Lord of The Mysterious Realms Chapter 582

Marquis Mikhail, clad in a dark formal hat and black suit, waited in the carriage. Not a speck of dust marred his polished leather shoes. He had boarded just as his daughter entered the antique shop. Now, he watched her quietly, his hands folded over the gold-inlaid head of his cane.

"Was your visit a success?"

"Yes, it went very well."

Briny felt a little taken aback. She couldn't recall her father ever speaking to her with such warmth. Faced with this unexpected kindness, she was momentarily at a loss for how to respond.

"Good. It occurred to me that I've never paid any mind to your friendships. All I know is that your relationship with the Hersha girl is unusually close... What of your relationship with Baron Williams?"

He asked while removing his hat, offering no explanation for his presence. He didn't look at his daughter as he spoke, instead staring straight ahead, which exerted an immense pressure on Briny.

"We are... friends. The baron is a friend of mine."

She answered cautiously. In truth, all the Mikhail children were a little afraid of this man. His silent stare alone was enough to make them freeze, too nervous to even move.

He tapped the back of one hand with the fingers of the other, a gesture Briny recognized as a dangerous signal.

"We are all friends."

At that moment, she felt she had enough courage to face a legendary dragon.

The middle-aged man grunted softly, and Briny lowered her head, not daring to look at his face.

"I know you've always been reluctant to accept the marriage I've arranged for you, and Miss Hersha is the same. Briny, you now have a chance to seize freedom for both yourself and the Hersha girl. By May of next year, if one of you—either you or Hathaway Hersha—succeeds in becoming Jenkins Williams's lover, or even better, his fiancée, then both I and Earl Hersha will vow never to interfere in the other's future marriage.

I am telling you this alone. Hathaway Hersha will not know. Therefore, the decision of whose freedom to secure rests entirely with you."

He didn't give his daughter a chance to speak, continuing in a terrifyingly calm voice:

"I will say this only once. If you don't wish to see our family ruined, you will not repeat this to a soul. I expect you to be the one to build a close relationship with Baron Williams by next May. Briny, you may not understand my motives now, but rest assured, a father would never harm his own child."

Silence fell inside the carriage. Briny wondered if she was still asleep, completely unable to comprehend what was happening.

She tried to sort through her thoughts:

"Why Jen... Mr. Williams? Even if he truly becomes the future bishop of the Legacy Sage Church for the Nolan diocese, there's no need..."

"Briny, I've already told you, you wouldn't understand right now. Remember my words, and then make your choice. Do you recall the Mikhail family motto—always stay clear-headed."

Marquis Mikhail closed his eyes, then instructed the coachman to turn around and take him to the naval garrison in the Dock Area. Briny dared not speak, her gaze drifting back toward Pops Antique Shop.

She was well aware of Jenkins's background. At least, before this past summer, he had been a completely ordinary person. She had even investigated him after growing suspicious of her lover's wavering affections. He possessed none of the qualities that would compel her father to court him so aggressively...

But an opportunity felt like a gift from the gods. Marquis Mikhail and Earl Hersha had always been close; this had to be a mutual decision.

It was as if a fork in the road had appeared before her. The girl gripped the fabric of her skirt, her knuckles white. She didn't know which path to take, or if she should even take one at all. But everything was laid out before her. Freedom, something she had never even dared to dream of, was now within reach, if only...

Her heart picked up its pace, a shameful, selfish rhythm. But she refused to allow such an outcome.

"Oh, gods, why must you play such a cruel joke on me?"

Chocolate was fond of the Fantasy Flower seeds, a fact known to everyone at the church. This had piqued Papa Oliver's interest as well. After asking an old friend for help, he had managed to unearth some ancient documents that couldn't even be found behind the Hall of All Things in the Nolan diocese.

"The Fantasy Flower's growth is divided into four stages. In the first stage, as a seed, the plant can only be used to brew potions. Consuming it directly can lead to severe diarrhea."

Jenkins nodded. Just after seeing Briny off and asking if he could take a long leave of absence in January, Papa Oliver had suddenly announced he had a surprise. He hadn't expected him to have actually found information on the Fantasy Flower.

He stroked his well-behaved cat, then asked:

"So, are the seeds in the church's backyard completely useless right now?"

"You could say that. After all, every potion that requires the seeds as an ingredient has been lost to time. For the Fantasy Flower to enter its second stage of growth, it needs a vast amount of life spirit. Under normal circumstances, the plant can only absorb this on its own, which explains its long growth cycle. In this stage, the seed becomes a sprout, and this sprout is a potent hallucinogen. Even drinking the dew that flows from the sprout can have dire consequences."

Jenkins glanced at Chocolate, who seemed to have little interest in the plants around the house.

"How dire are the consequences?"

"Hmm... have you ever seen the patients at Nolan's psychiatric hospital?"

Papa Oliver thought for a long moment before finding a suitable analogy.

"I haven't, but I can imagine."

"Good. Because anyone who eats a Fantasy Flower seedling in its second stage becomes crazier than any patient you could ever imagine."

It was a vivid comparison, and Jenkins understood immediately.

"The transition from seedling to bud marks the third stage of growth. This stage isn't catalyzed by the slow passage of time, but by a few special ingredients. Jenkins, I was stunned when I read this myself, but in truth, every fully mature Fantasy Flower is unique. The difference is determined by this step. To enter the third stage, the flower requires the holder's blood, a lover's hair, a friend's spirit, and a stranger's soul. You don't need much of each, but the finished flower can only be used by one person. The flower's ownership is decided during this stage." Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs NoveIꜰire.net