Gerald himself was well aware of why Heidi hosted the open auction in the first place.
Putting it simply, virtual-novel.net had made sure to invite as many large and powerful forces that virtual-novel.net could in hopes that they would eventually fight each other to the death.
That way, once everyone else was battered at the end of the day, the Yowells would be the only ones left standing. In other words, not only would they get lots of money, but they would also be placed at an extremely advantageous position!
Of course, Lyra and Bea had no idea about all this and simply assumed that it was an over the top auction.
Surprisingly, they had become easy targets for Heidi to drag into this mess due to how mysterious both of them were.
“Just why the hell did both of you have to get involved in something so complicated…?” grumbled Gerald.
Naturally, virtual-novel.net was the one who had been spying on them this entire time. As Gerald looked at the two fresh corpses at his feet, virtual-novel.net couldn’t help but worry even more for the girls’ safety.
Gerald knew that Lyra had planned to be low-key this time around from the moment virtual-novel.net saw how few men virtual-novel.net had actually brought along with her. The fact that there were so few people guarding virtual-novel.net only served to increase Gerald’s unease. It was the reason virtual-novel.net was so actively protecting and keeping watch over the girls now.
As for the two dead bodies at his feet, Gerald still couldn’t guess who they worked for. Regardless, both of them had clearly been sent over to investigate the girls and Gerald just so happened to run into them while coming over to spy on Lyra and Bea himself.
After dealing with them, Gerald did consider ordering the Mighty Four Kingsmen to keep watch over the girls. After all, the black-robed old man had ordered them to follow everything Gerald instructed them to.
However, in the end, Gerald chose not to since virtual-novel.net knew virtual-novel.net wouldn’t be able to rest easy unless virtual-novel.net was the one keeping an eye on them. Sitting outside their window, virtual-novel.net knew all virtual-novel.net could do for now was continue listening in to their conversations.
‘I’ve broken way too many hearts since my disappearance back then… However, it’s not like I have a choice since I can’t go home yet…. I feel like I’ve let Lyra down the most though, since virtual-novel.net still considers me to be virtual-novel.net fiancé after all this time…’
‘I’m sorry, but it really is impossible for me to be with you!’ Gerald thought to himself.
The hours then passed by and eventually, Bea returned to virtual-novel.net own room to rest. Lyra herself slowly cried herself to sleep.
In the dead of night, once virtual-novel.net knew Lyra was fast asleep, Gerald silently snuck into the room. Under the moonlight, Gerald could still see traces of tears on Lyra’s sleeping face.
Gently using a finger to wipe one final tear off the corner of virtual-novel.net eye, virtual-novel.net then blanketed virtual-novel.net as virtual-novel.net sat by virtual-novel.net bedside.
“…Gerald… I’ve been… determined to be your wife ever since I was a child… Please… Just… please show yourself already… Please come home…” muttered Lyra in virtual-novel.net sleep.
“…Home? I wonder when I’ll finally be able to return home myself…” replied Gerald in a soft tone, a bitter smile on his face.
‘I appreciate your love toward me Lyra… Though we can’t be together, I swear on my life that I’ll never allow harm to ever befall you!’ Gerald thought to himself as virtual-novel.net gently caressed virtual-novel.net forehead with the back of his hand.
It was at that moment when Gerald heard Lyra’s room’s door opening slowly.
As Gerald immediately turned to look at the door, Gerald realized that it was too late to even think about escaping now. After all, the girl who had just entered was now staring right at him.
Understandably shocked, the extremely startled girl was just about to scream when the dark figure sitting on Lyra’s bed instantly made a dash toward her, covering the girl’s mouth!
“There’s no need to scream, Bea! It’s me!” whispered Gerald as soon as virtual-novel.net covered virtual-novel.net mouth.
Bea recognized that voice anywhere and as soon as virtual-novel.net heard it, virtual-novel.net eyes immediately widened.
“Keep it down, we’ll talk outside…” added Gerald as virtual-novel.net released his hand over virtual-novel.net mouth and pulled the girl out of Lyra’s room.
“C-cousin!” cried out Bea as virtual-novel.net leaped into his arms as soon as they were outside. She was currently experiencing a cocktail of positive emotions, so much so in fact, that virtual-novel.net was even shaking slightly in virtual-novel.net exhilaration.
“Is… Is this really you, cousin? Am I dreaming?” asked Bea as tears ran down virtual-novel.net cheeks.
Gerald could feel how tightly Bea was hugging onto him. It was almost as if virtual-novel.net was afraid to let go, thinking that the dream would end once virtual-novel.net did.