Free Web NovelChapter 271: 271:Leaving.
A week of investigations, late nights and frustration passed. Then another few days were added on top. Surprisingly, nothing happened.
There were no new conspirators, secret organizations discovered or mysterious assassins appearing in the middle of the night. The investigation continued, of course.
Lilith’s intelligence network remained active; homes were searched, records examined and witnesses questioned.
Several nobles and merchants directly tied to the councillor’s operations had already been tried and executed for treason. Others were imprisoned awaiting judgment.
Even with that, the deeper the investigators dug, the more it felt as though the trail had simply ended like a rope that had been cut cleanly.
And every lead connected to the so-called Harbinger of Death eventually dissolved into old myths, forgotten cults, contradictory records, and dead ends.
The books had helped, but all of them had nothing concrete or useful, just baseless assumptions which irritated Atheline immediately.
He had explained everything to Klaith in hopes that with his age, he might have insights. But he had eventually summarized the problem in a single sentence.
"If someone wanted the truth forgotten, they succeeded."
That had not improved his mood, at all. By the second week, even Lilith reluctantly accepted that they were unlikely to uncover anything immediately. Since the threat had disappeared, and that was somehow worse.
Which was exactly why Atheline found himself staring out a palace window one morning while snow drifted across the court.
Lilith sat nearby reviewing reports. Atheline sighed loudly, almost nostalgically. She ignored him. Several moments passed but then, he sighed again, louder this time.
Lilith continued reading.
Atheline sighed a third time.
She finally lowered the report.
"You are annoying."
Atheline looked offended.
"I am suffering."
"You are bored."
"That too."
She returned to her paperwork not wanting to play his games. Atheline wandered toward her desk.
"I think I should leave the Court."
She didn’t even look up.
"Why?"
He folded his arms.
"I need fresh air." freeweɓnovel.cѳm
She nodded.
"Open a window."
Atheline just stood there staring at her, hoping to first wear her down.
Lilith continued reading unaffected.
He wasn’t one to give up, he waited.
She continued reading for a while and then eventually she sighed.
"You already made a decision."
Atheline smiled. Lilith immediately knew she was again, correct.
He sat on the edge of the desk.
"The area around the forbidden forest is having beast swarm problems."
The forbidden forest was the one that bordered the dark elven kingdom and the high elven kingdom. And it was forbidden for obvious reasons.
Lilith looked up, now interested. Atheline continued to pitch for his momentary freedom.
"Due to the food shortages, winter migration has already begun. And corrupt beasts are bound to mix among normal beasts. With the emergence of a controller, can you imagine what would happen if they managed to control corrupted beasts from the forest? They might even turn the normal ones," he passionately explained.
Lilith nodded. She had seen those reports. The situation wasn’t dangerous enough to threaten cities but it was becoming troublesome, several villages had already requested assistance.
Atheline continued.
"I want to help."
She flatly stared while he smiled innocently at her. Lilith remained completely unconvinced.
Eventually, he admitted the truth.
"And I want to hit something."
She nodded. That had been what she had been looking for, honesty.
Atheline looked pleased with himself. She considered the proposal then surprisingly agreed.
"Fine."
His eyes widened in disbelief before going around the table and pulling her into his arms. Lilith accepted his embrace. That had been easier than he had expected.
"Are you really sure I can go?" He asked, but he couldn’t mask the excitement," If you’re uncomfortable with it, I can stay."
"Do you want me to take back my permission?"
Atheline leaned in and kissed her deeply. She reciprocated just as enthusiastically. He lifted her and placed her on her table.
"No take backs," he mummbled against her lips, as they shared their breath.
She took his lips back a moment later. The kiss ended a few minutes later with both of them breathing heavily. She stared up at him and lightly rubbed his swollen lip, then she spoke.
"Take guards."
Atheline opened his mouth but Lilith raised an eyebrow. He closed it. Some battles truly couldn’t be won.
.
.
.
Three days later, on the outskirts of the forbidden forest.
Snow covered everything. Massive ancient forests stretched endlessly across the horizon. Mountain ranges towered in the distance. The landscape looked beautiful but extremely dangerous.
Atheline stood atop a rocky ridge overlooking a vast expanse of white wilderness. Cold wind brushed against his face.
He smiled. Being out in the wild felt so much better. Living inside a mountain wasn’t really something he would ever get used to.
Far below, dozens of soldiers, mercenaries, hunters, and nobles had gathered. The beast swarms had attracted attention. Not everyone was here to help,many sought materials, rewards, prestige and some simply wanted an excuse to fight.
Atheline couldn’t judge them. He was here for similar reasons. A familiar voice spoke beside him.
"This place is colder than I expected."
Atheline glanced over.
Simion, the son of the noble elder, stood nearby.
A sword rested at his side as lightning occasionally crackled around his fingers.
He had volunteered to come with him when he heard of his excursion. It was clear the man hadn’t given up on becoming friendly with him.
Atheline had gotten to know him over the past several days as they all participated in the investigation together. He was a capable fighter and intelligent, he was still a stickler to the rules, a true noble, which Atheline didn’t mind.
Atheline shrugged.
"It’s winter."
Simion frowned and pulled his fur coat closer.
"That doesn’t help."
Atheline laughed and Simion rolled his eyes. Several figures approached from behind. The most obvious among them was impossible to miss.
The Demonic Continent crown Prince, lucifer. He looked completely different from the well-dressed prince he masqueraded as in the palace.
What made him different was the enormous war hammer resting across one shoulder as though it weighed nothing. Dark flames occasionally flickered around the weapon’s surface.
Several nearby soldiers immediately stepped aside whenever he passed. Right now, the prince looked less like royalty and more like a natural disaster.
Prince Lucifer stopped beside them and then surveyed the wilderness.
"Pathetic."
