Chapter 34: A talk with Moscov (1)
But the mighty, mad dog, nutjob could nowhere be found when he is standing Bianca.
But right now, he is more like a wet cat with his tail between his legs.
Inside the Bianca's room.
Bianca is frowning hard, seeing the unconscious Moscov.
Jully was standing beside her with a worried face.
Jon was sitting on his knees like an obedient kid, waiting for punishment.
Moscov was lying down on a couch beside Bianca.
This is a total mess.
"Jon, I told you, you can ask Master Moscov to come to the Alden house. And last time I checked, there isn't any secret code that says inviting someone to one's house meant to kidnap them." –Bianca stated. She was getting a headache just thinking the thought going through Jon's head.
"Madam, I'm sorry I didn't think it through." –Jon.
"No matter our past relationship with Master Moscov in the past, the fact is, now he is the top Alchemist in our city and a member of the Alchemy Pavilion. And that isn't something we should have an antagonizing relationship with. Don't you even understand that much?" –Bianca.
"…" –getting scolded, Jon could only keep silent.
"Tell me what the real reason behind this is. And don't give me bullshits like this is to keep the honor of the house or something of the same line. Right now, I'm still thinking of your punishment. Your answer could determine the severity of your punishment. So, think before you answer. What is your motive here?" –Bianca said coldly.
Jon felt like crying.
"Mam… I swear I didn't have any motive…"
"Shut it. I'm sure she promised you something, right? Even if she didn't, I'm not going to believe what you said one bit." -Bianca denounced. "But setting that aside, are you sure you didn't kill him? Why is he not up yet?" –Bianca pointed at Moscov.
It's been an hour since Moscov got kidnapped from his room.
He still hasn't shown any sign of waking up.
If not for them checking his breathing, they would have thought Jon had killed this Middle-aged man.
"Madam, I'm sure he is just sleeping right now. We should pour a bucket of cold water on him. That would wake him up." –Jon was holding a grudge on Moscov.
Couldn't this idiot obediently follow him back? Why did he make things difficult for him?
Bianca's mouth twitched while Jully shook her head with a sigh.
This big brother of hers never learns.
"Jully, see if you can get Master Moscov up." –Bianca.
"Yes, Madam." –Jully went to Moscov and started to call out to him gently.
After a moment, Moscov finally woke up. But the environment around him is completely different and unfamiliar.
He was very confused.
Who is the girl that is talking to him? He didn't know her. From her dress, she is clearly a maid, but whose?
Wasn't he still in his room at Alchemy Pavilion? How did he get here?
He looked around only to see some familiar faces.
"Madam Baroness? Is that you?" –he thought he was dreaming. Because there was no way he should be in front of her.
"Yes, Master Moscov. But first, let me apologize to you for all this. My servant has been rude to you." –Bianca politely said. But she wouldn't bow to Moscov. Her pride wouldn't allow it to.
"No, no, please don't, Madam. I don't know what happened, but I'm sure you are not to blame for anything." –Moscov said. He too wouldn't want Bianca to apologize to him.
That just doesn't feel right to him.
"Then let me explain it to you first…" –Bianca started to explain.
After listening to it all, Moscov had a blank face. He didn't know how to react to all this.
But since Bianca herself apologized, he felt it would be best to let this go.
"So, that's what happened. I think... we should leave this matter for now." –Moscov. "What I would like to know more now is, what is it that Madam wanted to ask of me? I didn't hear that you sent someone to get me. If I knew, I would have surely come running after listening to your summon."
"Thank you for your understanding. The Alden family appreciates your loyalty very much." –Bianca expressed her thanks.
"There was a reason I asked you to come earlier. Though it was an important reason, I'd talk about it later. Something more urgent has come in hand. As you are here, I'd like to speak with you first. I'd come to Alchemy Pavilion personally for this very reason." –Bianca informed.
Hearing her tone, Moscov knew this must be important.
"What is it, Madam?" –he asked.
"A message came from Baron Alden this morning." –Bianca.
Jon also looked at Bianca. This is news to him too.
"What does it say?" –Moscov was also eager to know any news about Baron Alden.
"He said he would be back in a month, and there seems to be some problems. And we would need potions of different kinds in bulk from Alchemy pavilion." –Bianca."The Alden family has a long history with Master Moscov. So, I'd like to ask for some help from you in this time of need. I'd make a formal request from the Alchemy family. But I want you to help me convince them."
Moscov looked at Bianca, and so did Jon.
From the content, the good thing for Moscov is that Baron is coming back within a month.
The Bad news is he is bringing problems with him.
"Please rest assured, Madam. I'll do whatever I can." –Moscov promised.
At worst, he would think this as the last thing he would have to do to repay for the kindness shown by Aldens.
They started talking about this and that afterward.
It took a couple of hours to put things in order.
Things like getting enough ingredients from surroundings. The potions needed the most, and the request made to Alchemy Pavilion, merchants, and the mercenary groups took a lot of time to make a rough shape.
"Master Moscov, today's incident will cause a lot of troubles with Alchemy Pavilion." –Bianca.
"You don't need to worry about it. This is an emergency. Let me manage Pavilion Master." –Moscov assured.
"Thank you very much for your consideration, Master." –Bianca was truly grateful for the help from Moscov.
The message that came today had two things in its content.
[I'll be back in a month. There will be a war. So, raise an army and get supplies.]
The message was so abrupt that Bianca had no time to even react to it.
Doing all these would need time, and Baron only gave her a month. This is nothing but torture.
But this also shows the trust Baron has in her.
And to make good on that trust, she could only swallow the bitter pill and do it.
She has been putting things together in her head from when she got the news.
And then Jon blew that small storm, giving her more headaches. Now that she talked to Moscov, and he promised to help her, she felt a bit relaxed.
"One last thing, Master. Though I know I'm asking a lot from you, this was the original reason I asked you to come. There is a person in our mansion currently who I respect very much. She had something to ask of you. I'd be very glad if you could make a bit of time to go see her." –Bianca said lastly.
"There's someone that even you respect, Madam Baroness?" –Moscov was surprised. People who could fill the demand were very few in this or the surrounding cities.
She must be someone who has a good enough background to even make him go and greet her. She is a big fish for sure.
"Yes. Please don't get fooled by her appearance. She is worth the respect." –She emphasized.
"All right, Madam. I'll take my leave then." –Moscov.
"Thank you again for listening to me. Please let me know anything I can do for you." –Bianca. "Jon. Escort Master Moscov back. I don't want a single hair on his body to be harmed. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Madam." –Jon said loudly. He had already given enough trouble to her.
He didn't know something like that happened in the meantime. He wouldn't have pulled that stunt if he knew.
Jully was admiring her Madam from the side.
How could someone stay so composed after maintaining all these?
"Madam." –Jully called from behind.
"Yes?" –Bianca.
"Brother didn't mean to cause trouble for you. But he still did so. I hope you find yourself to forgive him." –Jully appealed.
"Mmm. I know that, honey. I don't know what picture you have of me, but I'm not someone, who doesn't understand the other party's intention. So, stop saying meaningless things." –Bianca said. "But he still did something that I can't overlook. So a minor punishment is something I must give out."
"Thank you, Madam." –Jully.
"But more importantly, where is my son? Yesterday I heard that he got injured somehow and when I went to see him myself, he was all good. Not even a hint of damage was on his body." –Bianca.
She doesn't believe that she got the same wrong information from different sources. That means the incident has been covered up. But since it is related to Elena, she didn't pursue it anymore. But worry never left her mind.
"Madam, I saw him going out with Jon in the morning, and then Jon came back with Moscov alone. That means those two are again up to something not good." –Jully.
"…"
Bianca didn't know what to do with these boys. She felt her Headache coming back.
"Since Alliotte didn't report to me, that means, he is not in danger. But why is my silly son always doing something he shouldn't? Jully, do know the answer?" –Though she asked the question to Jully, she was actually questioning herself.
"That I don't know either, Madam." –Jully replied.
She too is always worried about what her brother is doing.
The two women could only sigh, thinking about the deed done by their closest person.
As for Olen, he is nowhere to be found. But Olina is again working at Berdly's Shop due to a shortage of men in the upcoming launch of the new product.