“They believe it is a witch’s work to have resurrected someone back from the dead. The people Lady Heidi grew up with have given their testaments in the court council to tell that she is very much a human and not a witch. It is because Lady Heidi’s name and other details have been registered word to word as she was part of a treaty for peace.”

“A lot of things happened when we weren’t here. Life doesn’t seem like it was fun here,” Vivian stated.

“Should we thank Everest for giving us peace?” he teased her for her to shake her head. 

“I don’t know. I hope Nick isn’t going to be harsh on him. What about us, Leo?”

“What about us?” Leonard asked her back, “Are you wondering if we are going to be charged similar to what Lady Heidi is going through? No one knows about us.”

“They don’t know we have been gone?” 

“Don’t look so disappointed,” chuckled Leonard at her surprised face, “Nick didn’t tell anyone about our deaths. Only my uncle Sullivan knew that we were dead. Nick told the councilmen that we were going to take a long break after everything that had transpired.”

“I am surprised no one ever found out about it,” but somewhere Lord Nicholas had done the right thing by not letting anyone know. If their bodies were dissected to find out, the matter would be nothing less to opening a can of worms which would lead to more than interrogation on them, Lord Nicholas and the witch.

“What about the black witch?” 

“Lord Alexander killed her a few years ago,” upon hearing it, Vivian felt as if they had missed more than a few decades. With the life that had carried on the other side of this world, it seemed like everything had happened a long time ago which had turned it to nothing but a memory, “Our story is that we returned back from a very long vacation. Some might suspect but they will find nothing. Even the bodies that were buried in the ground had been stolen to what we have now.”

“Do you think it is okay to go visit Lord Nicholas now?”

“With the councilmen in there?” Leonard tilted his head but gave an okay.

Vivian wore an overcoat of Lady Heidi, tying up her hair into a bun, she walked next to Leonard down the corridors of the Rune mansion. She missed this place, though they were in the other world, they had no contact of the Rune as Lord Nicholas didn’t exist. But it was understandable now, the world which Everest and Narcicuss had come from, it was a world of peace where everything that was bad to built into them leaving the world there clean with no worry or trouble. It was Vivian’s own theory which made her wonder if she was right but no one knew. She doubted the ghouls had told it to their own master until their return here. 

“I wanted to speak to Lord Alexander,” Vivian said to Leo. There were a few things she had been wanting to do when they were in the fabricated world, hoping if the opportunity presented she would be able to do things which she wasn’t able to do before. 

“He will be back in the evening. He went to drop his wife and son home yesterday. Lord Alexander has been here for most of the time talking to the council so that everyone can close the case.”

He took a look at you and me, saying the ghoul did a pretty good job in fixing us. Also that some of the ingredients potions which he had saved in his mansion were gone which he had made himself.”

“Everest stole them,” Vivian didn’t know what to say to it, “Both the Lords must be really mad at him.”

“You did defend him right?”

“Yes, Bambi,” he chuckled, “I won’t let anything happen to your Mr. Everest.”

On coming to the study room, Leonard knocked and then opened the door to step inside. 

Vivian caught sight of people who she had worked before. It felt nostalgic remembering it. 

“Duke Carmichael and Lady Vivian or should I say, councilwoman Vivian. It is good to see you after your long vacation. I hope you will join the council again, especially you, Lady Vivian,” one of the men shook their hands and Vivian couldn’t help herself from smiling. She had earned the title of being a councilwoman which she prided secretly. 

Lady Heidi was sitting next to Lord Nicholas and it was good to see him. He gave her a smile which she returned. When her eyes met the head council, Reuben’s eyes she saw him look at both Leo and her in a faint curiosity but a smile still on his lips. 

Hearing what the councilmen had to say with regards to Lady Heidi’s surprising return, she stayed quiet listening to everything. With the weeks that had passed, it seemed like the matter had already started to get resolved without any major issues. After their discussion they stood up and shook hands, leaving the two couples in the room. The butler returned back, knocking on the door to say,

“Sir Nicholas, the men have gone.”

Nicholas gave him a nod, “They won’t be coming here again. How was your trip, Vivi?” he asked Vivian.

“Where is Everest?” Leo couldn’t stop the smile that came upon his lips. Only his Bambi would worry about a creature who was in better shape than she was. 

“I won’t hurt or can’t hurt him, Vivi,” Nicholas smiled, the smile that was as a gentle breeze. 

But Vivian knew it was a lie. Sure the ghouls belonged to a different which was part of him as well which he previously wouldn’t have been aware of. They were the supreme creatures and a pureblooded vampire couldn’t hurt it nor could a human or a witch. But that didn’t mean that the ghouls couldn’t hurt each other. Narcissus had hurt the ghoul which was still a little unclear as to why the ghoul would hurt the other one. 

“Narcissus can hurt, Everest,” the smile on Nicholas broadened, “He really has taken to look and share things with you hasn’t it. He’s a hideous creature who has only known to kill people but he is like a child as if trying to understand things like he’s learning. Creatures are not meant to be curious, Vivi. It will lead to the next conflict.”

“Like how the witches and vampires came into existence?” she asked him.

“Yes. Just like us. Right now they are protected but there might be a day where they will be exposed and tested. You have nothing to worry about. His punishment is very simple. I haven’t asked my other ghoul to hurt him. This time it will give him enough time to reflect. It is so so that he will tell without hiding anything from now. The ghouls need to understand the severity of their actions on what could happen if things didn’t go well. Like I said he’s still a child, your kindness has brought another shade of his.”

Vivian nodded her head understandingly. It was enough for now knowing that Mr. Everest was safe, “The other world…have you been there, Nicholas?” Vivian asked curiously. 

“I haven’t. It isn’t a world for the living but for the dead.” Hearing his answer she wondered pursed her lips to hear him say, “It seems like you have something to ask.”

“Is it normal for the ghouls to fight? I saw him once hurt,” Nicholas’ lips twisted as if a secret had been let out of the bag. 

“It isn’t. It was on my order that Everest was picked on. As I stated, that world is not for the living and as it is part of me, the more it stays there, the more it affects me. I knew Everest was up to something but I never expected it to steal bodies and push your souls in there for so many years. I wonder if Narcissus was with him this time though, else it is odd that I am not aware of. What matters is that everything turned out well and you both are here.”

As if wanting to shift the subject, Lord Nicholas asked, “Have you met my lovely wife who is back from the dead?” Lady Heidi who was standing next to him sent him a dry look. 

“The joke is getting old, Nick,” she let out a sigh when he smiled at her. 

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