It took five teleportation gates and travelling in between the gates by carriage before they finally reached Clomodor's border town, Enzak. The Auglarus envoys had bid them farewell at the final gate that would send them to Enzak's boundaries, and Yurian wanted to celebrate the escape from their watchful eyes with a spirited run. Life is all about a vigorous run!
"Hahahaha! So refreshing!!"
"Yurian—argh—someone stop the carriage—"
A weak feminine voice cried out pitifully, as if the owner was about to pass out.
"Yurian! Marianne's about to faint!"
"Not just her, I feel unwell too, urph…Alistair, make him stop…"
"We are about to reach our destination! Just bear with it, I will try my best to reach as soon as possible~"
The blonde boy laughed carefreely, his cheerful grin shone as brightly as the sun as he urged the horses to drag the gloomy carriage with a death-filled aura forward.
"Argh, just stop going so fast…someone save me…"
"Help!!!"
"Yurian!!!!!"
"Hahahahahhaha~"
A few minutes later, Yurian finally drove the horses to a slow throttle as the carriage neared a luxurious maroon-themed building that was adorned by red lanterns.
"We are here! You can come out now!"
Yurian hopped off the horseman's seat with a sprightly jump, as he passed the reins of the carriage to a freckled brunette who had arrived from the building to receive them.
A bespectacled young man with a textured fringe stumbled out of the carriage immediately, leaning against the carriage weakly and taking deep breaths.
"He's prone to motion sickness," Yurian grinned at the freckled maiden, who nodded understandingly.
"Everyone would be prone to motion sickness if they sat in anything you drive, Yurian," a cold voice came from the inside of the carriage. A fair-skinned man with dark long hair stepped out from the carriage door with a bent back. Upon closer inspection, he was carrying a bob-haired woman wrapped in a white coat who had seemingly fainted.
"Ah," Yurian was stunned. So, she had really fainted…
The freckled maiden gasped. "Oh dear, let's quickly get you settled. Would you like a private room?"
"Yes. It's a little inconvenient otherwise," Alistar said emotionlessly.
"Alright," the maiden grabbed the reins and called out to the shop for more manpower.
As Yurian and Alistar stood side by side, Yurian heard a mutter from his teammate.
"You are so going to get it later." A killer's aura briefly rushed at him.
Yurian shivered.
…
When Marianne opened her eyes, she found herself inside a small beautiful room. Right in front of her eyes was a circular dining table which was draped with a beige, luxurious cloth. Alistair, Yurian and Sylvester were sitting around the table, drinking tea and snacking on some complimentary nuts and biscuits.
She slowly pushed herself off the sofa she was laying on and held her tender chest. She vividly remembered her heart pounding in fear when the streets of Enzak flew past the window and the carriage slammed from side to side around the narrow curves and bends of the pathways. Even holding onto Alistair had not been enough to give her a sense of security, and Sylvester who also held onto Alistair had even cried out along with her.
"Marianne! How are you feeling?"
Alistair was the first to notice that she had awoken, and hurriedly walked over.
"Hmm, I am fine. Just a little queasy still…"
Alistair shot a cold glare towards Yurian before patting her back. "We were waiting for you to wake up before sending for the food. Let's eat together."
"Hmm."
Sylvester stood up from his seat and went to open the private room's door. "Hey, you there! We are ready for the food, please send it up."
"Yes sir, I will let the kitchen know." A voice responded.
When the door opened the next time, the hungry Sylvester turned around quickly.
The man who opened the door had a bottle of red wine in his hand, and he smiled crookedly as he leaned against the door frame lazily. Although he was dressed in normal town attire and his chestnut brown hair was very common, the wicked look in his narrow eyes said otherwise. He closed the door behind him and pulled out a chair, before placing himself confidently in front of the four individuals.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" he drawled, dragging his fingers gently down his high cheek bones. "Faces both familiar and not, what do these prestigious personas have to do here in poor Enzak?"
Alistair, Marianne and Yurian regarded the man doubtfully. Sylvester tensed up.
"As students from the Academy, we would like to request for your help," he said.
"Oh Sylvester, after such a long absence, the first thing you have for me is a request," the man simpered as he skillfully uncorked the bottle of wine and poured himself a drink. "How deeply hurt I am."
"Who else would we ask for help in Clomodor, if not for you?"
"Oh, and why would I be able to help you? I am just an impoverished, poor businessman running a poor restaurant."
"Poor?" Sylvester scoffed. "Stop fooling around, this behaviour is beneath the heir of the most prestigious House in Clomodor, even if you fail to act like one."
The young man grinned wickedly at Sylvester. "Then I guess we are of the same kind, the worthless rotten type of festering that is common from those of the royal lineage, isn't it, dear Sylvester?"
"Isn't it, dear cousin Henrik Odin Quille…and upcoming Duke of the majestic, immortally arrogant Quille House?"