Who is the Villain?

Chapter-43

"If you were guessing how I was still present then let me remind you, I was constantly present here the entire time," Efthalia responded. His cheek rested on top of his right knuckle while his elbow was placed on the armrest.

'H-he isn't able to read my mind, right?'

Her mind was in a panic. She couldn't think how this happened or how she and the other lady was caught.

Lucien moved her gaze to her right and sees the lady who was as well kneeling on the floor refusing to raised her head and she was drenched in tears.

'What happened when I passed out? Did I sleep for too long?'

"Aren't you going to explain why you were there at the front gate?"

Lucien's body flinched and turns around to face the emperor.

"Or were you going say this was a misunderstanding and you didn't know why you were there in the first place?"

As much as Lucien wanted to say yes, she bites her bottom lips hard. She couldn't lie. It was her fault in the first place for trying to escape. 'I just fell into the trap.'

"I wouldn't deny that I tried to flee and I am willing to bear my consequences,"

Lucien responded not meeting his eyes but to her left as she spoke.

"Your Majesty,"

The lady who was kneeling cried out. "Please let me leave this place. I have to leave, m-my only brother has been bedridden with that disease. I have to meet him before it's too late. P-please, Your Majesty." She cried again leaning her body while both hands touches the ground. "I-I do not care what comes to pass to me later. My b-brother is more important than my life."

The hall was only filled with sobbing. Lucien's heart fell for her. A lady was willing to sacrifice her life just to spend her last moment with her brother who might pass away at any moment.

If the emperor still refused to let her leave, Lucien might have to kicked him to bring out some sense.

"If you leave, you'll not be entitled to enter here again. Your name will be removed from the consort list."

Benjamin spoke when Efthalia hasn't made any response to her.

The lady still refused to raise her head but, responded. "I'll agree to any sentences I'll be put up."

Benjamin turned his attention to the emperor who doesn't seem to bother about it and so he continued, "I here by the Royal order, you are no more on the candidate list. Your title is now removed from this palace and you will never be entitled to set foot here again."

After Benjamin spoke loud and clear, the lady cried more saying, "thank you...thank you, Your Majesty."

Lucien's eyes were wide awake at the immediate scene that was happening in front of her. 'That's it. That's all. You only have to do was beg and you'll be removed from here?'

Lucien couldn't believe what was happening but something stunned her more when she noticed the lady carefully stood up. Her face was drenched in tears with her hair entirely covering her face. Something didn't go unnoticed when she caught a glimpse of a tiny scuff and grins that only could be heard by Lucien.

'Are you seriously kidding me?' Her eyes widen staring at the back of the lady who was walking out of the door. 'She was lying? This was all an act just to leave this palace?'

"Are you done examining or do you need more time to explain your reason?"

Efthalia spoke turning Lucien's attention back to him.

'It's okay. I only need to lie and let out some tears and it's done.'

She composed herself making sure to remember the saddest moment in her life or even try to push forward to remember any emotional movie or drama she had come acrossed.

It was working. Her nose started to feel warm along with her cheeks and her eyes started to feel the moisture beginning to compile. Just as she was about to let out. The emperor interrupted.

"If you are going to speak about your father or your brother being unhealthy, I'll assume that it was a lie. I have just met them in a discussion hall in the capital before I arrived here."

"......"

"If it wasn't, let me know what was your reason." Efthalia continued who hasn't moved from his previous pose but had crossed his leg.

Lucien's mind went blank. There was nothing for her to explained and her tears would be useless when she was about to lie about her family. Her little tears went back to where they came from.

"I was bored." Lucien lifelessly responded after finally being silent for a while, moving her gaze away. "I wanted to go for a walk."

"....."

"With this?"

After a moment of silence, Efthalia questioned.

"Huh?"

Benjamin walks down from the throne stage towards Lucien. He kneels and pulls out a white napkin revealing a ruby stone and a golden doorknob.

"We found this when you were out from the flower. It rolled down from your pocket. This isn't what we think, right?" Benjamin questions with a confused smile.

Lucien didn't respond and moved her gaze away but it was no use so she finally respond.

"Yes, I stole them."

'She seriously stole this? For what?'

At this moment neither Benjamin nor Efthalia could utter a word. It became awkward and silence fell upon the hall.

Lucien actually stole it from the marble fountain in the garden and the golden doorknob in her chamber. Her only reason was that the gold coins were heavy and it makes a sound when she moves.

She did not care where she'll end up. As long as she sold those, it might be enough to let her leave the capital and settle far away until the plot was over.

A moment later, Rosetta and Maria were asked to make an audience. When Benjamin asked about what Lucien did, they were unaware.

'My lady, if you had asked me to carry those trunks of gold, I would have gladly followed you.' Rosetta's mind echoed feeling sorry for her master.

'Why would you bother climbing the wall? I could have dug a hole underground or if you order me, I would gladly remove those guards heads from their necks.'

'My lady if you've told me, I would have packed some lunch for you.'

Whereas, Maria was no different from Rosetta.

'My lady, was this your plan to see the emperor?'

'Was the question we asked you this morning made you miss your lover?'

'Or were you desperate to be alone that made you walk far away without getting unnoticed?'

Efthalia didn't know what he should speak at this moment. 'Are they alright? Are they particularly concerned about their lady? Something is entirely wrong with their reasoning. Maybe, I should appoint a different maid for this lady.'

Benjamin noticed the distressed expression of Efthalia who was at the peak of breaking apart.

"Please take your lady to her chamber and look after her. A physician will be sent shortly." Benjamin announced letting the two maids know.

"What?"

Lucien interrupted in bewilderment. "Shouldn't I be banished as well?" She finally stood up and questioned. "I stole that valuable thing and even tried to escape. I should be banished." This was seriously something she couldn't understand as to why she would be forgiven for her actions.

"My lady,"

Benjamin smiles gently which Lucien didn't even like the feeling she'll be receiving as a response.

"You spoke the truth and you are forgiven."

"Pardon me?"

"The law we follow here is to speak the truth when you were judged. If you are honest, you'll be forgiven." Benjamin continues with his bright smile. "Your action and honesty have made the Emperor acknowledge you and you'll not be leaving less likely."

'You dudes need a check-up.' Lucien's head echoed, more pissed than before. "Then how about her?" She boldly questioned about the lady who has left the hall.

"She is an outsider," Benjamin spoke with a different tone that looks menacing. "An assassin who came to kill the emperor. I am astounded that she didn't execute you when she was tailing you behind the entire time."

Lucien just felt her entire body feel goosebumps. Her lips were shut tight when Benjamin continued. "We have been keeping an eye on her the entire time. Of course, we didn't look when you were in your private matter."

She didn't even like it. She was watched the entire time even when she rolled on the ground, pulled the grass root, kicked the rock, picked her nose, cursed the emperor, or even pulled up her gown when she felt hot. Her face went reddish and calmly excused the hall.

'WHY?WHY?WHY? WHAT HAVE I DONE THAT DESERVES THIS EMBARRASSMENT? I MIGHT DIE FROM EMBARRASSMENT INSTEAD OF GETTING KILLED.'

She wasn't the only one who was embarrassed, Benjamin and Efthalia were as well. They had to look away when they were keeping an eye on that intruder. Their eyes were trailing over the intruder but she wouldn't leave Lucien's side and had no option but to witness all the secondhand embarrassment.