Three days later, Michael and Rheid's several Knights went to the villa as instructed by the Archduke.
"Your Excellency!! "All of them bowed to him upon seeing him in the Courtyard. Michael and Bern immediately went to his side and checked his body.
After seeing that he is alright, both of them sighed in relief.
Zhi sent for instructions then dismissed the other Knights
After that, the Three of them walk back to his study room located in the 2nd floor of the Villa.
"Thank God that you're alright. We were worried sick when you disappeared. But where did you really go?" Michael asked him while on their way to the study room.
Zhi just looked at him, then he knocked first before going inside the room.
Michael and Bern furrowed their brows and they looked at each other.
1
"What? Aren't you coming inside? Well, you can - - "
Before he could finish his statement, both them hurriedly went inside.
"Oh, your aides are already here?" Michael and Bern turned their head to the direction of the voice. Then their eyes widen when they saw her sitting on the table with a sleeping big tiger lying on her feet.
"E-Ezekiel… What – "They both stuttered in surprise! What is happening in here?!!
Ezekiel sighed and went to Rin's side. "She is Eyrhin. Rin, they are my trusted aides, Michael and Bern." He said introducing her to his aides.
Since Rin is wearing a mask, they could not see her face.
"Hi Sir Michael, Sir Bern. I'm Eyrhin. I apologize if I am wearing my mask. But please do rest assured, I am not a monster." She said in a gentle playful tone.
"You don't need to call them so formally. Just call their names. And besides, you cannot just show your face to anyone this time. "Ezekiel said indirectly explaining to his aides.
"How can I? I am not in the position to just call their names. And besides – "
"No buts." He insisted in a gentle tone then pat the girls head.
Michael and Bern looked again at each other. Both of them are thinking the same thing.
Is this really the Archduke? Or not? Ever since before, he never acted this way to anyone. Nor being gentle to a lady. Their Master has always had a cold aura. But today is the first time that he is being gentle to someone. And not just someone! But he is gentle to a lady!! Oh! Did their Master wake in the wrong side of bed?
"What? Do you want to say something?" Zhi coldly glanced at them. He can easily understand what they are thinking.
"Nothing. Haha. Yes, yes, Lady Eyrhin, you can just call us with our names. No need to be so formal." Michael pursed his lips then left out a hard smile while communicating with Bern thru their eyes.
"He is right my Lady. You can call us anything you want." Bern seconded.
She looked at both them then she a smile flashed behind her mask.
"My role here is done. Now I need to go back in the forest and finish that needs to be done." She said to Zhi.
"Em. Inform me when you'll be back to the Empire." Zhi answered and a glint of loneliness can be seen from his eyes.
Rin tiptoed and pat his head. "I'll be back before you know. "She said.
Ezekiel nodded.
"Kyell. "The tiger opened his eyes then he stood up..
Both Michael and Bern again were surprised. Just who is this woman that can tame their master!!
Based on her looks and clothes, she's just a simple village girl. But her aura is saying the opposite.
She glanced at them. "I will leave him to you. Please take care of him." Then she looked back at him. "See you soon."
Before they could answer her, a magical circle appeared on the ground, then both her and the tiger disappeared.
Several minutes, Michael and Bern regain their selves after being surprised over and over again. Who would have thought that, that girl is a Mage?!!!
"Ezekiel, what is really happening? Who is that woman? And where did you go all this time? Ahhhggg… I'm having a headache." Michael stood beside Ezekiel, shaking his head.
Ezekiel raised an eyebrow. "I still haven't said anything and your brain can no longer handle it? Then it looks like I should not tell you - - "
"No No. Please, tell us everything that happened. Never mind my brain." He immediately responded fearing that he will never tell them anything.
Ezekiel looked at him, then he glanced back at the sofa opposite to him. "Sit." He commanded.
"Okay, okay." Then he sat down.
"How is the Capital?" His voice turns a 180 angle, from being warm and gentle earlier to being cold and ruthless.
"Don't worry. Everything is under control. As of this moment, your Step Mother is back to the mansion from the Capital." Bern answered.
"How about Rowel?" His gaze turns even colder. They could really feel that something happened between them.
"He said that he is coming back from the mission you gave him. Who knows? We haven't seen since you disappeared. By any chance, did something happen between you and him?" Michael is asking him but it seems that he is confirming.
He furrowed his eyebrows then stood up and glance back at the window. "He betrayed me. "He answered heavily. Bern and Michael both clenched their fists. Hearing his confirmation made their hearts shudder. How can he do this to him? Ezekiel trusted him and he just betrayed him, just like that?!
"He led me to a trap. A magic circle took me in the entrance of the Forest of No Return." He narrated. The temperature in the room is getting colder and colder.
"What the… Forest of No Return? A magic circle? Of course, if they want to get rid of you, the safest way is throwing you into that forest." Michael remarked.
"Then how did you escape? Seeing you right now… "
"When I found myself in the Forest, a group of mercenaries is already waiting for me at the entrance. They are fully geared so I have no choice but to run deeper. Unfortunately, a poison suddenly activated on my body and I was shot several times."
"How- "
"How did I survive? Or how did I get the poison?" He said looking back at them. Indeed, thinking about everything that happened to him, it is really a miracle that he survived.
"Yes. How did a poison get into your body? How did – "
"The moment that I thought that I am going to really die, out of nowhere, someone appeared and save me." The temperature suddenly became warm after his remarked.
"Who… Who saved you?" They asked in duet although they have already an idea who it is.
"It was her. Rin. She was the one who saved me." A gentle smile flashed on his face that made his aide look in awe.
They looked at each other awkwardly before speaking. "You mean, the girl Mage? How and why is she in the Forest?" Bern asked. He knows how powerful and rare the Mages are, but to be on the Forest of No Return, just who is she?
"She is the Ruler of the Forest." Ezekiel immediately responded.
"Oh Ruler... "Michael and Bern shut their mouths and their eyes widened upon realizing what he said.
"Ruler of the Forest? You mean… The Witch of the Forest of No Return??!! The one being told on the Legend?!!! "Both of them shouted in surprise.
Now they know the identity of that woman. Looks like they made a good decision not to interrogate her. Or else, they wouldn't know how they died.
"Then, did she go back to the forest?" Bern asked after recovering from shock.
"Yes. But she will be back once she's done."
"You mean, a very important figure like her is willing to enter the Empire and live here?" Michael said in an excited tone. "If words get spread, this will create a sensation! Not just in our Empire but all throughout the continent! "He added but immediately turned quiet when he suddenly felt a cold and heavy gaze.
*gulp*
"I will only say this for the first and last time. I don't want anyone to know about her identity." He said giving them a cold warning. Michael and Bern nodded immediately as if their lives are at stake.