Tangled By Fate

Felix frowned, "A basilisk creature… very uncommon. I think… I heard about it somewhere."

Arthur glanced at him. "Where? Where did you hear it?"

Felix turned his face toward him. "Are you ready to travel?"

"…"

Felix added, "Of course, you cannot bring your wife."

Arthur remarked, "Let's finish this soon."

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"What? You will be gone for two days?!" Veronica did not expect that.

She was talking to Arthur using her communication device. She started carrying it in case of an emergency.

Arthur explained shortly, "Felix said he knows someone who can tell us about the basilisk ring. We are going to find out together."

Veronica was surprised as she didn't expect Arthur to go and meet Felix. "Oh, you are with Felix. Is he… all right?"

"Did Merlin tell you about something?" Arthur could guess.

Veronica didn't hide. "Yes, Lord Alexander is dead. Felix killed him."

"It's true. He is alive. He will be okay."

"That's good to know."

"What about you? Still in the library?"

"Yes, there are lots of books. We are checking every page. It isn't easy." Veronica paused and then added, "Are we…still going on our honeymoon?"

Arthur nodded, "Yes, we are. After we find out who those people are, we will leave it to Darius and the team. After we come back from our honeymoon, we will hear the news from them."

Veronica scratched her nose. "I don't think I can have fun thinking about all that."

Arthur smiled in understanding. "Right now, what you are doing is enough. If you want, we will wait until they hunt those men down. I'm not in a rush. So, you don't have to worry either. Just focus on what you are doing."

Veronica stared at his face that was so close to her and yet so far away. "I will miss you."

"Me too."

After the call ended, Veronica looked down. She suddenly felt an emptiness in her heart. They hadn't been separated for some time. It just felt so weird not to have him around.

"Can we stay here for the night?" she suddenly suggested.

"!!!" Merlin was drinking water. He was almost choked by her sudden proposal.

He knew she meant it in an innocent way. But being an adult meant thinking everything in an impure way. Even he couldn't escape from having impure thoughts.

She had a long way to go to learn the adult language.

He put down his water bottle and inquired, "Why do you want to do that?"

Veronica replied, "I don't feel like going home. Rather, I want to find out about those men as soon as possible."

Her heart wanted to fly to Arthur and help him out there. However, she held back thinking she might make a mess.

"Sure, it would be better if we stayed here day and night. I'll go and bring the necessary things." Merlin stood up and was ready to get out of the room.

Veronica asked him, "Can't you teleport?"

Merlin told her, "The Imperial Library is under the Royal Palace. There are some protocols we must obey. If we don't, Arthur will take away the license of being a legal magician and take away the power. Many magicians lost their powers and status and magicians like that."

"…" Veronica was speechless.

She pondered, 'Rules are meant to be followed everywhere. It's the same in Utahill and here. But if I didn't break the rules, would I ever meet Arthur? Things I know, would I know them if I didn't break the rules? Which rule should I break and which rule should I not? So confusing…'

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After talking to Veronica, Arthur dressed up, getting ready for another adventure.

"Are you leaving already? I've baked some potatoes you brought." The wife of the desert chief came inside the tent and saw Arthur packing his bag.

Arthur carried the back on his shoulder and stated, "I brought them for you, not for me to eat. I'm in a hurry. So, we can't delay."

"Are you hurrying because you miss your wife?" The old woman teased him, "I knew you were head over heels for her. Don't leave her alone for too long. Newly wedded couples should stay together for at least a month. Your father and I went on a honeymoon for three months. Work isn't everything. Remember that."

"Yes, yes. I'm doing this for my lovely wife. If not for her, why would I separate from her before our honeymoon? I'm leaving first."

"Be careful on the road," she said from behind.

"Leaving already?"

This time, he faced the leader of the desert tribe.

Arthur paused on his track. "Do you have anything to say to me, old man?"

The leader of the desert tribe sharply stared at him. "I already scolded Felix. He changed the course of the future by killing the nobleman in Utahill. I hope I don't have to lecture you the same thing."

Arthur frowned. "You cannot scold him when he doesn't know what the future would hold."

Felix came out of his tent and declared, "It's fine. Even if I knew the future, I would still kill him for what he had done."

"You!!! Rascal!!!" The leader of the desert tribe scolded nonstop.

Without caring what he was saying, Felix and Arthur bade their farewell.

"Where are we heading?" Arthur inquired.

"Synetia," Felix replied. "We will head to the capital city. Let's use your teleportation. It'll be faster."

Using Arthur's power, they directly went to Synetia.

Looking at the crowded city, Arthur murmured, "It's been a while. The city is the same as last time I saw it."

"It was a disaster after you left with the cat Veronica. Soldiers were everywhere in the town. The situation turned normal after Lord Alexander died." Felix's eyes darkened as he thought about how he killed Lord Alexander.

Flashback –

A few nights ago, Lord Alexander came to his room after taking a shower. Wearing his nightgown, he poured red wine for himself.

At that time, someone knocked on the door. Without him saying anything, the door was opened and a girl wearing a white nightgown entered the room.

The beautiful girl was tall with light tan skin and shiny brown hair. Her brown eyes were timidly looking at him.

"Come… Joana."