"Let"s go in. I"m sure Simon will still be happy to see an old friend like me." The tall and broad Sean emerged from within the carriage. Even though he wasn"t wearing any armor, his ramrod straight back and the killing intent emanating from his body made it quite apparent that he was a veteran general on the battlefield.The gates of the estate were tightly shut, and Sean only had Quine accompanying him. Everyone probably thought that the prince was still on the southwestern border thousands of kilometers away, directing his troops in battle. No one knew when he had returned to Rodu.
The gate was opened after some knocking, and an old servant emerged with a cautious expression on his face. He didn"t recognize Sean, but he could see that he was definitely no ordinary person. He asked, "Whom are you looking for?"
Quine was about to say something, but Sean raised a hand to cut him off, and smiled as he said to the old servant, "This is General Simon"s estate, right? Please inform him that Sean has come to visit him."
"Alright, please wait for a moment, I"ll go and report to my master." The old servant nodded before closing the gate. He felt as if the name Sean was a little familiar, but he couldn"t quite put his finger on it, not sure where he had heard it before. However, he was most likely a friend of his master"s, so he didn"t dare to delay.
The old servant made his way to the backyard, where a brawny heavily bearded man was swinging a pickaxe repeatedly into the soil. The servant informed, "Master, there"s a guest by the name of Sean who is here to see you."
"Sean?" Simon immediately stopped what he was doing. A hint of surprise appeared on his face as sweat flowed down his tanned muscular chest.
The servant was a little confused by Simon"s expression, and asked, "Is he not a friend of yours?"
"No, no, no, I"m not worthy to be a friend of his. Clinton, get everyone in the estate into the backyard. No one is allowed to go anywhere without my permission." Simon strode out of his garden, and casually put the pickaxe leaning against a tree. He picked up the towel that was hanging from a nearby tree branch, and wiped away the sweat on his face. He then dusted himself off, and strode toward the front of the estate.
"Yes. Master, should I brew some tea?" the servant asked.
"They"re too good to drink our tea." Simon chuckled with a hint of mockery in his voice.
The gate opened again when Sean was in the process of examining a griffin that had been carved onto the gate. He turned to Simon with a smile, and said, "I didn"t think that you would have such skill. This carving is not bad at all."
Simon looked at Sean with a calm expression, and said, "You"re far too kind, Your Highness. I"m just a useless retired soldier with nothing to do, so I"m merely entertaining myself in my spare time."
Sean looked into Simon"s eyes, and said, "It looks like you"re still holding a grudge against me, Simon."
Simon"s expression remained unchanged as he said, "I wouldn"t dare. I am just an ordinary person, so how would I dare to hold a grudge against you, Your Highness."
"Just because you wouldn"t dare doesn"t mean you don"t actually hate me. I know that all of the soldiers who left the army with you harbor animosity toward me. You all hate me for not saving Alex, and for not avenging him." Sean shook his head, and a guilty expression appeared on his face. He sighed, and continued, "To this day, I"m still unable to forgive myself. If only I could have received the news a little earlier… If only I could have been a bit more alert to the potential dangers, Alex would have never been plunged into that dire situation."
"Everyone dies eventually." Simon"s expression didn"t change at all in response to Sean"s words. He had heard the same things said on more than one occasion.
"Indeed, everyone dies eventually, even you and I will die someday." Sean nodded with a wistful look. He turned to Simon with a smile, and asked, "Are you not going to invite me to come in?"
"If Your Highness would like to come in, who am I to say no?" Simon opened the gate wider, and ducked off to the side to allow the prince pa.s.sage.
"Even though I was reluctant to part with you veterans, I have to say that all of you made a smart choice. Only after leaving the border can you live such a leisurely and carefree life. Even I am feeling a little envious." Sean chuckled at the sight of the flora that Simon had planted in the yard.
"Perhaps," Simon replied ambiguously.
Sean looked around at his surroundings before his gaze settled on Simon. "Looks like we"re the only ones here. I"ve come here today for a very simple reason: I wanted to ask you something."
"Please state any questions that you may have. I would be more than happy to answer them, Your Highness." Simon met Sean"s gaze with a steady one of his own.
Sean looked into Simon"s eyes, and asked, "On the night when the event took place, where were you?"
Meanwhile, Quine had crept around behind Simon. A metallic light gleamed in hand, and his eyes narrowed as his eyes focused on the spot where Simon"s heart was located.
"I had gone home to visit my mother"s grave. That day was her death anniversary." Simon"s reply was very placid, but there was a hint of rage in his eyes.
Sean looked deep into Simon"s eyes as if he were trying to see something different in them.
Simon"s hands balled up into tight fists, and a pained expression appeared on his face as he roared, "If I had been with him, I would"ve at least been able to act as a meat s.h.i.+eld for him. Those shameless b.a.s.t.a.r.ds, all of them deserve to die!"
His fists were trembling slightly as if he were repressing his violent emotions with all his might.
"Indeed. All of them deserve to die, and they"re all dead." Sean nodded as he took his eyes off Simon. He strode toward another room, and opened the door, upon which he was greeted by the sight of a series of completed and half-completed wooden statues as well as a pile of untouched wood in the corner.
Among the statues, there were knights, magic casters, orcs, demons, elves… There were all types of different races, and all of them were battling with one another. The statues were all very life-like.
Sean glanced at all of the statues, and walked all the way to the end, where the largest statue lay. It was a statue of a griffin, and he smiled as he said, "Simon, if the third prince were to hear about your talents, he would surely be very fond of you."
Simon shook his head, and said, "His Highness is a true master in wood-carving. I am just a hobbyist, and I cannot compare to him."
"How interesting." Sean chuckled as he strode out the door. As he did so, he said, "Simon, I"ve always thought that you were an interesting person, but it appears that you"re even more interesting than I had imagined. However, I have to tell you something: hiding a person is different from hiding an object. If you don"t hide a person well, and they end up being found, someone will die."
"I don"t understand what you"re trying to say, Your Highness." A peculiar look flashed through Simon"s eyes, but his expression remained unchanged.
"Looks like you"re not even going to offer me any tea. Farewell, then." Sean didn"t provide any explanation. He made his way out of the room, and strode toward the gate. Upon reaching the gate, he paused, and looked at the griffin carved upon it. A smile appeared on his face as he said, "There seems to be someone missing."
"Farewell, Your Highness." Simon didn"t say anything in response. He merely bade the prince farewell, and looked on as his black horse-drawn carriage departed. He slowly closed the gate, and clenched his fists as he murmured to himself, "Everyone dies eventually, but they can"t die for no reason…"
"Your Highness, are we just going to go back now?" Quine was a little perplexed.
"Simon"s reactions have told me everything I need to know. Three years ago, he was a man that couldn"t hide anything, so now that he"s trying to hide something, it"s quite easy to see through him. There were all types of statues in that room, but none of Alex. If he really were dead, then his statue would be the only one in the room." Sean smiled as he continued, "All you have to do is keep an eye on him from here onward. He will be the key to finding Alex."