you in my memory. I know it’s futile to do it but I don’t want to forget you… as well as the people I’ve grown to love.” A sudden tear dropped from her eyes.

“I’m sorry, looked like I’ve become so emotional these past few days.” Her voice squeaked as she wipe her tears away. “The thought that I would only be with you for a few more days pained me a lot.”

She kept wiping her eyes but she couldn’t stop her tears at all. She was sobbing as she speaks.

“Diana….” Liam was about to speak but the woman interjected at once.

“Please don’t say a word. It might only worsened my feeling.” She chuckled jokingly but still crying. “I know I look pathetic now but what will I do if I miss you?” She sniffled not minding her words. She’s about to leave him so it’s better to let him know about her thoughts.

“I know you won’t miss me the way I do to you but I hope you won’t forget me.” She lifted her lids to look at the man’s eyes. “I think I now understand what the song meant, ‘too much love will kill you’.” She muttered softly while she twitched her lip upward.

The pain of loving someone who will never be yours…. Ahhh! It’s killing her!