Chapter 162: THE EMSWORTH DUCHY: PART 4

Allan's busy day started at the break of dawn at the Cabin where he stayed and where the underground with corpses of people were.

"Where is the Young Master?!"

Jede's voice rang out outside the Cabin. Allan who barely got any sleep heard the butler's voice.

So, even though Allan was irritated, he walked himself outside to see what the commotion was all about.

"Jede, what is it?"

He saw that the head butler had a grim look. Allan immediately knew that what he was about to say concerns the duchy.

"Let's talk inside…"

Allan sighes. He has the feeling that he will have another headache.

"Speak…"

Jede observed the complexion of Young Master Allan, he knew that Allan didn't get enough sleep because of the dark circle under his eyes.

The inside of the cabin also has the stench of blood, meaning that the rumors were true. 

Jede gulped down his saliva. The news about the Duke and the issue about the Cabin where they found corpses were also giving the Young Master a problem, especially the merchant who found it is still missing.

The butler knew that the Young Master had a lot on his plate, and if ever, he thought that it would be wise not to tell him about this however the situation didn't give him enough time to contemplate this.

"There's news that the Duchy didn't do anything about the missing people and the residents learned about the cabin with an underground and corpses… the vassals also heard about this and are waiting for you in the mansion, young Master Allan."

Allan deeply sighs. He brushed his silver-blue hair in frustration. 

"This is the reason why I told them to find that stupid merchant…"

The horror that Allan was thinking became the reality. He was in-charge of the Duchy now that his father needs to recuperate.

"But, it's only just a day… I expected this to blow up at least three to five days from now…"

Allan was thinking deeply about how such rumors can spread overnight.

'Someone must have used this to their advantage… a noble? An enemy of the Emsworth? There's also the King.'

The leader of the second troop and third troop of the Light Legion hung their head low. They knew that it was their responsibility to make sure a rumor about this incident didn't spread to the commoners so the possible risk of panic will be prevented among the masses.

"And also…"

Allan, who was leaning at the wooden wall with a wrinkled and stained blood pants looked at the head butler.

It was an indication for Jede to proceed.

"All the vassals are waiting for the Duke to show up… I said that His Grace is away for a business trip and it would be best for them to leave and come back after the Duke's return and..."

"And…?"

Allan's sharp sunset eyes brought the atmosphere in a lower temperature. He's in the bad mood because of the incompetent knights, his sleepless nights, the lack of results in the investigations and lastly the condition of his father.

"They said that they won't go back unless they got an explanation…"

"How brave…"

His hands were getting itchy and wanted to beat someone or anything up. Of course, Allan doesn't have the luxury to do that. He needed his energy to meet the vassals of the Emsworth.

"Let them wait, I don't have time to hear those fossils whining and complaining…"

Jede the Emsworth's butler for a long time was astonished that their Young Master loosened his tongue and insulted the vassals of his family. Ever since he was a kid, he never let others hear his vulgar words.

But Allan can't help but curse at his family's vassal who will take this opportunity to suck up to him or his father.

"However Young Master Allan may I give my opinion?"

Allan looked at the old butler whose wisdom and capabilities have been in use for the sake of their family. He let the butler talk.

"It would cause more commotion if the Duke and Young Master Allan wouldn't give an explanation to the vassals… the King would also see this opportunity to corner the Emsworth Duchy and blame all the responsibility to the family."

Jede bowed his head, he knew the consequences of speaking out of turn but as the head butler of the Emsworth Family who served them for the longest time, he has enough share of situation such as this… and he knew that the nobles would take this opportunity to stain the family's honor.

And as a butler, he won't forgive himself if he didn't at least try to pursue the matter. He was forever loyal to the family that he was serving and that it would break his heart to see the other nobles drag the name to the mud.

"Prepare the carriage… let's see what those fossils would say to my face."

***

Evelyn, who was standing there like she never left Silvester, has been listening to the chatter of Elise.

"Really… It was a shock to hear that something like that was happening in the Levingstone Kingdom without the knowledge of the esteemed Duke. He must be writhing in pain for the people who lost their lives in that cruel demonic ceremony."

Elise shed a tear, just like what you would expect to the crowned Saintess who has said to be the purest and nicest Saint they would meet in their whole lifetime.

"Is that so…? Don't worry about that Saint Elise, the light would always defeat evil. I'm sure this must be breaking for you…"

Evelyn knitted her brows under the black mask. 

'Silvester is acting unusual… why does he look like he was genuinely sympathizing with Elise and …'

She can't believe what she saw, Silvester wipe the tears of Elise. 

'He's genuinely worried about her? What is happening?'

Evelyn immediately remembered what Edickart said during their first reunion with the male leads. 

She scanned Elise and felt a small mana sipping through her white earrings that was dangling in her ears. Evelyn looked back and forth to Elise and Silvester.

Quickly she knew that Silvester must have been affected by the charm of the Saint that Edickart told them.

'Shit….!"

At that moment, she also looked at Sir George, he was frowning. Evelyn thought that Sir George must have been confused just like her but...

"The Saintess must have been worried about those poor souls…"

Evelyn almost opened her jaw at what she just heard.

'What the hell? Is she trying to charm everyone that is here within the room? Don't tell me when she's been doing it after I went out?' Evelyn deeply thought.

The charm isn't that powerful but it was enough for a person's will to change in front of the one who was using it.

The white rectangular shape earring glowed for a moment and Elise started to speak again.

"Sil… don't you think that your kingdom should…" Elise closely leaned towards Silvester however Evelyn intercepted.

Elise didn't notice but the female knight's hand was on Silvester's shoulder. 

"Your highness, it's time for us to depart…"

Evelyn slightly grip Silvester's shoulder, Elis only looked up at her as she was standing. Silvester blink a few times.

"Oh… your right. We should get going, Your Holiness…"

Silvester snapped back into reality, though he was still confused, Evelyn's hand was enough for him to wake up.

"That's too bad… then I'll walk myself out."

Elise looked at the masked female knight. She was smiling but her ocean eyes were cold as the winter breeze devoid of any mercy.

***

"What just happened back there?"

Evelyn looked at her cousin, she was leaning against the window while her mind was wandering off and thinking about what is her next step.

"Both of you were hypnotized by her… if I didn't come back, she will definitely get you to agree with her."

"Agree with her? About what?"

Evelyn fell silent and both Sir George and Silvester gulped down.

They weren't themselves at that moment, more like they became clueless idiots and the only things that they could think about was to comfort Elise.

"I'm sure she's planning to use you to her advantage when the Temple of Light established their foothold at the Perspiru Kingdom…"

"Take advantage…?" Silvester scowled.

"Didn't you see how clingy she was when there were only the two of you?"

Silvester, Evelyn, Sir George and Bern were inside the carriage while Alisha, Cathy and Gil have already left them behind after they got out from the temple.

Evelyn chuckled when she saw that her cousin was having a hard time to understand Elise's action.

"What do you think she still wants? She has the Saintess title. She was crowned as the best suited for the Crown Prince however talks about marriage are still far off. She has the love of the people and the temple but none of it came from the Crown Prince after they got engaged."

Evelyn gave her cousin, Silvester a hint. And she smiled.

"She wants you as her back-up plan." Bern was the one to give the answer when he saw that the Crown Prince was still clueless.