Who is the Villain?

Chapter-25

Bless and prosperity to the Galatians Empire."

A man kneels on the ground with one hand across his chest while his other hand is on his back. "It's good to see His Majesty is in good health."

Efthalia sat on his throne with Benjamin standing on his right. "Your arrival was unexpected," Efthalia spoke after gesturing him to stand.

"I apologize Your Majesty." The man who knelt, stood up and met his gaze. "I was unable to send the message ahead for the situation that had occurred in the West."

The man stood up however, the attire he was wearing did not relate to any knight or soldier. His sliver hair fell till his tailbone with a matching dark silver lense. "It appears that the  report you send me the recent week hasn't unraveled yet." The Emperor spoke with his fingers on his chin.

"It is Your Majesty, here." The silver hair rummages in his bag and hands out a scroll.

Benjamin walks down, took the scroll, and hands it to Efthalia.

"An issue arose while I was investigating regarding the rumors of the first town spreading infection, not only did the demon turn out to be complicated but among the town, some weren't comfortable when the Royal knight was there to inspect."

Efthalia reads the scroll as the other man continued to explain. "This is rather interesting," he commented passing the scroll to Benjamin. "According to your survey, the issue regarding the trafficking in the border and this situation is somehow related, is what you meant."

"Yes, Your Majesty," the other man answers.

"When you convey to me the message regarding that particular Aristocratic, I found his daughter to be present here as one of your consort."

He continued. "Though my only duty was to look for the cause of the disease and the people facing difficulty. Some of the knights were able to capture an intruder who was attempting to obliterate our camp. He slips out that he was serving somebody."

"Your Majesty." Benjamin was in alarmed, and he turned towards Efthalia. "It's a severe situation if that intruder were here."

Efthalia raises his hand, "Do not let out a word about the intruder," he orders sternly.

"Someone was able to discover that there is a piece hidden in this palace."

"A traitor?" Benjamin uttered, his eyes turning into a suspicious gaze.

"Most likely," Efthalia spoke, leaning his body forward. His chin rested on top of his folded knuckles and his elbows rested on his knee. "Creating a commotion could cause a problem for us and an advantage for them."

Benjamin stood silent unable to think of any outcome, he walks forward and kneels by going down on his left knee while his right hand rested on his right knee. One hand rested on top. "What is your order, your Majesty?"

"Let it be as how it is now until we're able to corner them," Efthalia spoke as he sits straight. "However, let the mages be on guard after nightfall without the knowledge of others and send Ajex for an audience."

"Understood, Your Majesty." Benjamin stood up and made his way out.

"Sebastian," Efthalia called the other person with the silver hair who was no other than the magician and a healer for the Galatians Empire.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Don't let your guard down since your arrival here will be known to them." Efthalia thought for a moment before he continued. "Send the intruder to the interrogation room, Ajex will handle it. And as for your investigations, do continue." He paused for a moment again as though something struck his mind.

"And for a meanwhile, you are here, I did like you to look into something." His gaze sharpened with wrath as he thought of a particular person.

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That particular night, the mages were put on guard all around. Sebastian, a well-known wizard, considered to be the strongest among all mages was off for the past few months to look for the issue where the rise of the first disease began to spread.

He didn't think it would take much longer however, it made things more interesting as he was bored.

When the Emperor asked him about a blacksmith who could enhance charm on jewelry, he answers that it was possible. However, when Efthalia continues, "how about a person who is dominant enough for me unable to penetrate that leverage?"

Sebastian was left bewildered, he couldn't think of anyone stronger than the emperor. His mana and spiritual power are no mockery. Sebastian found something more interesting to entertain him during his stay in the palace again.

"But who could it be?"

He questioned himself as he made his way to the labyrinth garden. It has been a year since he left and finally getting back made him worry about some of his spirits.

When he reached the inner part of the labyrinth, he was left stunned. The Sky Lily was blooming more radiant and the mana around was an enormous amount.

"Who dares to enter here?"

Sebastian questioned with a cold voice.

The Sky Lily glow more and a tiny twinkling ball appeared. '~a lady appeared.~'

"Who?"

'~she bestowed no name nor do we know who it was~'

"An outsider?" Sebastian tilted his head in curiosity while his eyes glowed under the darkness.

'~we know no originality of the lady.~

"~ho~" Sebastian held his chin with a narrow gaze. "~has my spirit learned to lie when I left for a year?~"

All the glow ball flinches when they heard their master with a threatening voice. 

'~w-we....w-we... Do not l-li–..~'

"~yes...yes~ continue what you were trying to say ~ you do not what?~" Those cheerful tones of their master were more terrifying than the malicious tone. That little smile across his face was filling with nothing but a threat.

'~w-we....'

"~yesss?~"

'~........~'

"~hmmm?~"

'~please forgive us, Master Sebastian, ~'

In the end, the spirit couldn't lie when they made a pact from the beginning. It was Lucien who asked them to keep her identity hidden from whoever comes and inquired, however, if it was someone they trust and couldn't be betrayed, they could tell them the truth.

'~one of the consort ladies appeared and asked for the Sky Lily and in return, the lady shared her mana with us.~'

"Consort?"

'Now that reminds me, the emperor asked me to look after some of the consort.' He wonders if it wasn't coincident when Efthalia asked about a stronger opponent who was not from the royal family.

"Who is she?" He sternly questions.

'~forgive us, Master Sebastian however, we made a pact that the identity of her not be disclosed. If we spoke, that lady will burn down the entire garden from this palace including us.~'

"A threat from a lady?" As he thinks about it, it might be possible when he could feel the strong mana around here. If this lady were to face him, it was impossible to think he would easily win. He had to think carefully if he wanted to apprehend the thief who stole The Sky Lily.

"What was she going to do with the flower?" Sebastian questioned again, the smile was no more.

'~I apologize~'

*sigh*

This was as well kept confidential. 'This lady didn't want anyone to know anything about her or what she was about to do. Interesting. I hope she isn't going to create poison.'

"Whatever, I've received most of the clue," Sebastian spoke after he thought about many of his theories about who that particular person could be. However, he was able to grasp that the lady was the consort.

"Now then, let me listen to what has happened this whole year in my absence."

He sits down on the grass with a grin. He was sure something interesting might had happened and the plants or flowers probably have seen or heard more than others.

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'How. Did. I. End. Up. Here?'

Right now Lucien was sitting right across from the Emperor on an enormous boat that could even fit a hundred people. However, it wasn't only her, Rosetta, the Emperor, and his loyal sidekick knight, Benjamin were also present.

Lucien only planned to walk around the Lake when she heard there was a lake present. When she was done with her daily routine of myrrh and other essentials for beautifying the skin, Lucien decided to go for a walk instead of simply staying in her chamber.

However, an unexpected thing took a turn.