17 Sending Help (1/2)

It was already the next day when Lucia heard from Bisham of what happened. The royal guards fought against the two Wismarine. They killed one and captured the other. But they failed to save the messenger. The captured Wismarine spilled everything. The Wismarine Prince failed to hire professional assassins so he used some of his guards to act as one. All the two messengers headed for Castle Munico were already dead. Timothy can't expect reinforcements from Munico. As for Thespelae, luckily Lucia's royal guards were able to recover the second letter. The Wismarine also confirmed that they King was behind all of this. The King and the Wismarine Prince wanted Timothy to die on the battlefield. The King was a careful man so he came up with this complicated and elaborate plan. Apparently, he doesn't want to be suspected of killing his own son. Two of the royal guards took the letter and the captured Wismarine to Thespelae.

To be honest, Lucia felt sick. She felt conscious of the fact that her orders ended up killing someone. Just a word from her and people's lives would change. She felt slightly guilty that her order killed the Wismarine. But in the end, she decided that it was all for the best. If she didn't give the order, then Timothy wouldn't have reinforcements. If given the choice, she would save Timothy even if it means dirtying her hands with blood.

But Lucia knew that she only slightly succeeded in protecting Timothy. Although the garrison of Thespelae will come to his aid, those at Munico won't. Lucia cannot send a warning to him either. It's too late now. It has been a day since Timothy left Nirvana. To reach Mercus Plains faster, Timothy didn't take the main road of the Kingdom and instead traversed the grasslands of Kisma. The grasslands of Kisma was huge, stretching for nearly a hundred miles. Even if Lucia sent all her guards, it would be impossible to find Timothy.

All Lucia can do now is to increase Timothy's chances of survival. She decided to meet with two people, Freya and Escanor.

Lucia first met with Freya.

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Freya's body was shaking. She didn't know how to react. She knew that something fishy was going on, but she didn't expect that the conspiracy would be like this.

” Thank you for telling me” Freya lowered her head. ”But I never thought the King would go this far.” She said in a low voice. The King really was a despicable father. To kill his own son! What kind of monster is he? What did Timothy do to deserve this? Of course Lucia could be lying. She could be plotting something. But somehow her instincts were telling her that Lucia's words were the truth. The sudden change in the King's decision, the way the King treated Timothy all these years, it connects. Furthermore, she knew that Lucia wouldn't do anything to harm Timothy. Vanadis would lose so much if Timothy died.

”Timothy needs both of us Freya” Lucia's voice was stern.

”Then tell me what to do”

”I need you to stay at Solon” said Lucia.

”Solon?” Freya was surprised. Why would Lucia want her to go to Solon?

”Your father's fief is in Solon right?” asked Lucia. ”And your father is well-connected with the nobles.”

”Yes, how did you know?”

”Timothy told me”

”Oh” So Timothy told her. Their closeness irked her again. How can they be so close after only a few days? But this was not the time to wallow in jealously. Timothy's life is in danger. ”So why am I going back to Solon?” she asked

”Because I need you to stay there and make some connections” Lucia looked at her ”It should be easy for you because of your father.”

”How would that bring Timothy more soldiers?” Freya asked. She couldn't see the sense in Lucia's plan.

”It won't. Regarding that, you can't do anything. Like what I said, you need to go to Solon to make connections. Your connections might be useful in the future. I also need you to tell me of every piece of news you have of Timothy because Solon is closer to the battlefield. Listen to me Freya..” Lucia's eyes were brimming with anger. Freya was a little afraid even though she knew that she was not the one that anger was directed to. ”They schemed against Timothy. They want him dead. I will make them pay. And even if I couldn't, I would make sure that Timothy is safe. For that I need you.” Her voice was shaking.

” Are you sure that I can't do anything regarding Timothy's current situation? What if I write a letter to my father asking him to join Timothy or a letter to Solon telling them of Timothy's predicament?”

”At most, your father could muster 50 soldiers. And even if you write to Solon, they won't listen to you. Only the King has the right to order them. ” Lucia explained

Freya might not want to admit it, but Lucia was right. She can't do anything for the time being. But if Timothy survives the battle, then Freya's connections in Solon might help him in the future. So she agreed.