Chapter 259 Neil Victor Released, Stepping Over the Fire Basin, Relatives...
After leaving the palace, Ray and Edmund spent a week in fear and trembling as the Arcanis family finally faced their final trial.
The family's noble titles were stripped, and all their property was confiscated. Those involved in the arms smuggling were sentenced to prison terms ranging from several years to several years.
The Duchess, who was the instigator, was wanted by the authorities, while the butler, as a participant in various businesses, refused to disclose the Duchess's whereabouts.
After enduring numerous tortures, he was eventually hanged along with about twenty other people in the vegetable market of Xishi.
And the so-called heir apparent, Ronan...
The latest official report states that he died in the dungeon due to a sudden illness. The world will never again have a young nobleman named Ronan Alcanis.
"Neil Victor".
This is the tenth day that Neil has been imprisoned in the black cell.
Without medication, his fever recurred three times, and he relied entirely on his body's natural healing abilities to cope with the cold. He's better now, though still a little weak.
In his dazed state, Neil seemed to hear someone calling his name; he hadn't heard anyone call his name in a long time.
"Neil Victor, is that you?"
The sound was right in front of me.
"Yes, it's me."
Neil propped himself up and looked at the soldier standing by the cell door.
"Get up and get dressed, you're free."
It wasn't until he stepped out of the dark cell that Neil realized what had just happened was real.
Was it his brother who rescued him?
Neil was puzzled.
The cell was too dark, and the sunlight outside was too glaring.
As Neil stepped out of the darkness into the sunlight, his eyes were irritated, and tears welled up uncontrollably.
He squinted, raised his hand to shield his eyes from the sunlight, and vaguely saw a carriage and several figures.
"Neil, we've come to take you home."
Neil lowered his arm and looked at Ray standing opposite him in disbelief.
"elder brother!"
Neil rushed to Ray and hugged him tightly, tears streaming down his face.
He knew he was all grown up now, and that doing this in public seemed a bit embarrassing, but he just couldn't control his emotions and actions.
Ray hugged his brother, whom he had lost and found, tightly.
He had been working hard for many years to rescue Neil, and today his efforts had finally paid off.
Neil hugged Lei and cried for five or six minutes before finally controlling his emotions.
He pushed Ray away, only to realize belatedly that there were other people standing next to the carriage.
"This isn't the place to talk, let's go back first."
Edmund tried to smooth things over, urging them to get on the carriage and go home as soon as possible.
Ray helped Neil into the carriage first, and as soon as he entered, he saw Tata's furry little face.
"Neil! Welcome back!"
Neil hugged Tata again and took a deep breath of the little monster's fur. This time, Tata didn't dodge and obediently let Neil stroke her fur.
"Tata, you've grown up."
“Neil, Li has grown up, even his voice has changed! Let go of the beast, it’s hot.”
Neil released the little monster, sat in the innermost seat, and gave up his seat to Ray, who boarded the bus later.
After a while, another person climbed into the carriage; it was Edmund.
Three tall adults, plus a chubby little monster. The originally spacious carriage was packed with people, making it somewhat cramped.
Ray knew that Edmund had arrived on horseback, but wisely refrained from mentioning it, treating the journey as an opportunity for the uncle and nephew to get to know each other beforehand.
"Vincent, let's go."
Edmund, sitting on the far side, spoke to Vincent, who was driving the carriage outside.
"Okay, sure."
The carriage began to head towards the manor, with Edmond's horse, whose reins were tied to the back of the carriage, following behind.
Neil was somewhat reserved and remained silent.
Edmund looked at him with burning eyes, and several times he seemed about to speak but then stopped himself.
Only Lei was relaxed, asking Neil if he had eaten well in the black cell these past few days, and briefly introducing the situation at Victor Manor.
Neil listened quietly, occasionally chiming in with a few words.
Listening to Ray's story, I couldn't help but feel curious about the place where he had lived for several years.
The older brother said that his bedroom was next to the older brother's bedroom, and a new bed and clothes had been prepared for him.
My brother said he built two greenhouses and grew lots of vegetables and strawberries inside. When we got home, he picked some white and pink strawberries for me to eat; they were very sweet.
My brother also said that the Cher family, including the old housekeeper, were very easy to get along with. Cher's granddaughter had an orange cat that had grown into a little pig, but it was a bit afraid of people.
Neil was eager to learn about Ray's life over the past few years and his experiences.
He didn't know how his brother, all alone, had traveled such a long distance to reach the capital. He wondered if his brother had encountered any danger along the way.
But he didn't want to tell his brother about the cold looks and grievances he suffered.
If... he meant if, he had never been separated from his brother, how wonderful that would have been.
Edmund listened quietly to their conversation without saying a word until the carriage entered Victor's Manor.
Neil opened the carriage window and gazed at the small but vibrant manor from afar, even before the carriage arrived.
Three handsome big dogs followed behind them as soon as the carriage entered.
“They were given to us by Edmund. They usually guard the house and are Tata’s underlings.”
When asked about something interesting, Lei chuckled.
"Tata is very impressive, you'll see later."
"Um."
Neil nodded.
Once the carriage came to a stop, everyone disembarked in turn. After seeing that the people had been brought back, Butler Cher immediately lit the brazier, just as Rye had instructed.
"Welcome home, young master."
"Chel said kindly."
Welcome home.
Kama, Diana, and three children stood in a row and said in unison.
Lai was somewhat surprised; he hadn't arranged these activities, and it seemed they were all organized spontaneously by everyone.
Neil looked surprised and a little embarrassed.
Hello.
"Get over it, Neil."
Ray reminded him, and Neil did as he was told, stepping over the brazier. Led by Cher, everyone began to applaud until Neil was welcomed into the villa.
"What is this all about?"
Edmund asked Rye.
"Step over the fire basin to ward off bad luck."
"There's actually such a saying."
Ray gave Edmund, a local, a little shock.
“Neil”.
"elder brother."
Neil looked at Ray with a questioning gaze.
"Go take a shower first, then change into clean clothes. Leave your dirty clothes by the door, I'll burn them for you in a bit."
"Okay, sure."
"What kind of explanation is this?"
Edmund continued to ask.
"It's also to ward off bad luck."
"All right."
Ray led Neil and Edmon upstairs to Neil's bedroom.
The room wasn't as big as Neil's bedroom in the Duke's mansion, but it exuded warmth in every corner.
This sense of security and peace of mind is something that nothing else can provide, and Neil is very satisfied with the room.
"Thank you, brother."
Neil hugged Ray again.
Actually, I almost cried when he stepped over the fire pit.
"Sweetie, come downstairs for dinner after you take a shower. Karma and Diana have been busy all morning and have prepared a big meal for you."
Ray patted Neil on the shoulder.
Edmund watched with envy. He too longed to hug his ill-fated nephew.
Unfortunately, since he brought Neil back, he has only spoken a handful of words to Neil.
"The bathroom is at the end of the hallway, and there are new clothes and towels in the closet in the bedroom. We'll be waiting for you downstairs."
"good."
After explaining everything, Ray and Edmund went downstairs.
Karma returned to the kitchen to continue her work, while Cher and Diana were serving and plating dishes at the table.
Edmund pointed to the small reception room on the first floor, gesturing for Ray to go there; he had something to say.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm wondering if I should let Neil meet with Dale."
The Dale that Edmund mentioned was Neil's biological mother, something Ray knew.
For whatever reason, Neil needed to visit her, but they were still unclear about Neil's attitude.
"I understand. I'd like to ask Neil's opinion on this matter first."
Edmund's question was clever, downplaying the issue and giving Neil the initiative. But at the same time, if Neil agreed, it would mean that Rye had already told him about his origins.
“Neil has grown up, and he looks a lot like his mother.”
Edmund remarked.
"A nephew resembles his uncle; I think Neil is quite similar to you."
"Haha, is that so? I really didn't notice."
Today is a happy day, and the pain of the past should be forgotten for a while.
“I asked Cher to prepare some chilled fruit wine, so we can have a few more glasses today.”
"good!"
Lunch ended in a cheerful atmosphere. Edmund had drunk a bit too much, so Ray asked Vincent to take him home.
He then took Neil on a tour of the entire estate, showing him around the new environment.
"Brother, when are we going back to our little mountain village? I don't want to stay here."
With only Ray and Neil present and no outsiders, Neil directly shared his thoughts.
"Once things are settled here, we can go back anytime."
"When will it be resolved?"
"We need to wait a bit longer. Rosen Town and the small village were destroyed in the war against the demons. When we get back, we'll need to buy a house or rebuild one."
Neil was already quite content that Ray hadn't refused his somewhat unreasonable request.
Neil felt that anything was fine as long as he could be with his brother.
"Okay. Then you'd better hurry."
"Yes, definitely."
Ray took Neil to visit two greenhouses and showed him some fresh strawberries. Then the two of them went to see the now-grown flock of red field birds.
The two of them finally sat down in the small greenhouse that was already filled with flowers of various colors.
"This place is so beautiful."
Neil remarked with emotion.
The more Neil explored the estate, the more he realized how well it was managed, which made him a little worried.
He was afraid that Ray had gotten used to life here and didn't want to leave.
Staying in the capital wasn't necessarily a bad thing, but he was having some mental hurdle to overcome. However, he didn't want to selfishly ask his brother to do something he didn't want to do.
Neil was already considering what he could do after staying in the capital.
“Neil”.
"What's wrong?"
Ray looked at Neil, and sometimes he couldn't believe that the little boy who was only waist-high to him had grown so big.
"It's nothing, I just wanted to call your name."
Neil rarely showed such a bright smile.
"Brother, you can keep calling my name."
Ray ruffled Neil's hair, just like he did when he was a child.
"Brother, I want to get a buzz cut, just like Lamb."
"Why?"
"My hair is too long and it's a bit sticky around my neck."
"Okay, whatever you say."
The two brothers rarely get to be together, and they have so much to say, yet they don't know where to begin. But simply chatting about everyday things like this is enough to make them incredibly content.
"Brother, can I still call you brother?"
Neil's sudden remark startled Ray.
This child, who was somewhat sensitive since childhood, seems to have reverted to the anxious and uncertain state that Rae was in when she first woke up.
"No matter what happens, in my heart, you will always be my younger brother, the closest relative on this continent."
Hearing Ray's words, Neil felt like crying again.
He covered his eyes with his arm, quickly wiped away his tears, and then immediately put it down, pretending that nothing had just happened.
Ray saw it all and knew everything.
"Brother, do you know who my biological mother is?"
"Um."
"Uncle Edmund is my maternal uncle?"
"right."
Ray looked at Neil with concern.
“It’s okay, brother, I know everything. I look so much like him, we even have the same hair color. I’m all grown up now, I can handle the truth.”
"Yes, I know. Neil has always been incredibly hardworking and resilient since he was a child."
Ray patted Neil's head again.
"Brother, you're treating me like a little kid like Tata again."
"Then I won't pat your head."
Lei was sullen.
The child has indeed grown up.
Is she still alive?
Neil looked into Ray's eyes.
"Yes, Edmund said she's always stayed in the countryside."
Lei chose to take the initiative.
Do you want to see her?
"I......"
A flicker of hesitation crossed Neil's eyes.
"No, I'd rather not. She wouldn't want to see me."
Neil's voice grew softer and softer.
“You’re wrong, Neil. No mother doesn’t want to see her child. She had her reasons for what happened back then.”
"I see."
Neil looked like he was about to break down. Ray didn't continue speaking, but patted him on the shoulder.
"Think it through before you tell your brother. We have plenty of time."
"Um."
-----------------------
Author's Note: Upcoming novel - "Animal Cub Survival Guide"
Xiangyang, an orphan, died unexpectedly in a car accident. In his short life of more than 20 years, he had nothing to regret except that he never experienced the warmth of a family.
Sigh, I guess I'll just have to die. It'll just be a lot of work for the forensic doctor to scoop me out of the ground.
As Xiangyang pondered these thoughts, he gradually lost his last shred of consciousness.
When he opened his eyes again, he found himself lying in a furry embrace, with a sea otter mother looking at him lovingly.
"Son, are you hungry?"
Meow meow meow?
From then on, Xiangyang had a new life and a loving family.
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