CH70

"Mr. Helag, will you continue with the banquet or…?" Count Huen asked, bowing his head respectfully.

Helag stretched lazily. "I'll go back to rest. I won't be attending the banquet any further."

"Very well, Mr. Helag. Have a good rest," Huen nodded with a smile.

When Helag returned to his palace accommodation, he found the two maids still waiting at the door.

"Would you like a bath, sir?" one of the maids asked, head bowed.

"A bath?" Helag realized he hadn't bathed in days and nodded.

"Sure, go prepare it."

"Yes, sir," one maid responded softly and left to make the preparations.

Helag's room had a large bathtub, perfect for a relaxing soak.

Soon, the maid returned and reported, "Sir, the water is being prepared and will be ready shortly."

"Alright," Helag nodded and lay on the bed.

Bathing in this world was a hassle, requiring fire to heat the water and then transferring it to the bathtub with buckets. There were no plumbing systems.

Half an hour later, four strong guards brought in wooden buckets of steaming hot water, fresh from the stove.

They poured the hot water into the bathtub, followed by two buckets of cold water. One guard asked, "Sir, please check the temperature. If it's too hot, we'll add more cold water."

Helag dipped his hand into the water and nodded. "It's fine. You can leave now."

The guards quickly exited, leaving the two maids behind.

Helag turned and asked, "Why are you still standing there?"

"We are here to assist you with your bath," one maid replied, head bowed.

Helag laughed. "I know. I mean, why are you still standing? Start undressing."

The maids exchanged glances, their faces blushing, then began to undress slowly.

Helag knew they had misunderstood his intentions but didn't stop them.

***

The next morning, Helag woke up, pushing aside the delicate arms draped over him, and got dressed.

"Indulgence is fine occasionally, but I can't become a decadent noble," Helag thought. After waking, he meditated for a while to clear his mind and eliminate distractions.

Stepping outside, he immediately saw Count Huen and his two sons.

"Mr. Helag, you're awake. Did you sleep well?" Huen asked with a smile.

"Not bad," Helag nodded.

Huen continued, "That's good to hear. By the way, Mr. Helag, I feel much better now. The wound has healed significantly, which was previously impossible."

"Yes, it's just a superficial wound now. It will heal soon," Helag said.

"Thank you, Mr. Helag, for saving my father. I'm deeply grateful," Josh said sincerely.

Helag glanced at the sky. "I need to go out for a bit. I'll be leaving in a couple of days, so I won't trouble you for long."

Huen quickly responded, "Mr. Helag, it's no trouble at all. We're delighted to have you here. Please stay as long as you like, and we'll provide anything you need. By the way, do you need help with anything? Perhaps I can assist."

Hearing that Helag had business to attend to, Huen eagerly offered his help, confident that he could handle anything in Markfield City.

"Well, I was planning to visit the Adventurers' Guild," Helag said, thinking Huen might indeed be helpful.

"The Adventurers' Guild? What do you need there?" Huen asked, sensing something ominous.

"I'm looking for a thief named Robert to ask him some questions," Helag replied casually.

Huen smiled. "Such a small matter shouldn't trouble you, Mr. Helag. I know the people at the Adventurers' Guild well. I'll talk to them. But be prepared; Robert is elusive and may not be in Markfield City."

"No problem. I just need to know where he is," Helag said, determined to find the great knight-level thief for some answers.

Huen nodded, "I'll inquire right away."

"I'll wait for your news," Helag said, returning to his room to continue his meditation.

Helag's goal was simple: to find out the origin of the Cursed Doll. He needed to know its source to plan his next steps.

He suspected the doll's origin would have more valuable materials, though such places often harbored dangers that needed careful evaluation.

Count Huen's efficiency was impressive. Within an hour, he personally came to report the news.

"He's not in Markfield City?" Helag asked, popping a grape into his mouth.

Huen wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Yes, I just spoke with the Adventurers' Guild leader. Robert left a couple of days ago."

"Where did he go?" Helag asked.

"According to the information, he went to Stormwind City for a mission. He took a job to protect a high-ranking noble there," Huen explained.

"Stormwind City?" Helag recalled the map, noting it was south of Markfield City, outside the Tasone Territory.

"That's Duke Theodore's domain. If you're going there, I can write you a letter of introduction," Huen offered.

Helag glanced at him and smiled. "Sure, write me a letter. I'll leave right away."

"Now? So soon?" Huen was surprised.

"I have nothing else to do here. If I delay, I might miss Robert again," Helag said, packing his things swiftly.

Seeing Helag's determination, Huen said, "I'll arrange it immediately."

Huen quickly prepared a carriage and a sturdy driver for Helag.

He also arranged for the two maids who had served Helag the previous night.

"The maids aren't necessary. I'm not going on a pleasure trip," Helag declined. He didn't have time to take care of the maids and couldn't abandon them when he got bored.

To nobles, maids were just possessions. Staying in the castle ensured their well-being, but leaving with Helag would leave them vulnerable without basic survival skills.