Who is the Villain?

Chapter-32

'Why the hell is he walking this way?'

Lucien's body automatically stood up with a response.

"I rather excuse myself for today." She didn't want to face that person who had the guts to lay the sword on her neck. It gives her chills.

"My lady, are you sure?"

Ajex questioned raising his head.

"I don't see the reason why I need to stay here as–"

"He is the one whom I was speaking about," Ajex continued interrupting her. "Since you wished to learn about the Flamingo family. He has more proficiency in them. I can enable you to ask him without inferring your name."

"I–"

"How could you casually call out my name like that?"

Just as Lucien was about to respond, a cold voice interrupted making her entire body freeze. The presence of the person standing beside her makes her feel inferior. She gulped her saliva hard hoping he didn't heard her heart thumping across her chest to her ears.

"Bless and prosperity to the Galatians Empire."

Lucien bowed, pulling her gown to show her respect to the emperor. Even though she couldn't see the emperor, she could feel the cold gaze piercing through her soul.

'Should I leave? I should, right? He doesn't want me here so do I. I should rather leave.' Her mind echoed with thousands of questions.

"Efth, join us. The maid has just left to bring tea for us." Ajex cheerfully interrupts laying both arms on the table.

"My Lady, I hope you wouldn't mind if my companion join us for tea?" Ajex suddenly turned towards Lucien with a smile as though a child was asking if it was okay for his best friend to join the playground.

"It would be an honor, however, I–"

"Then that's settled, have a seat Efth." Ajex wasn't even willing to listen to what Lucien was about to speak till the end.

On the other hand, she didn't have a choice but accept the forced suggestion. Her anger screams inside her head wanting to hit Ajex's head with the book. She took her seat further away from the emperor however, she couldn't escape his cold gaze from him.

"There is something I wished to ask." Ajex continued after Efthalia sat down. Benjamin only sends a sorry look toward Lucien who seem to understand what situation she was in.

Efthalia simply raises his head who has just folded his arms.

"I was going through this book." Ajex turned the book towards him. "and I was interested to know more about the Rossiana Empire."

"Why are you unexpectedly so enthusiastic after so many years?" Efthalia sends a suspicious gaze toward him as though it was questioning Lucien.

Her body slightly flinches gazing somewhere far off the lake.

"Anyways, it's not like I care," Efthalia continued without letting Ajex respond. "As you've known, its kingdom had trembled into dust with nothing. The people from the kingdom dispersed far across the nation while some were captive. And as for the Flamingo family, no one has survived."

Lucien only silently listen not gazing at him, however, her ears perk the moment the Flamingo name was mentioned.

"That's what the people believe," Efthalia continued. "I assume one of their lineages must have been captured among the civilians. Though there is no answer to whom or where it may be. And–"

*~growl~*

Her stomach gave the loudest growl silencing everyone including the person who was speaking.

'I HATE MY LIFE...!!!!!! WHY? WHY? WHY?'

Lucien felt herself sinking under the chair. The heat around her body began to rise as her cheeks began to glow more. Benjamin wanted to inquire if he could ask somebody to bring some food for her but it would be rude and an embarrassment for a lady. He only did was look away, both ears turned a shade red.

No one was willing to speak out about anything. Lucien couldn't even leave or stay. The emperor was as well dumbfounded. He couldn't even continue what he was talking about. As for Ajex, he was about to ask again to bring the tea. If he did ask, Lucien was sure, she would dare use her leg to kick him out of the chair.

"My lady." Rosetta appeared holding a tray with a rather confused look. A savior interrupted, spreading a relief sign across everyone's face.

'More people again. The cup and tea aren't enough since there are two more people. I should leave to bring more.'

"I understand, I shall bring more serving," Rosetta bowed and left even without letting Lucien speak who was desperately trying to find a way to leave.

'Rosetta at least asked me. I am your master.'

"Is that all you wanted to know?" Efthalia questioned interrupting the awkward atmosphere, eyebrow raised at Ajex.

"Of course, that's more than enough, however," Ajex rubs his chin as though he was thinking something. "How does the Flamingo look like?" He was asking those questions Lucien had inquired before.

Efthalia sighs, "If you are interested in how they look like you'll find them... "

'Them? Where?'

Lucien's mind echoed with a curious look.

"Oh my!"

An extremely familiar voice interrupted. Lucien was aware of that voice and she never liked that voice.

"Lady Lucien, you were here?" It was no other than Dorothy.

If only Lucien was able to turn into invisibility she wouldn't need to turn towards the owner of the voice with a smile plastered on her face.

"Ah, Lady Dorothy, good afternoon."

"I was looking for you."

'For what? Why do you even have to show up now? I was in the middle of a very important topic.'

Lucien observed her and notices that Dorothy was rather dressed in a more attractive way. Her shoulder was exposed more like it was more lower than before. There was something about her fashion today that spoke 'I-am here-to-shine'

"Oh!"

Dorothy's expression finally changes to surprise as she notices the emperor seated on the other side of the table along with Ajex.

"Bless and prosperity to the Galatians Empire." She gracefully bowed toward the emperor as gently as she could.

"Oh my! Sir Ajex, good afternoon."

Dorothy as well turned towards Ajex and bowed. A bow which made Lucien widen her eyes as she was seated not too far from Ajex.

'Is this lady actually here with the intention to seduce?'

Lucien couldn't believe it when Dorothy bowed more lower than she needed to, showing more of her exposed chest. She was more bewildered to see how bold Dorothy was. To her surprise, Ajex paid no attention.

'She is more worst than I imagine. What a b***h is she.'

Dorothy has made herself comfortable sitting between Efthalia and Ajex.

'This setting is wrong. And why did she even join when no one asked her to take a seat? Shameless.'

Lucien's mind echoed feeling the most uncomfortable feeling. Neither of the characters here was a protagonist except for Efthalia. She was a Villainess, a character who never had a chance to get in between the male and female lead, and so does, Ajex. And here, Dorothy, a character who was never mentioned in the novel was trying to create her own harem.

'Why am I even here? I need to get out.'

Just as Lucien's mind echoed, Rosetta appeared with a trolley.

"My Lady, do I need to know how many guests are arriving for the tea? "

Rosetta had enough, going back and forth. Each time with new faces on the gazebo.

.

.

'Is everyone dying to have tea? Or they just want to be in this gazebo.'

'That b***h even had the guts to show herself here after what had happened the previous week. Shame I say.'

'Tsk! she is here enjoying her little harem and there, her maid is sucking somebody's face. The master and her servant are no different.'

'Just because you wore something so low, don't even think you are more attractive than my lady. Even n***d, my lady is more prettier than you.'

'Lady, you've no chance to get under anyone's pants here.'

.

.

All the thoughts that were echoing inside Rosetta's mind could clearly be heard by Efthalia who seem to have his eyebrow twitch.

'Somebody, stop this maid from overthinking.'

.

.

"No.. no... no..." Lucien stood up, gesturing for Rosetta to come forward with the tray. "Just bring the tea over."

Rosetta gladly did. "However, my Lady, I bought one less cup."

"Don't worry, serve them. You can forget about me." She pushed Rosetta to start serving the tea.

.

.

'Wasn't my Lady hungry? I heard her stomach growl louder than my brother.'

'Maybe, she wants to have a bigger feast for herself in the chamber.'

.

.

"Well then," Lucien spoke after Rosetta was done serving the tea and snacks on the table. "I shall take my leave."

"You are leaving?" Ajex questioned biting the salty cookies. "I thought you were waiting for the tea."

"I'll gladly join next time." She smiles and bowed in respect. "Bless and prosperity to the Galatians Empire." and walks out of the Gazebo.

.

.

"I'll prepare your tea right away when we reach your chamber, my Lady," Rosetta spoke following her from behind. Lucien thanked her for coming at the right time for rescuing her.

.

.

'They must have been a beast to her.'

'Shame, if only I could bring that s**t's head on a platter for my Lady.'

'She has no chance of getting the emperor's attention. Only my Lady will.'

.

.

Even though Rosetta and Lucien have walked far enough, Efthalia could still hear her mind speaking out loud.

'This maid. When does she stop thinking? And what kind of thought she keeps on thinking.'

Ajex was as well aware of Efthalia's ability to read the mind. When he called him to join them, he was already communicating with Efthalia asking about the question that Lucien was looking for.

Efthalia's curiosity rose when the question was asked by Ajex. One question came to his mind when he noticed the expression change on Lucien's face.

'Is she looking for somebody from the Flamingo family? And, it's the same as before. I still couldn't read her thoughts.'