Ernest embraced the girl before him, the one he had longed for during countless wandering days and nights, the one whose blood he shared with him, in front of his mother's favorite flowers, and in front of his tearful father.
Everything from the past is in the past; they should cherish their current family members.
"Brother, I never thought I'd have a brother." The girl sniffed and winked playfully. "You won't bully me like you did with George, will you?"
“Of course, he’s not your brother anymore, and he can’t bully you anymore,” Ernest said with a smile, wiping away the tears from the corner of her eyes.
The Duke of Surrey smiled with relief. Ernest had just reunited with him and told him about his experiences over the years, how the hardships and tribulations had made his son a resilient knight.
This was a sleepless night; outside, the cold wind howled, but inside, there was the warmest family love.
"Achoo!" The little boy sneezed. He had just finished the task his older brother had given him: to place a note at the entrance of the Duke's mansion.
Now he can go back and collect his reward!
Two silver coins were enough for him to buy his mother medicine for two months.
He laughed as he ran; the wind was strong, and his face and hands were red with cold.
He arrived at the entrance of the abandoned alley, but did not see the older brother who should have been waiting for him, and was instantly dumbfounded.
Has the child been scammed again?
I couldn't help but feel sad; my mood was colder than the howling wind.
...
The light of dawn had already pierced through the night, and Phil Gray knocked on Eli's door with some apprehension.
"What's wrong? You look like you didn't sleep well." Eli handed her a cup of hot tea.
“Patrick hasn’t come back all night,” Phil Gray said worriedly.
“Didn’t we ask around yesterday? The Duke’s mansion is not far from here. How could that guy get lost in such a short distance?” Eli laughed so hard he almost fell over.
"Sigh, I hope he went to fulfill the divine prophecy, and that nothing else happened." Phil Gray sighed, the steam from the tea warming his icy face.
"The shop owner said this tea was just brought in from Malu Island. It's much healthier than coffee, but it's also much more expensive." Eli took a sip.
“Hmm.” Phil Gray nodded absentmindedly, feeling that the taste was far different from that on Earth.
Time ticked by, and the whole morning passed, but Patrick still hadn't returned.
Eli stood up. "Perhaps this guy was being treated to good food and drink by the knights at the Duke's mansion?"
“Let’s go take a look.” Phil Gray put on his coat and went downstairs with Eli.
The streets were bustling, and the king's guards were scattered in various corners, seemingly searching for something.
"No, go check over there..."
"Ouch, my stuff! Don't break it!" The bread vendor glared angrily at the guards who were searching the place.
"What's wrong?" Phil Gray helped up the small stool in front of her stall.
"I heard that a group of merchants from Malu Island came a few days ago. They sold a lot of tobacco and tea in the capital, and many nobles bought them. But later they found out that they were all fake!"
The proprietress recounted the story vividly, describing in detail how Viscount Ward, obsessed with tobacco, flew into a rage upon discovering that the tobacco was fake.
"Now these people have all run away overnight, and they can't find anyone."
Eli's eyes darted around, and he almost lost his smile. He remembered the box of tobacco in the space stone and the tea that the innkeeper had tried to sell him that morning.
It seems necessary to learn about plants other than flowers.
Her pace quickened unconsciously, as if she didn't want to face the fact that she had been deceived.
Phil Gray smiled, shook his head behind him, and jogged after him.
After navigating several streets, we arrived at the Duke's mansion.
At the door, they saw Ernest and a girl in a dress.
“Boss, Eli?” Ernest saw them and waved to them with a smile.
The knight has returned to his original appearance and seems much more cheerful.
"Oh, who is this beautiful young lady?"
Eli asked with a smile.
“My sister, Simona,” Ernest introduced.
Phil Gray politely introduced them, then asked, "Have you seen Patrick?"
Ernest showed a hint of surprise. "I didn't see him in person, but he left me a note telling me where you're staying. I was just planning to go find you this afternoon."
“I sent Patrick to find you last night, but it’s been so long and he still hasn’t returned to the hotel,” Phil Gray said.
If my cousin is going to do something, he will definitely tell me; he won't just disappear without a word.
But he left a note, so it should be fine, right?
Unable to ascertain Patrick's whereabouts immediately, they entered the Duke's residence and exchanged pleasantries with the Duke of Surrey for a while.
He said that after Princess Sani woke up, she couldn't accept the blow and vowed to take revenge on them, so she was imprisoned by the king.
As they continued to discuss other news from the Kingdom of Puna, a male servant entered and whispered a few words to the Duke.
"What's wrong, Father?" Simona brought over a plate of pastries. "I made these myself. Brother and your friends, please have some."
Ernest stroked her soft hair.
“Thank you,” Phil Gray said.
But then the Duke instructed his servant, "Bring him in."
The servant nodded, bowed, and left.
"He said there was a little boy kneeling at the door, begging to see me. He looked quite pitiful, and I didn't know what he wanted." The Duke of Surrey didn't think he had any connection with a poor little boy.
The little boy came in, his clothes tattered. He knelt before the Duke of Sari, weeping. "Your Grace, please, could you pay me the two silver coins I paid to deliver this message?"
"What?" Duke Sari asked, puzzled.
“My mother needs money to buy medicine. That brother promised to pay me, but he has disappeared. Please, Your Grace.”
The little boy sobbed.
Ernest seemed to understand something, and he took the paper out of his pocket. "Is this the letter you delivered?"
"Yes." The little boy nodded and sniffed.
"That brother promised you silver coins, but he's gone?" Phil Gray asked, frowning. Patrick wasn't one to lie to children.
The little boy hummed in agreement and stared at them longingly.
"Here, take the money. I'll have someone bring you some food to take back with you." Simona pulled the little boy up, wiped his face with a clean handkerchief, and handed him a money bag.
It looks like there are definitely more than two silver coins.
Phil Gray stood up, his expression grave; he was worried that something might have happened to Patrick.
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