Who is the Villain?

Chapter-41

There had been a commotion ever since Lucien woke up. She ignored all the whispering, not willing to listen.

"Why didn't you notify me yesterday?"

Rosetta questions in a little angry tone. She gently applied an ointment on the back of her thigh which got bruised and had a little bit of blood clot.

"It was not a trifling matter," Lucien responded laying on her flat stomach. It was time for her early morning massage. Lucien didn't think it was a big matter until she noticed it early in the morning. Her gown and her inner undergarments were stained in blood.

During that tea party, somebody purposely laid tiny nails at the edge of the seat when she stood up and she sat, piercing it through her skin. She withstands the pain till the very end.

Lucien couldn't even let out that somebody purposely did that to her. She confessed earlier to the Emperor that she don't prefer to be seated in front of those people.

If she were to scream out blaming the person sitting behind her or anyone, the emperor would assume that it was Lucien herself who did that and was looking for attention.

It was okay but not until the next day when she couldn't walk properly. Rosetta was furious including the other maids. They wanted to confront those who did that but she stopped them.

"First, it was a scratch on your elbows, and now, on your thigh." Rosetta was getting out of hand. Everyone was bullying her but none could see that happening.

"Anyhow, what is with the commotion in the palace around?" Lucien questioned when she couldn't turn her ears deft with lots of chattering and murmuring.

"What do you mean?"

Maria questioned who just entered with a trolley filled with amounts of tiny ceramic containers.

"I keep on overhearing somebody has left the Platinum Palace to the capital,"

Lucien responded, her head slightly shifted to the other side facing the wall. She only heard mumbling and whispers from around the servants and what she heard was from the flowers who wouldn't stop chatting all over.

"Ah!"

Maria exclaims as she puts the container on the other free table one after the other. "News must have caught up with you sooner than I anticipated." Carefully, she opens the lid of the container mixing the ingredient.

"You must have heard about the emperor, my lady," Lily appears with a bowl of warm water carefully handling it with a towel wrapped around it.

"The emperor?"

Lucien turns her head to the other side of Lily.

"Yes," Lily responded with a cheery smile. "The emperor has left for the capital since yesterday and wouldn't be arriving for a week, that was what I've heard."

"Ohh!!"

Lucien nodded and turned her head around to the other side.

"He is the emperor of the Galatians Empire after all," Maria responded, she sniffs the ingredients she just mixed before she carefully twirls the bowl again in her hand. "It is his duty to look after the capital. No matter how bitter his character may be, people look up to him for he is wise and rules the kingdom accordingly."

"Plus handsome," Lily added with a blush of admiration. "The emperor is a heartbreaker for many ladies in and around the kingdom."

"He..he..he.."

Lucien only responded with a death-fish laugh.

If Lucien thinks about Yeong-su in her world, he was a breathtaking beauty. Everyone envies his beauty and gentle nature. Many girls have fallen for him. He received many confessions including stalkers. However, among all that he rejected every confession politely. It only made them fall moreover. And among all the other crazy fans, she was one of them. Admiring him from afar.

According to her, Yeong-su was like a star. Shining too brilliantly that she couldn't move her gaze away. Her hand was out of reach when she tries to reach it.

Lucien sighs, 'I fell too easily for someone.' At this moment, she regrets falling for him. 'If only I have moved my attention to somebody else. I might already have a boyfriend by now.'

*sigh*

'I should have accepted the blind dates sis always offered. Now, I am forever single.'

"I heard that he received a marriage proposal from another kingdom yesterday," Lily whispers hoping no one heard about it.

"I am well aware of that," Maria spoke, putting down the ceramic and adding it to another empty bowl. "The lady which arrives yesterday was lovely but not as lovely as our lady."

"He..he..he..."

Lucien responded with another awkward death laughter.  "I deeply appreciate your words, it is amusing but you don't have to exaggerate."

"She isn't, my lady," Lily defended. "If I have to lay the outstanding list of beauty among all the consorts, it's undeniable that you and lady Renee stand out the most" Maria as well agrees, nodding her head.

'Ah~ the protagonist and the antagonist. It unquestionably clashes.'

"And guess what," Lily continues who wouldn't stop talking about the rumors she hears. "The king asked to put his daughter on the consort list when the emperor rejected the proposal but he still rejected it again."

"Oh!"

Maria exclaimed who was busy with her hand. "That's new to me."

"And guess what he told them," Lily suddenly turned into a serious gaze lowering her voice. Everyone was silent and send a short glance toward Lily and back at their work. 

"He said," Lily clears her throat hoping to sound manly and deep. "I do not wish to have another candidate for I am close to the person whom I am about to select."

Maria and Rosetta gave a wide surprised stare at her at what Lily had just spoken.

"You sure you aren't just imagining things?" Rosetta questions with an eyebrow raised.

"I am not," Lily defended. Maria carefully adds the mixed ingredients to the warm bowl as she continued to respond to Lily.

'It could be possible,' Lucien's head echoed not surprised by what she had heard. 'After all, it's Renee from the beginning and will be in the end. But I wonder how is he going to make her fall for him?' Her head ponders for a second. 'She is busy with her work and....hmmm!!!'

"My lady," Maria interrupted her thought. "We are about to start." She notifies that they were about to start their massage.

Lucien was finally relaxed when her body and soul began to calm down. Her eyes felt tired unable to keep awake.

"My lady," Lucien was interrupted again when she was about to shut her eyes. "Do you have anyone you love or anyone you had loved before?"

Lily was curious and happen to be staring at her with a gleaming eye. Someone who loves to give attention to other people's personal love life.

*sigh*

Lucien sighs again. Lily wouldn't stop glaring at her nor she was going to budge any moment.

"I had," she responded.  It was more than enough to excite Lily and it also made Maria curious.

Lily kneels, facing straight toward her. "Who?"

"I am trying to forget him," Lucien moved her gaze away as she responded in a short sentence.

Lily doesn't seem to bother about that and continues, "how does he look like? Is he more handsome than the emperor?"

"....."

Lucien couldn't respond to that. Her face went blank and two identical images pop up in her head. One person could smile and deceived her later while the other person never smiles and hates her to the core. No matter how she thinks about it, it was still the same.

"I rather not answer that." That was all Lucien spoke at the end cutting Lily not to ask any more questions.

"Oh my goodness!!" Lily squeal out of excitement. "Don't tell me your lover has equal beauty as His Majesty."

"...."

Lucien couldn't even say 'Yes' or 'No.' Her silence was more than enough to let them know.