Chapter 145: Blessing

Henrik ManorHenrik stood frozen in his garden who was staring upward at the sky as a light drizzle began to fall.

His face which was once smug with certainty of his success was now look like a face of absolute horror and disbelief.

"That is completely impossible!" he shouted as if unable to believe it, his voice thin against the growing patter of the rain.

"It has not rained in Ironhold for three consecutive years, three years! How could it possibly rain today of all days, just as I want to prove her wrong?"

Henrik’s voice trembled with a mixture of shock and a growing, chilling fear.

Could it be that Alex truly possesses the supernatural ability to pray for rain?

"Do not worry yourself unnecessarily, my son. A mere drizzle of rain has virtually no beneficial effect on Ironhold’s drought conditions.

It is practically as good as not receiving rain at all," Henrik’s father stated, though his own voice betrayed a tremor of underlying anxiety on his face.

Although Lord Henrik Bjornson was also deeply shocked by this development, he quickly forced himself to calm down and maintain his composure in front of his son.

But he had barely finished speaking these dismissive words when the world seemed to shift.

The rain suddenly intensified dramatically.

What had been a tentative, light drizzle just moments before transformed rapidly into a steady rainfall.

The sound of water dripping could be heard clearly on the ground as raindrops struck the cobblestones with increasing force of gravity.

"Why is the rain getting so much heavier?!" Lord Bjornson’s eyes widened with alarm, and his voice began shaking uncontrollably.

His face showed great astonishment and a growing, sickening dread just like his son a moment earlier.

Unfortunately there is no father of him to encourage him as he did to his son.

But the most devastating thing has to come next as next moment brought an even more shocking development.

The rainfall was not finished intensifying; it grew heavier more the sound escalating from a patter to a roar.

This was no longer a drizzle or a steady shower that you might see on a regular rainy day, it is the of the type that you might see before floods.

A torrential downpour began to completely blanket the entire city of Ironhold, drenching the thirsty earth in a life-giving relief from the drought.

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McCoy Manor

Ever since Alex and Henrik had made their public wager, Miss Evelyn had traveled to the Hartwell family estate three separate times searching for Alex, but she had failed to locate him on each occasion.

Eventually, she had given up on the search for him in frustration.

"Sister, what do you want with that fellow named Alex?" her cousin asked with obvious disapproval in his tone, who was standing in front him in her boudoir.

He was a young man in his early twenties wearing expensive tailored clothing attempted to persuade Miss Evelyn to abandon her hopes.

"It is already noon, and there is still absolutely no sign of rain appearing anywhere."

"In my opinion, this Young Master Alex is most likely exactly the bandit accomplice that Henrik accused him of being otherwise how can he find the den that even magistrate couldn’t have found!"

"Cousin, you should just face the unfortunate facts and stop thinking about him romantically."

"You have searched for him so many times without success. I am quite certain he is either hiding somewhere in the city or has already fled outside the city walls to escape justice."

His name was Rupert, and he had been occupied with business matters during the celebration banquet, so he had not attended that evening’s festivities.

But the matter of Young Master Alex promising to pray for rain had caused such a great uproar throughout Ironhold that Rupert had naturally heard all about this controversial incident.

"Cousin, if you continue speaking like that, you can get out of my house immediately," Miss Evelyn responded, giving him an icy cold look.

This cousin of hers was unbelievably tactless and inconsiderate of her feelings.

He knew perfectly well that her feelings were hurt and vulnerable, yet he insisted on making sarcastic and cruel remarks directly in front of her.

Was he deliberately asking for criticism and harsh words?

"Oh, my dear cousin, I am doing this entirely for your own benefit and protection. I heard that you have been getting quite close to Young Master Alex recently, so I am simply trying to remind you to exercise caution," Rupert continued his unwelcome lecture.

"That Young Master Alex only recently emerged in Ironhold City, and his origins remain completely unknown and mysterious. I am genuinely worried that you have been deceived by an accomplished charlatan."

"If you truly want to find an appropriate romantic partner, then of course you must find someone of equal social status and family standing.

In this entire city, only the sons of the Henrik and Blackwood families, or perhaps the sons of the county magistrate or sheriff, are truly worthy of someone of your distinguished lineage."

"Just listen to your cousin’s sincere advice, I beg you."

Rupert continued his earnest persuasion.

However, he soon discovered that his exceptionally beautiful and talented cousin was completely ignoring him.

She stared at the sky with a sad and worried expression on her lovely face which was looking literally too pitiful.

This feeling of being utterly ignored made Rupert quite unhappy and resentful too.

He felt that he was being overshadowed and outdone by that mysterious Young Master Alex!

The realization made him burn with intense jealousy.

"Cousin, if it actually rains later today, I swear I will never marry or find a wife in my entire lifetime," Rupert declared dramatically, standing directly in front of Miss Evelyn.

Miss Evelyn rolled her eyes at him with obvious disdain and said, "What makes you think your vows and oaths have any power or significance co control whatsoever in my will?"

"How could such an impossible thing occur?" Rupert laughed with supreme confidence.

"It has not rained in Ironhold for three solid years. Do you honestly believe that if mere mortals declare they can pray for rain, then rain will simply fall from clear skies?"

"Could that this Young Master Alex possibly be some kind of deity or supernatural being? If you can pray for rain, then I can pray for..."

Rupert laughed mockingly but his face displaying complete disdain and contempt a moment ago changed.

But before he could finish speaking his dismissive words, his facial expression suddenly froze and stiffened dramatically!!

Not far away in the distance, a curtain of rain was spreading and covering everything from far side to near! The long-lost sensation of moisture struck his upturned face!

Rain?

It was actually raining!

"Oh my God!" Rupert exclaimed in shock.

"It is truly raining!".

"Could this young man actually be some kind of divine being or immortal?!"

Rupert stood there completely dazed and motionless, utterly stunned by what was occurring.

His eyes showed absolute shock!

His jaw hung open wide!

"Rain!" Miss Evelyn whispered with wonder.

"It is genuinely raining."

Her eyes widened dramatically, her face displaying complete disbelief and amazement!

She had actually been quite skeptical herself about Alex’s claimed ability to pray for rain successfully.

Rain was considered far too sacred and divine by people in ancient times.

Most people firmly believed that precipitation was controlled exclusively by supernatural forces and deities.

At this tense moment, Rupert said with a bitter and resigned expression on his face, "Oh my goodness, the rain starts falling exactly when it was supposed to. Cousin, that solemn oath I just made will not actually come true, will it? Will I really never get married in this lifetime as punishment for my arrogant words?"

"It serves you right for being so dismissive!" Miss Evelyn responded with rare playfulness, humming twice with obvious satisfaction and pride evident on her face.

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County Magistrate’s Office

The rainfall bombs had been launched into the sky above the Hartwell family estate.

The resulting rain curtain spread outward from the Hartwell estate as the central point of origin.

The county magistrate’s mansion was located at some considerable distance from the Hartwell family compound, and the rain curtain had not yet reached and covered that area.

"It is already past noon now, and there is no rain falling whatsoever.

It appears that the Young Master Alex you mentioned did not able to truly pray for rain after all." Magistrate Sai sighed deeply, his eyes filled with profound regret and disappointment.

"Please rest assured, County Magistrate. That fraudulent charlatan Alex is completely full of lies and deception. I will personally capture him and bring him before you today for proper interrogation and punishment!" Sheriff Bowen declared firmly, making a respectful bow.

The magistrate shook his head slowly, his heart filled with regret as his last hopes regarding Alex’s abilities were destroyed.

It was too much to hope for, he thought sadly.

Rain was considered a gift from divine powers and supernatural forces.

How could anyone summon such a blessing simply by asking for it?

At this precise moment, dramatic news arrived.