Rescuing a Wounded Cat

"Kugh!"

Winfrey felt threatened by Huvel's eyes. He could not even pretend to be courteous.

"Lord… Lord Senebres," Edgar started to speak since his boss was not saying any words, "it is an honour to meet you! Congratulations on your return from Emmele Jungle!"

"Oh, thank you," Huvel replied. "It seems there was a misunderstanding between my knight here and your boss. Why don't we go inside and talk things out?"

"Ah! Yes, of course! Please come inside, Lord Senebres."

Edgar invited them in as he could not think of any reason to reject Huvel's offer. He thought of sweet-talking to the lord. If needed, he could persuade a few servants to please the rumoured-to-be immoral young man.

Karl sighed as he watched the merchants led his master into the mansion. He wanted to resolve the problem before his master even knows about it. He felt guilty since he failed to do so. He ordered the soldiers to stand guard outside and followed after his master silently.

After entering the mansion, Winfrey recovered from his shock.

"Lord Senebres," he said as they walked, "have you had dinner? If not, I will tell the cook to prepare a meal"

"No need for those nonsenses," said Huvel. "Just lead me to where my man is!"

Winfrey was startled by Huvel's bluntness. However, he did not show it on his face. He smiled confidently as he had already thought of how to deny the kidnapping and how to flatter the young lord.

"Lord…"

"Yes, sir!"

This time, Winfrey could not hide his amazement. Because the person he trusted the most, Edgar, complied to the lord before he could even tell a lie.

"Edgar, what are you saying?" He shouted.

Edgar did not reply him but headed to the room where the kidnapped man was.

"Where are you going?! Stop right there, you bastard!" Winfrey roared angrily and pulled Edgar's arm.

"Ah! You sure are noisy!" As soon as Huvel finished saying that, Edgar shoved Winfrey away.

Winfrey hit the wall and fell onto the floor. Edgar took out his handkerchief and stuffed it into Winfrey's mouth. He then punched Winfrey a few times and proceeded to drag him along the way by the legs.

Winfrey could not understand what was happening. He did not know why or when Edgar betrayed him. He called the servants loudly but he got no response. On their way to his room, he found the servants lying on the floor like they were dead. He became too terrified that he even forgot the pain on his face.

Soon, the four arrived at the door of Winfrey's room. The sight of Meonando lying on the floor covered by nothing but blood, came into Huvel's eyes as soon as the door was opened.

"UGH!!"

Huvel gripped Winfrey's neck! Winfrey tried to pull Huvel's hands away but he could not. He sensed that death was approaching him.

"…Mas…ster…?"

Huvel retracted his hands and walked to where the small voice came from. He half-knelt near Meonando.

Meonando looked up at Huvel. He was relieved to see the familiar face again. As a beloved grandson of his wealthy grandfather, Meonando was never beaten up like he was then. He was so afraid when he was left alone in the room for a long time. He thought he would die from bleeding.

Meonando had been timid since he was a child. He always hides behind his big brother Meodinand every time something happens. Even when his master molested both him and his brother, he did not dare to defy and did whatever he ordered. He despised his master doing things to him and he was afraid of him at the same time. However, he now was thankful to that same master he despised for appearing before him.

"Hey, why are lying in a bastard's room instead of your master's?" Huvel said to Meonando sternly.

"Hic!"

Meonando felt wronged. The corners of his eyes were wet with tears. He suppressed the urge to cry and grabbed Huvel's shirt tightly.

"What is it? If you want to say something, just say it." Huvel continued while pretending like he did not see those teary eyes. He poured healing potion onto Meonando's wounds.

"Ah!"

Meonando jolted as it stung when the potion touched the open wounds. The tears he had been holding back fell down on their own.

"I… want to go home…," Meonando said weakly.

"Alright, let's go home," Huvel said. He bent down closer to Meonando's face. He pressed his lips on Meonando's.

"I'll make sure that no one else can make you cry again!" he said and hugged him tight.

"WAH!!" Meonando cried uncontrollably. He cried without a care for anything.

After Meonando calmed down, Huvel put a cloth on him and carried him in his arms. Judging that Meonando was heavy, Karl offered to help. But Huvel refused him and instead told him to handle Winfrey.

Karl walked out of the mansion with Winfrey whom he tied with a rope. While everyone's eyes were on him, he announced, "The chief of Four Brown Horses Merchant Group, Winfrey, committed the crime of kidnapping and torturing a servant of the lord! The lord himself has seen his hideous act and thus, he will be taken to the castle and punished according to the law. Moreover, this whole merchant group will be inspected to find out everyone who are involved in this crime. Anyone who do not comply or disturb the inspection will be apprehended!"

It became noisy after Karl's announcement. Inside the soldiers' encirclement, the higher-ups of the merchant group were anxious as they were afraid that their slave trade might be found out. They debated whether they should order the mercenaries to fight the soldiers, and flee while things are in chaos.

On the other side, two knights from the wall, together with a few dozens of soldiers, came as per Winfrey's request and arrived at the outside of the encirclement. They did not know that Winfrey was already found to be guilty and made a ruckus!