Chapter 247 - 6.7 Doll Maker
"General, fancy meeting you here." Cyrus stepped out of Luan’s wide back, the latter was whom Jillian had bumped into earlier. They were dressed in similarly formal yet outdated clothing that made them stick out like a sore thumb amidst the dilapidated area. Now that Jillian had a good look at them, the two didn’t look like royalties yet there was something about their aura that set them apart from any other commoner. How had Jillian only realized it now? "You..." Cyrus gave him a once over and instantly hit the nail on the head with his guess. "By any chance, are you here to look for the seer?"
The practice of making a living through spirit had long been frowned upon in the country ever since the people’s beliefs toward Gods slowly diminished. Long ago, seers used to be respected and they sat in a high position within the Royal Palace. But that was all in the past; now, they were considered as con artists, trickers of the innocent and in the end, they were banished from the heart of the country and could only live in this slum. Almost nobody would resort to seeking them out... well, except for the foolish and the desperate; which Jillian thought he should be included in both.
Jillian’s heart skipped a beat, flabbergasted. He was a General, he could be patrolling around the area or here on the King’s edict to investigate. So why, out of every choice, Cyrus could guess his exact intention?! Had he been more transparent than he’d thought he was?!
He had no idea what kind of expression he was making that Cyrus hastily added in a reassuring tone. "Oh worry not, General, I am merely guessing. Afterall, it has been brought to Sir Bassil’s attention that you have experienced some... supernatural disturbances." He gave a discreet glance to the empty space over Jillian’s shoulder but unfortunately, the Duke was too engrossed in his shock and anger to notice that.
Bassil! Jillian gnashed his teeth. He didn’t confide in Bassil only for the head servant to blabber it to everyone! How dare he! Jillian would make sure to have a long talk with him when he returned later.
"If that’s the case, then you have come to the right person!" Cyrus patted Luan’s shoulder good-naturedly. "My companion Luan is very experienced in this area. He can...err, see and hear things that ordinary people can’t. Right, Luan?"
Luan merely nodded without a change of expression.
"Really...?" Jillian turned his eyes to the taciturn man, suspicious.
In response, Luan merely stepped aside and gestured to the space beside Jillian as if gesturing for someone to join their circle. Like a cue, a cold sensation brushed against Jillian’s arm, prompting shivers to run all over his back. He froze in place. Goodness... w—what was that?! He couldn’t have hallucinated it this time, could he? Something — no, someone was there with him. Jillian’s heart thudded in his chest as he stiffly inquired, not even daring to turn in fear that he would scare the spirit away. "What... do you mean by that, Sir Luan? Is there someone beside me?"
Luan merely leveled him with a solemn stare. It was Cyrus who spoke. "I apologize, it’s inconvenient for Luan to speak for the time being. Allow me to relay what he wants to say." How could Cyrus even know what Luan intended to say? Jillian wondered. However his attention was soon drawn to what Cyrus said next. "What Luan means to say is, yes. In fact, someone has followed you back from the forest."
Jillian sucked in a breath. For some reasons, the mystique atmosphere compelled him to speak in a hushed tone. "And he’s here... with me now?"
Something flashed in Cyrus’ amber eyes, too quick for him to comprehend fully. "Oh General, you have no idea. He has been stuck to you ever since. He has... ah, grown fond of you. Don’t worry, he means no harm."