The Flower of Separation

Meanwhile, in the forest, the hunt had started moments ago—a signal fire from a gun filled with magic. Zushi already understood that it wasn't a simple signal fire. The Ageha family and their underhanded methods, if it is during the game, she may be able to uncover more things.

Zushi, however, wasn't alone. It seems sir Lucas and her had the same entrance.

Lucas sighed deeply. "They must have done this deliberately."

"Deliberately?"

"They probably want to test whether I will kill or help you; both options will have negative consequences."

Zushi tilted her head confused, and Lucas sighed.

"If I kill you, then they will have a reason to dispose of me since I have harmed the treasure of the Empire. It also benefits them because they have gotten rid of two people who will damper their plans."

"If you help me?"

"There will be those who question how competent you are like a ruler."

"Don't they do that anyway?"

Lucas shook his head. "The negative comments towards you right now are not that bad. You can still turn the situation around. Most people are waiting to see whether you are a disaster or are you the one who will help them? But if you fail at this, then they will not have any faith in you anymore."

"Is that because the strongest family right now are the Agehas?"

Lucas nodded. "Right. If you fail at this, people will think that you can't stand your ground against them. To stabilize your position, you have to overtake the Ageha family."

At those words, Zushi paused. "Sir Lucas, would you be okay with that?"

"Lillian herself dislikes her family to the core. She doesnt openly admit it, but she wants those people gone," Lucas trailed off. "Im going to put some distance with us for a while. Empress, I am sure you can manage."

Zushi doesn't get a chance to reply to that since the man rushed off, leaving her alone. She looked at her surroundings and sighed. There were trees and more trees. She heard rumors that people call this the forest of death, but she doesn't understand why so far. This is just a creepy place for her.

A part of her is relieved that sir Lucas left her alone; she needed some time to think. Zushi recalled what happened with Miss Lillian earlier on. Why was she wounded to that extent? Who did that to her? From the wounds she healed, Zushi understood it was no normal fight. It must have happened a few hours or maybe right before the hunt started.

Zushi sighed deeply. Mo would argue that she is interfering too much, but the moment she learned about that person, she couldn't help but be curious. Moreover, that day during the banquet where she lost control of her powers due to anger, she noticed something.

Miss Lillian did not collapse even though she used that ability. Even though she didn't use her eye power, it seemed like any other magic abilities she had would cause people to submit.

Mo did tell her that there were rumors that Miss Lillian was an Empress candidate before. But when she tried to confirm more with the servant's nobody would say anything. No, it is more like this is the first time people have heard about it.

It seems there are a limited amount of people who knew about it. She wondered why anybody would bother censoring that information. Zushi found a quiet spot and leaned her back against the tree.

Since only Lucas and she were at the entrance, there was nobody else in this area, at least for now. Once the others have moved away from their respective gates and made their first kill, they would head here. Normally there are more than two people per gate, so it will at least take some time.

That must be the reason why sir Lucas rushed off. So it seems like he does not plan to kill her. Zushi had to admit

Her thoughts broke off when she saw a small white butterfly in the air; she extended her hand out. "I said there is no need to check on me, Linden."

"But are you not the one who gave me one of your familiars to contact you if need me?"

"For a reason, is Braden safe with you?"

"Of course he is. There are not many people who would attach the imperial magician unless they are the Ageha family."

"I know the Ageha family is a threat. But is there not corruption in the other families too?"

"Indeed there is."

"Then-"

"But you must take down the Ageha family first. No matter how corrupt the other families are, you have to destroy the main source of corruption first."

Zushi sighed. "I don't like that term destroy. Indeed I know I have to confront them, and that confrontation will change to a power change. But I don't want to bring them down too much. Linden, you know I had a thought."

"Which is?"

"If Miss Lillian became the head of the Ageha family, will the corruption not stop?"

For the next few minutes, Linden didn't speak, and Zushi immediately added. "You think poorly of her too?"

"No," Linden muttered. "It's just hard to tell what she is thinking. I will admit that she isn't completely bad since she knows how to treasure and care for those on her side. But Empress, you have to understand her mindset. She has lived in that twisted family for so long, so naturally, her nature has become more corrupt. The inhumane things that family does to their children--" Linden paused; he sounded troubled.

"Go on."

"It is similar to psychological brainwashing. I don't know to what extent miss Lillian has been damaged, but you saw for yourself when she attacked Lord Braden without hesitating. She is the type of person who will not think twice but to attack a child."

Zushi clenched her fist at those words. Indeed she already saw how ruthless, no she only saw a simple glimpse of Miss Lillian's ruthless behavior. But even then. "I think I can trust her."

She has spent only a short amount of time with sir Lucas. But she has gotten to know him. Despite his cold behavior towards humans, sir Lucas is a decent person. For somebody like that to stay by miss Lillian's side this entire time must mean there is something more to miss Lillian.

Naturally, she could be in over her head, and there is nothing more to miss Lillian. There is still a chance that the woman was just a ruthless person.

"Empress.."

"I know what you want to say, but at least trust my judgment on this. I think things will be okay if she became the Empress."

At that comment, Linden became quiet.

"The only reason I became the Empress was because those people bagged me to a corner. I have no interest in ruling or even saving the people of the Empire. What matters to me is seeing Braden safe."

It was only because she was cornered with nowhere to go. If it were not for that reason, then she would not have become the Empress.