Chapter 4

Chapter 4

It was a modest single-story wooden structure, unassuming from the outside and only slightly larger on the inside than a typical dwelling. Inside, there were no beds, only several large wooden cabinets, some locked, and others left open, filled with various items.

Upon entering, Milia found the room empty. No one would come until a new chief was chosen. Scattered across the large wooden table by the window were parchment scrolls and a few arrows being polished. Milia took a seat in Kenny's chair, suppressing the turmoil within her, and began her search in earnest.

With a stoop, Milia discovered a small box under the table. She picked it up and placed it on the table. The box was plain, without locks. Opening it revealed several parchment scrolls inside. Milia picked up the topmost scroll and began to read. It was an agreement.

The agreement concerned the long-disputed river territories. Over the centuries, successive chiefs of the Lawrence and Cheno tribes had laid claim to the fertile river areas with trading docks for their respective tribes. It wasn't until Kenny's father, the previous chief of Lawrence, established permanent outposts and patrol teams in the river areas twenty years ago that territorial ownership was essentially established.

As Milia read through the agreement, her heart skipped a beat. The contents stated that the Lawrence tribe agreed to cede the river territory to the Cheno tribe permanently. The condition? The cancellation of Chief Kenny's debt of five hundred gold coins. Kenny's signature and the moonstone ring seal were prominently displayed, while the signature on the Cheno tribe's side remained blank.

Miliah's brow glistened with sweat as she realized the absence of any metal mines within the Lawrence City-State's territory. Five hundred gold ingots held substantial wealth, but what puzzled her more was Kenny's debt to the Cheno. What had he used that money for? Intuitively, Miliah sensed there were deeper secrets within the document. She couldn't allow Kenny's honor to be tarnished after his passing. Quickly, she tucked the parchment into the inner pocket of her robe.

Seated, she nibbled nervously at her nails, pondering whom to confide in. Elder Gabriel and Heidi came to mind, but the realization of the dilemma struck her—she didn't know who else was privy to this agreement. Even Kenny, as a leader, couldn't unilaterally decide the fate of the river domain; he must have been aware of that.

As she debated, a gentle knock interrupted her thoughts.

"Who's there?"

"It's me," Elliot's voice came from the other side. Surprised, Miliah opened the door.

Without a word, she observed Elliot's disheveled appearance, clearly exhausted. "Madam Miliah, I thought you'd come. You'd want to sort through Lord Kenny's belongings. There are matters you should know," Elliot hesitated before continuing, clearly steeling himself. Glancing around to ensure privacy, Miliah beckoned Elliot inside and closed the door.

"Elliot, tell me everything. No more secrets. You were closest to Lord Kenny; you know he wouldn't have taken his own life."

"Lord Kenny was in debt, though I'm not sure of the exact amount," Elliot's expression betrayed the burden of this concealed truth.

"Does anyone else know?"

"I believe Elder Gabriel or the High Priest might have some insight." The revelation struck Miliah like lightning. What was going on?

"What did Lord Kenny do with the money?"

"I'm not sure. I overheard an argument between him and a Cheno messenger at the gate. They were discussing the river domain, a hefty sum of gold, and Elder Gabriel's involvement. The messenger seemed agitated, but I don't think he was threatening Lord Kenny."

"How did it become his debt?"

"Lord Kenny mentioned his inheritance and olive grove. He spoke as if he intended to use his wealth to settle the debt."

Miliah shuddered, her hand unconsciously reaching for the parchment hidden in her robe.

"How do you know about Elder Gabriel?"

Elliot nodded solemnly. "Elder Gabriel was at the High Priest's last night. He was part of the ceremony to remove the ring, and I was there too. Elder Gabriel produced a letter sealed with the moonstone ring—an unmistakable sign of Lord Kenny's authorization."

Miliah's disbelief was palpable as Elliot hurriedly explained, "The letter was addressed to the priests and elders. It was brief, expressing Lord Kenny's immense pressure and his reluctance to continue as leader. But it sounded more like a farewell."

Miliah stood still, feeling a bit disheartened. If what Elliot said was true, then Kenny's suicide made sense. But deep down, she couldn't accept it as the final truth. She looked at Elliot, deciding to trust him like Kenny did.

"Elliot, I just can't believe Kenny would take his own life. I need to find out the truth. If you're with me, please help me with something."

Elliot stood up promptly, showing determination. "I'm here to follow your lead, Miliah. Anything to honor Kenny. Even if... well, there must be some explanation, whether he did it himself or not."

"I need you to keep an eye on the Cheno family, especially their messenger Marpole."

"Do you think they're up to something?"

Miliah bit her lip. "I'm not sure, but something's fishy. Marpole seemed like he wanted to talk to me last night, then abruptly changed his mind."

After a moment's thought, Elliot suggested enlisting the help of some young hunters who often went hunting with Kenny. He also suggested that if the matter was related to the Southern Cheno tribe, it would be best to have guards accompany Miliah.

Miliah initially declined, but then decided to have Elliot arrange for a trusted guard to help with moving items. She wanted to take Kenny's personal belongings back to the Olive Courtyard. After all, once the new chief took over, this space would belong to someone else.

After Elliot left, Miliah continued searching through the office for more books and items. Unable to thoroughly examine all the parchment scrolls, she simply packed them into a large wooden crate. When a knock came at the door, two young men stood outside. Miliah had seen them before; they were young hunters from the tribe.

With their help, Miliah transported the wooden crate back to the Olive Courtyard. Unknowingly, it was already dusk. Miliah didn't have time to eat or rest; she diligently continued examining the documents in her home study until Mrs. Ann entered and forced her to eat a fried cake and two small loaves of bread.

"You can't go without eating," Mrs. Ann said in her usual slow tone. She lived in a small wooden house next to the Olive Courtyard. Both her sons had died in an accident, leaving only her paralyzed father at home. So Mrs. Ann often helped out in various households, exchanging food for assistance.

Miliah swallowed the last bite of bread and accepted the hot tea Mrs. Ann offered, grateful for the warmth in the gradually cooling night. "Thank you, Ann." Miliah got up to see Mrs. Ann off; she knew she had to go home to care for her paralyzed father. As they parted ways at the oak gate, Mrs. Ann hugged Miliah, her expression full of sympathy and comfort.

Miliah sighed, watching Mrs. Ann's figure disappear towards the small wooden shed. When she turned back to enter the house, she suddenly noticed a small, exquisite black wooden box in the grass beside the oak gate. It didn't look like an ordinary item, and Miliah bent down to inspect it.

The exquisite black wooden box was deliberately placed there, with a small note on top. Unfolding it, Miliah read, "For Lady Miliah's eyes only."

Miliah gently picked up the small wooden box and brought it into the room, placing it on the table. She checked it thoroughly and then carefully opened the lid of the wooden box, revealing a soft purple velvet cushion inside. On top lay an exquisite gemstone bracelet, accompanied by a scroll of clean parchment. Miliah's heart pounded as she slowly picked up the parchment scroll and unfolded it, revealing Kenny's rugged handwriting, the ink penetrating deeply through the paper.

"Miliah, I'm sorry I couldn't keep my promise. In the coming days, you'll have to take care of yourself alone."

There was no signature, and Miliah's tears flowed freely. She examined the bracelet closely; it was a valuable piece, adorned with various exquisite gemstones. Inscribed on the inner ring of the bracelet were finely engraved words: "I love you." Miliah put on the bracelet; it was custom-made for her.

Wiping away her tears, Miliah checked the parchment scroll again and found a small, inconspicuous line in one corner: "Please organize my bow and arrow cabinet."

Miliah's heart skipped a beat. Yes, the bow and arrow cabinet was where Kenny kept his most cherished weapons. She quickly set aside the bracelet and hurried to the side of the courtyard, where there was a separate room. Kenny often stayed here to organize and polish his weapons. Miliah quietly approached the bow and arrow cabinet and pulled open the door. Inside were several sturdy and exquisite longbows, along with brand new arrows gleaming in their quiver and a pile scattered at the bottom, awaiting feather installation.

Miliah moved aside the longbows and carefully inspected the cabinet. There were traces of movement on the bottom wooden board on the inside. Bending down, Miliah pulled open the wooden board and was stunned. There was a hidden space inside the wooden board, deep enough for a person to stand, with a granite floor at the bottom. The floor was stacked with shiny gold ingots layer by layer.

These were piles of shiny standard gold ingots, and Miliah's heart raced violently. She reached out and gently touched them; the gold ingots stacked layer by layer, the dazzling golden light almost blinding Miliah. She quickly closed the wooden board, stumbled out of the bow and arrow cabinet, and sat on the ground. Whose gold was this? Miliah had never known there was so much wealth in the house. If this was Kenny's secret stash, how could he owe debts to the Southern tribe?