Who is the Villain?

Chapter-24

One week has passed, yet Lucien hasn't decided to bring The Sky Lily flower to Renee. She was finally able to obtain from the spirit and was glad things worked out perfectly.

Her only reason was that she wanted Renee to regain her strength and calm her mind and soul.

'Is the emperor aware of this?' She wonders about that. Lucien sighs, she was back in the library with the same book on her table. If she suddenly shows up the flower to Renee, she would merely jump out of the bed and start with her work.

Her attention was on the book again. Nothing was interestingly written about her ability however, it did say that it could revive a completely dry soil, replenishing it with water and good soil.

'This is interesting.' She reads the line where those old Spirit Earth users helped many people around the world. 'Should I give it a try? Maybe I could?'

Lucien flips the next page until her mind was interrupted by unusual laughter.

"Thank you, Sir Ivan. Your suggestions of the book were incredibly a stress relief for me."

Lucien remembers that sweet lovely voice. She was seated on the third floor, and though the view was quite far, she was somehow able to understand what was happening.

Dorothy appeared with a book in her hand and hands over to Ivan. She was accompanied by her maid, Yana. 'Yana?' Lucien hasn't forgotten about the last few incidents.

'Hmmm? She isn't fired? Wasn't that knight going to take care of it or did he just flee from the scene?'

The view looks like Dorothy was happily chatting with Ivan and gestures to Yana to hand him over a package. Ivan happily took it and they disappear to the other side. 'Did they go for a walk?'

Lucien shakes off her mind and gets back to the book. 'It doesn't matter to me.' When she went deeper through the book of her ability, she found that one's ability with stronger mana can cultivate an entire forest in a minute.

'Now, this is very interesting.'

She stretches open her palm and stares curiously, 'will I be able to put it out? I wish I could hold this ability even when I got back home.'

After half an hour more, she puts back the book on the shelves, even if she wanted to take it with her, it was unthinkable. 

Just as she passed through the main hall, she noticed Dorothy still present and happily chatting with Ivan. 'She is still here?' Yana was present with them who was serving tea and snacks on the table. They were seated in the other room which was surrounded by glass.

Nevertheless, she turns around and made her way out of the library, it didn't bother her though she felt like something wasn't right. 

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"How is Lady Renee?"

Lucien finally decided to visit Alina and Renee the next day.

"She is much better now." Alina was seated on the other side of the couch. This time, instead of tea, she offered a glass of cold and refreshing juice with some spicy snacks. Honestly, Lucien never felt better, she had been drinking tea and nothing else ever since she arrived here.

Just as they spoke, Renee walked out of the bedroom with her maid following behind.

"Ah, Lady Lucien," Renee as always, smiles with a calming aura. She sats down beside Alina. "I am deeply grateful to you for taking care of me." She bows her head with both hands on top of each other on her knees. "And I as well apologize for my behavior on that day."

"It doesn't matter what happened." Lucien puts down her glass on the table. They were seated beside an open window. Clear blue sky, dotted clouds floating away by the breeze that they could even feel it brushing against their cheeks. "I am delighted to see that you are doing much better now."

Renee smiles again in appreciation. Her maid serves her a glass of cold juice which she cheerfully took it.

"Lady Renee," Lucien called after they sat down enjoying their drinks with the view. Lucien wonders how these people were able to manage their life. If she were in her world, she would have stuck her nose either on her phone or laptop or on the t.v. However, this kind of atmosphere wasn't really that bad. She was now adapted without getting restless since her first arrival.

"Yes?"

Lucien sighs silently. "I understand you are extremely eager about your medicine however, you can't accomplish it if you neglect your health." Renee looks down at her hand that held her juice which was at the middle end. "If you rush, you wouldn't be able to formulate a complete tonic."

As far as Lucien remembers, Renee created the tonic in a rush which turn out to be incomplete and nearly caused a death until one of the lead characters came to her rescue. And for this reason, 'that lady' was going to utilize it to her advantage.

Renee was silent, her finger gently rubbing against the smooth glass. "I...I..."

"Renee," Alina puts her hand on her shoulder gaining her attention. "If something goes wrong you'll be held responsible and don't forget, only you can create that tonic. It doesn't matter how long it takes, just don't rush ignoring your health." As a friend, Alina understood better than anyone how much Renee wants to create that medicine.

"Lady Renee, I am willing to lend you a hand, however," Lucien uttered picking up her glass again which was now filled with a different flavor. "If you are pushing to go on like this, I apologize but, you would have to pass over about me."

Renee's expression turn bewildered with a wide eye. Her pink lips were loose, however, she closed it back unable to answer anything. She understood what she meant and she was as well aware of herself.

"I do wish that you will be the only one to create that and no one else," Lucien continues. If she wants this lady to understand, she needs to be a little stern in her voice and that she was serious as well.

"However, if you would create an improper tonic without a clear state of mind, you wouldn't be saving lives but rather diminishing them. So, therefore, Lady Renee. My only advice is, if you are still unable to calm your mind due to your family dilemma, you rather not create anymore but give up."

"NO!!!!"

Renee raises her head, clenching her hand tight against the glass. "I can't give up. I am aware that I still lack a lot of elements but I can't give up yet." Her body trembled as her eyes began to fill with moisture.

"I just need some time to think about it. There are still lots of flowers and plants I haven't tried yet and I can find them in the woods or the mountains. I just have to find a way to leave. I understand this isn't a way to create something however, I'm not inclined to give up. I just need some time." Her voice got lower at the end of the sentence with a trembling body.

"I've tried all the flowers here and nothing was able to prove to be a cure. I tried ten times, hoping I didn't make any mistakes but it still didn't work." Tears rolled down her cheeks, dripping her hand that still held the glass.

Lucien observed her action without a response. "I-I might have to leave the palace to look for the flower since neither one here is the right one and–"

"You still haven't attempted the last flower." Lucien interrupts, her leg crossed now.

"W-what? B-but...but I've tried every–"

"Lady Renee," Lucien calmly called. Her chin rested on top of her left palm where her elbow was on her thigh. "Are you awake now?"

"W-what?"

"Has your mind cleared away?" Though Lucien didn't smile, her voice was filled with concern and queries.

"Y-yes, I am now. I will be alright." Renee wiped her tears with her palm, able to calm down as though her mind just got refreshed. Those heavy fog suddenly moved away which was hovering inside her mind. "Thank you."

"I apologize again for my recent nature," Renee continues with another bow. "And for making both of you troubled about my actions." She turns towards Alina with her usual gentle smile. She was finally back to herself again.

"Lady Lucien, I'll make sure that this doesn't occur again. Through my research, I've found that it wouldn't be susceptible and for that reason, I essentially lost my confidence nevertheless, right now I wouldn't get diverted." She meant about her sister who was sick. As much as she wanted to rush and develop it, she didn't want to jeopardize her odds.

"I am pleased to hear that you understand," Lucien delightfully answers.

"Lady Lucien," Renee called with a momentous gaze. "When you said I haven't used the last flower, what did you mean? I am certain that I've tried all the flowers throughout the palace."

"You did but," Lucien didn't try to hint, like hitting across the bushes. She uttered directly. "There is one flower which has yet to be touched or to be seen."

Alina and Renee stare at each other in confusion and back at Lucien.

"Since you are in the right mind, I can let you have it now." Lucien gestures to Rosetta who was standing at the back. She walk forward and puts down the basket she was holding which had flowers in it.

Confused, Renee raises her head towards Lucien after gazing at the flower. "Lady Lucien, this is sun rose and I've tried it as well. It–"

"Not that flowers," Lucien interrupts. "Look beneath the flowers." As she requested, both of them carefully removes the sun rose and they were stunned.

"M-my... My lady, t-this is...this is..."

"Yes, it's the Sky Lily, the last flower which you haven't tried yet." Lucien calmly answers. Her glass was empty. When the maid tried to refill, she halt her hand to signify that was enough. The more she drank, the more she wanted to rush to the washroom.

"B-but...how? Isn't it impossible to pluck and– wait, isn't it poisonous?" Alina gazes with wide eyes unable to comprehend. Everyone was aware of the Sky Lily.

"It is until it's been plucked and yes, the spirit bestowed me the approval and here they are now." Lucien was calmly explaining as though it was nothing though she felt a little bit of guilt for stealing the harem spotlight.

However, Renee couldn't think of anything. She knew about the spirit and in the past, many people tried but never survived. To get the flower, something was needed in return. Renee's eyes widen in fright and quickly yelled, "Did you sell your SOUL in return?"

"Huh??? Absolutely No. Of course not." Lucien waves her hand that it was nothing like that, and she explains what she discusses with the spirit. Of course, she ignores the part where she gave her mana to the spirit. What she didn't expect was the spirit to be in joy after receiving the mana.

"Oh," Renee sighed in relief after listening to the story.

"The spirit gave me one piece of advice especially to the person who is going to create the medicine," Lucien spoke abruptly turning her voice into seriousness. "That, if you carefully utilize the power of this flower, you'll be able to create a powerful healing potion that could even revive a person that just died."

Alina and Renee were silent at the news. "However," She continues. "Don't let greed take possession of you nor authorize it to the immoral hand. That's what the spirit told me."

"I understand now," Renee stares down at the flower on the basket with a clear gaze. "No wonder, people lost their lives to get their hands on this flower nor nothing was written about it."

When Renee read the book about the Sky Lily, it only wrote that it was a poisonous flower that isn't worth putting one's life for.

However, people still go after to get their hands on the flower. If people were to find that the flower could be turned into an immortal potion, anyone would be willing to risk their lives. Regardless, not many were aware for it was kept hidden from this world.

"Maybe, just creating for the illness is more than enough," Renee uttered after thinking about what Lucien has just spoken. "It's better we kept it hidden about what the spirit has said." Lucien as well agreed along with Alina.

"But, why did you bought the flower under the sun roses?" Alina curiously questions staring at Lucien.

Lucien sighs again. "I am trying not to disclose my identity as a Spirit Earth user." As far as Lucien wanted, she wished to prevent any aspect of attention and be like those extra characters with no looks in manga and comics. "And, as a request, I wish you both concealed about how I was able to obtain the Sky Lily."

Renee and Alina understood what she meant and simply nodded their head even though their thoughts were completely unrelated.

Lucien was finally able to take care of the flower and to create the tonic.

Just to be certain, she did ask the spirit before she left with the basket of flowers. She asked if the spirit ever 'lie' but the response was 'Never.'

Satisfied with the answers, she inquired the next question if there was anyone from the consort who has come to ask for the flower. Sure enough, there was no none.

Lucien ponders over how Dorothy will be able to create that potion, "will she be able to create one without Sky Lily?" She mumbles herself as she walks back to her chamber.

"My lady, if you are assuming about creating that tonic, anything would be possible," Rosetta spoke as to respond to her mumble.

"What do you mean?"

Lucien turn towards Rosetta as she halted her walk.

"As you have said–"

Lucien and Rosetta were distracted by a commotion on the other side of the garden. As Lucien turns her gaze, she recognizes Dorothy who seems to be apologizing to a man with ruby hair.

'Knight Ajex?' She could never forget that crimson hair with a tall masculine body. When Lucien carefully observed, Ajex was drenched wet from his hair to his shoulder.

"It seems like Lady Dorothy might have accidentally splashed her tea on him, just an assumption," Rosetta spoke who was as well staring at the commotion. The maid Yana, rushes with a clean towel towards them and hands it over to Dorothy who was carefully dabbing on his cheeks.

'But it looks more like sh–'

"She did that intentionally," Rosetta spoke again finishing Lucien's silent phrase.

"Uh??"

"Why would Lady Dorothy even toss her tea from above?" Rosetta continues with a suspicious stare. "And above all, it's a cold tea. If it were hot, he might be burning in pain nonetheless, he is still."

Lucien didn't need to think anymore when somebody had already been able to finish reading her thoughts. 'Rosetta is a psychic, right?'

Just then Dorothy was leaving with Ajex following behind. 'Huh? Where are they going?'

"Most probably, they are leaving for Dorothy's chamber."

"Rosetta, you are literally not a mentalist, right?"

"I apologize, Lady Lucien," Rosetta stood straight. "If only it was real."

Lucien answers with a peal of awkward laughter, "let's go."

"Aren't you curious, my lady?" Rosetta questioned as she followed her from behind.

"About what?"

"About Sir Knight and Lady Dorothy."

Lucien didn't give any curious look but only walk. "I am not bothered about them or what is occurring."

"Understood, my lady."

Rosetta spoke no words in return.

'I hope it's not what I am thinking about Lady Dorothy?'

Lucien didn't want to think anything unnecessary however, she couldn't shake off a bad premonition.