Chapter 62: Something Happened to Dylan Lancaster in the Republic of M

Chapter 62: Chapter 62: Something Happened to Dylan Lancaster in the Republic of M

I wasn’t sure how long I’d been asleep, but when I woke up, I found Asher’s hand was still cushioning my head.

I rubbed my forehead and looked at Asher in a daze. ’He held it like that the entire way?’

’For over three hours...’

’Is he really that simple, or is he just pretending?’

"Where are we?" I asked quietly.

"The Lancaster family’s old residence," Asher whispered, holding my hand and looking frightened.

’Those pitiful, beautiful, and deep eyes... they really know how to stir up a person’s protective instincts.’

"Don’t be afraid. I’m here," I said, patting the back of his hand, even though I was terrified myself.

’What kind of remote mountain villa is this?’ The place was surrounded by nothing but desolate mountains, and the old residence itself looked incredibly bleak.

What’s more, lit up in the middle of the night like this, it looked exactly like something out of a horror movie about a haunted village...

I swallowed hard, steeling myself and forcing a brave front as I pulled Asher out of the car.

"Young Master, Young Madam, this way, please." Assistant Foster was waiting at the door.

I tugged Asher along and followed the assistant to see Master Lancaster.

Master Lancaster was offering incense before a row of ancestral tablets. I had no idea what blessings he was praying for.

Among the tablets, I saw one for Master Lancaster’s eldest son—Asher’s father.

Asher may have been illegitimate, but he was his son nonetheless.

Asher stared at the tablet with a profound, unreadable expression.

I looked closer. Next to the tablet for the eldest son, Marcus Lancaster, was another for someone named Zachary Lancaster. He must have been Master Lancaster’s eldest grandson.

I’d heard their entire family had died in a car crash. They were the heirs and successors Master Lancaster had painstakingly groomed.

As for Dylan Lancaster, he was the son Master Lancaster had initially favored the least. Indulgent, undisciplined, foolish, and inflexible—he was far from the ideal successor.

But fate is cruel to the gifted. The eldest son’s entire family perished in that crash, leaving Master Lancaster with only Dylan. And as it happened, this son was not only a disappointment but also unable to produce an heir.

For someone as deeply traditional as Master Lancaster, having no heir was a catastrophe. How could he possibly allow the Lancaster family line to end? And that’s where Asher and I came in.

In the Lancaster Family, Asher and I were nothing more than tools for procreation, meant to carry on the bloodline.

"Come, offer incense," Master Lancaster said after finishing his prayers, turning to look at Asher and me.

I stepped forward, took the incense, and offered it to Asher. But he wouldn’t take it, his eyes still glued to that one tablet.

I could tell. He was seething with hatred...

A strange feeling stirred within me. Afraid Master Lancaster would blame him, I stepped forward and coaxed him softly, "Asher, offer the incense."

Asher tore his gaze away from the tablet and looked at me. "You’re... all liars," he said, his voice hoarse.

I froze, seeing the profound disappointment in his eyes.

’All liars?’

’What did Silvia Lynch ever lie to him about? And what lie did this Marcus Lancaster tell him?’

"Offer the incense." Even though I knew he was reluctant, I still pulled him forward to place the incense sticks.

"The car crash..." He placed the incense in the burner, then looked at me as if he wanted to say more but couldn’t find the words.

I waited for a moment, but when he remained silent, I didn’t press him.

’Car crashes are merciless. I know that all too well. My own parents died in one.’

Master Lancaster seemed pleased with Asher’s obedience. It didn’t matter who he was listening to; at least he was acting like a proper person now.

"I can see that Sebastian is very fond of you. He’s willing to listen to what you say," Master Lancaster began.

I lowered my head and listened in silence.

"If you can manage him, all the better." Master Lancaster nodded. "You’re pregnant now, carrying the Lancaster bloodline. That makes you a great contributor to the Lancaster Family. If you can successfully give birth to a boy, then I will have done right by our ancestors."

I kept my head down, silent. ’What kind of backwards, traditional thinking is this? A daughter isn’t part of the Lancaster bloodline?’

Once he finished with the incense, Master Lancaster left, instructing the assistant to show Asher and me to our room.

On the way, Asher kept holding my hand. I thought he was just putting on an act and tried to pull free, but his grip was too firm.

"This old house is haunted," Asher said suddenly, looking at me.

A chill shot down my spine. I instinctively ducked behind Asher, grabbing his arm tightly. "Who are you trying to scare..."

’As someone who’s already died once, I’m apparently even more scared of ghosts.’

The corners of Asher’s mouth lifted in a slight smirk. He didn’t say a word, just let me continue walking while clinging to his arm.

When we reached an old, dilapidated room, he finally spoke. "Our baby... it doesn’t matter if it’s a boy or a girl. As long as they’re healthy."

I shot him a suspicious look. He was acting more and more like a normal person lately.

’So normal it was abnormal.’

CREAK. Suddenly, the door moved. I was so frightened I hugged his arm tighter, not daring to look around.

Asher led me into the room and flipped on the light switch.

The wiring in the old mountain house was shot. The lights flickered on and off, and the room itself was dilapidated. It was obvious no one had lived here for years and it had fallen into disrepair.

"They should sell this place to a film crew to shoot a horror movie," I remarked, looking around before turning to Assistant Foster. "Where’s my room?"

The assistant glanced at Asher before speaking in a low voice. "Young Madam, are you sure you don’t want to share a room with the Young Master? Your room is next door, but... someone committed suicide in there years ago."

I took a deep breath, walked straight into Asher’s room, and pointed at the one where someone had died. "You can sleep in there."

"I’m scared," Asher said with a pitiful look.

I had no choice. We had to share a room, and there was only one bed.

"It’s so cold up here in the mountains," I mumbled.

Asher didn’t say anything. He just lay down beside me and pulled me into his arms. "This is warmer."

I wanted to refuse, but he was right, it was warmer this way. He was so warm.

"The Lancaster Family was once a family of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners," Asher whispered. "They started by opening clinics and pharmacies, and then were among the first to get into modern business. Generations have accumulated vast wealth. This old house is the ancestral home of the Lancaster Family. All the Lancasters are buried here after they die."

I felt a chill seep into my bones. ’So this old residence is basically the Lancaster family graveyard.’

"Don’t be afraid. I’ll protect you." Asher’s arms tightened around me. He was surprisingly well-behaved all night, simply holding me to keep me warm, making no other moves.

I don’t know if it was because I was exhausted, but I actually fell asleep with a clear mind.

I slept incredibly well.

It was a kind of peace I hadn’t felt in a long time...

I hadn’t slept that soundly since my parents died in their car crash.

「The next morning.」

When I woke up, the space beside me was empty. Asher was gone.

I shot up, jumped out of bed, and ran outside to find him. Asher was standing in the courtyard, the morning sun bathing his body and face, making it impossible to look away.

"We need to return to Meridia immediately. There’s been trouble with the Lancaster Family," the assistant said quietly as he approached.

"What happened?" My heart clenched.

"It’s Young Master Dylan Lancaster... there was an incident. He was caught in an armed robbery in the Republic of M. He’s severely injured and in a coma. They’re still trying to save him, but I’m afraid it’s unlikely he’ll wake up," the assistant explained, instinctively glancing over at Asher.

Asher just stood there, his expression impassive, revealing nothing of his thoughts or feelings.