Chapter 208: Was there, not anymore
Although Raylen had assured Emily that the clouds would become quieter, it took only an hour before the rain unleashed its restrained fury, this time with even greater intensity than before. However, the princess, exhausted from her fever and her conversation with the archdemon, had drifted into a deep slumber from which she did not awaken.
At the hour of four in the morning, the rain finally ceased, ushering in silence and a fresh, new day. The candles had completely melted away, and Raylen quietly slipped out of the room. He made his way to the kitchen, where Lauren and Westley were sipping blood from their worn-out cups.
Upon seeing Raylen, the two servants rose from their seats and offered him a bow, saying, "Good morning, Master," as they greeted him.
"Mm, morning," Raylen mumbled, the veins beneath his eyes becoming more pronounced as they pushed to the surface of his skin due to his thirst.
"I will heat the blood for you, Master," Lauren informed, moving away from her seat. After she kindled the fire, she positioned a vessel over it to warm the blood. She then turned her gaze to Raylen, who stared at the flames. She inquired, "Is the princess doing better?"
"Yes, she’s sound asleep in dreamland now. She should be feeling better than last night," Raylen replied, walking over to where Lauren stood and placing his hand in the fire as if to feel the heat. He said, "She said something very interesting before she fell asleep. Something that has left me wondering."
Westley quietly waited for his master to continue speaking, while Lauren asked, "What did she say?"
"She spoke about people who have been opening up children’s chests, looking for something," Raylen hummed, his face wearing a blank expression, like a yet-to-be painted canvas. His words captured the full attention of his two servants. He continued, "It is something my late father used to do. As a doctor, he would spend hours dissecting lifeless bodies while looking for this rare soul called the Barter Soul."
Lauren frowned and asked, "Is Princess Emily one of that kind?"
"I will need to open up her chest to know for sure," Raylen murmured. He then said, "She may be or she may not be." Whoever abducted her hadn’t performed the same procedure on her as they had on the other children’s bodies; she was left untouched and made an accomplice. Could it be that those responsible had taken a liking to her? His lips twisted with a thoughtful expression before he instructed, "Bring me the ingredients to communicate through the vessel."
Westley immediately began preparing the vessel, skilfully inscribing the markings as if he were an expert. Meanwhile, Lauren finished warming the blood and offered it to Raylen.