The Flower of Separation

"By the way, why do you keep looking at me?" Lillian noticed that he hadn't stopped staring at her on the way in.

"Do you have a fever or something?"

"Huh no-" Her sentence fell short when he placed his hand on her forehead.

"If you ask me you have one."

"I don't get sick."

"Lillian." Ramon said sharply. "You cant be serious. If you do not feel well you should say so- wait, is that why your here in the waiting room?"

'He found out, he is way too sharp. I started to feel a bit off after returning to the manor. But since I managed to hide it from Lucas I thought nobody else would notice.'

She was about to retort back but Ramon pulled her down so she laid down on the couch. He placed a small blanket around her.

"Do not argue back today, get some rest. They won't be calling your name for a while anyway." Ramon trailed off and turned to the servant on the side. "The situation is like this, could you fetch me some water and a towel?"

The maid hurriedly left but Lillian couldn't miss her gaze. It seems that one is one of Eric's servants. They are so pathetic placing a servant like that near her before the ball starts.

Lillian covered her eyes with her arm. "This is pathetic."

"There is nothing wrong with being sick."

"You don't see it as a sign of weakness?"

"Only you would think of it that way." Ramon trailed off. "I bet you used magic and hid it from sir Lucas."

"Arent your senses too sharp for something stupid?"

"You keep insulting me, are you still prickly over what happened in the forest?"

Her gaze flickered towards Ramon's neck, he wore a collard top so his neck was covered. But she could see traces of bandages from the top.

She supposes it won't heal overnight.

'I don't regret doing that, but perhaps I did get too worked up. Whenever it concerns the Empress I end up losing my temper more than usual.'

Ramon could have dodged that blow, he could have escaped from her. But he didn't do that. Was he trying to make a point or something?

"I'm sorry." Lillian mumbled. The words seemed foreign but she knew she had to say it.

Ramon's gaze softened. "It seems you still remember how to be honest."

"Don't tell Lucas. He will laugh at me."

"I don't think so. I think he will be very concerned."

"What are you trying to imply?"

At those words Ramon sighed deeply. "I thought I was overthinking it, but it seems those rumors are true and you two have feelings for each other."

"Ramon." Lilian said sharply. "Another word and you-!" HGer sentence fell short when a fit of coughs escaped her lips.

Ramon walked over and placed a cup of water in her hands. "You were saying?"

Lillian sighed deeply. "It is not what you are thinking. I do not have the capacity to fall in love with someone. In the first place for me those words are so foreign."

"Even if that is the case, will you at least admit that sir Lucas is more important to you than you think?"

"I thought it was clear already."

"Sometimes you deliberately push him away just when you are getting closer."

At those words Lillian sighed. Why is he so sharp when it comes to petty matters like this? Back in the forest he acted like such a fool. 'I really was going to kill him.' Right then she lost control of her emotions because a part of her understood.

Ramon is foolishly honest, he is not the type of person who would lie to her. He is not like those other people.

'It was something I understood simply from watching him for a short while, let alone those who first meet him.'

Ramon certainly has more qualities to be a household leader- Lillian paused in midthought. Now that she thought about it there were occasions where Ramon resembled her brother. Their demeanour, no their foolishly honest side are the same.

Eldest brother Raiju was born into the Ageha family just like her but he was so different. They corrupted him with dark magic, and yet he still held separate beliefs. He held separate beliefs that went against the traditions of the Ageha family.

Whenever she watched her brother in the past she always thought. 'How can he smile so brightly with such an innocent look in his eyes during these circumstances?' Why did he look so pained whenever she tortured somebody? Why did he look so furious the first time he saw her in the torture chamber cutting somebody's hand off?

Now that she thought about it the Empress is like that too.

Why are there so many people like that around her?

She always thought that living that way would be a hindrances, especially in a society like this. But sometimes when she watches Ramon and even the Empress she can't help that it must be nice.

It must be nice having people understand/believe just because they foolishly show honest expressions on their faces. There is no need to convince them with words.

But every time she thought that way, it would leave her thoughts immediately.

'This is a sign of weakness. I cannot let them sway me. If I do then the plan will fail.'

Ramon genuinely seems to mean well. But like what she told Lucas earlier with Jorah. If the day comes where that foolishly honest side of Ramon's becomes a hindrance to her plans then she will personally end his life.

Lillian took a sip of the water in her hands. The moment she drank it though, she immediately noticed there was something off. Her insides felt like it was burning. A light poison it seems but still a poison nonetheless.

"Lillian?" Ramon looked at her concerned.

"It is nothing."

If she puts the water down right away then Ramon will notice. Ramon is the type of person who makes a big deal out of everything. She briefly shut her eyes and concentrated a certain amount of mana in her body.

After she did this she continued to sip away the water like normal. "It seems your family have arrived."

Just now she sensed the mana waves in the manor flaring up. The blank family aren't holding anything back it seems. So perhaps she ought to give them the welcome they deserve.

*Unedited*