Chapter 465: Gently
Dorian found Lucius in the exact same position he had left him.
He sat beside the basin that held the pulsing Ancestral Heart, cradling Celeste’s petite figure in his arms like the loving father he was.
His eyes were closed, but the moment Dorian set foot inside the cavern of the holy land, they snapped open.
Lucius did not waste a single moment on pleasantries. "Any news of the boy?"
Dorian understood the sentiment.
There was a time for greetings and formalities, but Lucius was clearly in no mood for such things.
Perhaps, after spending all this time watching over his daughter as she underwent her trial, his concern for her and the child she carried had grown heavier with every passing second.
Dorian shook his head with a solemn expression. "No."
Lucius’s gaze dimmed slightly.
Dorian walked closer and gave him a detailed explanation of everything he had done in his efforts to locate Elion. Cities searched, informants questioned, trails followed, names cross-checked, rumours investigated, and every possible clue tested.
Still, all his efforts had been for naught.
"I found the other pair of young ladies who are supposedly his other two women," Dorian added. "Initially, I tried to ask one of them about his whereabouts cordially, but she vehemently refused to speak even a word about him."
Lucius listened in silence.
"So I had to use... far more invasive methods."
His voice remained calm, but there was a trace of distaste in it. Dorian was no stranger to such methods, but using them on academy girls connected to the boy was not something he had taken lightly.
"It turned out she knew nothing about where he could be. Of course, I erased her memories of our interaction afterward."
Lucius nodded.
Just the fact that Dorian had been forced to use some of his hypnotising and mind-reading skills told him what great lengths he had gone to in order to complete his task.
Even then, Lucius could see that his brother-in-law looked tired and weary.
Dorian also briefed him on his own judgement pertaining to the boy’s so-called heretic status, Dawncrest’s movements, his suspicion that the accusations were likely false, and where he thought Elion might have gone next.
Lucius let out a shuddering breath.
"You have done a great deal already," he said. "You cannot be faulted if the boy is so elusive. There is no need to feel guilty or strain yourself, brother."
He smiled faintly.
He did not like this situation, not one bit. But they could only wait and hope that Elion eventually showed himself before Celeste gave birth.
Otherwise, Lucius was most certainly going to give the boy a piece of his mind when they finally met.
"What does Maximus think of this?" Lucius asked after a moment.
Dorian let out a breath. "He is holding his cards close to his chest."
"As expected."
"All he told me was what everyone else is already saying," Dorian continued. "However, I believe he is hiding something of great importance. He likely already knows Dawncrest’s claims were unfounded."
Lucius’s gaze sharpened faintly.
"And naturally, he was curious why we were interested in the boy."
Lucius nodded.
That much was acceptable.
After giving the situation a brief thought, which barely lasted more than a few seconds, Lucius asked something else.
"And the boy’s other women? What do you think about them?"
Dorian put on a pondering expression and brushed his chin.
"Well, one of them is a bit troublesome."
Lucius raised a brow. "Troublesome how?"
"I have an informant in Grimholt whom I hired to keep me up to speed on their actions while I am absent," Dorian explained. "He tells me she caused quite an incident at the academy not too long ago. She threatened one of her classmates’ lives with a knife after he spoke ill of the boy Elion."
Lucius frowned.
Dorian continued, "Perhaps I should also mention that this classmate was Dawncrest’s youngest. The one who has a feud with Elion, and also the most likely reason for Elion’s current hunted status."
"I assume that is not all?" Lucius asked.
Dorian nodded. "Yes. Her father is Lord Moon from Stormbay City. The girl herself is somewhat of a spoiled brat. You could say she is extremely obsessed with the boy, and that is putting it lightly."
Lucius fell silent for a moment; he had no interest in the boy’s affairs, but he was interested in knowing how this supposed son-in-law of his treated his other women.
"And the other one?"
"The other seemed normal enough," Dorian said. "She is the daughter of a rich merchant, but she appears to be keeping her distance from her family, probably because of an argument about the boy as well."
Lucius looked thoughtful. "That is certainly an odd dynamic."
"It is."
Lucius looked up at Dorian.
"Thank you for your hard work, brother. Unfortunately, I cannot get up to show you proper thanks..."
"Nonsense," Dorian interrupted at once. "There is never any need for such things between us." He smiled, then looked down at Celeste’s limp body. "How is she doing?"
Lucius’s expression softened immediately. He lowered his gaze to the daughter resting in his arms. "She is doing well enough. It has been more than three weeks already, so it should not be much longer now."
Dorian nodded. "Well, I should be on my way."
"You should rest," Lucius interjected. "You look horrible." He laughed gently.
Dorian responded with a hearty laugh of his own. "My niece here got me a troublesome nephew for a son-in-law, so I do not have the luxury of rest as things stand."
"That is indeed true," Lucius said, shaking his head wryly.
Dorian cracked his knuckles lightly. "I will just have to put the boy through the wringer when we meet." A toothy grin made its way onto his face.
Lucius narrowed his eyes. "You cannot mean..."
"Of course that is what I mean," Dorian said. "We cannot have a weak human boy for a prince consort. He will need proper instruction, and I will gladly guide him." His grin widened. "Gently, of course."