Chapter 60

Almost a month had gone by, and there was no trace of Heather.
His journey towards the neighboring town would have been much quicker if he had not had to meet with the official and head of the estate. Because of the letter which he had sent to his brother directed toward his family, he had to stay true to his lies to at least some extent.
Under no circumstances any member of the family could ever find the truth that Heather at present is not in Mystes, and he had no intention of ending their relationship whatsoever. The only way he could accomplish that was to meet the Duke and Lords as he traveled through their realm.
His meticulous planning had paid off in a variety of ways as well. Not only it kept his mother and father at bay, but it also provided him with the freedom to search for Heather openly. He was able to visit the locals and discreetly asked them about any recent change of events or any peculiar person who had taken residence in their town.
Knowing his lady love, he was convinced that Heather would unavoidably draw notice wherever she chose to live. Aiding people in need was in her nature, and she won’t be able to resist taking a step forward to help those in need, accidentally putting herself in the spotlight.
Even though he was unaware of her whereabouts and had mentally prepared himself with the time span it might take for him to find her, he could not help but sigh in defeat when at the end of the tour, there was not a single trace of Heather, not even as a passerby.
It was rather astonishing since it left him wondering where she might have possibly gone.
His mind is constantly fed with terrible ideas, which ultimately lead to despair and suffering. He still could not give up hope. Heather was there somewhere, and one or another, he would find her. However, he had ventured out to various towns, but there was no sign of her.
He was also struck by the thought that Heather would be hell-bent on getting undiscovered.
What possible places could she go?
If thinking rationally, she could not be near Warsavor. In light of the current situation, Heather would prefer not to be close to his town, especially since she had already decided to leave it. She might not even be in the vicinity of Mystes or anywhere between Warsavor and Mystes. If she were, it would be simpler to locate her.
Nevertheless, his mind suddenly becomes clearer with another idea.
Heather was intelligent. Mystes would be the first place he would look if she expected him to follow her, and if there was no sign of her there, he would most surely search the other side of his village.
Although there wasn't much of a distance between her home and his hometown, there were still a lot of unexplored territories there. One does walk along those paths, but they do not wander outside because the forest does not pique their interest.
He did discover that he had not investigated those nearby areas while he was reflecting on his most recent trip to Mystes. For whatever reason, neither his relatives nor those who came before them have even gone there. Even in the world of business, people never even spend the time to investigate due to the poor or nonexistent earnings that could be made.
Alexander was deliberating deeply. He had a hunch.
He wasn't sure whether he would find Heather there or even her hint that she was there, but it was worth a try. He was not been able to find her up to this point. He let both his brain and heart guide him. While he was considering locating Heather, logic usually came out on top.
Nonetheless, he had a strong feeling that his heart could lead to her. It would be worth the effort.
Even though it might take him almost a weak to follow a long steady route, finding her matter the most. At present, he cannot be seen in Warsavor. If he did, he won't be able to look for her for a long time as he would not have any excusable reason to disappear again, and his mother would make sure to give him every task under the sun and force him to meet with Diona. Not to forget his marriage to her.
The speed at which news spread was rather appalling.
He learned of the initiation of the wedding preparations from one of the dukes while visiting his state.
He really needs to be cautious and find Heather at the earliest.
During this time of the voyage, he did not have to make unnecessary courtesy halt in different towns unless he and his horse was in dire need to rest. As expected, it did take him about a week to travel from Warsavor to Mystes, and he was definitely far from his native land.
He was riding his Champion when he noticed an unfamiliar trail. While it was headed towards a dense woodland, the unpaved road had enough room for a carriage to pass.
There was a sign indicating the direction of the route at the entrance.
It read, "Boonsdock."
Other than what his father, a select handful of his associates, and locals had told him, Alexander had not heard much about this location.
Boonsdock is entirely surrounded by nature, which is home to unique flora and fauna. Also, a large variety of native species and wildlife animals, including humans, have been given security at this location. That is not a place to take your time exploring.
The few residents of the hamlet take care of their land and forbid anyone from harming it or its people. It is said to be a rather dangerous place.
Seldom did anyone get the chance to return home alive, and even then, they hardly ever brag about it. It was a secluded and dangerous location, but those who went there on their own kept their mouths shut without frowning.
Alexander himself is yet to meet anyone who has visited Boonsdock. Regardless of everything he had heard, he pulled the rein of his horse to venture into the dense woodland in quest of Heather.