Chapter 167: The Teasing Wife
Seeing Elena break down like that. Both Mira and Aurielle felt their hearts ache. Sadness filled their faces.
The nightmare hadn’t merely frightened Elena. It had completely shattered her emotional defenses.
"I’m not throwing you away." Luke’s gentle voice reached her ears.
Carefully, he raised his hand and slowly wiped away the tears streaming down her cheeks.
At his touch, Elena slowly lifted her head.
Her tear-filled golden eyes met Luke’s calm blue ones.
With a trembling sob, she asked,
"R-Really...?"
Luke answered with nothing more than a warm smile.
Then he nodded.
"Of course." He softly brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear before saying,
"Why would I throw away my best healer?"
Those simple words carried far more warmth than any grand promise.
Elena’s sobs gradually began to subside.
Seeing that, both Aurielle and Mira exchanged relieved smiles from the side.
Luke continued, his voice gentle yet firm.
"And even if one day, you decide that you want to leave me."
He smiled faintly.
"I still won’t let you go."
"So..."
"Do you understand?"
Hearing her master reassuring voice. And looking into the warmth reflected in his smiling eyes.
Elena slowly wiped away the fresh tears gathering at the corners of her eyes.
A small, fragile smile finally bloomed on her face.
"...Mm." She nodded gently.
Then, Elena quietly leaned forward and wrapped her arms tightly around him.
"I’m sorry, Master..."
Her muffled voice came from against Luke’s chest.
"For causing so much trouble."
Hearing those words, Luke simply smiled. He gently stroked her soft hair.
"It’s alright."
"You don’t have to apologize."
However, No reply came.
Luke blinked. Curious, he leaned back slightly to look at her face.
Only then did he realize. Elena had already fallen asleep once again.
A helpless smile appeared on his lips. "You really exhausted yourself."
Carefully, making sure not to wake her, Luke lifted her slightly before gently laying her back onto the bed.
He pulled the blanket over her and tucked it around her shoulders.
Then he turned toward Mira.
"Mira."
"Take good care of her."
"And if anything unusual happens inform me immediately."
His voice became noticeably more serious.
As he spoke, he handed Mira the Whispering Tide Conch for instant communication.
Mira accepted it with both hands before nodding firmly.
"Yes, Master." A gentle smile appeared on her face as she sat beside Elena’s bed, quietly watching over her sleeping friend.
Luke gave one last glance toward Elena. Seeing her peaceful expression at last...
He also silently let out a breath of relief.
"Let’s go." With those words.
Luke and Aurielle quietly left the room, gently closing the door behind them so Elena’s sleep wouldn’t be disturbed.
---
"Fufu~" The moment they stepped out of the house, Aurielle’s teasing laughter reached Luke’s ears.
"I never knew, that my husband was so good at calming women down."
Luke chuckled before puffing out his chest proudly.
"Heh."
"Honey, you have no idea just how talented your husband really is."
A smug grin spread across his face.
Seeing his shameless expression. Aurielle simply rolled her beautiful purple eyes.
"Talented."
She let out a small snort.
"only in bed."
Luke’s smile instantly froze. The corner of his mouth twitched.
Just as he was about to fire back with a witty retort—
Aurielle spoke again before he even had the chance.
"I have some work to take care of."
She casually waved her hand.
"So..."
"You can deal with those merchants by yourself."
With that, she turned around and gracefully walked toward the city, her long black hair swaying gently behind her.
Luke watched her retreating figure before smiling helplessly.
"Alright." He gave a small nod toward her back.
Then he turned in the opposite direction. Without lingering any longer.
He headed toward the exit of the Time Chamber.
It was finally time to meet the waiting merchants.
---
2nd day of flora month, same year.
When Luke stepped out of the Time Chamber. It was still morning.
Warm rays of sunlight poured through the long hallway windows, painting golden streaks across the polished stone floor.
The mansion had already come to life. Servants hurried from one room to another. While knights stood proudly at their posts.
The atmosphere was peaceful.
"Greetings, My Lord!"
The guards immediately straightened their backs and saluted as Luke passed by.
Luke acknowledged them with a small nod. "Mm."
Without slowing his pace, he continued toward the grand reception hall.
By now almost every merchant passing through the Blackstone Highlands had gathered there.
Even many unfamiliar merchant groups had arrived, eager to discuss future trade.
As Luke walked through the corridor...
His footsteps suddenly slowed. "Hm?"
Standing motionless beside a decorative suit of knight armor, was a figure wrapped entirely in bandages.
From head to toe. Not even a strand of hair was visible.
The person stood so still that they looked more like an statue than a living human.
Luke blinked.
’Since when did we have a mummy inside the mansion?’ Curiosity immediately surfaced in his eyes.
Unable to resist. He quietly changed direction and walked toward the mysterious figure.
One step. Two steps. Three.
Soon, he was standing only a few feet away.
Luke leaned forward slightly, narrowing his eyes.
’Huh...’
’The bandages look surprisingly real.’
He slowly circled around the figure, observing it from different angles. ’Should I. touch it.?’
Just as that dangerous thought crossed his mind—
"My Lord."
"...!"
The mummy suddenly spoke.
"W-What the hell?!" Luke jumped backward in pure reflex.
His eyes widened. His heart nearly leaped out of his chest.
He instinctively put several steps between himself and the "mummy," staring at it as if it had just come back from the dead.
For a few awkward seconds. Silence filled the hallway.
Then Luke slowly calmed his breathing.
He looked at the bandaged figure once more. And a strange expression appeared on his face.
’Fantasy mummies can actually talk?’
Before Luke could continue wondering. The "mummy" spoke again.
"My Lord." A brief pause followed.
"It’s me. The Osric." The voice sounded unusually weak. Muffled.