The following day, Zenia felt rejuvenated. The shadow guards were the ones guarding them as they slept through the night. She could not say the same with the other party. She did not feel any ill intent from the other party, but she had no idea about their intentions.
Zenia got out of the carriage that she occupied alone throughout the night. Gustof had a habit of sleeping on a tree whenever he had a mission. He got used to it already.
Gustof felt like a new man when he woke up. He had full of energy. Although they spent a night in the forest, there were no beasts or bandits around. He had no idea why two groups were tailing them. He guessed that the other party could be tailing their young master Von, what about the other one? He got down from the tree and saw Zenia.
"You're up, boss! Shall we continue our journey?"
"Young man, you need to eat first before we set out. No wonder you're too skinny. You may be able to double your strength when you build your muscles." He went inside the carriage and rummaged through their supplies.
"But I'm fine with this kind of body. I can move swiftly like this."
Gustof pondered for a moment and recalled how fast Zenia was when they had a spar.
"You got a point, but you still need to nourish your body." Gustof threw a food container at Zenia.
She caught it with both hands. When she opened the container, it had some pieces of bread and beef jerky. She tasted the beef jerky and was amazed at the flavorful meat.
"Thish ish sho good, boss." Zenia talked as she bit on her bread and jerky.
"Ha-ha-ha, don't talk while eating." Gustof even wiped the crumbs at the corner of Zenia's mouth.
Zenia looked at Gustof, and she felt a sense of longing. Zander would always do the same thing to her whenever she ate together with everyone in the barracks. Every military man of Ishelon knew how much their commander doted on his little sister.
She did not want to admit it, but she suddenly missed her older brother. It was the first time that she was separated for too long from her big brother. When she was a young girl, she was always together with Zekiah. When she turned thirteen, she was almost always with Zander. She only spent little time with Zekiah, who was pursuing a different hobby.
Once they finished eating their meal, they continued their journey. It was oddly smooth and peaceful. Zenia was expecting an ambush, but nothing happened. They were traveling for six hours already when the carriage suddenly stopped.
"What happened?" Gustof asked the coachman when he got off the carriage.
"The wheels stuck, boss. I did not expect the soil to be too soft. It also affected the axle."
"How long will it take to fix it?"
"Seven hours, maybe?"
"That long!? It will be dark by that time. We might as well camp out again." Gustof sighed and could do nothing.
"What's wrong, boss?" Zenia knew that something wasn't right and could no longer sit still.
They stopped in a place where thick foliage surrounded them. It was a haven for her, and she felt excited. Her eyes sparkled when she thought that the forest could be housing the poison plant that she was searching for.
"We need to sit for a while and resume our journey tomorrow. The wheels got stuck and there's also a problem with the axle."
Zenia's mind had already wandered off to the forest. Gustof noticed something off about her. He traced her line of sight and could not see anything fascinating about the forest.
"Von, what are you looking at?"
"Huh?" Zenia returned to her senses as she answered back.
"I said what are you looking at?"
"Oh, I just wonder if this forest contains different species of unique plants."
"Are you looking for something in particular?"
"Yeah, but I don't know the name of that plant. I just know what it looks like."
"Can you describe it? I'm a gardener too you know. I might be able to help you out."
"Well, its leaves look like flowers and the flowers look like leaves. You need to look carefully because it looks similar to a Rosca plant."
"Hmm, I think I know what you are looking for. Do you know how to prepare medicine?" Gustof was beginning to suspect that Zenia could be involved in a more sinister plot.
Gustof immediately recognized the plant that Zenia just described to him. It was called Mortelium or the death plant. Mortelium was harmless in its original form. But, in the wrong hands, it could be a vicious and lethal plant. It could easily kill anyone when mixed with a certain substance. Gustof had no idea what the substance was.
Zenia felt that Gustof knew the lethal side of the plant. She did not need to hide anything.
"No, but I know that it could be used as a poison. I was planning to develop a weapon that could shoot poisoned darts." Zenia was calm and composed as she uttered the words.
Gustof was trying to see whether Zenia had any other hidden motive. He could not see anything suspicious. He felt at ease once more and cleared the suspicion in his head.
"Do you know someone who can prepare the poison for you?"
Zenia looked as Gustof straight in the eyes. "I just need to pound the leaves and dip each dart in it to make poisoned darts. I don't need someone to prepare the poison."
Gustof shook his head and laughed out loud. "Ha-ha-ha, brother you are extremely hilarious just now." He was thinking too much and forgot that the lad before him still had traces of naivety.
Zenia furrowed her brows. Her teacher told her that she just pound and dip, and that was it.
"Little brother, you still need to mix it with a certain substance, which I don't know the name before you can turn the leaves into poison. Pounding it won't do anything. It will remain harmless until you add that substance."
Zenia looked at Gustof and couldn't believe what she heard. Suddenly, a realization struck her.
"That deceitful geezer! I gave him my finest sword in exchange for the information, and he only told me part of it." Zenia was so angry.
She was angrier at the thought that her old teacher made her believe that for such a long time. She was made a fool by someone she thought she had schemed!
Gustof did not miss each and every reaction and facial expression of Zenia. He found it delightful, and he knew that she had been cheated. Zenia walked back and forth and in circles to dissipate her anger. Gustof just watched until he could no longer tolerate the way Zenia walked in circles.
"To ease your anger, why don't I take you to the place where you can get the Mortelium," suggested Gustof who also wanted to take a walk in the forest.
"Mortem what?"
"Mortelium, that's the name of the plant."
"Oh, but I don't need it anymore since I don't know how to prepare it."
"Come on, take a walk with me. You will love the scenery of the forest." Gustof walked to the heart of the forest without looking back.
Zenia followed him and she was amazed at the scenery that unfolded before her eyes. There were various flowering plants that she had never seen before. There were various kinds of birds and butterflies. The place was completely different from the other places that she had been to. She couldn't help but smile.
The corners of Gustof's lips curved into a smile as well. He looked at Zenia for a long time and felt more satisfied the more he looked. The young man before him was unpretentious and pure. He was never afraid to show what he truly feels at the moment. Zenia was truly grateful that Gustof brought her to that place.
A lot of things popped in her mind. Once she married the Crown Prince, she would make Vaughn give her that part of Lunaria. Zenia smirked and continued drafting her plans.