Who is the Villain?

Chapter-23

"Are you sure this is the right one?"

After finally walking around for 30 minutes, they arrived at a particular spot which lies The Sky Lily.

"Certainly, my lady."

Lucien gave a long lecture to Rosetta, ending with a deduction of pocket money for a month. Rosetta wasn't good with expression however, she froze. She kneels, head pressed against the grass asking Lucien to bestow her a physical punishment instead of deducting her allowance.

Lucien said nothing in return, she walks away notifying her that if she was able to please her with her hard work, she would think about it.

Lucien sighs again before she asked Rosetta to look out for anyone especially the particular Knight of the harem.

The garden she walks in was a complete labyrinth however, with the help of her ability, the plants guide her to the right way making her less difficult.

Her mind was still clouded when she saw the moonlight roses placed in Dorothy's room. Her amazement wasn't about how magnificent the flower was but how it was possible to get into her hand.

'That rose was supposed to be found by lady Renee on her journey. That rose was significant to show her love returned to the emperor. But, why the hell is it with Dorothy?'

It was true that the moonlight roses were found only in a particular region. At half past in the middle of the novel, it was written that she found the flower. However, Renee didn't pluck it but bought the seedlings and planted them.

Her step paused when something strike her mind. "That lady is trying to steal away Renee's plot. She is trying to win the Emperor's heart by using all the methods that happened in the novel."

'But, it doesn't matter to me.' Lucien continues her walk again. 'The female protagonist has nothing to do with me. As long as that lady does nothing to me, I'll be fine. I hope I wouldn't be blamed when something happens to lady Renee.'

Finally, she reached the end of her destination. Lucien gulps hard. She remembers what Ivan told her about this particular flower. To be more precise, she asked him to hand her a book that had been written about it. Ivan did, however, it had very little information which was quite enough for her.

She was a few steps away. The Sky Lily was blooming with tiny pale petals around. It was planted in the middle of the labyrinth, growing like climbers attached to the bushes.

However, something went wrong, she couldn't move ahead. Her eyes only stare and stares when she noticed there wasn't only one flower. Every flower sprouting was in various colors.

"Which one was it?"

Lucien was sure the color was pale when her first attention caught on the climbers, however, when she noticed other colors, she was confused now.  "Or was it blue or green or..........................................which one was it?"

'I...I...forgot...'

She steadied her mind and tried to sniff around the air, it slightly smells like honey, melon, and a little citric. Now, she was confused. "Ughhh!!!! Never mind, I'll inquire myself."

Lucien carefully took a deep breath and puffs them out. Slowly, she closed her eyes, both hands joined together with an open palm. A little glow ball began to emerge on her palm until she began to hear tiny noises.

"~who is that human? I've never seen her here before?~"

"~a guest? Or a new family?~"

"~she is a pretty human...he..he~"

"~but what is she doing here?~"

"~maybe a suicide?~"

"~or maybe just an i***t~"

'They talk a lot...'

Lucien could plainly hear every bit of their conversation which might have ticked her a little bit.

"My name is Lucien Valentius and I entered here to obtain some Sky Lily flower," Lucien speaks out loud without wavering her heart.

"~huh? Did you hear that? The human is here to ask for Sky Lily.~"

"~Is she crazy?~"

"~nah~ must be a bigger fool than the rest.~"

"~stupid human~"

"~don't she know it can't be easily taken? What a foolish human ~"

"Oiiiiiiii! I can completely understand what you are babbling about." Lucien interrupts with a deep threatening tone, her nerves nearly popping out from her forehead. 'Ah~ I should have simply bought those knives or scissors with me.'

Every little flower around flinches at Lucien's threatening interruption.

"~y...you can hear us?~"

"~you are a spirit earth user?~"

"~Valentius family? Strange, not a sole ancestors were able to attain that gift. You must be a fortunate human.~"

"Fortunate? Gift?" Lucien wanted to respond to them that it was nothing but a burden and, that she wasn't a favorable person.

"~Lady Valentius, did you really mean it when you declared that you are here to obtain The Sky Lily?~"

A gentle voice spoke among those many. Lucien didn't realize when those fireflies began to appear around her. However, she feels they were the spirit of those flowers.

"Certainly."

Lucien didn't hesitate to answer as well. Her possibility of receiving her hands on the flower was displaying a promising sign.

"~for what purpose do you desire it for?~"

Lucien was prepared for any question she would be asked and she didn't hesitate to answer back. "The Galatians Empire is in a dire situation, the people are succumbing to an illness that could not be cured even through healing magic. No cure has been found yet. And we're running out of time. I, Lucien Valentius, on behalf of the Galatians Empire plead for your aid." Lucien has kneeled with one hand pressed against her chest.

"~aren't there many other plants and flowers around?~"

"There is but neither of them prevailed to be the correct components." Lucien wonders if the other male lead who could communicate with the plants went through the same process of pressure.

"~and you wish to save your people?~"

"No," Lucien sternly responds.

"~huh?~"

"It is not I who is going to create the treatment but an ally of mine, Lady Renee Nightingale." Lucien wanted to make it clear that she had no intention of saving the Empire when she was trying her best to save herself. "She vowed to help them and to develop the cure."

"~I see~ you as well desire to save them as well.~ and for that purpose, you are here to aid your friend.~"

"No, you are entirely mistaken here." Lucien waves her hand with a straight face. "I only landed here to save myself."

"~.......~"

"~nonetheless, I'll make it clear, Lady Valentius. It is impossible.~"

"Hu...??"

"~it's impossible.~"

Lucien was in paused. "Pardon?"

It was barely a second when she felt her entire hard work of stairs she assembled were simply crumbling away by a strong gust of wind.

"~didn't you hear lady, it's impossible.~"

"~don't let her repeat.~ shooo~ you can leave now.~"

"~what a nonsense human~"

"Speak another word, I'll make sure to burn down each and everyone here." Her gaze burned everything around, intimidating all the spirits with her strong mana.

"~EKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!~"

"~*sigh*~ I am terribly disgraced about my family, I hope you'll absolve us, Lady Valentius.~" the same soft voice uttered who seem to be in anguish. If Lucien could view that voice, she could glimpse an image of a woman who is busy taking care of more than 50 children. Lucien somehow feels compassion for her.

"~Lady Valentius, to make you understand, I'll clarify your question.~" the spirit continues to speak while the rest on the back turned silent. "~since you are here, I'm certain that you know we cannot be plucked away ~ if we did, the roots connected to each of us will wither away~"

"Is there any other way?" Lucien wasn't prepared to give up. There was a way to obtain the flower to create that medicine. Renee was able to discover it though it took some years. Lucien could have just waited for the original plot to start where that one particular male lead helps Renee to create that potion.

However, somebody was changing the plot more like, she was about to be put in a spot of accusations or a trap or anything. She didn't want to risk anything when she was able to find out who 'that lady without a name' was and what she intended to do.

The spirit was quiet for a moment before she continues, "~only the sacred royal bloodline with dominant mana can revive us ~ we are waiting for our master to– ~"

"I can," Lucien interrupts. "I could be able to do it. My mother is from a royal bloodline and I carry the same blood on me. She is from the lost Artlantic Empire."

This wasn't mentioned in the novel however, during her stay at the Valentius house, she was able to find out through the lineage record book.

"~Artlantic... The lost kingdom of the North. I see.~"

Lucien just hopes this works out or she might have to go through other brutal methods.

"~Lady Valentius, I'll warn you ~" the spirit spoke after giving a thought. "~if your mana isn't decisive enough, do not foresee us saving your life~ for you'll evolve into one of them.~"

When the spirit refers to one of them, Lucien realizes whom the spirit was indicating. It was those brilliant flowers blooming around.

"~do you still wish to proceed?~"

The spirit asked again to make sure Lucien didn't regret her decision later. However, Lucien has already made up her mind. With a big gulp, she nodded her head.

"Right away."