n

n

nSoon the ship returned back to the harbor, and all the guests stepped down, one after the other.

nOnce the guests had fully cleared out, the wait staff then started disembarking the ship. When Sylvia finally walked out, she noticed Leol waiting for her by the side.

"Are you alright?

" he asked.

n

"I'm fine,

" Sylvia replied softly.

nThe two of them then walked in silence towards one of the carriages. Leol opened the door for her to get in, and she as well distractedly stepped in.

nHowever, as soon as she looked ahead, she was frozen solid. The carriage was not as empty as she had assumed it to be.

nThere were already three occupants sitting inside, her eyes only lingering on the man seated by the window.

nSeveral feelings welled up in her heart. She didn't want to feel like this but there was no denying it. The man's actions had an effect on her and she felt hurt and betrayed.

nHowever, he was casually sitting as if nothing had happened.

nHe looked as charismatic as ever, graceful, calm, and elegant. His sharp and clear eyes only glanced at her fleetingly before turning back to looking outside the carriage window, gazing at the distant sea.

nThat was enough for Sylvia. She closed her eyes, turned around, and sat in another corner of the carriage, refusing to look again at him.

nAfter her, Leol as well stepped in, making a total of five people inside the carriage.

nPriscella, who was sitting opposite Mikel looked at the slave from the corner of her eyes before loudly clearing her throat.

n

"Aha ha ha. Isn't this carriage getting a bit too stuffy, your highness?

" She chuckled uneasily, not hesitating to let Mikel know about her thoughts.

n

"That's right, it is indeed a bit crowded,

" Mikel agreed with a slight smile.

"Perhaps I should wait for the next carriage.

"

nPriscella's face immediately changed a little and she hurriedly stopped him.

n

"N-No, your highness, that won't be necessary. It's just that I thought you might feel uncomfortable with these many people.

"

n

"I am alright. Thanks for your concern, milady. And if I am not I can always gaze at the beautiful view in front of me.

"

nMikel mentioned, his eyes not leaving the window, but then Priscella's face turned red assuming a different meaning to his words altogether.

nSylvia had her eyes tightly shut. She didn't want to look at what was happening.

nShe was afraid she would end up doing something stupid if she looked at him, something that might cost her freedom, so she did her best to avoid looking at him, but that did not mean she did not hear anything.

nWith every word they spoke, she felt like such a fool. Even though she was trying her best to ignore it, she could still feel her heart aching.

nThe carriage then gradually started to move, with a rosy pleasant atmosphere on one side and a sour gloomy one on the other side.

nNot able to see this with a straight face any longer, Leol sighed and opened his mouth.

"Your highness, I heard that something terrible happened to two court officials on the ship this evening, Gram and Allaster?

"

nHearing this, Sylvia suddenly trembled and snapped to turn and look at Leol. It couldn't be, right?

nThe two men who misbehaved with her disappearing on the same evening? How could there be such a coincidence?

nShe stole a glance at Mikel who was still gazing outside, without the slightest reaction on his face.

n

"Ah, you have heard about that?

" Priscella replied in his stead.

n

"Yes, milady. I heard that they went missing?

" Leol replied with a barely concealed smile.

n

"That's right. I don't know what happened to them. I saw that they were missing after the ship had returned to the harbor. I was really worried about them.

"

nHer voice was a little shaky as she personally knew the two guests and they were close friends of her father, Duke Reynolds.

n

"I see,

" Leol replied.

"Do you think that there is any chance they could have been murdered?

" He then looked at Sylvia and winked subtly, making the girl's heart squeeze.

nA small doubt arose in her mind, making her wonder if someone had done this for her? She then shook her head casting this thought away.

nShe was once again acting like a fool to think that someone like her was important enough for something like this to happen.

nIn fact, it was ridiculous of her to even doubt such a thing. She was someone who if disappeared, no one would probably even notice.

nPriscella, on the other hand, turned a bit pale.

"Is that possible?

" Since it was her party, she would ultimately become responsible for this, if something drastic like that happened.

n

"What do you think, your highness?

" She asked Mikel.

n

"Hmm, it's hard to say,

" he replied, looking at the window as if he was pondering.

n

"I am not familiar with the situation or the circumstances so it's hard to give a clear answer. However, I did hear rumors of both of them involved in several corrupt affairs.

"

n

"I never took these accusations seriously as the Duke personally favored them but maybe someone else did?

"

nMikel shifted his gaze, his eyes momentarily landing on the woman sitting at the other end, who as well felt him and looked up to meet his obsidian orbs.

n

"But this is just a wild guess, so I am not sure about it myself.

" Mikel turned away.

nPriscella then sighed.

"I hope they are both alright.

"

nIt didn't take long for the carriage to reach the new villa of the Duke and soon they arrived at the destination.

nThe coachman got down and opened the carriage doors, with Leol first jumping out, grinning in satisfaction, followed by Theo who had an indifferent face even though he was aware of what was going on.

nAfter which Priscella stepped down, gracefully and elegantly, and then Mikel, leaving behind Sylvia who was still inside the carriage as the last one, still dwelling on the things that were discussed earlier.

n

"Hey, can you leave fast?

" The coachman loudly knocked, snapping her out of her thoughts.

"I am in a hurry, sorry!

" He added, seeing her beautiful figure and immediately regretting being rude to her.

nSylvia nodded and quickly got down. She then bowed and left, hurrying behind the four people who were walking ahead of her.

n