"What is this?" a woman asked.
"It's something I found in George's house. A certain record of a sole coal mine in the region," Vincent replied after he placed a thin notebook on a table in front of his mother.
Before departing with Alisia, he wanted to meet his mother to pass her this.
When Vanessa heard a "coal mine" her body trembled, "A-Are you telling me that this is…"
"Yes. If the father was truly taken to the mine all those years ago then this one should be the one we need," Vincent calmly spoke.
Vanessa's heartbeat was racing. She was thinking about her husband all these years.
Vanessa remembered that exact day as if it was yesterday when David used himself so that she wouldn't be taken into the pleasure house after their village failed to meet the quota for tribute.
He literally begged to take him instead of her and promised that he'll work twice as much as others.
The envoy who took a brief liking of Vanessa almost instantly accepted it. Though Vanessa was the most beautiful in the village, she wasn't really much special outside of it. And moreover, coal mines bring much more benefits to their clan than girls they've sent to pleasure houses.
Vanessa tried to stop him, but it was too late as envoys already agreed.
She especially remembered his words after they shared their last kiss.
He always liked to spend time with you more than with me, so take good care of our little fella when I'm gone. And kids always need their mother more than father at this age. And please, don't worry. It will be just a few months and I'll be back. Maybe I will come back right at his 3rd birthday.
But as time went on, he didn't come.
She came to see the village chief to find the reason why her husband is yet to come back as she knew that village chief was a person from North Star so he should know something.
But after she came, he brushed her off his house without explaining and also said something that infuriated her, telling that he'll find out about her husband if she becomes his bed-warmer for a month.
Vanessa naturally refused this ridiculous condition and decided to never come even close to the village chief's house as a seed of hatred was planted in her heart.
Not knowing if he was alive or dead caused her a lot of stress and sleepless nights. But for her son's sake, she forced herself to be a proper mother, placing those worries on the back of her head.
But now, after Vincent grew up and they left the village, those thoughts gradually emerged.
Seeing this notebook, Vanessa sobbed a bit as hope finally was brought back into her heart.
But her son's next words were like a bucket of freezing water spilled on her.
"Mother, you know very well that many years have passed since his disappearance. There's a very high chance that he's… already left this world. You need to prepare for the worst outcome," Vincent calmly spoke, but his voice carried a sense of worry.
"And if it truly will turn out that he has passed away…" Vincent slowly closed his eyes as he quietly swore an inner oath:
'They will not die, no. Death will be a privilege that I'll deny them.'
Then he opened his eyes and looked at his mother,"I swear to you. Regardless of who they are, where they are, they pay the heaviest price," though the voice was calm, it already made the women in the room shiver.
Alisia was not an exception as she tightly held his hand.
"I know, dear. I had long ago prepared myself for it," Vanessa replied with a smile that made Vincent slightly narrow his eyes as he felt that something was wrong with it.
"I'm going into isolation for around a month so I will be absent most of the time. The current issue with North Star city is resolved so there shouldn't be any unexpected dangers any time soon," he confidently spoke.
Vanessa lowered her eyes, contemplating something.
Patricia simply nodded.
And Alisia just held his hand, without intervening.
Vincent then passed a thick pouch on the table to the two women.
"There's almost 50 gold coins. Do whatever you want with them."
Patricia was stunned as slight greed could be seen in her eyes. All her life she was struggling to feed herself and her daughter after her husband's passing away.
Seeing this much money, Patricia felt odd within her heart.
Meanwhile, Vanessa's expression changed briefly before coming to normal.
"Are you sure you want to give this to us? With this amount of money, several people can live a leisurely life for years."
Vincent briefly looked at Patricia, "I have enough for my needs."
Money has no value to him and never has.
After that he turned around and left the room.
But no one had noticed that in the corner of his eyes, tears were present as his heart was squeezed by this newfound feeling.
"Mother, just accept it. If he says something, he truly means it," Alisia spoke with a smile and also left, following Vincent.
The room became silent as only two women were left.
"Our kids grew up so quickly… It almost feels like they don't need us anymore," Patricia chuckled to herself, as her heart squeezed in sadness, "Though I knew that this day would eventually come, it is still quite painful no matter how much I prepared myself."
Vanessa was no different as she looked at the door.
She bit her lip but didn't say anything.
"Here is the exact half," Patricia spoke and pushed 24 gold coins to Vanessa.
Vanessa slowly looked at the money, but she didn't feel any joy from it.
'It almost feels like he used this money to pay for my service as his mother for all these years. As if he…'
Even though she was almost sure this wasn't his thought, she just cannot get rid of that feeling. It felt like a knife stabbing her heart.
Tears started to flow from her eyes.
Patricia looked at her in shock but she couldn't understand why she was crying.
After Vanessa sobbing somewhat calmed down, Patricia broke the silence, "You know, I plan on leaving."
"I always wanted to see the outside world, even if just a part of it, but never had the means for it. But with this money and with Alisia being protected by Vincent, I can finally try to achieve that dream."
"Though I don't know how much Vincent has changed, I can see that he'll never hurt her. With this, I can leave her in his care with a calm heart."
"What about you? Are you going to go search for David?"
Vanessa glanced at Patricia before slowly taking the notebook.
"Yes. Though this might be dangerous, I don't care. I need to find him or I will not be able to move forward in life," Vanessa replied with a heavy heart.
Patricia slightly nodded and placed her on her shoulder, "I wish you success. And if it turns out that David is no longer with us, please, don't lose yourself. I had lost my husband years ago so I know this feeling very well. If not for Alisia, I have no idea how things would turn out for me."
Vanessa nodded with a weak smile, "Thank you. I also wish you the best."
Afterwards, the room became silent.