“I see,” Dustin muttered as his gaze fixed on the chessboard.
He nodded and said, “You’ve helped me tonight. That puts me in your debt. If you ever need anything, just say the word.”
Dustin lived by one rule-return what was given, whether kindness or vengeance.
Felicia hadn’t exposed him earlier. She had even covered for him. That was a debt he intended to repay.
“Mr. Rhys, you truly are a man of principle. I admire that,” she said.
She dipped her head with a playful smile, and that gesture carried an elegant charm.
“But I’m still curious about what brought you here tonight. Did you already suspect me?” Dustin asked.
“Anyone who wants to get close to Nathaniel usually wants one of three things -power, fame, or money. I can see it in their eyes, but you’re different,” Felicia said with a smile.
She continued, “You came here and offered the Dracan essence, but didn’t ask for a title or recognition. You even turned down the company of women, which only makes me suspect you have another motive. Of course, that’s just my suspicion.
“Tonight, though, was purely a coincidence. I came here to learn how to play chess, but you weren’t in the courtyard. It wasn’t until the commotion started that I finally understood what you were truly after.”
“Ms. Thorns, you’re sharper than I gave you credit for.”
Dustin had first thought Felicia was just another pretty face with little to offer. But then, he realized she was much more intriguing and capable than he’d imagined.
“I’m nothing next to you,” she replied. ” Still, you should be careful. Nathaniel won’t let this matter slide.”
“As long as there’s no evidence, he can’t do anything to me,” he replied with a faint smile.
With his strength, he knew Nathaniel would have to think twice before crossing him. But then again, Nathaniel couldn’t act on any suspicions. There was no way he’d confront him head-on when things were still uncertain.
“As long as you know what you’re doing, that’s all that matters. It’s getting late, so I’ll take my leave.”
Felicia didn’t linger. After a slight nod, she turned and left.
As the first light of dawn crept over the horizon, Nathaniel stood in the center of the courtyard. He stared at the empty hallway with a frown.
Behind him, Lycas and Bryce were reporting the situation.
“Your Highness, we’ve searched the mansion three times. We even combed through the pond carefully, but still didn’t find any trace of that thief. Perhaps the thief… has managed to escape?”
Lycas spoke cautiously, wiping the sweat from his brow. Before he could continue with his report, Nathaniel suddenly turned, cold fury flashing in his eyes.
“Impossible! I ordered the mansion sealed off before the secret chamber was breached. Even if that thief grew wings, he wouldn’t have escaped.”
He tightened his grip on the pendant at his waist. It was a gift from Valon. But at that moment, it felt less like a symbol of power and more like a scorching brand that burned his palm.
Seeing his expression, Lycas quickly bowed and said, “You’re right, Your Highness. The thief might still be hiding somewhere. I’ll take my men and search again.”
Without waiting for a response, he rallied the exhausted guards and led them toward a secluded storage shed.
He knew deep down that searching again would be pointless. If the thief had managed to enter the mansion without a sound, they could just as easily slip away unnoticed.
But with Nathaniel in a foul mood, he knew arguing wasn’t an option. All he could do was carry out the order.
Glancing at the rising sun, Nathaniel’s face darkened as he headed toward the ruins of the secret chamber.
He knew catching the thief seemed unlikely for the time being. His biggest worry now was how much of the treasure in the secret chamber had been lost.
The items in the vault were especially concerning. Any theft or damage to them would have been like having his heart ripped out.
Nathaniel arrived at the ruins, where a team of people was still working hard. To avoid damaging the valuables, they started with shovels and switched to digging by hand once most of the rubble was cleared, which made the work even slower.
Over a hundred people had been working nonstop through the night. By dawn, they had barely uncovered the outline of the chamber’s ceiling. Excavating the entire structure would take another half day.
Nathaniel stood at the side and stared at the growing pit. His fists clenched so tightly his nails dug into his palm.
The hours crawled by. It wasn’t until noon that the entrance to the secret chamber finally came into view.
“Your Highness, we’ve broken through!” someone called out in excitement.
Nathaniel took a deep breath. He ignored the risk of further collapse and stepped into the dimly lit chamber.
The musty air, mixed with dust, hit him immediately. Holding the torch high, he scanned the room, and his expression darkened with every passing second.
The once neatly arranged treasures were now scattered, many of them damaged. He briefly glanced at it, then hurried toward the vault.
The steel door was bent and ruined, and half of it had caved in. A gaping hole in the ceiling made it look like some monstrous beast had clawed its way out.
Ignoring the filth, Nathaniel squeezed through the twisted gap in the steel door. But with one look inside, his vision went dark, and he nearly lost his footing.
The ornate box that once contained the Dracan essence was missing, and so were the two orbs.
Half of the treasures were missing, and the rest were damaged beyond repair.
“No… no, this can’t be happening. My… My treasures…”
The shock was too much for Nathaniel. He let out a desperate cry, collapsed to the ground, and lost consciousness.
