069 Youthful Innocence
Three days later, in the High Court
Night had fallen.
As soon as Karl and his two companions returned to the High Court, they were summoned to Yang Jie’s office.
Acting as the spokesperson, Karl succinctly recounted their recent experiences to Yang Jie.
Five minutes later...
“You’re saying the dark elves are massing troops along the border of the Northson Plains?”
“Yes, Chieftain. The information is absolutely reliable!”
Yang Jie paced the room with his hands clasped behind his back, his mind racing, growing more alarmed the more he considered the situation.
Combined with the anonymous tip received three days ago, this was no baseless rumor!
A human legion nearly twenty thousand strong could mean only one thing in Yang Jie’s eyes!
The worst-case scenario: the dark elves of the Fagon Forest had already joined forces with the human alliance across the Tam River...
This was the bleakest possibility, but with the whispers he’d heard lately and the subtle clues he’d discovered, this once minute chance had begun to loom larger and larger in his mind.
“You’ve done well. You may go now,” Yang Jie said, dismissing them with a wave. The trio had completed their mission admirably.
Yet Yang Jie’s thoughts were in turmoil, as though something crucial had slipped his mind.
“We’ll take our leave, then,” Karl and his companions bowed and withdrew. To them, the chieftain seemed preoccupied and troubled, but it wasn’t their place to pry.
Once the three had left, Yang Jie called Wendy into his office.
“Chieftain, you called for me?”
“Yes. Please fetch One-Eye and Johnny. There’s something I need to discuss with them.”
“I’ll see to it right away!”
“Thank you.”
Yang Jie continued pacing in the cramped office. He still couldn’t fully verify the truth of the anonymous message.
He had to prepare for the worst!
He immediately opened the system’s communication panel and reached out to his ally, Summer Rong.
...
Outside the office, Karl and his companions felt much lighter after delivering their report.
“I’ve got something to take care of. I’ll be in touch if you need me,” Edward said with a mischievous grin, as if he’d been holding in his urge for two days and could barely contain himself.
“Go on, but be careful,” Francis and Karl exchanged knowing glances. It was clear where Edward was headed; there was no point in stopping him. After a few reminders, Edward bounded off like an eager child.
“That fellow is going to land himself in trouble one of these days...”
...
After parting ways with Karl and Francis, Edward crept cautiously to the backyard of Old Sha’s house.
Why can’t I ever go in through the front door? Why do I always have to sneak around like a thief? he sighed, resigned.
Skilled from experience, Edward slipped into the alley beside Old Sha’s house. Seeing no one around, he tiptoed to the garden wall and poked his head over.
“Cock-a-doodle-doo!”
“Cock-a-doodle-doo!”
“Cock-a-doodle-doo!”
Karl imitated a rooster’s call—a secret signal arranged with Lucy. If Lucy was home, she’d toss something over the wall in response. If there was no response after three calls, it meant she wasn’t home or tonight wasn’t convenient.
Lucy, who had just finished washing up and was getting ready for bed, froze at the sound of the “rooster.” Excitement instantly dispelled any trace of sleepiness.
Her beloved, the one she had yearned for day and night, had returned!
Old Sha, already in bed on the second floor, heard the strange crowing and felt something was off. Since when did roosters start crowing at night? It had happened before—every night for days, then nothing for half a month, and now it had started again.
Downstairs, on either side of the garden wall, Karl and Lucy, inseparable as ever, gazed longingly at each other. Edward had been away on a mission for over half a month, and the two mice could hardly wait to reunite!
As Lucy quietly opened her door and stepped outside, the first thing she saw was Edward’s handsome face peeking over the wall.
...
The lover I pine for day and night
Has finally returned to my side
...
Edward, usually so dashing by day, now seemed almost comically furtive.
After twenty days apart, the two mice stood separated by only a wall, gazing deeply into each other’s eyes. All traces of Lucy’s usual composure and reserve vanished. Her delicate face flushed, her hands pressed to her cheeks.
They stared at each other for a good ten seconds across the wall...
“Come out, will you? My dear lady, I can’t hold on much longer!” Edward, hands gripping the wall, was struggling to keep quiet.
“Hmph!”
“Beg me!”
Lucy pouted, hands on her hips, playing the part of the willful princess.
“I’m begging you, my little princess! I can’t hold on any longer...”
“It’s me who can’t hold on any longer!”
“Hmph! The wall’s too high for me. You climb over and let me stand on your back!”
Lucy kept up her haughty act, her spoiled princess airs driving the young Edward mad with desire.
She had him wrapped around her finger...
Blood rushing to his head, Edward didn’t hesitate. Without a second thought, he vaulted over the wall into the garden.
No words were needed. The two mice embraced tightly, Edward’s arms circling Lucy’s slender waist. Her scent overwhelmed him, banishing all reason as he planted kisses along her delicate neck.
“Keep it down—someone might hear!”
Edward and Lucy clung together like two sides of a magnet...
In these times of scarcity, love was all the more pure.
Lucy’s voice was barely more than a whisper as she wrapped her arms around Edward’s neck, greedily savoring his passionate tenderness.
Nearly twenty minutes passed before they reluctantly parted.
Lucy’s gaze was dreamy, her legs unsteady as she leaned against Edward’s broad shoulders, powerless to resist.
“How about we... tonight...” Edward was almost impressed with himself for being so brazen.
He’d barely gotten the words out when he felt a cool touch at his lips.
Lucy’s small hand covered his mouth...
“Mmm.”
Lucy was flushed with shyness, a natural reaction so different from her usual coquettishness.
Excited, Edward crouched by the wall, letting Lucy climb onto his shoulders and vault over. With a leap and a push of his arms, he followed, landing nimbly on the other side.
From the second-floor window, Old Sha watched his daughter slip over the wall in silence.
“I think you should...” came a voice behind him. Alisa had appeared without his notice, her eyes drawn to the affectionate pair below.
“You think I shouldn’t just stand by as a father, don’t you?”
“They’re so young—barely adults. I just think...” Alisa began, convinced their children needed strict guidance.
Old Sha turned to her, expressionless.
“Do you want her to resent me for life? Or never be able to hold her head high before me?”
Alisa was taken aback.
“I didn’t mean that, I just...”
Old Sha sighed, speaking his heart.
“Isn’t this what we longed for most in our youth?”
“So why is it, now that we’re older, we can no longer understand?”
“Let’s get some rest. They don’t need us to worry. Let her have her freedom, just for tonight.”
With those words, Old Sha gently stroked Alisa’s back and headed quietly toward the bedroom.