CHAPTER 531: CHAPTER 531 - PREPARING TO LEAVE CERYNEIA (PART 1)

The next morning, I made sure to make a quick escape even before Lir wakes up. It is not really a full escape since I just simply plan to buy some breakfast for the both of us and also take my part of the spoils from the auction held last night.

As for why I have to sneak out, it is not really about the idea of leaving really. I simply chose to do my extra errand while he is asleep since I think Lir still has a lot of issues when he knows that I need to meet or talk with Levi. All in all, I am just avoiding trouble.

I was barely out of the inn room for about 30 minutes but when I came back, Lir was already fully awake, sitting on the bed and staring at the door with a glare. It did disappear quite quickly when he saw me come into the door with food but that split second delay in changing his facial expression when I opened the door can’t be missed by me.

I chose to ignore the glare since I kind of understand why he has that expression when he woke up. I continued walking inside towards the dining table then nonchalantly started preparing a spread of assorted food that would be our breakfast for today.

Surprisingly, he stood up without needing to be called. He was pulling uncomfortably on his clothes while he was walking towards the table. Well, he is wearing two layers of clothing so it must have been indeed uncomfortable.

None of us has spoken since I came inside the room and he simply stared at my face unblinkingly, not with a glare but a look that one can clearly understand that there is something that the other party wanted to discuss. I looked back at him a couple of times but he still refused to say anything to me.

Before it gets even more awkward, I just honestly listed the things that I have done last night like a criminal confessing to her crimes. I sighed and said, "I admit to knocking you out with a sleeping spell last night. It was also me that put another layer of clothes on you since I think you would feel cold with your choice of sleeping clothes last night. I did hug you all night though so I was good on the promised condition you gave me."

Lir just nodded his head but he is still staring at me with a hint of accusation. At this point, I just ignored it and started eating since he doesn’t want to speak anyways.

Right after eating breakfast, he proactively cleaned up the table and all the trash then we both ended up sitting on each of our own side of the bed since there is nowhere else to sit on in this room. Out of the blue, I dropped a bomb on him, "I am going back to Ash City today since my tasks in Coal City and Cobalt City are done. I do not have any intention to go to Coral City or the central city."

Upon hearing what I just said, I felt an intense stare from my side which I calmly met with my own emotionless stare. What is he even expecting from me to do? It is not like I live here and I am not even a merfolk.

After seeing that I am just staring back at him without saying anything else, tears started to flow out of his eyes. For the first time, I saw a miraculous thing as his tears turned into pearls even before it hit the blanket covering his legs. My eyes widened as I stared at the perfectly round golden pearls that formed from his tears, Isn’t this one of the most expensive types?

I have to forcibly refocus myself on the fact that he was crying and not that his tears can fetch a ton of money. I then took out a letter from my storage which was from Marius. It was the same invitation that I have been sending out to the people on the list while I was going around the two cities with Lir.

Upon seeing the same letter he has seen me give to others, his tears paused for a bit and his eyes widened. With shaking hands, he took the letter abd opened it carefully to read its contents quickly. After reading the entire note, his head snapped up to look at me with eyes that are wordlessly asking "Is this the truth?"

I nodded my head and stated, "You are actually on that list I gave you, I just omitted your name temporarily so as not to distract you from the task I hired you for. But just to be clear, I really want you to come with me whether you get that letter or not. You can bring your father and your sister too. Meet me at the address on the note which is at Ash City."

Lir looked at me for a long time without accepting or declining my offer. I do not want to pressure him in any way since Ceryneia will always be his home no matter what. I do not want to force him if he does not want to leave.

After that very awkward silence, he asked, "Shouldn’t you have given me this note from the start?" I nodded and admitted that it was my fault for delaying it.

He answered with a simple "okay", a brief pause and then he asked again, "Can’t we just pass by my home in Coal City to fetch my father and my sister. I want our family to travel together with you to Ash City. Would that be okay?"

I looked at him and immediately understood that leaving may not be as easy for him and his family as just deciding on it. He may need my presence and maybe use it as a shield so he and his family members can pass through the gates safely. I don’t mind sneaking them out if needed since teleportation is always an option so I agreed with his request readily.

Just as we were planning on how to tell his father about the plan, he also mentioned in passing that he knew that both him and his sister were adopted and have some form of noble blood in their veins. I kind of expected it so I simply listened to his stories.

He then shared that there may be issues on bringing his little sister out of Ceryneia since her parents are still indirectly taking care of her. Her parents and her can’t all be together due to certain circumstances but it doesn’t mean the parents would let her leave for a far away place.

I offered to send a note to the little girl’s parents to let them know of the plan and if possible, if they would consider going with us instead. I know they are nobles but I have seen too many cases that the rank doesn’t really equate the happiness of the individual. There is a chance that they amcan’t be together due to the said rank too so leaving this place might just resolve their issues.

As we were considering our options, I heard loud knocks in quick succession on our door. I stood up from the bed and opened the door a little bit only to see the owner of the inn outside.

He looked nervous, shaken and in a hurry. He said that there were some important people that wanted to meet me for something urgent so she brought them to one of the hidden private rooms in the inn where they can wait for me.

I looked back at Lir first to ask him if he wants to come down with me. He immediately stood up from the bed to accompany me to meet whoever is waiting for me in the private room. We did not even bother to change out of our sleeping clothes because well, we just feel lazy I guess.

When we came down to the private room, that was the time I kind of regretted not changing to some more appropriate attire as the people inside the room are all the people I sent Marius’ letters too. I guess, they couldn’t wait to provide me with their answers or maybe ask certain questions before they make their final decision.

The room had a tensed and somber atmosphere as if we were deciding on a life or death situation of somebody. As expected they have a lot of questions regarding the place they will live in or if there is a place to make a living in case they agree to go with Marius to escape this place.

I do understand where all their fears and doubts came from since most of them already have an established job or have been running shops for the longest time. Leaving this place is totally like leaving one’s comfort zone.