Athy smirked knowingly and did not reply. I know that Athy took care of the uninvited guests and made sure mother was in no way bullied during the tea party. Besides, Uriel was also there and still is to do the after care. I have nothing to worry about.
"My lady." Miss Bloom suddenly called me and handed me a paper. "I think you should read this."
I took the paper and read it with Athy who leaned to me to read it too. It was a list of people who were connected to the items sold at the illegal auction. The names and items they wanted to be auctioned were in it, which means that the names of the people who illegally trafficked the living item were also here.
Great.
I raised the corners of my lips and a cold glint was in my eyes.
"Good job." I told Miss Bloom. "Now we do not need to do anything and these people will come to us."
"But a certain item worries me, my lady." Miss Bloom said with worry.
"Which one?" I asked her.
"Vince Wicke's beagle." Miss Bloom said with a serious face.
Hearing it, Milia flinched in her seat and stared at Miss Bloom with wide fearful eyes.
"What is that?" I asked, not knowing anything about it. The only beagle I know is those cute little dogs with droopy ears. "Who in the world is Vince Wicke?"
"Eh?" Miss Bloom and Milia glanced at each other. "My lady probably not know much about him since he is not from here, so I'll explain."
Athy and I focused our attention to Miss Bloom.
"Vince Wicke is a mercenary, and he is known to be the strongest one. Even the captain of the King's knights was no match with him. He was scouted by many nobles to become their knight but he has always refused and continued being a mercenary. There is not much known fact about him, but it was said that his dog was his only partner and something that he cares for deeply." Miss Bloom explained. "And if it is true that this dog is indeed his, the underworld would break lose in Westreon city."
"Is he really that strong?" I asked. "To be able to bring chaos to our territory?"
"I have never seen him myself, my lady, so I am unsure of it too." Miss Bloom shook her head lightly. "All I have told you was based on rumors and reports I have heard and read."
I glanced at Milia who was slightly trembling in her seat. She had her head down, but I could tell that she was sweating profusely based on the sweat on her hands.
"Is everything okay Miss Milia?" I asked her.
Milia glanced at me and I could see how fearful she was without her speaking.
"You have fought with him, haven't you?" Athy asked with a wicked smile.
Milia winced at what Athy said which only confirmed it.
"Was he really strong?" I asked, curious about how strong the strongest mercenary really was.
Milia sighed and tried to calm herself.
"He is." She nodded.
"Stronger than Sebastiene?" I asked as I narrowed my eyes at her.
Milia thought for a moment before slightly shaking her head.
"No. Vince Wicke is weaker than that demon but definitely scarier than him." She said.
"How so?" I asked again.
"When I fought your butler, he was not using his full strength and I could feel no killing intent from him, like he was just testing me. But when I fought Vince Wicke, his killing intent was more sinister than your demon's. It was like all he wanted to do was kill." She explained while still trembling.
"Why did you even fight him?" Miss Bloom asked.
"He trespassed on our territory and tried to cut a tree." She replied.
Athy and I had blank looks in our faces. I mean, why would they get mad at someone who cut a tree in a forest? A tree won't make the forest go bald, right?
Seeing our expressions, Milia quickly added. "He tried to cut a blessed tree. Please keep in mind that elves are not the only race that lives in Yellow wood forest. Fairies, elemental spirits and different kinds of animals live there. So when one wanted to cut a tree, they would only do so on the outer part of the forest. The innermost part are filled with blessed trees."
"So what are blessed trees?" I asked getting annoyed at the long explanation.
"Blessed trees are trees that fairies or elemental spirits live." Milia explained. "Fairies live in colonies inside trees. These trees live for a long time and carry the fairy eggs inside. If the tree dies, all the fairies in that colony dies with it."
Athy frowned. "And he cut that tree even knowing that?"
Milia shook her head.
"He stopped when he learned about the truth after defeating all the elven warriors who tried to stop him." She sighed but still trembled. "Including me."
Athy let out a sigh of relief hearing that the fairies were safe.
"It's good that they were saved." Athy nodded.
"But he crippled almost half of our warriors causing human slave traders to kidnap some of our kin." Milia added while clutching her skirt tightly, looking hurt.