Chapter 66: Chapter 14. Transaction

After the king announced his participation, Crown Prince Philip appeared before the nobility of Oberon.-- Glad to meet you, gentlemen...>> he said, not too sincerely.

Although I was shocked by his sudden appearance, but at the same time I noticed that since our disappearance, the guy has changed a lot.

From a man in the prime of life and a constant smile on his lips, he turned into only a smaller likeness of his previous self. He looked haggard and pale, as if he had been at a funeral all these two months. Even the shining sparkle in the blue eyes faded.

Did our departure really affect him so much?

Razor looked at his brother with sympathy. And, what can I say, I felt a little sorry for him myself. Right now, Philip looked like he would be blown away by the slightest breeze.

But despite all the pity, the second prince and I instinctively turned away so that he wouldn't recognize us.

-- Philip is here! -- I hissed the obvious, -- What are we going to do?

Razor was tense. He was silent for a while, considering further actions.

-- We'll try to hide, -- said the guy, -- We can't let our brother find us.

I was surprised that Razor didn't even give Tom a chance to be our savior in the current situation. After all, in this country, the Crown Prince of Azeroth had more power than the king himself. Even the Windsors won't go against him if they don't want to start a war ahead of time.

<<Why not ask him to get us out of here?>> I asked in a whisper.

Philip, meanwhile, stood motionless in the center while the ruler of Oberon was making a speech and ingratiating himself in every possible way before him. However, the prince himself did not care about it.

-- And how do you imagine it? Razor objected, <<If my brother finds us, things will only get worse.>>

-- Hmm?

<<If we go back right now, there won't be any point in this escape. You'll be caught between two fires again. Only this time these two will be even more obsessed so that you don't run away again.>>

-- ...

-- This problem is much more serious than just the safety of our lives. We cannot succumb to momentary weakness.

<<So you're suggesting...?>>

<<We'll get out on our own,>> Razor said decisively, <<No matter how. But without my brother's help.

<<...The right decision,>> a voice suddenly rang out behind us.

We immediately turned around and found that Maxie had been listening to our conversation all this time. Approaching unnoticed, she laughed softly, noticing two shocked faces.

I was outraged that she had so brazenly crept up and stood here.

-- If you tried to do something right now, I would execute you myself.

While all the other aristocrats crowded around the Crown Prince, Maxie found herself more interesting entertainment. Even the Marquis paid no attention to us.

We looked at each other excitedly.

-- Did you... really hear everything?>> I asked cautiously.

Maxie grinned, scanning my expression with one single eye.

-- of course. You don't think I'm that stupid, do you?

I hastened to justify myself. If you think about it, right now I verbally violated the contract that we signed with her. Namely, I promised to stop trying to escape.

-- Well... It's not like we wanted to run away! Simply...

-- I know everything, -- the girl pulled me away, -- Of course, you will not sit idly by. That's why I took you with me.

-- You...! -- I flushed, -- So you knew everything?!

Maxie looked at me like I was a fool.

-- The fact that I treat you well does not mean that I have turned a blind eye to everything.

I stumbled, while the heroine's mentor came even closer and grabbed my chin. She let out an ironic laugh. Searᴄh the ηovelFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

<<You can do whatever you want behind my back as long as I let you.>>

She held her breath, while her fingers only tightened on her jaw.

-- Beauty, you should thank this guy. At least he has enough brains not to commit rash actions.

Razor glared at her angrily. He didn't like what was happening, but he knew perfectly well that now was not the best time to anger the girl.

<<You mean...?>>

-- Exactly. You wouldn't have succeeded anyway. Our people would have had time to neutralize you before you got to that bastard.

I exhaled indignantly. So that's why the Marquis took so many people on the trip? All in order to keep us under constant control?

-- ...So consider yourself lucky.

Summing up on this note, Maxie finally let me go.

I didn't even have anything to say when at that moment the king announced the start of the hunt. The noise in the camp intensified, and the aristocrats began to enter the forest thicket in turn. Maxie reluctantly had to leave us.

-- I'll be back soon. Behave yourself.

Finally throwing this warning, the girl jumped on her horse and went into the forest with her father. They should return only by late evening, and the announcement of the results will take place in the morning.

Razor and I remained standing by the wagon. Together with the rest of the servants, we were responsible for guarding things, as well as taking care of the owners when they return.

In order not to waste time, I decided to cook a Marquise and Maxi dinner. After all, it wasn't for nothing that they took me with them. The second Prince went to look for firewood.

Having taken up household chores, I felt some relief from the experience. The unexpected meeting with Philip did not have as much impact on me as I thought.

But at the same time... While cooking, my hand trembled when, for the first time in a long time, I remembered my time spent in the Azeroth Empire.

I wonder how Rachel is doing...?

***

Crown Prince Philip wandered senselessly through the Dense Forest, not even trying to create the illusion that he was busy.

Despite his own reluctance, his father forced him to visit the Oberon Empire to introduce the royal family. However, in fact, there was nothing interesting here.

Philip had to leave his studies, and, most importantly, the search, in order to visit some kind of slave country. Was it worth it?

After all, his thoughts were completely occupied with something else right now.

The prince sighed heavily, and the gloomy expression that had become his usual mask over the past weeks reappeared on his face. The mental emptiness that had arisen recently, he could not fill with anything else.

However, even being in despair, the guy could not neglect his duties as crown Prince.

Therefore, Philip was just driving aimlessly along a forest path to pass the time and return in the evening. Hunting was never on his list of interests, and in general, it seemed to be a completely useless occupation.

These people called him here to shoot a boar. Isn't this a waste of time?

Philippe Blanche once again complained about the uselessness of this event and exhaled. I was going to stop somewhere just to wait out these couple of hours in silence.

But...

At this moment, I suddenly heard some sounds from behind the trees.

Straining, the guy thought that he had stumbled upon an animal. He was not afraid of game living in the forest, although he did not have much experience in this matter.

Most likely, it really is some kind of wild boar.

Pulling out the crossbow, he was going to shoot it the first time. Hiding, Philip pulled the arrow to the string and was ready to take aim immediately.

But after a couple of seconds, it wasn't a wild beast that appeared out of the bushes at all, but... a maid. She excitedly ran out right in front of him and fell to her knees.

Philip caught a glimpse of her.

Ugly and with a big nose. Even approximately, he clearly could not include her in the list of those who could please him. And even more so, this girl was not standing next to HER.

The Crown Prince exhaled in disappointment.

-- What are you doing here? <<Are you following me?>> he asked sharply.

The maid lowered her head even lower, which made her face almost invisible.

<<Y-Your Highness, I wouldn't dare...!>> She said shakily.

-- Then how else to explain it? -- The guy burst out, -- In your opinion, every stray dog is allowed to hang around with me?

Philip was in a bad mood and was not going to stand on ceremony with her.

<<Your Highness, I didn't want to follow you!>> -- She hastily declared, -- I just need to talk!

-- Talk? Are you kidding me? How dare a servant like you ask for such a thing?

The Crown Prince looked at her contemptuously. I felt like I was wasting my time again.

<<I...>> the maid hesitated, <<I wanted to offer you a deal.>>

-- What?

This angered him even more. Does this girl even know who she's talking to?

<<If you order the Marquess of Windsor to make me the head maid of the manor, I promise to provide you with very valuable information...!>>

Despite such brazen behavior at this moment, the maid did not doubt her words at all. She found the resolve to take her eyes off the ground and look at him.

Philip thought that this maid had gone mad.

-- Don't talk nonsense, -- he was going to abruptly dismiss her, -- What other information from the maid? Don't even hope that I'll spare you if you keep blocking my way...

Griselda was not afraid. Now she was going to use her main trump card.

<<I know where Leriana Ashford is.>>