Chapter 1393: Chapter 1393

"If you want to know what the Earl wants, why don't you just go and find out?"

Alexia said, ignoring the desperate looks her student was shooting her, and added a word of caution for Jenkins:

"You rarely drink, so if you have to have something tonight, be sure to watch how much. I don't want to see you staggering back here drunk."

So, after dinner, Jenkins put on a simple disguise and left with his cat.

Summer was beginning to touch the northern city of Ruen. The evening wind was no longer bone-chilling, carrying a hint of warmth instead. It took him some time to find the secluded tavern, one he'd never noticed before. Stepping inside, he surveyed the decor and immediately spotted a few things that were out of the ordinary.

First, the tavern was free of any foul odors. Second, despite being crowded, all the patrons seemed to have a silent agreement to avoid the wooden bar. Earl Bidden was the only one sitting there, and he smiled, beckoning Jenkins over.

"This isn't one of our country's spy dens in Ruen, is it?"

Jenkins asked quietly as he settled onto a high stool.

"You can guess all you like, but I won't be confirming anything. What can I get you? I heard from Miss Windsor that you aren't fond of alcohol, so I had the bartender prepare a variety of juices. I tried some while I was waiting—a chilled orange juice on a night is certainly more enjoyable than any spirit."

"I'll have an orange juice as well, then. No ice, please."

he said, placing his cat on the bar. The feline surveyed its surroundings with great interest. When the bartender set down Jenkins's drink, the cat immediately stretched its neck out and took a curious lick. The bartender just chuckled and brought Jenkins a fresh cup.

"My apologies for asking you out so late, but I have something important to discuss with you..."

Seeing no change in Jenkins's expression, the Earl continued:

"Before I came to Ruen, I met with Miss Windsor. She specifically instructed me to arrange a meeting with you here."

"Did she have a message for me? You could have simply told me at the reception the other night."

"That reception was on foreign ground—hardly the place for a private conversation. Miss Windsor... holds you in very high regard."

The Earl paused again, studying Jenkins's face, only to find him turned slightly, watching his cat. Taking a deep breath, he pressed on:

"Before we get to the heart of the matter, I have a more... personal question for you. What are your thoughts on the succession to the throne of the Fidektri Kingdom?"

Jenkins shot him a questioning look, wondering why the Earl would suddenly bring this up. He surmised it was a test of his political loyalties, to see if he could be trusted.

"Letting a foreigner from Cheslan inherit our throne is out of the question. That's my stance on it."

"That aligns with the majority opinion."

Earl Bidden's face broke into a smile. He lifted his cup and took a sip of juice, a subtle move to hide the beads of sweat forming on his brow.

"I believe we can be friends, then, because I feel the same way. Before I left for Ruen, Miss Windsor gave me a message for you. She wishes for you to travel to Bel Diran as soon as you can. Her Majesty the Queen greatly admires your talent and is fond of your books. She hopes to see you one last time... while she is still lucid. If you can find the time, please return to Fidektri at your earliest convenience and go directly to see her."

He felt he was losing control of his words as he spoke. Earl Bidden fought to suppress his anxiety, but he couldn't miss the suspicion in Jenkins's eyes. He knew he had to press on, however. At every critical juncture in history, there are always those who must take decisive action. Their names might never appear in the history books, but these unsung figures are essential. Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs novel{f}ire.net

To preserve the purity of the royal bloodline, he was resolved to be one of those pivotal, history-shaping figures.

"An invitation to Bel Diran? Her Majesty's health... how is she now?"

Jenkins considered this for a moment before asking cautiously. He was a perceptive man and immediately sensed something was amiss. A critically ill queen would have no reason to summon him, especially not through such clandestine channels. It just didn't add up.

An idea was already forming in his mind.

"Her Majesty's condition is very poor."

The Earl lowered his voice:

"I realize this invitation is quite sudden, but Her Majesty is of an advanced age. We must do everything we can to fulfill her few remaining wishes. I know you must have questions, but there is an explanation for all of this..."

Before his departure, Miss Windsor had indeed given the Earl a reason for this invitation. But the Earl was convinced the young man before him wouldn't believe it. He had initially thought Jenkins Williams was just an ordinary man with a bit of luck and some talent, but meeting him in person revealed just how intimidating his silence could be.

Earl Bidden didn't want to lie to him—it was an intuition born from long experience, and he trusted it. So, he decided to offer a reason of his own making, one that felt more plausible, even if it might cause a great deal of trouble later:

"The truth is... Her Majesty has taken a particular interest in you."

"I'm sorry, what did you just say?"

Jenkins was so startled he nearly scooped his cat off the bar.

"Her Majesty has taken a liking to you," the Earl clarified. "She intends to arrange a match between you and Miss Windsor, which is why she has summoned you. It's understandable, really. Miss Windsor is the Queen's closest young relative, and seeing her well-settled before... the end... is likely Her Majesty's greatest wish right now."

Earl Bidden offered Jenkins a faint smile, then quickly took another gulp of his chilled juice. He was mentally thanking the ice; without it, he would have been drenched in sweat. Even at his age, he couldn't perfectly control his nerves in a situation .

"Is that so? Her Majesty... so the last time I was in Bel Diran, when she excused herself early and left me alone with Miss Windsor, it was because... My apologies, Earl. It's not that I think ill of Miss Windsor, but I'm already... well, as you know, I'm currently a guest in the home of Princess Dolores Stuart."

Jenkins replied, choosing his words carefully. He hadn't detected any deceit in the Earl's statement. That was because... everything the Earl had said was true. The only thing was, no one had instructed the Earl to actually tell Jenkins any of it.