Chapter 618 (1/2)

Chapter 618: A Posthumous Child

Translator: TransN Editor: TransN

Hearing what Olivia said, Roland could not help sighing with mixed emotions.

It was not a complicated story. When Gerald Wimbledon had served as the commander of the frontier guards, he had made his customary visits to Coldwind Ridge during each year’s Months of Demons to assist the church in fighting against demons. In one of his stays here, he had met a bar girl called Olivia in a tavern and fallen in love with her.

Given Olivia’s status, it had been impossible for Gerald to marry her or make public their relationship. In the end, he had secretly bought a residence in the town as their love nest. Roland could not judge from the story whether it was true love or not, but he knew from Prince Roland’s memories that Gerald had indeed refused marriage alliance with other nobles and had had no other lovers in King’s City. As what Gerald had done was quite incredible for an adult prince, there was even a rumor remembered by Prince Roland that Prince Gerald was a homo.

The content of the encrypted letter that was presented by Olivia was even more incredible. According to the bar girl, Gerald had determined to make her his queen, and instead of just paying lip service, he had even written it down. If the written evidence had leaked out, King Wimbledon III would have given Gerald a really hard time.

Good times had not lasted long for Olivia. Quickly after the news that Timothy had sentenced Gerald to death had reached the Northern Region, her quiet life had come to an end and miseries weighed on her life continuously. The guards left by Gerald had left without saying goodbye and then her house had been burgled. With no source of income, she had had to go back to work as a bar girl in the tavern again.

Yet her bad times was not over. The owner of the tavern was still bitter about her sudden leave before and started to paw her now and then. He even coerced her to sleep with him.

During the most recent six months, Olivia’s life was terrible. The owner’s wife did not dare to complain in the owner’s face, so she vented all her anger on Olivia. The owner often ignored what had happened, and sometimes even joined his wife in bullying and humiliating Olivia.

Roland would never criticize her for being weak-minded, as it was not surprising to him at all that she submitted to the unjust treatment. As a helpless ordinary woman, she had to face the biggest challenge in her life now, which was surviving. As for the disappearance of the guards and the following theft, Roland thought that it was not a coincidence. Given that the thief had been able to break into her house precisely when she had been away and had easily spotted the place where she had hidden her money, it must be an inside job.

“So what can I do for you?” Roland asked Olivia.

He decided to help her. It was not because of Gerald, a person who he had never met and could even be considered a half enemy based on Prince Roland’s memory, but because Roland just wanted to help this remarkable woman who had endured such a misfortune but still waited patiently for a chance to save herself.

Besides, for Roland now, helping her was a simple task.

He did not covet his elder brother’s wife as one would expect.

He swore!

“I want to leave the tavern… Your Majesty. Could you find a new job for me?” Olivia answered in a low voice.

“Are you sure you still want to stay in the Northern Region? If the owner of the tavern can’t forget about you, he won’t let you off easily. You can go to the Western Region by ship. You’ll get a job, food and even a house there,” Roland said while spreading out his hands. He did not want to degrade himself by getting involved in a civil dispute like this.

After a little hesitation, Olivia replied in an even lower voice, “Your Majesty… I, I want to stay here.”

“I think she’s afraid of you. As an ordinary woman, she’s at least half as beautiful as Edith. It makes sense for the tavern owner to drool over her,” Nightingale whispered in Roland’s ear.

Roland said in silence, “Nonsense.” After talking to Nightingale with the lip language, he nodded to Olivia and said, “Alright, I’ll tell Duke Calvin to fetch you to City of Evernight. It’s getting late now, Sean can find a hotel for you to sleep tonight.”

“I shall never forget your kindness, Your Majesty.” She knelt down again and said, “But… I have to go back tonight.”

“It’s up to you,” Roland raised his eyebrow and said. He turned to Sean and ordered. “Give this lady a ride.”

When Olivia reached the door, Roland suddenly asked, “By the way, do you have… any child with Gerald?”

She seemed startled and after a while answered, “I’m sorry, Your Majesty… I didn’t have any child to carry on his family name.”

…