Elrick ran inside the room and checked everywhere. But she was not there. Taking in a deep breath, he took a good look around the room. There seemed to be no signs of struggle. He even checked under the bed but Lady Felixa was not there.
"She must have gone out," he mumbled.
He hoped that was the case and not that some highly trained assassin sneaked inside and took her out. Then it is a sure way for him to part with his head. Even now he is in a pretty precarious position. His head is still not safe and his back is in for a sting.
Forty lashes? Isn't that the punishment for leaving one's post?
Elrick decided to not think of his punishment and find the lady first. As he stepped out of the room, he saw his Emperor walking towards the room with Pricilla. Julius was walking to the front and he looked at him suspiciously. Julius then hastened his gait as if he sensed that something is wrong.
Ah, he figured it out!
Julius is the Leader of the Ivory Lion Crew who is the well-trained and disciplined Knights of the Brute Emperor. He is also the right-hand man of the Emperor, and he takes care of everything from diplomacy to the duties of a Chamberlain.
Of course, he'd figure it out! They don't call him the eyes and ears of the Brute for nothing!
"Julius, the Lady is gone," Elrick informed Julius with bowed head and was about to kneel.
"You-" Julius hissed under his breath. "Get up and try and find Lady Felixa! What's the use in kneeling?" Julius said gritting his teeth before walking towards the Emperor.
Elrick's heart was beating in his throat.
Elrick knew he is finished after he acted haughtily with Julius. He took a glance back.
The Emperor was entirely concentrating on Pricilla. His eyes ended up on his wife and the moment he looked at her, she met eyes with him. She averted her eyes immediately but he was glad for that single moment of eye contact with his wife. Closing his eyes, he sucked in a deep breath.
I must find out where the Lady is, no matter what!
He ran through the hallways.
Maximus was listening to Pricilla. She had a lot of good news to tell him. He was glad that Felixa is not as affected as he thought. If her mind is strong and she is willing to survive, then that would help her heal faster too. And she has his help.
"You knew it didn't you? Is that why you chose her?" Pricilla asked.
She is not very well-versed in all things related to magic, but she knew certain things. And that fire she saw in Lady Felixa's eyes is very similar to the one she sees in the Brute's eyes.
"What?"
"She has mana… strong mana… As much as you do…"Pricilla spoke about it carefully. "I think that was what buffered her from getting too affected by the abuses. Her body is stronger than an average human's."
People with a high amount of mana are said to have magical capabilities and they are strong. But sadly, people like them are killed without mercy. The Brute should be able to sense it at one glance of her. But for the Brute to be interested in someone with very high mana from Deberia is because…
As she was thinking, she felt a stare on her and she turned to see Elrick. She averted her eyes out of habit but when she looked again, he was running through the hallway. Julius was approaching them and he didn't look amused.
"You are going to use her to get the Hashomer, don't you?" Pricilla thought out loud.
It is very popular folklore that she has heard a thousand times. And what she knows about the Brute is that he wants to conquer the lands under the sky and expand the Lethusian Empire. Having the Hashomer is going to help him attain the goal easily if he wants to conquer the lands West of here.
What would be a much better way to achieve that than to manipulate a special woman who is vulnerable with all the abuse she faced? Showing her love? Isn't he trying to get what he wants out of her?
Pricilla's eyes filled with despise. In the end, men are all the same!
But the despise dissipated as she saw Maximus' lips curving to a smile. His eyes looked devoid of any empathy and she heard his knuckles crack. Pricilla's throat went dry as she saw flashes of lightning in the sky through the windows even though there were no clouds.
He's enraged!
"Ah…" Maximus' eyes squinted as he clenched his jaws. "I did tell you that I need the Hashomer, didn't I?" he leaned closer to her and the aura he emitted was so terrifying Pricilla took a step back.
She realized her stupidity for forgetting a moment who she is talking to. He's not just another man. He is The Brute!
Everything in her warned her to run away. The air turned heavy and she found it hard to breathe.
"But, dear doctor," He held her arm and wasn't letting go when she struggled. "What made you think that she has a similar mana to me?"
"I… I guessed… that's it," she gulped and her voice came out as a whisper. "I know nothing…"
He let her go and his smirk turned to a smile almost immediately as if he was pleased with her answer.
"You're not very off, Pricilla," he smiled and patted her shoulder. "You saw right. But you are wrong. Now think again. Why would she seem to have a strong mana like me?" his voice was gentle but she got butterflies in her stomach.
"Because of the Aion Stone? Your bond due to…" Pricilla gulped. But seeing his face relaxing, she patted her chest as she was relieved.
He's terrifying!
"You get it," Maximus told Pricilla and turned to his side as he noticed Julius. "What?"
"Sire, Lady Felixa is missing from her room," Julius informed with a bow.
"How did that happen?" Maximus' tone was calm.
Julius was a bit surprised he didn't get a shout as a reply but a calm, collected inquiry.
*whoosh*
Julius got startled by the speed Maximus walked past him. In just seconds he whooshed inside the room and Julius ran behind him.
Pricilla leaned on the wall, holding her chest, and sighed in relief. She could understand that the Brute is very, very protective of Lady Felixa. She needs to be careful around her.
But then her eyes widened realizing what she heard just then.
Lady Felixa is missing? Wasn't Elrick the one guarding her? Heavens help me!
She ran behind Julius.