Looking at the makeshift raft in front of her, barely three square meters in size, Cecilia Gu honestly doubted they could escape the island on something so flimsy.
Earl Field clearly felt the same way.
So tonight, everyone still had to stay in this terrifying cavern.
Cecilia Gu thought for a moment and said, "Can we switch to another cavern?"
Earl Field looked at Cecilia Gu with a half-smile. "Do you think you can find another cavern with better ventilation than this one? Sure, we've got plenty of neighbors here, but you can't deny the air flows well."
Cecilia Gu drooped her head in defeat. "But those neighbors aren't exactly friendly, are they?"
Earl Field couldn't help but reach out and ruffle Cecilia Gu's hair.
That soft, downy feeling made Earl Field's red eyes flicker.
"It's fine. We'll light a few more campfires tonight—they won't dare come down." Earl Field gently reassured her. "The rain will start to ease up tomorrow and disappear by the end of the day. As soon as the rain stops, we can pick up the pace and leave here quickly. While you were making the raft, I gathered plenty of branches. We've got enough to keep the fires going all night."
Hearing Earl Field say that, Cecilia Gu finally nodded, though still a bit reluctant.
Looking up at the lively neighbors overhead, Cecilia Gu was pretty sure she wouldn't sleep well tonight!
Still, some rest was absolutely necessary.
To avoid becoming a midnight snack for the bats after she fell asleep, Cecilia Gu wrapped herself up from head to toe, leaving only her nostrils exposed for breathing.
Seeing Cecilia Gu mummify herself, Earl Field nearly burst out laughing.
Maybe it was pure exhaustion from the day, but even though Cecilia Gu was worried about the bats overhead, she was so tired that she soon drifted off, breathing evenly.
Once Cecilia Gu was asleep, Earl Field quietly got up and went to the shore, loosening a few knots on the raft.
He wasn't ready to head back just yet.
Cecilia Gu slept fitfully and suddenly had a terrifying dream.
In her dream, a swarm of bats swooped down on her, draining every drop of blood from her body.
Cecilia Gu woke up with a scream, jolted out of her nightmare.
Cecilia Gu sat up with a jolt, only to realize Earl Field wasn't beside her.
Her mind instantly conjured up a gruesome image of Earl Field being attacked by the swarm of vampire bats overhead—a thought so terrifying it sent chills down her spine!
"Earl Field? My lord?" Cecilia Gu called out, her voice trembling more with each word. "Are you... are you still alive?"
Earl Field, who was about to loosen another knot, heard her call and stopped immediately, quickly walking over. "What's wrong? Why do you look so pale?"
Cecilia Gu nearly burst into tears.
Waking from a nightmare and finding yourself all alone in the world—what a terrifying feeling!
Feeling embarrassed, Cecilia Gu didn't say anything about it. She just asked, "Why aren't you resting?"
Earl Field's red eyes flickered as he replied, "I went to check on the raft you tied up. Sure enough, as soon as it hit the water, it came loose. What a shame—we'll have to rebuild it tomorrow."
"Huh?!" Cecilia Gu hadn't expected this outcome, and her disappointment quickly replaced her fear.
"Can't sleep?" Earl Field sat down opposite Cecilia Gu and gently stoked the campfire, making it burn brighter.
Thanks to Earl Field, the firewood was always dried in time, so whenever the old branches burned out, new ones were ready to go.
That’s why their campfire never went out.
Cecilia Gu nodded. "Why don't I take the night watch and you get some rest? You just recovered from a fever and need sleep."
"It's fine, I can't sleep either. How about we just chat for a while?" Earl Field smiled at Cecilia Gu. "We're sort of acquaintances now, but we still don't really know each other, do we?"
Cecilia Gu nodded.
Getting close would be a miracle, honestly.
Just a few days ago, this man in front of her was her enemy, fighting over her son.
And now, she never expected to be surviving on a deserted island with him.
"My name is John Field, but most people still call me 'My Lord.' That's because the title was personally granted by Her Majesty the Queen." Earl Field began telling his story. "When I was very young, I helped Her Majesty solve a big problem. At the time, my father, Duke Field, happened to know one of the Queen's secrets. So, to win my father over and to show her favor to me, she gave me the title of Earl. Our family's titles can be inherited. When my father passes, I'll become the hereditary Duke. If I have children, my child will inherit the title of Earl, just like I did."
Cecilia Gu listened to Earl Field's story with great interest.
These kinds of secrets were almost never shared.
"Maybe you'll say that titles don't mean much anymore. In today's world, they're just symbols, like being an honorary advisor—purely ceremonial. But you should know, even though these titles have become empty symbols, most of Britain's wealth is still held by a handful of families. Coincidentally, my family is one of them." Earl Field continued, "So, even without the title, the Field Family is not someone you can question in England."
"Ever since I was a child, I was told I would inherit the title of Earl Field. So, plenty of people tried to cozy up to me, asking for favors. Others despised me, wishing I was dead. I grew cynical—when things come too easily, you don't cherish them when they're gone." Earl Field smirked, "When I was fifteen, something happened that disgusted me to my core."
Cecilia Gu looked at Earl Field in shock.
Why was he suddenly so talkative today?
Still, Cecilia Gu was a great listener. When the other person didn’t need her to speak, she would just quietly listen.
"There was a beautiful girl who grew up with me. One day, she was sent to my bed. Someone told me I had to get her pregnant—to give the Field Family an heir. I actually liked her, so I didn’t want things to happen that way. I decided to let her go. But when I untied her, she attacked me! While I was unconscious, she drugged me... You can probably guess the rest, right? She used me." Earl Field laughed softly. "When I woke up, I was told that from the moment she was sent to me, her only purpose was to bear the family’s heir."
"She was my cousin. Pretty twisted, right? I admit, it disgusted me. The Field Family has always practiced inbreeding to keep the bloodline pure, but I refused to let my dignity be stolen like that." Earl Field's red eyes darkened. "Afterward, I was furious. My father had orchestrated the whole thing with others. From then on, I became rebellious—playing around but never getting attached."
"Maybe it was fate that such a twisted child shouldn’t be born. The girl didn’t get pregnant, and the family dealt with her. Yes, any woman who failed to give the family an heir was disposed of." Earl Field folded his hands on his knees and tilted his head at Cecilia Gu. "Do you think I’m filthy?"
Cecilia Gu shook her head in shock.
She never imagined Earl Field had such a difficult, unspeakable past.
"My eldest brother was born with congenital soft bone disease—he’s been bedridden his whole life. My second brother’s brain developed abnormally, so even though he’s smart, he’s extremely withdrawn and can’t communicate with people. I’m the only normal one of the three, but also the most unfortunate. I exist just to be a stud horse for the family."
"I’m not exactly ugly, am I?" Earl Field touched his cheek. "This face once drove countless London socialites and noble ladies crazy."
Cecilia Gu couldn’t help but tease, "If you’re ugly, then nobody in the world is good-looking. Charles Yin is handsome, right? If a perfect score for looks is ten, then Charles Yin is a 9.9, and you’re a 9.6."
Earl Field suddenly chuckled. "To get such a high score from you is truly an honor. But I’m curious—who’s a perfect ten in your eyes?"
Cecilia Gu answered without hesitation, "Of course, my son!"
Earl Field laughed even more heartily. "So that’s it."
"At the peak of my looks, I announced I'd never marry, joining the ranks of lifelong bachelors. After that, my father punished me harshly, but I stood firm. Eventually, I ran away and refused to go home. As time passed, my father finally gave in—he said I didn’t have to choose a woman from the family, as long as she was British. I refused again. Then his requirement dropped to 'as long as she’s a woman.' I still refused. Finally, he demanded I freeze my sperm and find someone to have a child. Of course, I refused once more."
"That’s how I kept resisting my family, venting my frustration in childish ways. My father tried extracting cells from my brothers, but found they couldn’t reproduce naturally. Unless we used Jiro Hirayama’s method, I’m the only one left who can continue the Field Family line."
"While my father and I were at a stalemate, Miles Gu appeared on our radar." Earl Field smiled. "When my father heard, he was so happy he nearly lost his mind. He insisted on bringing Miles Gu into the family no matter what."