The Heir Of The Grand Duke (Official)

Episode 42 - Conspiracy

“Nabel…” A tall, lean, muscular woman called as the cart rattled from the stony path below. “You seem…a bit quiet.” Lee glanced at the Elf, his hands were fidgeting and he had his clasped fists up to his face, seemingly in deep thought. His sword lay sharp and steady at his lap, quiet and solemn like its master.

“Lee…” The elf voiced out, and huffed out a puff of air as his pale knuckles turned white from how much he squeezed them. “Can I leave for a moment?”

Lee assumed it had something to do with what he told her last night during the overnight camp by the Sunfang corpse. His stories regarding his time in slavery and captivity…and how Boudicca’s family saved him.

“Huh?” Lee, the warrior, blinked and glanced at him one more time making sure she heard him right. They were on the road and him dropping off right now would just end with him being left behind. It’s not like he has somewhere to go as well. “Alone? Nabel, you know entering the promethean forest on your own is simply suicide right?” She pointed out. “It’s turning night as well.”

“I–It’s suffocating here.”

“Nabel—” Lee pursed her lips and turned her eyes toward the rest of their party and the Dwarves who guided the cart and the horses.

“Something up?” Bruce, the short man, peeked up from the book he was reading. The other two laid side by side together asleep, with Alina’s head on Hotaru’s shoulder.

“I need some time alone.” Nabel clenched his sword before slipping down the back of the cart and landing neatly on the treaded path. “You guys go on ahead—I’ll walk there.”

“OI NABEL!” Bruce yelled worriedly. “GET BACK HERE!”

The cart carried on as Nabel stared at it from afar, still along the dirt road. His eyes carried a sort of lament, as if he hid something behind them.

“Alright.” He turned his back to the cart. “Time to continue on.”

“Not without me you won't.” Lee’s voice turned his spine shrill as he shuddered at the sudden call behind him.

“Lee?!” Nabel looked confused and a bit surprised at her unforeseen appearance.

“Did you really think I’d let you go into the forest alone.” She sighed, her thick arms shifting to a crossed position. “This is why parties exist and not solo ventures. Anyone who tries that never makes it back.”

“You know how strong I am. I’m not gonna die so easily.” He insisted.

“What if it reaches night time, who's gonna keep watch?” She raised her eyebrow back at him.

“I won't sleep.”

“Nabel.”

“Fine.”

“Good.”

“We’re heading that way.” He pointed toward a dim part of the Promethean forest. It was barely touched by the remaining sunlight and the way the trees twisted themselves made it look a bit eerie.

Lee shrugged. She's been through worse. Cave exploration was, after all, far spookier than a mere darkness in the woods.

They ambled forward, cracking leaves and snapping twigs as they strayed off the main path. For some reason the trees here felt a lot more unfamiliar and foreign. A deep sense of dread and the feeling of ‘we’re not supposed to be here’ slowly set in.

“Why exactly are we going here?” Lee mused as she crouched down following Nabel.

“Last night—I had a dream…” He pursed his lips thinking that Lee would cut him off by now to point out the oddness in that. However; she stayed silent, waiting for his next words. “I can't remember it properly but for the longest while now, I’ve had this pit feeling in my stomach and when we passed by here—”