At the foot of the mountain where the castle stood, a coach was ready to depart.
Ivan stood in front of the carriage and said to those who had come to see him off, “I entrust the Lordship to you all.”
The village chief of Luxuriant Silk Village replied, “Rest assured, my Lord, when you return next time, you will definitely see a prosperous Mulberry Valley.”
With only five days left until the one-month deadline, Ivan and Justine were preparing to take the coach back to Flying Fish Port.
Now, everything in Mulberry Valley was on the right track; under Paul’s organization, the villagers began the preliminary work of planting mulberry trees.
Leider had already begun to form a guard team preliminarily.
The former Giant Shield Mercenary Group was transformed into a caravan. Pharmacist Justine would be stationed with the caravan, which would also initiate cooperation with the Hobson family. The future was predictable, and Dayne, being a knight, chose to stay behind, as did the other deputy leader, Glowe.
Before Ivan left, he had gathered the key members of Mulberry Valley and announced his upcoming journey to the Sorcerers Academy to pursue his studies, asking the others to support Leider and the Lady of the Lordship well.
Today, these people had all come to see him off.
Ivan looked around and then turned to enter the carriage.
The coachman was Noah, who was once a mercenary, now a guard of the Lordship.
The coach moved forward slowly; villagers who had heard the news filled the roadside to send him off, and Ivan had to lift the curtain and wave his hand to signal to those beside him.
After leaving Mulberry Valley, Ivan withdrew his gaze and spoke with a sense of emotion, “It seems my tenure as a lord has not been in vain.”
Justine nodded in agreement, “Of course, you are the great Lord who has solved the many years of dilemma troubling Mulberry Valley; everyone in the valley is truly grateful to you from the bottom of their hearts.”
This time, they set out for Flying Fish Port five days early, partly because they didn’t dare make the sorcerer wait in case of unexpected events, and also to visit the Glatton family, to which Justine belonged, so she was also on the coach.
“Tell me about your mother’s condition.”
Hearing his question, Justine’s brow furrowed with a trace of worry, “I didn’t lie to you on the ship before, my mother’s condition is really bad. It’s not an illness but an injury she suffered ten months ago trying to save me, and she was poisoned by something strange.”
“Did you seek treatment?”
“We’ve asked many people, only Old Orio’s potions had some effect.”
“Old Orio couldn’t cure her?”
Ivan furrowed his brows, as he considered Old Orio’s skills quite remarkable already, guessing that perhaps only a sorcerer or some special item from a noble’s collection could be better.
Justine shook her head sadly, “He said there was no way, which is why I thought of finding a solution myself. After all, my mother ruined her entire face for me. She used to be such a beautiful and confident person.”
After speaking, she looked at Ivan with hopeful eyes. In her view, among the people she knew, the only one more skilled than Old Orio was the man before her.
Ivan asked further, “Exactly what caused the injury?”
Justine lowered her head anxiously, “It was a venomous marten. I remember it clearly, that creature had a tuft of purple hair on its forehead that looked like an eye, sharp claws, and it could spray poison. It was originally attacking me, but my mother rushed to stop it.
She yelled at me to run, and I did. I never expected such terrible consequences; I really never imagined. I shouldn’t have run away. If I hadn’t run, my mother wouldn’t have suffered damage to her face—”
As she recounted the past events, Justine’s face filled with regret, and her body trembled uncontrollably.
Having grown up in a noble family, she was spoiled and pampered and probably never faced any real adversity before. This was likely her first encounter with danger, and in her panic, she could have reacted in any number of ways.
This must be Justine’s inner demon. No wonder she was a mess in her Breathing Method cultivation. A person who has lost their sharpness is doomed not to go far on the Knight’s Path. Ivan took her into his arms and embraced her tightly, hoping to bring her some warmth.
“I have so many regrets, I really have so many regrets. I went to learn potions from Old Orio, and to Toyennes to study spells, all with the hope of curing my mother. But I’m afraid to go back to the Sorcerers Academy. I fear that if I don’t return, no one will take care of her—”
“The incident has already occurred, and I will try my best to treat Madam Selina, everything will get better.”
Under Ivan’s soothing words, Justine spoke intermittently, and by the end, she had fallen asleep in his arms.
The carriage was much slower than horseback, and it was well into the afternoon by the time they reached Flying Fish Port.
The next day, Ivan came to Glatton Manor to visit Justine’s father.
Baron Glatton had nothing but praise for his son-in-law, both in what he said and what he implied, whereas the current Mrs. Glatton—Madam Nancy—seemed far from friendly.
Ivan timely brought up a visit to Madam Selina, and while Baron Glatton did not refuse, Madam Nancy wore a look of displeasure.
Lead by Justine, the two came before a secluded cottage within the manor, where she mentioned her mother had moved in half a year ago.
“Is it Justine?”
“Yes, Mother, did you receive my letter? I said I would bring my fiancé to see you. You can call him ‘Ivan’.”
On the second floor of the cottage, Ivan met a mature woman wearing a black veil, and he understood from whom Justine had inherited her figure.
“Mr. Ivan, I know of you, she used to talk about you quite often.”
“She probably didn’t say much that was good.”
“She always said she wanted to surpass you, but it seems she failed.”
Unlike Justine’s descriptions of her frail mother, Madam Selina carried herself with grace and efficiency; it was clear she was a capable woman, which was why she could stand up during her daughter’s time of direst need.
Justine playfully scolded, “Mother, that was from months ago, why bring it up now?”
Madam Selina responded, “I need to thank you for bringing my daughter back home. She has grown increasingly disobedient recently, always hiding things and getting involved in other activities behind my back. Also, thank you for agreeing to take care of her for me.”
Hearing this, Ivan truly didn’t know what to say since he was about to leave the Aromatic Wheat Dukedom.
Justine came to his rescue, “Mother, Ivan is going to the Sorcerers Academy to study. It was a decision made a long time ago, back when I wasn’t even his fiancée yet.”
Madam Selina said, “Then you should wait for him in Mulberry Valley when he returns.”
“I know.” Justine brought up the matter of treatment, “Mother, Ivan is here to treat you.”
Madam Selina was reluctant, “Justine, I remember telling you, I don’t need treatment.”
Justine pleaded urgently, “But it’s different this time, Ivan isn’t just an excellent Pharmacist, he is also an Intermediate Knight and a sorcerer apprentice. He has more and greater means at his disposal. Please, Mother, as a favor to me, let him have a look, just one look.”
Seeing her daughter clutching her arm and refusing to let go, a look of determination on her face not to give up until she agreed, Madam Selina reluctantly gave in.
The black veil was removed, revealing a face deeply marred by claw marks; the reddish-brown scars were crisscrossed and spread down her neck. The healing was poor due to the influence of an unknown toxin, leaving obvious furrows and swelling on either side.
This was an injury inflicted ten months prior, and Madam Selina must have suffered untold hardships because of it.
Ivan frowned slightly, as if daunted by the challenge before him.
After a moment, Justine couldn’t help but ask, “How is it?”
Ivan looked at both of them and said, “Could I speak with Madam Selina alone? I need to ask some questions that would upset you if you heard them.”
At these words, Justine couldn’t hold back her emotions, and tears welled up in her eyes.
At Ivan’s request, Justine went back down to the first floor.
