"You are right..." Emmelyn let out a long sigh. "So, I guess, I shouldn't take risks. Let's avoid Summeria then."

"No, we shouldn't avoid Summeria," Maxim said. "It's my home. I want to bring you to see my country while you are here."

He wanted to show Emmelyn his kingdom. Maxim hoped she would like Summeria and enjoyed staying here with him after her mission was accomplished.

"But I need to go to see the Leoraleis," Emmelyn said. "Can we visit your home after I finish my business in Myreen?"

"Hmm... My mother actually lived in Myreen for several years," Maxim explained. "If you want to find Myreen, you have to talk to my mother. She might be able to give you directions."

"Huh? Your mother lived in Myreen? How come? Didn't you say Myreen has been hidden for over a century?"

"Uhm, that's right, but my mother did spend some part of her childhood in Myreen. It's a long story," said Maxim. "So... do you want to find Myreen or not?"

"Sure, if I can get some clues from your mother, I will be glad to see her." 

Emmelyn really thought her luck was starting to change after she returned to Atlantea. This made her realize that her decision to come here was the right decision. Now, not only she met with Maxim. but his mother apparently also knew about Myreen.

If Emmelyn could find the Leoraleis and sort out her business with them quickly, she could return to Harlow quickly too. Ahh.. maybe she was meant to meet Maxim's family.

With that in mind, Emmelyn finally nodded in approval. 

"All right. But how am I going to avoid the king?" Emmelyn asked Maxim. 

"Let me handle it," Maxim said firmly. "I have my way."

"Huh? How?"

"It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you now," Maxim replied with a chuckle. "Please, just trust me."

Emmelyn looked at him suspiciously. She thought Maxim was hiding something. But... what was it?

Also... it was really a surprise that Maxim apparently had a connection to Myreen. What were the odds?

She actually thought it was weird that Maxim was connected to Myreen somehow through his mother but it was her who got cursed without ever visiting the place or knowing anything about Myreen except from the stories she had heard.

However, she quickly brushed it off and focused her mind on her plans going forward. She told herself this was just a coincidence.

"Okay... you seem to be so confident, I will trust you," Emmelyn commented. "Well... I actually came to Lakeshire to meet someone named Lysander. He is a knight for hire whose mother helped me once, back in Terra and I promised his mother that I will see him."

"Hmm..." Maxim furrowed his brows and pretended to remember something. "Lysander, right? Is his name Lysander Lowell? I think I met the man in my inn. I am also staying in Lakeshire for the night."

"What? You did??" Emmelyn couldn't believe this coincidence. "How many inns do they have in Lakeshire that you can stay in the same place as the man I was looking for?"

"Just one," Maxim replied. "Lakeshire is a small town."

"Oh..." Emmelyn wrung her hand and tried to think of a solution. "Then I am bound to meet him. I have to explain that I no longer want to meet the king."

"Yes. I am sure he can understand. I will also talk to him," said Maxim. "You don't have to worry. Let me handle things here. You can count on me."

His words of reassurance felt like a splash of refreshing cold water on Emmelyn's heart. She knew how resourceful this man was. She trusted Maxim and thought if he said he could do something, he meant it.

It felt so good to have someone by her side who understood her and was willing to share the burden. 

Emmelyn felt so relieved.

"Thank you," she whispered. Emmelyn was truly grateful for Maxim. Finally, things start to look bright and she could see the light at the end of her dark tunnel.

"Now... let's eat. I will roast this rabbit for you. Are you hungry?" Maxim went back to his rabbit and brandished it. "I can make a fire here."

Emmelyn suddenly remembered that she was planning to do the same thing with her fish and that was the reason she stumbled into the trap that Maxim set.

"Wait... I am actually traveling with someone. She is waiting for me by the lakeshore with our horses. I bought two fish from a fisherman and planned to grill them. That's why I came here to look for firewood."

"Oh... Who is your traveling companion? Man or woman?" 

"It's a woman," Emmelyn leaned forward and explained who Kira was to Maxim. "She is a pirate and quite formidable. Don't mess with her."

"Pirate?" Maxim thought Emmelyn was a very interesting woman who always attracted interesting people to her. 

"Yes. I think she said she is the daughter of Grim Serpent, the famous pirate lord." Emmelyn briefly explained how she met Kira and ended up traveling with her. 

Maxim looked so impressed. He had heard about the famous pirate group. They gave a lot of headaches to the kingdoms in the coastal area.

He had not had the need to deal with them. However, maybe it would be good to get acquainted with someone from the group.  He might be able to use them to his advantage when the time came.

"Very well. Let's go and see her. Then, after lunch, we can all go to Lakeshire."

Maxim broke the traps that he didn't use and gave Emmelyn the rabbit he caught. Then, he collected some firewood and carried them with him.

They both walked together to the place where Emmelyn left her horse and bag with Kira.

"Hey! What took you so long?" Kira waved vigorously at Emmelyn when she saw the woman walk toward her. She quickly narrowed her eyes when she realized Emmelyn was not alone.

"Hey, Kira... I met an old friend," Emmelyn quickly said Kira, before the woman could ask who the man was. "This is my Maxim. We traveled together two years ago."

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