Lyla pouted. She knew Emlyn was smart, maybe even smarter than her. So, she finally relented and no longer pretended that she didn't want sothing out of helping Emlyn.
"Well... if I help you fake your death here, I want you to go to Atlantea to see my son."
Emlyn furrowed her brows. She didn't know Lyla had a son. And what did it have to do with her?
"Why do you want to go to Atlantea to see your son?"
"Because..." Lyla looked away. "I want to curry favor with him."
"Please explain what does it have to do with ." Emlyn beca impatient.
So, she was right that Lyla wanted sothing. However, she initially thought what Lyla wanted must have sothing to do with money. Apparently, it was not money that she was after?
"Well.. my son left ho ten years ago. He wanted to make a na for himself. Before he left, we had an argunt about a girl he liked when he was younger. I told him she was out of his league. She was a noblewoman..." Lyla explained what happened and her voice sounded bitter. "And I was right."
Emlyn could see that Lyla hated, for once, being right. As a mother, she must want her son to find his happiness. However, it was difficult for soone from their level to marry up.
A girl from the noble family was usually betrothed to a man from the sa level or even higher. Her father would not want her to marry a man from the lower class, especially a son of a brothel owner.
"What happened?" Emlyn asked Lyla with growing interest. She was a mother too now, and she could sympathize with Lyla.
"He wanted to elope with the girl..." Lyla cupped her face with two hands. "The girl's father, a count from the next town sent his n to my place and destroy everything. He threatened to kill my son if I didn't tell him where my son was taking his daughter. So, I did..."
Lyla started crying. "They almost made it. Her father caught her before she could get on board the ship going to Atlantea. She lied about my son and they chased him in the wrong direction. My son was heartbroken and he never forgave for selling him out. He thought I was selling him out.. but actually, I was just trying to protect him."
Emlyn bit her lip. She didn't know Lyla had a son, to begin with, but now, seeing the woman look so distraught and heartbroken about losing her son, Emlyn felt deep sympathy for her.
But she still didn't know what did it have to do with her.
"Look, Lyla.. I feel sorry about what happened to your son and you," Emlyn spoke firmly. "But I still don't know what does it have to do with ? How can you curry favor with your son by sending to Atlantea to et him?"
"Well.. he doesn't know this yet, but I will send the news to him that I have got the woman that his boss is looking for," Lyla lowered her face and wiped her tears. "That woman is you."
"Huh?" Emlyn thought her ears were playing tricks on her. Who else was looking for her? This couldn't be right.
"There is a third bounty," Lyla said with a low voice.
Now, it was Emlyn who dropped her cup to the floor.
"You've gotta be kidding !" she groaned in frustration. "Tell you're joking!"
"I am not joking," said Lyla. Her face looked the most serious Emlyn had ever known her. "I only got wind of this new bounty last week. This one ca from the land of the free."
"Who is it from?" Emlyn asked impatiently.
Now, she felt like she didn't know herself anymore. She was cursed by a family whom she had never t, and now was hunted by two people... wait.. this made it three. And she only knew one of them which was her own husband.
So, who were the other two?
What did she do to get that much interest in herself by strangers, people that she had never t?
"It's from the king of Sumria," said Lyla. "My son is a knight for hire in Atlantea. If he could bring you to the king, he would be granted title and land, and he will beco a nobleman, a wealthy and powerful nobleman... He could finally get his revenge on the count. I just want him to be happy."
Emlyn didn't pay attention to any other words that Lyla said after she ntioned the king of Sumria.
Wait a minute...
Emlyn had never been to Sumria. So, how could the king want her? Emlyn only planned to travel there before she had to rush to go back ho when she heard about the attack on Winterre.
Besides, even if she could go, Sumria was quite low on her list because Maxim kept telling her how boring that place was. Maybe, after Emlyn had explored other parts of Atlantea, she would finally go to Sumria.
So... it was very weird that the king was looking for her. They had never t. What did he want from her? Did he also want her head?
So mysterious!
"You must be stupid to think I want to avoid tiger and snakes by going into the lion's den," Emlyn pursed her lips. She rose from her seat and pulled Mrs. Adler's hand to go with her. "Thank you for the wine and the information. Now I know what to do to avoid my enemies."
"No.. no.. no, please don't go," Lyla quickly ca to Emlyn and held her arm. "Listen to first."
"I will not let you feel at a loss for sharing this info with ." Emlyn took out two gold coins from her pocket and tossed them on the table. "This is my paynt for your valuable info. Now, please let go of my arm. I will not hesitate to go rough on you...!"
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