Chapter 163: Chapter 140: Territory Rumors_3
——This proves that the soldiers were indeed innocent before.
Someone was secretly controlling everything in the Hawk Count’s territory.
"This matter must be thoroughly investigated!"
The Hawk Count said sternly: "No matter how complex or troublesome, it must be thoroughly investigated for me!"
Once the Hawk Count could ignore it because Simon was not considered important.
But when the same thing happened a second time, the Hawk Count could not tolerate it.
These people are very important, and the Hawk Count wanted to find out where the rumors originated.
Moreover, the nature of having the same incident happen twice made it different.
This was a slap in the face to the Hawk Count, a challenge to his authority.
"Investigate those related to Harun."
"I understand what you mean."
Knight Balrog straightened his back and made a solemn promise,
"Yes, Lord Earl, I will find out the truth."
"There’s one more small matter, Lord Earl."
Balrog hesitated for a moment and continued: "Chris’s wife wants to take her child to her mother’s home for a period."
Balrog’s voice softened a bit.
"You know, ever since we told her Chris has died, she has been very sad; now perhaps only family can soothe her grief."
The Hawk Count, without being able to ransom Chris back, had informed Chris’s wife he had died in battle and gave them some gold coins as compensation.
Since Chris was no longer here, keeping his child in the territory is not a bad thing.
Maybe Chris’s young son could become a knight.
Besides, with no one returning to expose the truth, whatever the Hawk Count says doesn’t matter anymore.
"Where is her mother?"
The Hawk Count squinted, with a trace of wariness in his voice.
"It’s a small village on the southern edge of our territory, near the Misty Green Forest." Balrog answered without hesitation.
"That shouldn’t have much to do with Black Pine Ridge; let them go."
The Hawk Count nodded.
With such a long time having passed, and it being winter, the Hawk Count figured they wouldn’t go anywhere far.
"Anything else?" The Hawk Count asked a bit impatiently.
"No, Lord Earl."
Balrog bowed and saluted, "I’ll take my leave first, my Lord."
"Hmm, you may leave, and have someone call Olia and Vina over for me."
"You want them to come to the study here?" Balrog asked.
"Yes."
The Hawk Count was very agitated now, not wanting to wait any longer.
"Understood, my Lord."
Knight Balrog silently left the room.
...
...
The white snow covered every inch of land on the slope.
The branches of the pine trees bore snow caps, and occasionally when a breeze blew through, tiny snow particles drifted down like silver dust from the sky.
The mountain road was winding and narrow, trodden into a narrow little path.
A woman with two children slowly trekked along the path, followed by soldiers clad in armor.
They carefully crossed the valley and began ascending the slope, leaving a trail of messy footprints beside the narrow snowy path.
Seeing the cabin ahead, the woman sighed in relief.
She turned around and said to the two soldiers behind her: "Thank you for your escort, my mother’s home is just ahead, thank you for your hard work."
"It’s our duty, noble lady."
The woman took out a small pouch of copper coins from her bosom and handed it to the soldiers,
"Thank you for your escort, please use this to have a drink."
"Thank you for your generosity, noble lady."
The soldiers accepted the purse, smiles immediately appearing on their faces.
The woman merely smiled, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes deepening with the smile.
"You can return now, be careful on the road back."
"Certainly, noble lady."
The two soldiers nodded slightly in salutation, then turned around to leave along the path they came.
Meanwhile, the woman led the children straight towards the mountain village ahead.
However, just after the woman descended the slope, the figures of the two soldiers reappeared.
But they didn’t follow directly, instead cautiously keeping their distance behind the woman.
After the woman entered the village, the two soldiers exchanged a look and headed to a tavern not far to settle down.
Their task was to keep an eye on this woman,
——Chris’s wife, Amina.
Amina was unaware of this as she proceeded with her children towards her mother’s house.
Her mother had been waiting for a long time.
Upon seeing Amina’s figure from afar, she trotted over to meet her.
The two children politely greeted their grandmother, while Amina couldn’t help but call out "mother."
"Poor child."
Her mother hugged Amina tightly, pouring all her care over the woman who had lost her husband.
After a long while, her mother released her, stroking Amina’s hair.
"You’ve suffered a lot these past days, my child."
Her mother’s voice was full of compassion.
Amina didn’t speak, just nodded slightly.
Ever since learning of Chris’s news, Amina had cried every day, her tears having dried up over these days.
Leaving only the emptiness and pain in her heart.
"It’s alright, everything will be better."
Her mother comforted.
After some words of comfort and care, her mother hugged Amina again and whispered:
"That distinguished man has been waiting for you a long time."
Amina’s eyes lit up, like catching a glimmer of light in a boundless night.
She looked at her mother and asked nervously: "Where?"
Her mother’s gaze swept around, eyes gleaming with caution,
"The woodshed, go quickly."