Chapter 232: Secret Tunnels


    Moulin yearns to ease the heaviness weighing in his chest.


    However, he would be a coward to run away from the pain as his mother had taught him to face his troubles and search for answers. And if answers were never there to exist for him, he would find it himself. But trapped within these walls, he could not find a way.


    Currently, the bright morning light dappled over his figure. He satnguidly on the chaise couch, hoping to find peace within the silence and the gentle rays of the day. But he couldn''t. His eyes downcast,shes lowered seeming to flutter, he blinked slowly. He looked like he came out from a painting. Gradually, the pen within his fingers stopped. With furrowed eyebrows, Moulin ced the pen on the books at his side and carefully folded the letter in his hands.


    "Young master..." A soft voice called.


    A smile graced the youth''s fine lips. Silver eyes lifted, the sun rays caught within his irises. He nodded to P, who offered him a cup of tea.


    "Thank you, P." He whispered as he tipped the teacup to his lips.


    P''s eyes brightened as she held the tray tightly to her chest. Moulin restored her position as his personal attendant. No amount of joy couldpare to how she was feeling. Although Moulin presented her with another chance to prove herself, she could not help but cry out as she kneeled while apologizing to him several times for wronging him. Moulin was kind enough to forgive her and give her another chance. This time, she promised never to break her master''s trust again.


    Beaming, she bowed. "All for you, young master."


    Moulin chuckled while nodding. As he ced the cup of tea on the table, he handed the letter to the young woman before him. His eyes softened as his gaze lingered on the letter P received.


    "Deliver this safely to her..."


    "Of course, young master." P blinked. A wrinkle appeared between her brows. The young master sends his mother letters every day even though he knew that she couldn''t write back to him. Pity filled her eyes, but she praised the youth in her heart. The third young master is a strong and brave person. But to even conceal the hurt in his eyes, P wanted tofort him.


    She bowed and decided to do her duties and deliver the letter tasked to her. It seems she will be climbing the walls again.


    After she left, a heavy sigh escaped the youth''s lips. Moulin nced behind him to see Snow sleepingfortably on the bed. A bright sapphire gem decorated the little beast''s furry neck. It was the ne his mother had gifted to Snow and the only jewelry Snow liked. When Moulin found it, Snow''s was running in circles in excitement. Turning his gaze away, Moulin continued to watch the view at the balcony.


    "I expected you were a person that spends his time staring at nothing."


    An amused voice instantly caught Moulin''s attention. The youth did not turn. Instead, he lowered his head and chuckled lightly. "Good morning, n."


    Alsander grinned as he closed the door and entered the room. He ambled towards the couch and leaned sat on the armrest with an improper posture. He didn''t care.


    "Enjoying your tea time?" Alsander asked while he searched the room for the food-thieving fox. He sighed when he spotted Snow sleeping soundly o. The bed.


    "It calms my nerves..." Moulin muttered as he downed the tea. "Care for some?"


    "I appreciate the offer, but I have other ways of calming one''s nerves."


    "Oh?" Moulin lifted his eyes slightly. "And that is?"


    Alsander had waited for this response, and a grin formed on his lips. His eyes curved mischievously. "If youe with me, I''ll show you."


    Moulin chuckled. "I can''t leave the room today. My brother will be here at any moment."


    "For what reason?"


    "Health reasons."


    Alsander scoffed. "Young master, as much as it amuses me to watch your brother shower you with affection and mind-breaking protectiveness, it is annoying when they can''t even let you go to entertain yourself. Stop worrying about them ande with me instead. I''ll entertain you to my very bones."


    "That sounds ominous," Moulin said as he put down his cup. "But intriguing." Silver eyes slowly lifted to meet amber ones. Moulin smiled, "Let''s see what you have in mind..."


    Both of them exited the room. And as Alsander began to lead the way with an eager expression, Moulin began to doubt him.


    Alsander led him to a route Moulin didn''t know had existed in the estate. They passed by several guards and hid from the eyes of the imperial knights. When he witnessed Alsander unexpectedly pulling down a sconce on the wall, Moulin gaped when a secret entrance was revealed before his eyes.


    ''What?'' Silver eyes gawked.


    "You didn''t expect this did you?" Alsander chuckled. "Come, hurry, or someone will find us. "He pulled the dazed Moulin inside, and the wall flipped them to the other side.


    Moulin recognized the dark tunnels as the secret passages of the manor. It was used for the evacuation of the noble family if a raid or attack would ur. Fearlessly entering the estate''s underground tunnels, they entered one door, and another and another until they arrived at a dead end.


    Moulin stood before a towering wall of bricks. It was old and dusty. There was the sound of dripping water and the strong smell of dirt and murky mud. The orange light of the flickering torches were the only things keeping him calm.


    Blinking, Moulin stared at the dark, dusty wall. "You brought me here to see this?"


    "Yes, interesting, right?" Alsander raised an eyebrow with a smirk.


    A frown fell upon Moulin''s face. "I am more interested in knowing about how in the world did you find the route to this ce?"


    Alsander tsked twice, "I am not a master informant for nothing, third young master. I have a great set of skills. Do you prefer a demonstration for validity?"


    Moulin rolled his eyes, "No need."


    He shook his head slightly. The ground beneath his feet didn''t feel strong. The ce looked abandoned, like it hasn''t been used for years. And somehow, he felt a strange feeling while he stood within the enclosed space.


    Alsander, the curious man he is, wouldn''t bring him here to look at walls. Moulin sensed there was something hidden.


    Moulin stared at the wall before him. His eyes seemed as though they were staring through the thickyer of dust and dirt coating the wall. Delicate fingers reached out. They pressed gently. It was delightfully soft.


    Moulin stopped.


    Suddenly, he used both hands to wipe off the wall. He didn''t even care if the rocks scraped his skin and dirt entering his fingernails. Alsander''s eyes deepened.


    When a considerable part of the wall was cleaned, Moulin stepped backwards.


    Runes.


    There weren''t like the elven runes he had seen on the pce of Thundralln. The symbols formed a giant ring, and within it was another set of runes forming another ring. Moulin furrowed his brows at the emblem of the orbiting rings.


    A giant three-headed serpent. A horned serpent looked straight at Moulin with bared fangs and two other serpent heads at either of its sides.


    A memory shed inside Moulin''s head. This was the statue he had seen when he had ventured the altar chambers when he had rescued the elven princess Eilhara in the dark fortress during his mission.


    The three-headed serpent...


    The glowing eyes of burning red and cold fierce blue. Vigal... Morhas''s father.


    Why was it sculpted on the walls of his home?


    "Fascinating, isn''t it?" Alsander''s eyes brightened as he walked to Moulin''s side. "I have seen such carvings in the temple ruins of Rafelon. The God of Veialeans and the rest of the dark forces lurking in the depths of Corahn. The mighty Vigal, the Devil Serpent Iraz, Lord of Demon Creation." Alsander''s eyes gleamed.


    An incredulous expression shaped Moulin''s face. He stepped back, eyebrows drawn with confused eyes.


    Alsander could not see Moulin''s expression, which was enveloped by the shadows. His eyes raked over the carvings in the wall with interest. "I heard the dwelling of your family''s mages and seers was named after your grandmother? Tremaine, was it? I heard she''s a mage."


    Moulin nced at him with uncertain eyes. "What does that have to do with this?"


    "Nothing, I just made a guess." Alsander chuckled. "Why have you be so tense, young master?"


    Moulin stopped. He turned his head away. Silver eyes nced at the carvings on the wall again.


    "What does this mean?"


    Alsander blinked. "I brought you here thinking you might know about it more than I do. Do you really not know?"


    The youth''s head shakes.


    "Hm. Perhaps, I was wrong..." Amber eyes deepened. "Your family might be more mysterious than I thought. Do you realize what happens if the people from the Imperial pce know about this?"


    Silver eyes shed. Moulin stared at Alsander deeply.


    Feeling a chill climb up his spine, the young man chuckled while raising his hands in surrender. "I may be intrigued with this piece of information, but I do not wish for your family to fall, especially in the hands of those disgusting royalty. Calm yourself, alright?"


    Moulin narrowed his eyes. "I am certain my family does not even know this exists."


    Tilting his head, Alsander furrowed his brows. "Are you sure about that?"


    "... I''m sure." With a whisper, Moulin looked away.


    "..."


    Shrugging, the Vernallian young master only, turned away with a sigh. Moulin only sounded in denial. However, Alsander believed that the carvings should''ve existed before Lord Fraunces''s time. He didn''t want to believe that the prominent grand noble family had a terrible secret. They didn''t look like they were conspiring with the dark guilds. At first, Alsander had his suspicions, and instead of staying low, he brought Moulin here to see if it was true. However, the youth seemed to be clueless about the carving''s existence, not even mention the tunnels themselves.


    "How strange... " He muttered quietly.


    Moulin eyes appeared as if they would burn through the carving. There was resentment and fear. Far of what? He wasn''t sure. An uneasy feeling crept in his gut. It felt as though something was waiting for him to give in. Something was trying to tell him something... or someone...


    But he couldn''t recall.


    "Moulin? What are you doing?"


    Moulin snapped out of his thoughts. When he looked ahead, he realized his arm was outstretched. His fingers had touched the sharp fangs of the middle head serpent. Panic seized him, and he hastily pulled his hand away. The fang scraped his finger. A bead of blood dripped from the open flesh. Crimson faintly stained the tip of the stone fang.


    They didn''t notice the bloodstain fading into the stone as if it was absorbed.


    "Are you alright?" Alsander asked, confused by Moulin''s shocked expression.


    "I''m..." Moulin stared at his filthy hands and the tiny wound at the tip of his index finger.


    Suddenly, he felt something shift inside him.


    BOOOOOM!!!


    The ceiling quivered, raining down dust upon their heads. The walls shook around them. An explosion!


    It seems to be happening from above ground!


    "What in the world is going on up there?..." Alsander furrowed his brows.


    Moulin heart thundered. A foreboding feeling suddenly swept inside him.


    What ising?