Chapter 622: Confront
Unknown to Evelyn, Edwin stalked her from a little far away and quietly approached her like a predator.
He was waiting for the real culprit who dared to steal his woman.
'Is it the Paladin? Or someone else?' A cold glint appeared in his eyes.
In the meantime, Evelyn ran like her life was on the line and finally reached Crystal Lane. Afterward, she entered the street road and started moving deep west while walking past the houses, stores, and inns.
Although a few noticed her running wounded, none volunteered to help her.
On the other hand, Evelyn finally arrived at the end of Crystal Lane and soon found the house guarded by two well-armored guards.
'This is the house that mysterious mage mentioned.' Hope appeared in her eyes.
She soon walked towards the fence gate but was stopped by the guards.
The guards, noticing Evelyn's wounded state and disheveled appearance, immediately raised their spears, barring her path. Their stern expressions and unwavering stance made it clear that they would not let her through without a proper explanation.
Evelyn, her breath ragged and her heart pounding, quickly realized that she needed to think on her feet and come up with a convincing story. She took a deep breath, attempting to steady herself despite the pain coursing through her body, and spoke in a determined yet pleading tone.
"Please, I need your help, Sirs," she implored, her voice tinged with desperation. "I've come a long way, running from a dangerous man. He's been tormenting me, and I fear for my life. The mysterious man I met mentioned seeking assistance here. I beg of you, let me inside."
The guards exchanged glances, their expressions betraying skepticism and concern.
After a short pause, one of the guards shook his head and spoke.
"I think you've come to the wrong address, Mam. This is the guest house of Baron Cedric Silvercrest, and the one staying in this house now is his fourth son."
Evelyn showed a confused look and didn't know what to do.
"What's the commotion outside?" A mature woman's voice came from the house, and soon a blonde-haired lady in her black gown stepped out.
With a stern yet compassionate gaze, the lady took in the sight of Evelyn standing before the guards. Her eyes lingered on Evelyn's wounded shoulder, and a flicker of concern passed through her features. She approached them with purposeful steps, her presence commanding attention and respect.
"What is happening here?" she inquired, her voice carrying authority. Her gaze shifted from the guards to Evelyn, assessing the situation before her. "Who is this woman, and why is she in such a state?"
One of the guards spoke up, addressing the lady. "Lady Stella, this woman claims to be seeking help. She says a dangerous man is pursuing her and that a strange man directed her to this house for assistance."
Although she was a servant like a guard, her position was much higher, and she also had some connection with Zephyr. So, the guard didn't dare to act rudely and spoke politely.
Lady Stella's expression softened, and she turned her attention back to Evelyn. "Is this true? Who is this man, and why are you running from him?"
Evelyn took a moment to compose herself, her eyes meeting Lady Stella's with a mixture of fear and determination. She spoke with urgency, her voice trembling slightly. "His name is Edwin, an inquisitor of Order. He's been tormenting me, causing me pain and suffering. I managed to escape, but he was relentless in his pursuit. I don't know where else to run, and a mysterious man I met spoke of finding help here."
Lady Stella's brows furrowed as she listened attentively, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. She glanced at the guards, silently conveying her decision. "Allow her inside," she commanded firmly. "We shall hear her story and assess the situation further."
The guards hesitated momentarily, exchanging a glance, before stepping aside to let Evelyn pass. With a grateful nod, Evelyn entered the premises of the guest house, her eyes scanning the surroundings as she followed Lady Stella.
Once they entered the house, Lady Stella led Evelyn to a sitting area, motioning for her to sit on an ornate couch. She settled into an adjacent chair, her gaze fixed on Evelyn with a mix of empathy and curiosity.
"Now, tell me everything," Lady Evelyn urged, her voice gentle yet firm. "Start from the beginning. Who is this Edwin, and why has he been pursuing you?"
Evelyn took a deep breath, gathered her thoughts, and began recounting the events that had led her to this moment. She spoke of her marriage to Edwin, then about the sudden change of his character, leading to abuse and torment.
"I-I think he believed I was unfaithful to him, even though it was never true," Evelyn explained, her voice quivering with suppressed emotion.
While the due were talking inside the living hall, a young man arrived at the house entrance and caused the guards to be more vigilant.
Before the young man could get closer to the fence gate, both guards gripped their spears righter and pointed the tip towards the front.
"Halt!" One of the guards shouted in an authoritative tone.
On the other hand, Edwin couldn't help but glance around.
'Something feels off about this house. Why did she come here? Who is staying here?' Not only did the guards' strength appear high, but he also noticed a few more powerful mystics standing on the opposite roadside, watching his movement.
Edwin's instincts told him he had stumbled upon a place of great importance, and his curiosity was piqued. He had been cautiously tracking Evelyn, hoping to find her secret lover. Seeing her seek refuge in this heavily guarded house only heightened his determination to learn the real truth.
However, Edwin was no fool. He understood the need for caution in such a situation. He couldn't afford to make rash moves that jeopardized his chances of reaching Evelyn.
Keeping his emotions in check, Edwin assumed a composed demeanor and slowly approached the guards barring his path. He kept his hands visible and his expression neutral, not wanting to give away any indication of his true intentions.
"I mean no harm," Edwin stated calmly, his voice laced with a hint of authority. "I am searching for someone important to me. If she has sought shelter within these walls, I implore you to allow me to speak with her."
The guards exchanged glances, their eyes narrowing as they assessed Edwin's demeanor. They remained vigilant; their spears still pointed in his direction.
"You must understand, sir, that the safety of the occupants within this house is our utmost priority," one of the guards replied, his voice firm.
"We cannot simply grant access to anyone without proper authorization or a valid reason. Who are you, and why do you seek entrance?"
Edwin met their gazes with unwavering determination, his cold glint returning to his eyes. He knew that he had to tread if he wanted to gain their trust and find a way to reach Evelyn.
"My name is Edwin, and I'm also the inquisitor of Order Church," he replied, his voice steady. "The woman you are guarding, Evelyn, belongs to me. We have a history; I believe she has been deceived into seeking refuge here. I am merely trying to understand the situation and ensure her safety."
The guards remained cautious, their expressions unyielding. It was clear that they were not easily swayed by his words alone.
Just as the tension was about to escalate, a 16-year-old young boy, who had been listening intently from nearby, emerged from the nearby tree shadow and approached the entrance.
"Young Master!" Both guards hurriedly turned around and bowed their heads.
Without minding them, Charles sharpened his gaze toward Edwin and asked.
"Who is she to you?" His voice contained command.
'Young master? Is he a son of a noble? Although I can kill him and make a fake report, this kid's father might report it to the Royal Family and cause some trouble for Archbishop Victor.' Edwin furrowed and began to contemplate.
But after a short ponder, he decided to use his authority and find the truth himself.
"She is my wife, young lad. And I can arrest you if you don't cooperate with me." Saying so, he took out a golden badge from his pocket and showed it to him.
It was indeed a badge of Order.
But before Edwin could say more, Charles suddenly moved his right hand like a shadow and gripped the sword hilt on his waist.
'Damn it; this kid is not listening.'
Upon noticing the sudden change, Edwin backed away and unsheathed his sword.
"You want to fight me?" He said while enveloping his sword in a sunshine aura.
A smirk appeared on Charles's face.
'You think I want to fight you?' A familiar young man's voice suddenly reverberated inside Edwin's head, causing his whole body to stiffen.
He had heard of this voice before.
'Who is it? Wait, it's Max Fireborn, whom I killed a few weeks ago! But how is he still alive? Moreover, where is he?' His eyes darted around, searching for the enemy.
"Where are you looking?" Charles asked, taking a large step while unsheathing his sword.
'T-This! This young boy... Why is he suddenly appear more like a powerful expect?'
Before he could blink, the young boy before him suddenly disappeared and reappeared behind him.
"I haven't forgotten the Silver Stab skill's effect on my heart," Charles whispered, calmly thrusting his sword at an incredible speed and stabbing his heart from behind.
In the meantime, Edwin finally realized that this young boy was actually Max Fireborn and got horrified. He tried to say some words but suddenly forgot what to say.
"And the reason I lured you here is for another purpose." As Charles spoke, he cast [Purple Consciousness] spell and let it enter his Inner World.
He also cast other purple flames and started devouring his memories.
While doing so, he quietly pulled the sword back, removed the blood stains, and let Edwin fall on the dirt road.
Although alive, his body remained motionless like a doll and showed no emotions. Only the blood continuously sprayed on the dirt road and reddened the area.
"This will be a lesson for anyone who dares to cause trouble for me," Charles said in a chilling tone and turned his gaze towards the neighboring house terrace.
At that moment, the guards and all the 20 spies monitoring from different areas were utterly stunned.
They thought Zephyr got lucky when killing Kenneth. But now they realized how naive they were.
Unlike Kenneth, the person lying on the road was a Rank-3 [Inquisitor] and could be considered an expert of Order Church!
But even he died without knowing how, which caused an unknown fear in everyone's heart.
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