"Your Grace, we received news that the people from the empire are on their way here," Denys said. They were already preparing to leave Aster as they needed to go back to Wugari before they once again departed for the Howling Mountains.
"It was Martin Lux and his people," Denys added. "I also heard sothing that might cause concern."
"What is it?"
"It seems that Federico Lux is missing."
"Is it possible that they " Rosalind who was standing next to the Duke did not complete her words. Why would Martin co here when Federico was missing? She frowned.
Was it finally happening?
Federico was going to die.
It happened in the past life and it would happen in this life too.
However, it was simply too early. Although she knew that she could no longer trust her past knowledge because of the things that she changed, she still felt that this was not the right ti. After all, things had changed after her arrival.
Not long after, Martin barged inside the room without even asking for permission.
Seeing Martin's expression, Rosalind frowned inwardly. The man looked scared. He was really not acting.
Rosalind knew that Martin was... a bit dumb. He does not exactly know how to act and would often wear his emotions on his face.
This man had always been like this, even in her past life.
"Where is he?" Martin asked before he gestured to the soldier to lock the door behind him.
"What manners," Lucas snorted. He was enjoying their last tea in Aster before leaving and out of nowhere, this man barged in here with soldiers. "Is this"
"My father was last seen walking towards this place last night. He did not return ho nor was he in his office. Where is he?"
"I have not seen Federico Lux," Lucas calmly answered. He took a sip of his tea, calmly enjoying its bitterness before he lifted his gaze and looked at Martin. "I have no reason to lie."
As usual, the Duke's voice was calm and collected. After all, it was still early in the morning and Martin Lux should consider himself lucky that the Duke was in a very good mood today.
This was not because of what Rosalind cooked the other day or because of the reward that he received.
It was because the two of them stayed in the sa room.
Although Rosalind chose to lay down on the couch rather than in the sa bed with him.
"I do not believe you."
"I do not think that is my problem, Your Blessedness."
"Search the place. Find anything any signs that father was here."
"Are you really willing to go that far, Your Blessedness?" Lucas got up, and out of nowhere, Martin took a sword and pointed it at him.
"Take your seat, Your Grace. I do not want to hurt you."
Lucas's lips twitched. "We are leaving," he said.
"You are not leaving this place."
"Do you want to watch leave?"
"You"
"Your father did not co here last night. Moreover, if I wanted him dead. I would not kill him in this palace."
With that, he grabbed Rosalind's hand and pulled her up. Then he marched out of the door.
While Martin originally ca here to confront the Duke, he could not really stop the Duke from leaving.
"If I find out that you killed my father"
"You did nothing when your daughter's body was stolen," the Duke stopped walking. Then he added, "Your own flesh and blood. And yet, you did nothing."
"You" Was the man aware of Dorothy's
"And here you are, pretending to act brave in front of . Martin Lux you disgust ." Lucas said. Rosalind and Lucas made their way out of the room, with Denys and the rest of the guards in tow.
"Your Blessedness, shall I call the others?" one of Martin's knights asked.
"And do what?" Fight them? Try to arrest them?
Were they even capable of doing that?
Martin could only sigh inwardly. He then went to the Emperor to tell him about Federico.
"Are you telling that the Duke might have" Emperor Goosebourne asked.
"He is capable of that," Martin said. "My father is already weak." Moreover, the only thing that they could do against the Duke was to try and create an illusion that the Duke could easily break. Yes, Lucas Rothley was enough to kill the old man.
"Your Blessedness, I think you are very quick to make assumptions. What if His Blessedness Federico just just decided to spend the night sowhere else? I will send the knights to try and find him."
Martin frowned, clearly unimpressed. Federico would always go back ho, no matter what ti it was. If he decided not to spend the night at the Lux Estate, he would spend it in his study in the palace where he had a room with complete anities.
The only reason why his father would suddenly vanish would be because of the Duke! That man was vile. Martin had no doubt that the Duke could easily hurt his father if he really wanted to.
Seeing that his conversation with the Emperor was not going anywhere, he imdiately told him that he needed to leave to find his father.
"Father" Dorothy greeted him the mont he arrived.
"What Is your grandfather"
"I ca because I wanted to tell you sothing."
"Dorothy, I am in a hurry. I need to"
"It's about grandfather."
That made Martin pause. He looked at her. "What of him?"
"I I heard that you were looking for him and I I recalled what happened last night."
"Tell "
"I went back. I wanted to talk to my grandfather about sothing important but he was already on his way out of his study. He said he needed to talk to the Duke of Wugari."
"And?" Martin already knew this because Federico said that he would talk to the Duke. However, he did not know that Dorothy would co back and personally hear the old man say that he would talk to the Duke.
"Well, he told to co back when the sun rose, so I left."
"What about him?"
"I believe he went to see the Duke."
Martin pursed his lips. This ant that he had another person who witnessed his father said that he would go and talk to the Duke.
"Is there anything else?" he asked.
"When I was walking out of the palace I thought I thought I saw soone familiar."
"What is it?"
"It was soone who was wearing a cloak that covered their whole face. However, I rember seeing that subordinate next to the Duke of Wugari when we ca."
"The one wearing the cloak you an that one standing behind the Duke?" He also rembered soone wearing a cloak but he ignored it as the Duke was known for his subordinates that wear cloaks. However, now that he thought about it Lucas Rothley could have easily told soone to kidnap Federico Lux.
Quickly, he turned on his heels, but before he could enter his carriage, one of his knights inford him that they had already finished searching the Duke's room and they found nothing suspicious.
Of course! Martin thought inwardly. They would never find sothing if the cri was not committed in that place.
"Find soone to stop the Duke from leaving Aster," he said. "It is important that I talk to him before he leaves!" Once that man stepped out of Aster, it would be very hard for them to ask him questions!
"Father, where are you going?" Dorothy asked.
"I need to talk to the Duke."
"I want to co."
"Dorothy-" This was not the right ti for this! While Martin was irritated, he could not directly tell his own daughter off because there were other people in front of them.
His arrival already gathered the attention of so people that were lining up hoping to receive so sort of treatnt from the Saintess and him.
"If that... If that person... I ant the one wearing the cloak, is there then I should be able to point that person out. I can rember everything about that person simply because I almost bumped into him or her."
Seeing that Martin seed unconvinced, she added.
"I also know the structure of that person's body because I was watching her when... when we went to see the Duke."
Hearing this, Martin narrowed his eyes. They had no ti to stay here.
"Alright. We are taking the horses."
"I understand."
The two of them rode their horses and imdiately went to the gates that would lead the Duke to the North.
"Father, I heard that the Duke could teleport in and out of Aster, is that true?"
"Yes."
"Are you not concerned that he would choose that thod to leave Aster?"
"He would not do that."
"Why?"
"Because he is simply too egotistical to refuse the people who want to see him before he leaves." That was right. Hundreds of people were currently waiting for the Duke to arrive at the gates so they could see him.
Since they were not able to see the Duke when he received his reward, many were hoping to see him now!
....
Only 1 chapter for today! My allergies are getting worse. My mother said that as we grow older so allergies would just appear out of nowhere. I refuse to accept that I am already old!
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