Cycle of Destiny

Chapter 51 Returning to the Lionheart

Harry came to Lionheart again wearing that black wizard's robe. What the other nobles thought was of no concern to him.

When he arrived on the second floor, Veronica's smile was still as radiant as ever.

Harry really enjoyed the dry martini he had last time, so he didn't choose any other aperitif this time. However, after ordering, Harry added something to the waiter's comment:

"I don't want my dessert."

"Yes, sir."

Harry then turned to Veronica, looking at her smile, and explained:

"I always feel that eating too many sweets is bad for your health."

Veronica responded to Harry very thoughtfully:

"I think so too."

Upon hearing this, Harry added to the attendant:

"Let's cancel her desserts too. It breaks my heart to see others eating overly sweet things."

This time, the servant did not answer, but turned to look at Veranica, clearly waiting for her confirmation.

Veronica's smile froze for a moment, but she quickly spoke:

"Let's do as Mr. Harry says, cancel both desserts."

Harry was overjoyed to hear this. He remembered how much Veronica had loved this dessert last time, but sadly she wouldn't be able to taste it this time.

"I ordered a dry white wine, and for the main course, I chose the whole loin of antlers—you absolutely must try these." After the waiter left, she added, "I think this is the perfect place to entertain a good friend I haven't seen in a long time. It's very quiet here, and we can have a good chat. It's been almost two years since we last met; you seem to be doing very well, Harry."

This was the second time Harry had heard Veronica say this; the first time was a month ago, but this time, Harry wanted to change his attitude.

"It's alright. You look good too, you're already a knight."

Upon hearing this, Veronica raised her hand and touched the badge on her clothes. "My mother is very proud of me, Harry. You're doing well at the magic academy, aren't you? You're already a certified wizard."

"Just a low-level mage."

"I'm truly happy for you that you've become a full-fledged mage. I often tell people that if you hadn't left the Knight Academy, you might very well have become a knight too. Others may not know, but I do know how hard you worked. But sometimes people should pursue what they love, and I admire your courage."

Harry was drinking when Veronica said these words. He was clearly choked by them and barely managed to keep from spitting out his drink. However, he was also in bad shape and broke out in a violent cough, his face turning as purple as a pig's liver.

Veronica quickly came over and patted him on the back. It took him a while to recover his complexion.

Veronica's words were far from the truth. Even Harry, who is used to lying, found it hard to believe.

"Stop talking nonsense, you know I could never become a knight." Harry finally voiced his question, "By the way, how did you know I went back to the capital, and where I live?"

"Maybe I can use magic too," Veranika replied with a smile.

But Harry didn't find Veronica's answer particularly funny and continued to ask:

"How did you know?"

"It was quite a coincidence. Yesterday, I went out and saw a person in a wizard's robe enter the inn. Looking at his back, I thought to myself, 'If only it were Harry.' But I knew it was impossible. You're at the magic academy. If you were going back to the capital, you would definitely write to me beforehand. But then I thought, what if something happened to the letter you wrote on its way? What if that person really was you? And so, as if by some strange twist of fate, I walked into that inn and saw my name in the registration book—I was so surprised and delighted! It really was you! That's how it was."

"Really?"

"Of course it's true, but Harry, why didn't you tell me you were coming back?"

Veranica's answer was clearly a lie; such a coincidence was impossible.

Suddenly, Harry thought of the goddess. Since the goddess wanted to see him, it made sense that she would send someone to keep an eye on him. As for tracking his whereabouts, that would be even less of a challenge for the church.

Last time, Veronica said she saw him on a list published by the church and even sent someone to wait for him. Harry was already a little suspicious then—he wasn't that important to Veronica. Adding to that her mention of "coincidence" this time, the answer is quite clear.

Harry is now fairly certain that Veronica learned of his return to the capital through the church.

After a moment of silence, Harry responded:

"I forgot."

The food was served quickly; the antler-shaped loin was as delicious as ever, and the dry white wine was as refreshing as ever. However, this time Harry didn't eat as quickly or attentively as before. He even stopped while Veronica was talking and began to think about the goddess wanting to see him.

Harry remembered the last time the goddess asked him to help her find a lost bracelet. Even after he refused, the goddess still gave Veronica a very generous reward.

This shows that the bracelet is very important. So, could the murderer who killed him in the forest have been instructed by the goddess?

Very likely. Since the bracelet is so important, his refusal must have made her very angry.

Moreover, if the goddess has already sent people to monitor him, then she must also know that the holy magician has taken him as his apprentice.

Based on the church's past attitude towards magicians, this would both quell her anger and eliminate a potential future threat, which was definitely something the goddess would want to see.

As for finding someone to impersonate a robber or a skilled assassin, it might be difficult for an ordinary person, but for the goddess, it was as simple as it could be.

It seems that although I have no idea where the bracelet is, I must change my attitude this time and agree to the goddess's request. Not just agree, but promise to do everything in my power to find it. Only in this way can I have a chance to survive.

Veronica noticed Harry suddenly stop—his knife and fork were motionless, his chewing had ceased, and he looked thoughtful—so she paused her story and asked:

"What's wrong? Is the texture of the back ribs off?"

"It's nothing, it tastes great." After saying that, Harry started using his knife and fork again and continued chewing.

"You suddenly stopped just now, were you thinking about something?"

"No, I've been listening to you the whole time," Harry replied while eating.

"Really? Then tell me, what did I just say to you?"

"You said that at her ice sculpture ball last winter, Duchess Helena spent nearly an hour 'discussing academic matters' with a scholar who was supposedly an expert in ancient runes and had been invited to repair the family library, in the labyrinthine garden greenhouse. Meanwhile, the Duke was in the banquet hall talking with several nobles."

But a month later, during a routine "examination of ancient books," the scholar was struck by a collapsing bookshelf and died from his injuries. The Duke's explanation was that it was due to years of disrepair. Shortly afterward, the Duchess's most trusted personal maid was brutally murdered by robbers on her way home to visit family.

The Duke, in a subsequent military exercise, swiftly purged two of his generals who had close ties to Lady Helena's maternal family, citing "poor command" as the reason. Now, Lady Helena lives a secluded life, rarely hosting large social events or making public appearances.

"You also mentioned that old count, who's almost seventy. Last autumn, he was practically forced to ride a horse to participate in the royal hunt in the northern forests. Everyone said the old man was clinging to his last breath to maintain appearances."

His wife, Liana, forty-five years his junior, was a regular at the hunting grounds and an excellent rider. That day, she and a newly promoted young adjutant of the Royal Guard had been chasing a wounded stag. They had strayed from the herd and disappeared into the depths of the forest for nearly an afternoon. When they returned, her hair was slightly disheveled and her cheeks were flushed. She said, "The horse was startled and got lost." The adjutant followed silently behind, a small, inconspicuous cut on his lip.

Less than a month later, the adjutant was "promoted" and transferred to the westernmost border fortress of the empire, a notoriously harsh and desolate place where one could hardly be recalled without significant military achievements. Three days after the appointment was issued, the old count "accidentally" fell down the narrow spiral staircase of his castle and died instantly. Because the count had no children, his title was revoked by the royal family, but all his property was inherited by Lady Liana.

Hare paused, "Six months after the funeral, Lady Liana, 'out of deep longing for her late husband,' married one of his distant cousins—a timid young knight who had just inherited a small piece of neighboring land. Now, as both a widow and the current mistress, she manages the Pages family's vast estate and forests with ease, while her cousin-husband is engrossed in collecting ancient books and almost never shows his face."

If there's anything Harry can be proud of, it's his memory. Because of frequent meditation, wizards have much stronger mental strength than ordinary people; their mental energy is abundant, and their memory is exceptionally strong.

Harry could easily recount a conversation that happened a month ago.

Veronica stared blankly at Harry with her blue eyes, unable to utter a single word.

Did I say something wrong?

No, you're not wrong.

"Then why do you have that expression on your face?" Harry asked.

"Because this isn't what I told you before, but what I planned to tell you later. Have you learned mind reading?"

Harry's hands, gripping the knife and fork, tightened unconsciously. He realized he should be more careful with his words in the future, but his expression remained unchanged.

"You don't think I know nothing just because I was in magic school, do you?" Harry's tone was relaxed. "I know just as much about the interesting things in the capital as you do."