Who is the Villain?

Chapter-21

Her walk to Dorothy's Chamber was further than Alina and Renee's. Rosetta as well accompanied her.

"This is her room, my lady," Rosetta spoke standing beside a huge wooden door. She slightly knocks on the door and it opens with a maid who received them.

"Welcome, Lady Lucien," the maid greets and leads them to the living room.

'Have I seen her before?'

Lucien's mind echoed staring at the back of the maid. The maid made her stopped and opens another door that leads her to the living room.

"Here you go."

As soon as they enter, Dorothy quickly made her way toward Lucien with a cheerful smile. "I am so delighted to have you in my humble chamber, Lady Lucien." Dorothy bows, gently lifting her gown as elegant as an innocent lady. 

"I am as well honored to be here, Lady Dorothy. You are cheerful as everyone says." Lucien as well bows in return. Rosetta waited near the door of the living room, existing only Lucien and Dorothy.

"You are saying too much, Lady Lucien." Dorothy stood straight with her adorable smile. If it were a manga or a comic, Lucien thinks she would be able to see flowers popping out on her.

"Please, come this way."

Dorothy guides her to the table beside the glass window. "Yana, please prepare our tea now," She spoke to one of the maids who stood by the door.

"Yes, my lady."

Lucien looked around the room which was much different from the rest. There wasn't anything that looks too extravagant like Cresella's room. However, the room was cozy and it was filled with one color, pink. 'It does suit her.'

As she gazes around, her attention falls on the flower that was placed on the crystal vase at the table.

"I see you are interested as others," Dorothy uttered when she noticed Lucien's gaze on the table. "Is it weird?" She sounded happy and a little bit sad.

"I apologize, Lady Dorothy," Lucien wasn't expecting her attention would be on the flower that might affect the owner. "And it isn't. It was just that I've never seen such a magnificent flower here around."

Dorothy chuckles in delight. "Thank you, lady Lucien. This flower is especially called moonlight rose," She explains, gently caressing the flower. "It blooms like a rose, however, this flower shimmers under the moonlight," Lucien spoke no words and simply stares at Dorothy.

"Actually, my grandfather found this flower on his expedition. We weren't expecting to find this flower however, it was truly a blessing to see it flourishing in our enclosure." It was a magnificent rose, it's hue was vibrant deep, and light blue.

'But why is it here?'

Lucien's mind echoed.

Lucien didn't slightly have any expression on her face when Dorothy continues to explain more. 'Why does she reminds me of someone?' Her mind echoed again. Just then the door knocks and enters some maids with a trolley.

"Ah, I guess it's time for some tea." She gently smiles as the maids began to spread the tea cup and placed portable desserts on the cupcake tower.

'Now that I think about it, all the maids here are either pretty or beautiful.' Lucien's mind echoed. 'Did lady Dorothy pick herself or were they assigned by the butler?' The maid who was Yana began to pour the tea she had just brewed. 'This aroma.'

As soon as Lucien sips the tea, she was right. "Honeyberry tea?" Surprised. Lucien stares back at Dorothy who was smiling.

"H...how...?"

"I was aware of your fondness of honeyberry tea, Lady Lucien," Dorothy answers as she as well sips her tea.

Lucien was clueless. Yes, according to the novel, the antagonist loves honeyberry tea. A berry that could only be harvested once a year and found only in a particular region. And it wasn't the season yet. No one knows about her fondness for this berry tea except for her family.

"I understand you must be clueless about this regardless, I foresaw this to happen." Dorothy continues placing her cup on the saucer. "I have the ability to see the future. I was aware you wouldn't believe but this was the only way to make you understand."

Lucien uttered nothing and Dorothy continues. "If you nevertheless refuse to acknowledge, I can let you know something about what you are preparing on or what you are intending about." She sips more of her tea. Her maid has already left and that left only her and Lucien.

"I learned how to cure the disease that is unraveling throughout the empire and I'm working on it right now.". As soon as Dorothy confesses, Lucien's body flinched.

"But, isn't Lady Renee, she–"

"I am aware," Dorothy interrupts. "However," she grabs the tart from the plate. "In the future, the cure was found 9 years later and it was furthermore delayed for everyone. Several people lost their lives and it proceeds to scatter throughout the other nations." And nips a whole bite of the tart.

Lucien simply stares down at her brewing tea with lots of questions on her mind. Neither could she think of anything to question in return. "Lady Renee's cure turns into poison, it even harms the Emperor as it was an incomplete potion. And for that reason, I'm trying to create one before her. It's about to be complete."

Lucien placed the cup on the saucer until Dorothy continues.

"I am aware that you've been in love with the emperor ever since you met him at a banquet 10 years ago. He was your first love the moment he stepped into the hall."

'What? That line... Is she?'

Dorothy picks up another tiny tart with dry fruits on top with cream. "And that you yearn to eliminate anyone who gets in your way, particularly someone."

When Dorothy receives no response, she quickly lightens up the mood. "Don't trouble too much Lady Lucien, no one can heed our conversation. I've arranged a charm here, no one can eavesdrop including the mages."

"Who are you?"

"As I told you, I can get a glimpse of the future," Dorothy simply answers with a sly smirk. "I'm not sure whether it's a lie or a truth but, what I perceive, it never lies." The atmosphere around drops down utterly leaving Lucien speechless.

"I only did what Lady Cresella asked me to." Lucien's eyes widen when she heard the familiar name.

"Lady Cresella?"

"Yes, when she realized about my ability, she inquired me if I could see anything occurring in the future in this palace." Dorothy continues. "Lady Lucien, pardon me for speaking such words. They shouldn't be knowing about this meeting but I had to let you know." Dorothy's innocent eyes began to glisten with guilt.

"If it's true, Lady Lucien let me help you."

"Huh?"

"I know you have an affection for the emperor so does everyone here. Still, I can assist you if you are inclined to unite hands with us. I will certainly support you, Lady Lucien."

Lucien didn't know how to respond to that.

It wasn't long enough before Lucien left Lady Dorothy's chamber. She couldn't even continue her tea after one sip.

.

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"Are you alright, my lady?" Rosetta questioned who was following her behind.

"Yes, I am, thank you– Nah~ I feel much better now." Lucien was silent the entire time she left Dorothy's room.

'Now, I know who is 'that lady.' Relief spread across her chest when she was able to discern who 'that lady' was who got transmigrated to.

However, it was pissing her off for some reason when Dorothy began to utter some words which weren't new to her. 'Affection? Affection for that freaking asshole?' Her knuckles clenched tight biting her lower lip hard.

'Fine then, if this is how it is going to happen, I'll do it my own way. Since nobody is following the plot.'

The lady was already ahead of her and made all the plans even before she set her foot in this palace. And not only that, from what Dorothy spoke, it almost felt like a threat to her. Since Lucien was nothing but an antagonist who would scheme plans to ruin Renee. She was going to use that to manipulate Lucien.

"Rosetta, we're going to the library again."

"Yes, my lady."

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The sun has already set and the moon was up. No one was around except for the knights patrolling around the hallway and the gate.

Lucien was now standing at the edge of the wall, far away from the entrance gate in the courtyard. Rosetta as well accompanied her, however, Lucien assigned her to keep a check on around if anyone would be coming their way as Lucien didn't want any attention. Nevertheless, it became futile when there were too many knights around.

Lucien didn't have a choice but to walk towards the garden where she could look for another Sky Lily as Rosetta has said. Her maid waits at the entrance of the garden while Lucien made her way to the middle of the garden. She was glad that they weren't too many lamps or knights around here. It was vacant.

She happily skips until she stumbles her foot unto something. Lucien nearly squeaks when her foot nearly losses her balance but sighs in relief. When she looks around, she noticed something laying on the ground. "A shoe...?" What's more, there was an apron lying around along with some cloak and some other clothes.

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"Did you hear that?"

An unexpected voice startle Lucien who was still on the ground. Quickly, she hides herself near the bushes without a sound. 'Who?'

"I think you just heard small wild creatures around. It is common to find here."

A female voice spoke beyond the bushes.

"I guess you are right," a male voice spoke with concern. "But, I'm still worried that we might get caught and–"

'Caught? Caught? Caught what? Why do I hear a male and a female voice in the middle of the garden?' Lucien tried her best not to make a sound when she was breathing heavily. Until the next conversation made her feel goosebumps.

"~you wanna leave me like this after we're halfway?~"

Lucien remembers that feminine voice. As much as she didn't want to, she was able to get a glimpse of the female across the bushes. 'Yana?'

"~how can I flee when I'm with someone who could take my breath away, darling~"

Lucien didn't have the time to think about what was going to happen next. Without much thought, she quickly crawls like a serpent with four legs, squirming its way far away from the noise until it disappears from her ears.

'Why the hell does this keep on happening around me?'

As soon as she was about to reach the other exit of the bushes, she stumbled her head on something hard.

"Ouch!!"

"My lady?" Her entire body shivers when she heard another familiar deep male voice.