The Flower of Separation

The boy's words startled her. She didn't know what it was, but there was something powerful when he said those words. Ever since she met him, he would occasionally have moments like this. There were moments that he seemed more mature than he was.

"Say how much do you know about the history of the Empire?"

The sudden topic change startled her. It was a standard question, and yet for her, it was a dangerous one. If she tells him everything, then he will find out she is from the Zestra family. Although he knew she was a noble, Pierre doesn't know which family she is from.

It is a good thing that he is not the curious type, so he has not asked her any questions. But if she tells him how much she knew, it would reveal who she was. Only the Zestra family has specific knowledge about the Empire.

Zushi then began to explain how much she knew.

"Your tutor should have said it, at least, about people who were deemed criminals at a young age."

Zushi nodded, "They locked you up in facilities."

"I was like that."

"....!!!"

Pierre laughs at her reaction, "I don't look at it, do I?"

"You don't, and neither does that person. But appearances are deceiving. Yet even though that's the case, I don't believe you three would be capable of doing anything bad. You're all fighting for a cause. When I first discovered the truth of the world two years ago. I was shocked, overwhelmed, and scared. 'I will forget, I will forget it all. So make it go away. It was shocking and painful for me. I wanted to end it all and just go back to my peaceful everyday days. But I realized that I'd be turning my back to reality.

I think people with a lot of mana amazing, they all fight for a purpose, for a cause. Even if it is for revenge, they do it knowing the consequences. Knowing that in the process they may die and yet they still take on such a job. Even though it involves being called tools and used because there is a strong cause there able to remain strong." Zushi said.

That's right, unlike her. Zushi always envied them. For all being able to live like that without feeling any fear, no, they were afraid. It's only natural for them to be afraid. Yet despite those consequences, they still do their jobs without fail.

"I see, but I don't think that kind of mindset was wrong at all. When I first learned the truth of the world, I was only a regular existence myself. Do you want to know who showed me the truth of the world? That guy doesn't hesitate to approach people with strong presences. His introduction was rather bland too."

Eh? Could it be? Zushi said a name, and Pierre nodded.

"Yeah, gee, he didn't hold back at all. 'Ah, you're the best person here to do this work. You have the aptitude for it'"

Her sweat dropped; she could see him say that with a monotone. "But I was grateful he did that. Because as a human, I didn't have anything going for me either."

As a human, huh? Right even though he is a commoner, Zushi noted that there was something odd about him. How can a commoner have this much mana? Unfortunately, her ability to detect mana was still far weaker than most, so she was still unsure.

But occasionally, Pierre would refer to himself as somebody who isn't human.

"People like me are all lonesome creatures, but the ones who carry on such fancy titles are the ones who have it the hardest, and those who rise to the top cope with people's hate."

"Like the First Empress?"

"Yeah. Right the story I almost forgot is about the Empress and her husband.

Back then, they were in the same facility. However, the area he was in was a learning center; they didn't deter people though they prevented us from going out. They more or less lived a normal lifestyle. But the side the Empress was in was completely different. They didn't hesitate to do human experiments, especially on her, who showed a strangely high aptitude.

Those two met it was an accident on that day, that man was looking for his friend who had gone missing. Due to his powers, he offered to take on the job, knowing he wouldn't get caught. He managed to look around the entire place without getting caught at all.

He noticed one area completely sealed off; it said, ' do not enter, and that's why he came inside. He was the type of person who would just waltz in and ignore the rules."

Was it just her imagination but a fond tone appeared in Pierre's voice as he explained that person's side of the story. Now that she thought about it wasn't the Empress husband from a commoner family? Perhaps commoners still see that man as a hero.

"That person looked around and noticed that there was only one room, so he knocked inside, it was pitch black, and since he was small, he couldn't see anything. So he only called out to that person; after a while, he received a somewhat angry response. After speaking for a while, she started crying and said she missed her brother. He told her he would get her out of there one day. After that day, he kept visiting her, and soon after getting the information he needed, he started operation rescue.

Since he was the top student in the institute, he received private tutoring, and during those lessons, he managed to sweep a master key from one of the teachers. That night he visited her and managed to open the door. He didn't expect to see such a beautiful person. Even wearing that ragged experiment clothing, she was beautiful."

Even though Pierre was the one explaining this story, Zushi could feel the love. It was apparent that between them, there was love. An accidental meeting, huh? And yet, it turned into something like this.

"But though they managed to get outside, they got caught and were separated. This is the strange thing, though; shortly after that incident, they released the Empress. That guy heard that and worked hard to get out; when he did, he searched for her everywhere and yet only found her after half a year. So much time passed, he naturally accepted that she forgot him. When he saved her, and she said, 'who are you?' But even with that, he was glad to see her again.

However, her gaze was so empty, even more, lifeless than they were before. He thought that if she got out of that place, she would be so much happier. But that was a mistake. You should know the rest of this story."

Right they must have released her because they realized what her powers were. When the Empress met him again, she looked devoid of life because she must have learned about her cruel destiny.

They were in love.

With love so strong like this, even if they fight or were to be split apart for a long time. When they see each other again, they will love each other even more than before. But if that is the case, then she wondered why things ended up like that between them.