Chapter 82 In Check
At the same moment Echidna activated an unknown power for her
Marian's expression turned fearful as she widened her eyes, thinking, 'He's dead...'
Marian looked in the direction where Echidna would be, and in that instant, Marian seemed to receive an electric shock, causing her body to lean forward. 'All three of them are dead.'
A dark aura began to emanate from Marian's body, but then Dantalian asked, "Is something wrong, Miss Marian?"
"Huh?" It was then that Marian realized what had happened. Not only was Dantalian there, but also one of his servants. What should she say now?
"I can't sense Echidna's presence. What happened outside? Now that you're feeling better, could we go?" Marian spoke, offering her hand to help Dantalian get up since his head was still in her lap.
Amanda, seizing this opportunity, looked directly at Dantalian, hoping for some sign of approval.
'Come on, come on. You must have sensed Amanda's presence change, right? Let's go, Master,' Amanda thought.
Even though she wanted to get him away from Marian, she couldn't do it since Marian should stay away from Echidna.
'It should have been enough time, judging by Marian's reaction,' Dantalian held back a smile as he spoke while taking Marian's hand, "Ah, yes, let's go. We need to inform the villagers as well."
Marian smiled and said, "Yes, indeed. This way, we can save time. Shall we?" Marian stood up while helping Dantalian.
"Now, Dantalian, lean on my shoulder," Marian said, attempting to help Dantalian maintain his balance.
'My value is really high, isn't it? Duchess, I'm glad you know,' Dantalian thought, taking advantage of the situation.
When Dantalian was already standing, Amanda stood motionless in front of the two.
"What's the matter, Miss Amanda? We need to go quickly," Marian said.
Dantalian sighed and brought his hand to his forehead. "I apologize for this, Miss Marian, but it seems she wants to do this in your place."
Looking at Amanda, Marian handed over possession of Dantalian to her. "Here you go, sorry. I just wanted to show that I care about him."
'What a splendid servant, you did very well, Dantalian,' Marian thought.
Amanda took hold of Dantalian, allowing him to lean on her and showing an unusually joyful smile. "Hehehe."
'Okay...' Dantalian thought.
Dantalian pointed in the direction where Echidna and the other two were, saying, "Let's go then before the three of them return."
'What happened to you, Echidna? How did you manage to kill them?' Marian wondered, walking ahead of Dantalian and Amanda.
Amanda asked, "Master, are you sure about this? Are you really comfortable?"
"Yes, it's perfect. No need to change anything, let's just keep moving forward."
After this exchange, a few seconds passed, and in the middle of their path to exit Marian's house, they heard hurried footsteps on the floor.
"Lord Dantalian, I did it! I killed that damned one spreading false rumors," Echidna exclaimed, her body exuding vitality.
"That's great. Now that we've confirmed that, could you run and inform the other two to prepare the carriage? Do me this favor," Dantalian said, looking at Echidna with a kind smile.
"Ah, of course. We need to inform the villagers that the criminal has paid for everything he did, and it's our duty to calm them all down." Echidna turned around and ran toward Fiona and Freytan.
"Miss Marian, are you sure you're okay?" Amanda asked.
"What? Miss Marian, you..." Dantalian stopped speaking, giving a smile as he saw Marian's eyes staring blankly, wide with a slight cold sweat trickling down her face.
'If it wasn't confirmed before, it is now. The insect is dead,' Dantalian thought.
'Good to know. In fact, it's great. Hahaha,' Dantalian thought, letting go of Amanda and walking toward Marian.
Watching this unfold, for a few seconds, a completely different scenario from what was actually happening formed in Amanda's mind, where Dantalian abandoned her to go after the duchess. 'Damn it, I want to kill you.' But a few seconds later, like a flash, she remembered the reason behind it, and her bloodlust quickly vanished.
'Urgh... In the end, is she going to become a yandere?... Forget it, it's not the time to think about that now.'
Dantalian, in front of the duchess Marian, who remained motionless, started waving his hand in front of her face. 'Your daughter breaking free from the soul sealing ritual was a tremendous shock.' A maniacal smile appeared on Dantalian's face. 'I want to see what's going through your mind now.'
Amanda, silently watching this scene, began to think, 'The master is scary... But he's also so beautiful.' It seems that intimidation won't work on Amanda.
'What was that chilling sensation?' Dantalian thought.
Dantalian looked at Marian's face again. 'I wanted to see how long this would last, but it's better to bring her back to reality.' Dantalian thought, activating his divine hand and placing it on her face, allowing the golden energy to flow through her head and disappear.
"What? What happened?" Marian asked.
"We don't know either. Echidna appeared, and I sent her to inform the others that we're leaving, but you were just frozen," Dantalian replied.
"I'm genuinely asking, Duchess Marian. As someone close to my master, I'm concerned about you. Why did you end up like this?" Amanda inquired.
Marian had Dantalian's and Amanda's eyes fixed on her, waiting for a response. In an attempt to change the subject, she asked, "Lord Dantalian, what happened? Are you feeling better now?"
Dantalian raised his hand, showing the mark of the divine hand. "The exhaustion and discomfort in my body, I removed them. The healing potions weren't that effective; they only heal the physical body."
Dantalian touched Marian's shoulder. "And just like I used it to completely heal myself, I did the same for you. You were in a catatonic state, it was strange."
"Yes, it was. What was that, Miss?" Amanda asked.
Marian began to think about what to say, but before she could reach a conclusion, Echidna stood at the front door, looking at the three of them. "What are you all doing there? Let's go, the other two are already ready."
Dantalian clicked his tongue, and Amanda glared angrily at Echidna, who didn't understand what was happening.
' Shit it, this wasn't part of the plan... Well, never mind, I've already achieved something good ' thought Dantalian, turning towards the front door.
"Apologies for your mother, she seems to have had a bad sleep and ended up sleepwalking," Dantalian said something absurd just to see the Duchess's reaction.
Amanda and Echidna smiled happily, and Echidna spoke immediately after, "Is that true, Mother? You have all those potions and medicine for what, then?"
Marian smiled, calmly walking towards the front door and saying, "You two really make a perfect pair, two meddlesome young ones, hahaha."
"Mother, you have to stop this. I've already told you not to keep trying to push me towards him," Echidna said.
"Hahaha, but what can I do? You two are so beautiful, and your children will be even more so," Marian spoke, distancing herself from Dantalian and Amanda.
"Amanda, let's go. We can't keep anyone waiting," Dantalian said, taking Amanda's hand. She smiled and replied, "Of course, let's go, Master."
'Marian, Marian, nice move, but unfortunately, you're already in check,' Dantalian thought, looking at Echidna with a smile and moving his lips to form the name "Freytan."
"Mother, you're taking too long. Come on, before the two of them choose their seats first," Echidna spoke, walking towards Marian and holding her hand tightly.
"No need for that, my daughter. Let's take it easy. Today is their day, let them have the best seats," Marian said, placing her other hand on Echidna's. "But honestly, it's good to start thinking about a name for your children."
"Miss Duchess, it's good not to rush. It's still too early for children," Dantalian said, smiling as he walked past the two.
Amanda's gaze towards the two conveyed a sense that they would die at some point.
"I understand, sorry, my dear. You have to enjoy your youth, right?" Marian spoke, starting to run and pulling Echidna along. "Come on, let's find a good spot for you next to Dantalian."
Outside the house, in the carriage, Freytan and Fiona were seated next to each other when Freytan spoke, "You seem to have enjoyed yourself, Fiona."
"Yes, it was great. Besides training, you got to appreciate a show. But it won't reach the level of your shining moment. So, how are you?" Fiona spoke, smiling mischievously in the direction where Marian would be, able to discern her presence through the energy. "The main course is arriving."
Freytan looked in the same direction with a cold gaze and said, "Not yet, we have to wait a little longer. I don't want to spoil Dantalian's fun."
"Of course, we shouldn't ruin the other part—the capture of the daughter," Fiona replied.
"We should start calling him 'Gluttony' from now on," Freytan said.
'Was that supposed to be a joke?' Fiona wondered how to react to that.