It's not so much that Quilin put Brooke Xiu'an under house arrest, but rather that the old priest himself chose to stay. The Ayer family's mansion was not Lockburg, and it did not hinder the power of magic, and Brooke, as a high priest, could leave at any time - but he stayed peacefully, and Quillin had always treated him as his most honored guest.

In return, Brooke would tell Quillin some news, some of the priests of the water gods scattered across the continent, so that Quillin knew about what was happening in Ston Buchi before many people...... and much more.

The Collins Sanctuary may have disappeared into the mist, Sean Froster may have been questioned, and the Sage of the Water God may have been someone else...... But the power of the Water God Temple did not collapse there.

Sometimes Quilin can't help but wonder why Brooke stayed. Is it ulterior motives...... Or did he know Quillin's ulterior motives? Did he really stay in his room as he seemed and never left? How much did he know?......

Those unspeakable apprehensions made him always a little uncertain when facing the old man.

It took him a moment to adjust his breathing, knocking softly on the old priest's door, only to wait longer than usual for an answer.

Brooke stood up from his chair in front of the window, the half-open curtains allowing the soft morning sunlight to fill the room and the guards outside to see him at a glance.

Moira's presence didn't seem to surprise him, and the smile that bloomed along the wrinkles was tinged with the kindness of the elders in just the right amount of respect.

"Your Majesty. He calmly bowed to Moira.

In contrast, Moira's hurried and stiff return salute was too nervous.

"Lord Xiu'an. She spoke softly. His expression was reserved, but his words were simple and straightforward: "I know this is a reluctant request...... Can you accompany me back to Stamp Butch?"

Quillin stood aside, unmoved. He remembered that the Queen's request just now was only to "have Master Xiu'an teleport me back to Ton Buch...... Now the request is for fear or something else. He guessed that even Moira herself might not be able to tell. He should perhaps have reminded the queen that it was the king's order to "imprison" Brooke. It's one thing to let Scott and Ed go in situations like last night, it's another to openly defy the King's orders when he seems to be sane...... In any case, Ante Bofford is still alive, and such a move does not help Moira to achieve the "stability" she wants.

But in the end, he just chose not to say a word.

The abrupt and unreasonable request made the old pastor's face show a hint of surprise.

"I think you already know what's going on with Stonebuge right now...... Something dangerous?" he asked.

Moira nodded, "Lord Ayr has already told me. But that's my responsibility, my lord. The king ......" she bit her lip. Leaving a circle of pale white tooth marks, "...... Bedridden, and the crown prince is still young. If we ditch Lockburg and Stonebutch now. More people will die in the chaos, and ...... I'm afraid we'll never go back. ”

"Your courage is admirable, Your Majesty. Brooke bowed to her, "But there should be a better way than putting yourself in danger." ”

"Perhaps. But I can't think of it. Moira confessed. The smile was weak and bitter, "This is the easiest way I can think of and can do it...... Are you rejecting me?"

She asked so directly that Brooke was stunned and didn't know how to answer.

"I can take you back. ”

Behind her, an unexpected voice suddenly came, calm and low.

Moira jerked her head back, her heart plummeting uncontrollably, and then she jumped wildly as if it were about to burst out of her chest.

She opened her mouth. But he couldn't say a word, but subconsciously reached out and grabbed Quillin's arm again. Almost unsteady on his feet.

The Lord of Visa City was no less surprised and flustered than she was, but she still managed to keep her composure.

“...... Scott Criesers. He opened his mouth to call out the name of the uninvited guest, and the chaotic images of last night flashed through his mind, leaving a vivid color of blood.

"I don't think I need to summon the guards?" he asked calmly.

Even when he saw Scott appear, Brooke didn't show the slightest surprise, which made Quilin very suspicious that this "guest" was not visiting the place for the first time, and he was very suspicious that even if the guards were called, it would be of much use.

Scott smiled indifferently and spread his hands away from the long sword at his waist. The sun shone on his blonde hair and into his light blue eyes, making him look nothing like the man who was covered in blood last night and mercilessly claimed a dozen lives.

"I'm sorry. He looked at Moira and said sincerely, "I don't mean to frighten you. ”

Moira shook her head pale, though she wasn't sure if he meant last night or now.

Her gaze fell to the ground, and the sunlight made Scott's shadow clear—at least he wasn't a ghost.

"Are you really willing to help me?"

Her voice still trembled slightly as she spoke.

"If you will take my word for it. Scott stared straight at her.

Moira hesitated for a moment, then slowly let go of Quirin.

“...... Your Majesty. Quillin's simple name was tinged with warning.

Even if the man standing in front of him looks calm and motionless, he can make people feel an inexplicable danger...... An indescribable momentum. What's more, no one knows exactly how he died...... Or whether he really died, and how he returned, and why he returned.

Quillin was sure that he could easily kill Ante, no matter how many people the king was under protection...... If he really wants to avenge himself. He had heard many rumors and had seen this man with his own eyes. It really brings the shadow of death, and the flames of hell.

Maybe he wanted more? Maybe his hatred couldn't be eliminated by Ante's simple death? Maybe he wanted to destroy the dynasty he had fought for and trampled on his blood to survive?

Behind him. Brooke didn't say a word, as if everything in front of him had nothing to do with him.

“...... I believe you. ”

Moira whispered.

When she returned to Mansini's house, Moira had a look of joy and sorrow on her face. That made Agnes tilt her head and look at her for a long time, unable to judge whether her wayward demands had been met.

"So, what?" she had to ask, "are Lord Ayer and the old priest who was abandoned by his goddess willing to go mad with you?"

Moira came to her senses and glared at her, but she didn't know where to start blaming her sister, who was ungodly and unwilling to take any responsibility.

But she may have really gone crazy to believe Scott......

After choking for a moment. She simply gave up thinking about the impulse or choice of the decision, and instead asked, "Is Frederick in his room?" ”

"At least as I was leaving, he was trying to lull his overgrown little sister to sleep with a story he didn't know where to hear. Agnes yawned listlessly. "I think he's better at it than I am, so I'll leave it to him. ”

Moira shook her head helplessly and walked to the children's room, but there was also a slight pride in her heart. Frederick was a good boy and smart. Lively. Wide range of interests...... Although there is no long-lasting enthusiasm for each interest.

Perhaps because he is the eldest son and the crown prince, he is somewhat arrogant, usually does not like to stay with his quiet and well-behaved brother Brandon, and is even more impatient with his crying little sister June. But in the past few days, in the face of sudden changes, he has behaved unusually calm and reliable, hardly like a child who is not yet twelve years old......

He's not like Ante, and he's not like Moira. It's more like Ogden, her eldest brother who died unexpectedly a few years ago.

If Ogden is here......

Moira shook her head. Shake off the useless nostalgia.

While she was still in the hallway, she heard June's penetrating cry - it seemed that she didn't like Frederick's story very much.

The guards standing in front of the door looked at each other, as if hesitating whether to go in and see what was going on. Apparently relieved by the presence of Moira and Agnes, they graciously pushed the door open for them. For them, the shrill cry that the little girl could not stop was probably a weapon more terrible than a sword.

The situation inside the door made Moira, who had just gathered a little smile on the corner of her mouth, freeze there, and the blood on her body instantly froze into ice.

A tall man stood in the center of the room, flicking Frederick's limp body over his shoulders. He glanced back at her, her well-defined face familiar, her dark eyes dull and dull without a glimmer of light in her sunken eye sockets.

He ignored the stunned man in the doorway, and just reached out to grab Brandon to himself. The frightened little boy sat motionless on the ground, his eyes wide in horror.

“...... Get out of here, let go of my baby!" Moira screamed, desperately rushing over. The guards finally reacted, and rushed at the enemy who came out of nowhere with their spears, but they did not dare to attack with all their might.

The man reached out and grabbed the tip of a spear, and the blood from the cut palm slowly dripped down, but he didn't seem to feel anything, just looked down and watched as Moira quickly took Brandon away from his eyes.

He frowned slowly, as if struggling to think of something, then pulled his spear to block another blow, and suddenly turned and rushed to the window, smashing through the ornate but insecure glass amid the little girl's heart-rending cry and Moira's involuntary scream, and falling into the courtyard outside, disappearing into the dense flowers in a few moments, barely human-like.

Moira dropped Brandon and rushed to the window, trembling as the guards chased after her, trying to climb up to the ledge, but was stopped by Agnes and dragged back.

"Don't be stupid!" she cried out in her ear in exasperation, "and you can't catch up with him...... Go see June, Moira, go see your daughter! she's crying......"

Something seemed to be blocked in her ears, and her sister's voice sounded dull and weird, making Moira almost suspect that everything in front of her was not real, and that she was just stuck in a nightmare.

But it's not a dream.

As she fell limply to the ground, she suddenly remembered the man's name.

That's Bye Young.

(To be continued......)