CHAPTER 479: CHAPTER 479 - DISAPPEARING ACT (PART 1)

The next day, I noticed the sudden increase in the visibility of roaming soldiers in the whole camp. It was understandable since some important people are about to arrive but it was weird because it was quite noticeable that a bulk of these soldiers mostly stayed around my wagon, not too close but also not too far. They are obviously making sure that I am not going anywhere and my wagon would stay just where it was as of the moment.

I chuckled and shook my head as the only thing in my mind was, "If I wanted to leave, no one can stop me." Just like any other work day, I started my early morning with helping out at the dining hall first then I dropped for about half an hour in the military hospital to check on the patients. After a short two hours of working on both places, I dropped by at General Delphis’ tent to tell him that I will go out to forage in the forest after greeting the guests that are set to arrive today. He looked at me as if he was not expecting my visit at all and it was as if I scared the hell out of him. His answer was just an absentminded nod which was fine as long as he acknowledged my notice.

A few hours after breakfast was served to the whole camp, a grandiose carriage with the emblem of the Astrantia family went through the front gates of the military camp. I made sure to wear my envoy attire to greet the guests. The couple greeted me excitedly, similar to how my in-laws in the palace act whenever I come to visit. I kept my face indifferent as I bowed and then excused myself after the formal greeting.

I went back to my wagon as if nothing happened and started planning my escape. The first thing I did was to create an illusion, a copy of my carriage that I will leave in the camp while keeping the real one inside my storage space. After a short 15 minutes, I teleported out of my wagon and reappeared in an obscured area near the camp wall witha different set of clothing. I stealthily walked towards the gates in clothes that I wore when I went to the foraging mission before. I also tweaked it a bit with a few spells so that in the eyes of the people I will pass by, I looked just like a regular soldier on a mission.

I was able to easily leave the camp and once I was out of their sight, I teleported to the previous reconvene point. This time I chose an area next to the one I foraged in before. It is only 10:00am now and I am planning to stay in these forests just for eight hours more to complete my volunteer time. I will just send my harvest through the trading post that I have built inside the camp later once I am about two hours away from the camp to ensure that nobody will catch up to me.

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Back in the military camp, nobody has noticed that a certain woman has already succeeded in getting out of the military camp. The Astrantia couple first made their rounds in the construction areas that they noticed earlier as they were entering the camp. Their next stop was to visit General Delphis who is also their godson. They had a little chat, about 15 minutes or so then they made their way to their son’s tent for a serious chat.

Inside Caius’ tent, the man was quite nervous. He felt guilty and at the same time, he was actually regretting getting the palace and his family involved in his situation. These feelings only lasted for a few seconds as he made up his mind to do everything to get his intended wife in whatever means possible.

Just as he finished his self-reflection, he heard his parents’ voices right outside his tent. He welcomed them in and gave them some chairs to sit on. His tent was quite simple, even quite shabby compared to the room that he usually stayed in inside the Astrantia household but as a soldier, he learned to live within what the military can provide to its personnel.

His parents took their seats but a conversation did not start immediately. There was a lot of sighing and staring down that happened inside the tent. Finally, the silence was broken by Caius’ father, Maximilian Astrantia as he commented, "So, you were not lying when you said that you met a woman in the entertainment district in Hoffen City? This is the same woman, am I right?"

Caius nodded his head and kept his head down. The next one to ask a question was his mother, Carolina Astrantia as she asked, "Did you really resonate with her? Did she take your purity or not? I just wanted to make sure before we make our next move."

Caius flinched at his mother’s questions. He wrote his letter vaguely on purpose to give a sense of urgency so his parents will come to the northern camps to back him up. He was their only son after all and he knew that his parents will go on any length just to defend his honor.

The silence extended for some time before Caius sighed heavily. He looked up and looked at his parents’ eyes and responded, "Yes, she is the same woman as before. I did resonate with her and its effects was the reason I suddenly got hospitalized. I don’t know how I got better but I remember her taking care of me before I lost consciousness. She... She did not take my purity but she has seen and touched everything there is to see and touch on my body."

HIs mother and father looked at him then sighed almost at the same time. They knew that resonance is not enough of a reason for a woman to marry a man. It takes more than that and more. The woman has to like their son first and from the way she greeted them earlier, they strongly believe that the "liking" is totally one-sided. It would have been easier if their son was successful in seducing the woman to take him fully but knowing their son, it was impossible that he knew how to seduce any woman.