Sebastian’s beady eyes fell on him at once.
“What do you mean?”
“We used to have something like this in Elysium,” Kurt said stiffly. “After a person dies, those who hold a grudge against the deceased will bury the bones of his descendants at his grave as we believed it would shackle their souls to the netherworld forever”
He was extremely reluctant to share that unsavory custom as he was painfully aware of how ignorant and backward they were.
I might as well share everything I know by this point.
Sebastian and Karl stared at Kurt after his startling proclamation. Their shocked expressions reflected his disgust.
“You learn something new every day about the world, huh? I can’t believe such customs still exist.”
“In that case, Mr. Hayes, this clay pot should have been buried by Eddie’s enemies. Do you think the White family is behind this? Could it be Maurice White? Should we pay him a visit in prison?”
Upon recollecting the existence of a likely suspect, Karl could not afford to rule him out.
Maurice knew where the military supply storehouse was. Being a member of the White family, he has the strongest motive for such a devious act.
Sebastian was on the same page as his Karl.
However, the inconsistency of the timeline bothered him. Maurice would have only been a child when Eddie died as he was only three years older than Ian.
Ian and the rest were only eight at that time. Wouldn’t that make Maurice eleven the year Eddie died? How could such a young child bury this pot?
Aside from that, Eddie had not left behind any close relatives except for Colton who was already a husband and a father at that time.
Nothing makes sense.
“Mr. Hayes?”
The voice snapped Sebastian out of his reverie. “Do you think Eddie has other descendants?” he asked abruptly.
Karl was stunned upon hearing that.
“That couldn’t be, could it? You’re telling me there are still people who— Wait a minute. Are you still suspecting Felicity?”
Karl recognized the impossibility of his theory even before he completed his sentence. No woman in her right mind would be willing to bear the child of a disabled dwarf.
Besides, it went against Eddie’s distorted worldview to seek women.
Sebastian frowned without outwardly refuting Karl’s speculation.
After mulling it over for several minutes from his desk, he finally decided for his men to interrogate Maurice.
As Karl and Kurt were about to leave, Sebastian called Kurt back.
“Wait a minute, Kurt. I have something to tell you.”
Kurt paused in his tracks and spun around attentively.
“You are to bring Ian back from Yeringham,” Sebastian ordered unexpectedly.
Kurt looked up and met the older man’s eyes with surprise in his own.
“Why? Isn’t his little trip doing him good?”
“Is it? How is running away from his problems doing him any good?” Sebastian snapped, his temper flaring up. “I’m tired of him running away the second he encounters an obstacle. What kind of man am I teaching him to be by condoning that behavior? If he doesn’t correct this habit now, what would become of him when he gets older?”
Kurt pursed his lips and spoke again after a long and careful consideration. “He’s just not used to such a high-intensity job, that’s all. You have to give him some time to accustom himself. I heard that he’s doing fine in Yeringham now.”
“Is that so?”
“Well, Vivi spoke to him. From the photos he sent her, she said that his village looked similar to the place you used to take them in the countryside when they were children. Maybe he misses that, Uncle Sebastian. If I may say so, you have been rather harsh with him.”
Giving the best attempt at eloquence in his life, Kurt delivered his speech without pausing to draw breath before waiting for the verdict to fall with deathly stillness.
It’s too tiring to keep lying like this!
Fortunately for him, Sebastian was often a little too concerned and confused than was wise when it came to his children. At Kurt’s words, he found a sense of doubt creeping up in his heart for the first time that day.
“Do you think so?”
Kurt nodded firmly.
Sebastian then sighed and dismissed the notion.
I guess there’s no harm in letting the kid relax a little longer. Besides, Susan has enough sense for both of them.
That was the last time the subject of bringing Ian back by force was raised.
As for the young man in question, Ian was visibly more relaxed after having a few days of getting acquainted with his new surroundings. Not only did he regain the color in his cheeks, but the frequent scowls on his face had also disappeared.
“Would you like to come to the market, Ian?” came a voice outside his door.
Excited to visit the morning market, Susan awoke early that morning and ran upstairs to extend an invitation to her companion.
Her timing could not have been more perfect as Ian had just woken up at that moment.
However, the sound of her voice did not fully rouse him from his grogginess. Slipping on a pair of slippers clumsily, he staggered toward the door.
“What will we be doing there?” he mumbled.
“Just some shopping, that’s all. Look at your room. You came here nearly empty-handed! So let’s pick up a few things you might need. You don’t have to say yes if you don’t plan on staying for a long time.”
Susan stood timidly at the door, unsure if Ian was annoyed or not fully awake.
Still standing behind his door, Ian scratched the back of his head with one hand as he regarded her with a bleary eye.
