154: Seed

I heard the conversation continue between the three of them, with Jen leaning against a counter. I didn’t see Liane, though, which only meant one thing.

“Liane, help me find the stairs upstairs,” I whispered.

“No fair, you need to let me jump scare you. You can’t call me out like that,” Liane said sadly.

I laughed, but we got to work checking doors and trying to find the stairs.

It didn’t take long for Liane to find it. I was surprised because the doorway was very well hidden, as the wall and the door seemed to blend seamlessly.

As we made our way upstairs, Liane whispered again, “Sooo… what is upstairs that’s got your attention?”

“There is something glowing brightly up here,” I whispered back, still watching it glow.

“Ooh, a mystery!” Liane giggled as we made our way further.

The upstairs seemed to be very basic living quarters, with two empty rooms with wooden floors and a very high roof, with the third room was a small lab, with its stone floors and stone counters along the edge of the room.

I made my way to the seemingly regular room that had the glow. It appeared to be completely empty. Looking over the wooden floor, my eyes were locked on the spot where I could still see the glow.

“I think it’s under the floor?” I said, looking over the wood panels carefully.

They didn’t appear any different. Nothing stood out as removable.

“Where exactly is it?” Liane asked, pulling out her dagger.

I got on the floor and pointed directly at the spot. She quickly tried to dig her daggers into the wood and pry it up, but she found no luck, as her knife seemingly scraped across the surface, not even leaving a scratch.

“Huh, it’s protected by magic? Whatever this is, Trev, I don’t think they wanted anyone to find it,” Liane said.

“Should I get Milo?” I asked curiously. Surely he’d know.

“No, not while the princess is here. Whatever this is, someone wanted it to remain hidden,” Liane said.

I just nodded. It also crossed my mind that Lily might be able to help, but there was just as much chance of her putting a hole in the floor.

“Let’s head back down,” Liane said.

I nodded, taking one last look at it. There appeared to be two items, one barely larger than a dilwater berry. The other was almost certainly a jar of something.

As we made our way back down, the conversation between the Princess, Milo and Micca was still ongoing, with the Princess now suggesting turning the ground floor into an upmarket cafe, selling cakes, pastries, tea, and other hot beverages, then selling the candies in a more private setting.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I got distracted. There is an upstairs area too, but I see that you have already found that,” she said, noticing the direction we came from.

“Yes, thank you. If I may ask, Your Highness, who used to own this shop?” I asked.

Kathrine’s face dropped. “An old alchemist by the name of Bosco, who regrettably passed away last year. He was well loved, and taught an entire generation. He was likely the best alchemist we have had in this kingdom, so losing him was a big loss for us all.”

There was sadness in her voice, as it seemed like she knew him personally.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” I answered.

“It’s fine. As you can see, he did well for himself in the end. His journals are in the royal library now, much to the alchemist guild’s annoyance, although they dare not argue with his last wishes,” she let out a bitter laugh.

Milo gave a small cough. “This might be presumptuous, but you don’t see eye to eye with the alchemist guild, I take it?”

She seemed to straighten up a little. “The kingdom and the alchemist guild work hand in ha—”

Liane didn’t even let her finish. “He didn’t ask the kingdom. He asked you.”

A smile appeared briefly on Kathrine’s face. “Are you always so blunt? My father was complaining about how you berated him in the carriage. I’ve not heard him complain like that unless my mother was telling him off,” she laughed again.

“Okay, off the record, no, I don’t particularly like the alchemy guild’s practices, but officially we are in alliance,” she said.

“I see. I only ask because these candies, and likely the other products to follow, will probably upset some of the alchemists when they find out, and we need to know that Micca will be safe,” Milo said.

“Hm. Well, Trevor has the King’s protection and everything that comes with that, so they won’t do anything openly. If I may suggest, spread a rumour, true or not, that Lord Ashmoon and his companions are very good friends with her, and I’m sure that fear will stop a lot of underhanded tactics,” she said.

“That’s not a rumour. we are friends, and just Trevor, please,” I protested.

She shook her head. “You’re a noble house now. That makes you a Lord. Nice name, by the way. I like it. Anyway, I will leave you all to it to make your plans. I’ve intruded long enough.”

Stolen novel; please report.

And with a quick bow, she left the room and was gone.

“Well, it’s certainly going to be interesting working out of here,” Micca said, looking around.

Following Micca as she went through the rooms, making sure there was plenty of time for Kathrine to leave, I finally got Milo’s attention.

“There’s something upstairs, by the way, hidden in the floor,” I said in a whisper.

“Oh?” His eyes lit up.

“It’s protected by some magic I couldn’t pierce,” Liane added.

This seemed to really grab his attention, along with Micca’s and Jen’s.

“Well, lead on. Let’s find out what we have here,” he said with a giant smile.

A few moments later, we were all piled into the room as I pointed to the spot on the floor. He knelt next to it, closely inspecting the piece of wood.

He was there for several minutes as we all watched in silence.

“This may be beyond me. It’s incredibly complex, and I’m worried if I force it, the items inside will be destroyed,” he said, shaking his head.

“Lily won’t work either then?” I asked.