Chapter 44 [Mostly Lex's storyline]
In order to leave the Dark Forest safely, Gwentil reluctantly took out a gold ring from her person and gave it to Mela.
This method was taught to her by Grinning.
Grining said that the jewelry box was too big and conspicuous, making it easy for people to spot it. He suggested that it be better to throw the box away and hide the rest of the jewelry on his person, so that even if something unexpected happened, he wouldn't be left with nothing to survive.
After Gwentil left, Meera placed the gold ring in the sunlight, where it gleamed brilliantly.
Silas stood to the side, his eyes wide with amazement.
"What a beautiful ring..."
For Silas, as long as it's bright and big enough, it's the most beautiful treasure in the world.
Unfortunately, this ring was given to Mela by Gwentil, so it could only stare at Fanfan with longing.
“Silas, shut your mouth.” Mela glanced at him casually.
Silas instinctively wiped the corner of its mouth as she instructed, only to find it had been tricked; there was clearly nothing on its mouth.
Mela chuckled softly and placed the ring and hairband together.
Mela doesn't wear jewelry. Over the years, she's only had one headband, which she uses to simply tie up her messy hair when it gets in the way.
Melazar's hairstyling skills were equally terrible, but at least she didn't have to worry about any hair accidentally falling into the bottle full of potions.
Meanwhile, Meera had a special box for storing money, which was stuffed full, with the silver coins on the top layer unable to obscure the faint golden light gleaming beneath.
Unfortunately, according to the prices she had recently learned from Gwentil, the value of this box of coins had drastically decreased.
It remains to be seen whether Lex Luthor, if he succeeds in reclaiming the throne, will be able to make the currency valuable again.
Hearing footsteps behind her, Mela didn't turn around. "Did you send them away?"
“Hmm,” Lex replied.
After breakfast, Lex, following Mela's instructions, led Gwentil to the edge of the forest. Through the layers of shadows, a patch of muddy yellow could already be seen on the path leading out.
Gwentil and Lex weren't close, so there was no need for her to say goodbye like she did with Mela; she practically couldn't wait to rush out.
Lex didn't leave immediately. Instead, he watched Gwentil's figure disappear completely, staring blankly at the yellowish-brown dot in his field of vision.
Over the years, even though he knew the route from the cabin out of the dark forest well, Lex had never once ventured to the edge of the forest on his own initiative. This time, however, he stumbled upon it by accident.
The exit was just a stone's throw away, but Lex took a step, heading in the opposite direction; he wanted to go back to the cabin.
The moment Lex saw Mela's familiar back, the daze in his heart suddenly sank to the bottom, as if a heavy boulder had been tied to him, possessing an irresistible force.
"By the way, you still haven't told me how you dealt with Grinning last night?" Mela asked curiously.
Although Lex came back alone with the rope last night, Mela didn't, like Gwentil, quickly conjure up a lot of horrible images in her mind. She was certain that Lex hadn't done anything to Grind.
"I didn't do anything to him."
"Sure enough," Lex said.
Lex actually had other plans for Grinning than getting rid of someone who tried to kill him to vent his anger.
He told Grinkel that if he was willing to return to the territory of Yarant and find a way to get close to Viscount Yarant, he could let him off this time.
“I believe Viscount Yarant will not refuse a rare and useful helper delivered to his doorstep. Serving as a nobleman's attendant should be familiar to you, shouldn't it?” Lex stared intently into Grinning’s eyes.
It was only at this moment that Grind realized that Lex's aura had suddenly changed from when he was in the cabin. Being stared at by Lex like that made him unconsciously want to submit.
Having been used to being in a lower position, one naturally harbors an uncontrollable fear of those in higher positions.
So, was this former crown prince's previous aloof and obedient demeanor just an act for the witch's benefit? Grining couldn't help but wonder.
Lex didn't care what he was thinking. His patience seemed to be lacking with people other than Mela. Seeing that Grinker didn't answer, he moved the dagger forward half an inch and drew a line of blood on Grinker's neck.
"I'm willing to do anything for you!" Grind exclaimed, sensing that Lex really wanted to kill him if he didn't agree.
That's true. If he's unwilling to work for Lex, then what's the difference between him and a roadside stone or a branch? He's useless to Lex.
“However, I don’t have a proper identity in the territory of Yarant that I can use to get close to Viscount Yarant…” Grinneck continued, seeing Lex stop what he was doing.
“Couldn’t you learn from your companion Harvey and take someone else’s name?” Lex offered a solution indifferently.
It was actually Havie's approach that inspired Lex. In other territories, such impersonation would most likely not work at all, but Havie's success showed that the Yarant territory was much easier to manage than he had imagined.
Didn't those people who took Harvey away see that something was wrong with him? Both in terms of physique and age, Harvey was vastly different from the real Haru. Yet he was still taken away, meaning that for those people, whether the person was real or not was unimportant; completing the task assigned to them was what mattered.
A lord with ambition but no ability is naturally unable to control his subordinates. Lex's eyes darkened as he recalled the teachings Fernando had given him many years ago.
“Your Highness, given your status and power, you naturally have many people around you working for you. But you must understand that we obey authority, not you as a person.”
As for Fernanki's unfinished words, Lex understood them very well. If he couldn't win the genuine obedience of his subordinates, he would immediately become isolated and helpless once he lost power.
This could be fatal for a crown prince, or even a future king.
"...How to do it is up to you. I hope you won't waste the life I gave you."
Lex untied the knot, and the rope that had been binding Grind fell to the ground.
"Once I've successfully infiltrated Viscount Yarant's inner circle, what else will you need me for, Your Highness?"
Before leaving, Grinker hesitated and called out to Lex.
Upon hearing that long-lost "Your Highness," Lex did not turn around, leaving Grind only with his back turned.
The moonlight shone on Lex's back, making him appear cold and aloof.
“I will contact you again if necessary. In the meantime, you just need to be my eyes and see everything that happens in the territory of Yarant.”
After saying that, Lex ignored the conflicted Grinker behind him and returned to the cabin with the rope.
Gwentil looked behind him but didn't see Grind. She wondered what she was thinking, and her face turned deathly pale.
Mela, as always, yawned and said that she could finally get some sleep, and then fell asleep again on the recliner.
This time she was really asleep.
So it wasn't until the next day that he remembered to ask Lex about Grind's whereabouts.
When Lex said he had let Grinker go, Mela nodded knowingly and didn't ask any more questions.
Keep in mind that Lex Luthor, at only twelve years old, had already displayed his magnanimity. He was willing to invite a witch of dubious allegiance to his cause, without fear of her secretly plotting against him, as long as she could be of use to him. So, what's so strange about him letting go of someone who had almost killed him?
Instead, Lex had a sudden thought, "Why don't you ask me why I let him go?"
Mela gave Lex a strange look. "Why would I need to know this?"
Mela knew perfectly well why Lex did this; it was simply to prepare for his departure from the Dark Forest six months later.
But what does this have to do with Mela? She's not going to leave with Lex.
However, considering their long-standing relationship, Mela winked at Lex, "If you need to share, I don't mind if you come and talk to me. After all, I don't plan to leave the Dark Forest in my life, so you don't have to worry about me leaking secrets."
Lex suddenly fell silent.
He lowered his eyes, the light tracing his deep features and illuminating his delicate face, but it couldn't capture his thoughts at that moment.
Mela chuckled, walked over, and patted Lex on the shoulder.
But just as she needed to tiptoe slightly, Mela suddenly realized that Lex seemed to have grown taller again.
The boy's height was like a cedar tree rising from the ground, growing inch by inch, and even the angles of his jaw gradually became sharper, like a long sword that was gradually being forged and was just waiting to be drawn.
"You're not upset because of what I said, are you? Isn't it your long-held wish to reclaim your throne and take revenge on those who framed you? Since we're going to part ways sooner or later, it's okay for me to say it in advance, right? Don't be so petty."
As Mela spoke, she picked up a plate of washed wild berries from the table. The bright red berries rolled around in the snow-white plate, looking particularly appealing.
"Open your mouth." She picked out the biggest one and put it in Lex's mouth.
"Is it good?" Mela asked with a smile.
Lex instinctively bit into the fruit and immediately tasted the sweet and sour juice.
The fruit, which he had personally picked out one by one, believing it would not be so sour that it would make Mela frown, now tasted like a tidal wave of sourness on his tongue.
Lex agreed with Mela; they were bound to separate sooner or later.
But Mela didn't seem to feel the slightest bit sad about the inevitable separation.
After all, in her eyes, she and Lex had no future together; they were destined to only be together for this one time.
"It's quite delicious," Lex commented.
“I also think you have a very good eye for picking fruit.” Mela happily picked out one berry after another for herself, and each bite was full of juicy goodness, creating a refreshing taste in her mouth.
"Would you like another one?" Mela asked.
Was she trying to coax him? Lex didn't know.
Perhaps.
Even though Mela's methods of coaxing people are not particularly clever.
"Hmm." Lex lowered his head slightly and took a bite of the fruit Mela offered him.
Even though he tasted the sourness again, he found it sweet.
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