Saga of the Two-World Emperor
Volume 1: A Spark in the Ashes
Chapter 14 – Journey to the Abandoned Mine
Adrian's smile… the smile of a predator that had just found its succulent prey… lingered in Lady Isabella's mind long after the thin boy had left the room.
She couldn't understand it. The boy who should have been trembling with fear and despair had instead shown a chilling excitement when faced with an impossible task. It was an anomaly… an anomaly that made her feel deeply uneasy.
*There has to be something…* Lady Isabella thought, sipping her now-cold tea. *That boy has changed… changed too much since he recovered.*
Meanwhile, Adrian, having returned to his own room, wasted no time savoring his small psychological victory. He knew this was just the beginning. The journey to the Cornelius family's abandoned mine was the real test, and it was far more dangerous than it appeared on the surface.
*This journey… Lady Isabella will never let me go alone,* he analyzed. *She will send someone to "escort" me, which is just another word for watching my every move and reporting back. And if possible… they might even try to sabotage my efforts.*
He couldn't refuse the escort; it would look too suspicious for a sickly young boy to travel a long distance alone. The best option was to control the game himself.
He decided to visit his father's study again, but this time, he went when he knew Lady Isabella and Demian would not be there.
Baron Edgar sat alone in the overly large study, staring blankly at an old sword resting on his lap. He looked slightly surprised when Adrian walked in.
"Is there something you need, Adrian?"
"Father… I've come to ask for your permission regarding the journey," Adrian said in a humble tone. "I must travel to Lord Cornelius's mine in three days… but with my health… I fear it would be unsafe for me to travel alone."
Baron Edgar let out a weary sigh.
"I know… I will order one of the family's best guards to travel with you."
"Thank you, Father," Adrian bowed. "But I have one more request… if I may?"
"Speak."
"I… I do not wish to trouble Brother Demian," Adrian said with a hesitant tone. "I know he must prepare for the Royal Knights… this journey might waste his time. And besides… my brother and I… we do not get along well. I fear there might be trouble during the journey."
It was a subtle and brilliant move. He knew Demian would never want to go with him anyway, but by being the one to bring it up first, he was not only closing off that option but also reinforcing the image of a "weak" and "fearful" boy in his father's eyes.
Baron Edgar looked at him with a complex expression… a mixture of pity and guilt.
"…Very well. I will see to it."
After leaving his father's study, Adrian returned to his room and waited quietly. He didn't expect Baron Edgar to actually be the one to choose his escort. All the real power in this house was in Lady Isabella's hands.
And just as he had predicted…
Less than an hour later, Lilia rushed into his room, her face pale with worry.
"Young Master! The Lady… Lady Isabella has chosen the one who will travel with you!"
"Who is it?" Adrian asked calmly.
"It's… It's Sir Garrick, my lord," Lilia answered, her voice filled with concern. "The captain of the manor's guards."
Garrick. In Adrian's memory, he was a veteran soldier who had served the Walther family for over twenty years. He was highly skilled with a sword, taciturn, and most importantly… he was unconditionally loyal to the current power holder, Lady Isabella.
*Sending the head of her guard dogs himself… It seems she's really starting to see me as a threat.* Adrian smirked inwardly.
"Tell him I will meet him in the front courtyard shortly," Adrian instructed Lilia.
The first confrontation with his "warden" had begun.
Adrian walked to the front courtyard and found Garrick already waiting. He was a tall, powerfully built middle-aged man. His face was impassive and marked with a few faint scars. His dark brown eyes looked at Adrian with a measuring, emotionless gaze.
"Second Young Master," Garrick gave a slight, formal bow.
"Sir Garrick," Adrian nodded in return. "I will be in your care for this journey."
"It is my duty, my lord," Garrick replied in a flat tone.
"Good," Adrian said. "This journey might be a bit arduous… I hope you have prepared yourself."
He deliberately used the tone of a superior giving orders to a subordinate, testing Garrick's reaction.
Garrick's eyes narrowed slightly, but he maintained his impassive expression.
"I am always prepared for any situation, my lord."
He deliberately emphasized the "my lord" at the end, subtly reinforcing his own status.
Adrian smiled faintly.
*A stronger and smarter piece than I thought… Interesting.*
While the psychological games were being played in the manor, Adrian did not neglect his real preparations.
That night, Finn snuck into his room again.
"My lord… here is all the information I could gather on such short notice about the 'Rust Serpent Mine' and Lord Cornelius."
Finn handed Adrian a roll of parchment.
"I had to use a lot of your silver and call in a few favors to get this."
"You've done well," Adrian said, handing him another pouch of coins. "This is your reward."
He unrolled the parchment and read it under the candlelight. The information was more detailed than he had expected… the history of the mine, the type of ore it once produced, the reason it was abandoned, and most importantly… information about Lord Cornelius's personality and business style.
*A shrewd merchant… but also very greedy… and trusts tangible 'numbers' and 'data' more than anything else…*
And at the very last line of the report… there was a small piece of information that made Adrian's eyes light up.
"…There have been reports from villagers in the nearby area… that over the past few months, strange noises have often been heard coming from the deepest part of the abandoned mine at night…"
Adrian slowly rolled the parchment back up, a confident smile forming on his face.
*I've found it… the key to flipping this entire chessboard.*
Three days later…
A plain-looking carriage was waiting in front of the Walther manor. Garrick, dressed in practical traveling clothes, stood waiting by the carriage with an impassive expression.
Adrian, dressed in slightly better traveling clothes, walked out of the manor, with Lilia following behind him, her face full of worry.
"Take care of yourself, Young Master," she whispered.
"Don't worry," Adrian replied with a faint smile. "I'm just going for a 'business negotiation'… I'll be back soon."
He stepped into the carriage. Garrick gave a slight bow before taking his seat next to the driver.
Adrian looked out of the carriage window. He met Lilia's eyes one last time before turning to look at the road ahead… the road that led to the abandoned mine… and the crucial test that awaited him.
His eyes, at this moment, held not a trace of worry or fear.
They were the eyes of a master strategist, about to make his next move… on a much larger board.
(End of Chapter 14)