59 Leon is on the move.
(Leon and Evelyn’s pov, back to the time when David escaped from prison with Eve)
After being given the task by the king to bring back David and Eve dead or alive, both Leon and Evelyn were feeling exasperated.
It was still afternoon but the dark circles under their eyes due to lack of proper sleep had already reduced their mental efficiency.
“Evelyn, now what do we do?”-asked Leon, feeling confused.
“Is there even a need to ask?”
p<ᴀɴᴅ>ᴀ-ɴ0ᴠᴇʟ、ᴄᴏᴍ “What other option do we even have?”
“Are you suggesting instead of trying to clear our family name and being suspected as traitors we should just run away?”-Evelyn replied like it was something obvious.
“But catching David is…”
“It’s a bit tricky!”
“Don’t take the words of that king seriously.”
“Do you think my family, which has existed from even before the royal family, would be scared of their threat?”
“It’s just because of one powerful person on the side of the royal family that we dare not act recklessly.”
“Wait-wait”, Evelyn interrupted him.
“You mean there is someone secretly guarding the royal family?”
Leon had a smug smile on his face,
“Of course, else the throne would have long changed its owner.”
“David is an important member of our family, when he was born.. at that time my grandfather, who is rumoured to have reached the strength of legend-rank long ago said that he carried an unparalleled luck which is only seen once in ages.”
“As a result, all the opportunities and resources kept for me were spent on him and I was forced to work hard.”
Leon gave a deep sigh as he recalled the hardships he faced during his childhood.
Suddenly thinking of something his eyes narrowed,
“No, not good!”
Evelyn, who was thinking of a backup in case things go south, was caught off-guard by Leon’s sudden yell.
“What happened?”- she asked.
“I suddenly remembered an important thing. When I and David were small our grandfather, once told us that if we faced any difficult situation in future and he was not there, just visit the abandoned city.”
“He told us that there was a powerful-old couple who owed us a life-saving debt and would definitely help us.”
“At first, I thought…Why would David run away?”
“If he does not hide in the family then the only possible place he can escape to is that abandoned city!”
“This is not good, grandfather told us only the one who can reach gold rank first would be allowed to use that opportunity.”
“David I see, so you plan to snatch away the last opportunity that should have rightfully belonged to me.”
Leon’s face was full of anger.
“Evelyn, Eve is your sister right..you should be able to figure out at least something about how she was so easily able to convince David to run away with her?”
“Because no matter how you see, he would never have been punished harshly and unless something serious happened he would not take this step.”
Evelyn nodded as she too felt things were much trickier than they seemed.
“Leon give me an hour, I will round up all the maids that served Eve and interrogate them about what she asked them to do last night, maybe we can find some clues from the investigation.”
Leon just shrugged her off,
“No, that way we would waste too much time.”
“We already know where both David and Eve are heading to.”
“By now they should already be ahead of us by more than a day.”
“If we move now, with the help of the fastest horses we can catch them by tomorrow’s nightfall.”
“I don’t think David would be too desperate that he would ask that couple in the abandoned city for that opportunity as soon as he gets there.”
“If we can reach there fast, I can convince them that I am the one who is more suitable to get stronger.”
If Leon knew that the opportunity he was so desperate to snatch from David was actually to blacken oneself and absorb all the resentful and remnant souls of the warriors who died in the old war, he would vomit a mouthful of blood.
Without wasting much time, both of them after packing some necessities rushed towards the abandoned city.
Unlike Eve who still had some chances to try to take advantage of the situation to get close to David, Evelyn was way too unlucky.
They were riding continuously on the horses and her back and hips were already in pain.
The lethargy due to lack of sleep as well as Leon’s cold attitude towards her was driving her insane.
Her frustration was increasing as her mood became more irritated with every passing second.
“Leon, it’s already late at night. We should take a small break to at least let the horses recover their strength.”
“Can’t you see they are already looking tired and their speed is much reduced now compared to before?”
Leon stopped for a moment then looked back at her.
“If you want to rest then you can rest!”
“Remember, you followed me out of your own free will.”
“You being tired has nothing to do with me!”
Evelyn felt aggrieved at his words,
“You only have that Princess Lena in your eyes!”
“You are always licking her shoes.”
“I can give you everything that even she won’t be able to.”
“I just don’t understand why you boys are so blinded in pursuing others that you can’t see the one who is standing by your side all the time… who is desperately making efforts to make her presence acknowledged!”
“Enough!”
“We are not having this conversation.”
“Follow quietly or leave!”
Leon once again pulled the leash of his horse as he left her behind.
Seeing him getting farther, Evelyn gritted her teeth before chasing after him.
Like Eve who was blinded by her one-sided obsession, Evelyn was not much different.
There was only one thought in her mind.
‘If that Princess Lena is no more, then Leon should lonly look at me, right?’
‘Just need to kill her after we return, then everything will be alright!’