Who is the Villain?

Chapter -22

"When are you going to visit the capital?"

Ajex seated by the chair next to Efthalia. The table was laid splendidly with food and drinks which was enough for two people. Benjamin stood at the far end of the door while some maids and butlers stood at the other corner.

It was dusk and Efthalia decided to have an early dinner accompanied by Ajex, his childhood friend.

"After I'm done with work."

Efthalia responded staring down at his bowl of soup before he continues.

*sigh*

"You've been saying that since last year," Ajex retorted as he slices the roasted steak. "Don't you get lonely here?"

"Not really," Efthalia sips the warm creamy soup as he continues to respond. "It's entertaining here."

"Who?"

Ajex didn't hesitate to question, his gaze locked on his friend. However, the other person refuses to answer nor did he responded to any of his queries and Ajex finally gave up. Efthalia wasn't an easy person who would simply give away his words.

"Apart from that." As Ajex finished his steak, the empty plate was taken away placing with another plate. "Have you learned all the names of those consorts?" His mind rose into curiosity.

"Why do you ask? Perhaps, you are interested in one of them."

"I rather not say interested." Ajex didn't bother to hesitate as he thought about it. "I'm rather curious about why you picked her as your consort?" Efthalia only raise an eyebrow when Ajex started to describe that person.

"I was sure your taste in women would be elegant, decent, strong willpower, gentle, and any other qualities that are not found in a single person."

"Pardon?"

"However, this consort of yours doubts me about your taste." Ajex glances at his friend with a curious look. "How can I describe her, its.....kind of impossible." Both of his hands were free from the fork and the knives and were now rubbing his chin with deep thought. "This lady has no moral pride or dignity about herself, more like she is throwing it away and ambling them over with her feet."

Efthalia has paused his hand which held a fork of green leaves and meat. His gaze threw a judgmental look towards him. "I would one day wish to confront that 'thing' you are comprehending about."

Ajex sends a silent stare for a moment before he continues. "That thing is a lady you choose as your consort and she might even serve as the Empress one day. You are already taunting yourself, Your Majesty. And right now, as your companion, I'm additionally concerned about your well-being state of mind."

Eftahlia returns the silent stare as well with a response, "I rather not listen to someone who isn't conscious of his state of mind."

The conversation never ends until Benjamin decided to interrupt. Efthalia left his office room when he receives an anonymous letter. Ajex decided to stroll around the balcony after dinner as he waits for his bath to be ready.

"Who?"

His gaze landed upon two unfamiliar people walking their way towards the garden. It was hard to recognize as they have decided to avoid walking under the lamp. In an instinct, he made his way down the garden.

Ajex overlooked that the garden was deep and vast, it was more like a mini forest. Being a good keen in sight, he was able to get a glimpse.

As he carefully looks around, his instinct suddenly took an alert that something was approaching on his way. He was away from the lamp so does the path that leads him.

Ajex prepared himself, clenching his fist tight as he leans, extending his left leg on the front and right on the back. 'I should have bought a weapon with me.'

And there he sees, a shadow crawling its way towards him at a rapid speed. 'A serpent? No a demon? But how? This is the–'

"Ouch!!"

A female voice made his body flinch but he soon relax. When he gazes down, he recognized the one and the only lady whom he never expected to meet again in this situation. 'I really should have bought my spear or the sword.'

"My lady?"

Lucien never in her entire life expected to meet the same person in a very awkward situation. 'Why him?'

'Should I stand up and explain the reason or should I just ignore him again?'

Both Lucien and Ajex were silent for the entire minute. No words could express this particular moment. Nor neither could ignore each other's presence as though they have never met.

"I have a reason,"

Lucien promptly stood up in a stern low voice. She could tell what those looks were. Before things turn into a misunderstanding, she needed to prove her innocence.

As soon as Ajex opens his lips to speak, a moan interrupts across the bushes making him unable to utter anything.

If only Lucien had a g*n with her, she wouldn't bother to shoot them away in an instant.

"So, they were there."

"W...what?"

Lucien didn't think the person standing beside him would be making his way toward those noises.

"They need to understand that–"

This was the best opportunity for her to leave however, she couldn't when a person is trying to make the craziest move. She quickly grabbed hold of the back of Ajex's collar and drags him hard towards the other bush.

"L...la..lady... Are you...*cough* are...yo...*cough* trying to kill me..?"

Ajex kneels towards the ground breathing hard. His face nearly went pale and for a moment he thought he was about to be murdered.

"I am terribly sorry," Lucien apologizes kneeling before him as she gently pats his back. "However, I need to say this, are you an i***t?"

"W..what?"

"What do you think you are doing, that you could walk right into something when you could certainly understand something is happening?" Lucien's cheeks were already dark red however, it was dark, and neither Ajex nor herself could notice.

"Umm!!" Ajex was unable to answer. "I'm a knight and I'm performing my responsibility. There is nothing to be ashamed of–"

"This is not about being ashamed or not." Lucien couldn't believe this person here calls himself a knight. "Your ridiculous action could destroy somebody's pride. However, if there is a law I wouldn't interfere nevertheless if you want to take care of them, you can handle it the following day."

Ajex could only do was silently listen. 'Why is she so angry?' He couldn't even question when her gaze was burning his soul.

Lucien sighs, calming herself down. "I apologize again for being rude sir knight however, you shouldn't forget that a lady's pride is more fragile than a glass. Though it agitates me to think that they would be expressing their love here."

'This maid,' Lucien's mind echoed. 'She was the one who was in the library as well. Seriously...ugggghhh!!!' Her head hurts as she thinks about it. 'What was I expecting in this mature novel? I guess there will be more.'

"If it isn't an issue, may I know what is my lady doing here at night?" If it were an evening walk, Ajex would think it was natural however, the lady here was as well holding an empty basket.

Her body flinch when she realized she wasn't supposed to be seen by anyone. With an awkward smile, she responded, "forgive me, I'm here to pick some flowers."

"After dark?"

Lucien stood and looks around again before she looks down at the knight, "yes, I was told that a flower in this garden bloomed after dusk." It was a lie though it wasn't really a lie. "And I prefer to have an evening walk after dinner."

"Regardless of that," Ajex stood up patting his pants that had invisible dust. "Isn't your chamber far from here? And this garden is specifically for the emperor." That suspicious voice was making Lucien sweat in nervousness.

'Emperor? Emperor? You mean this garden belongs to that Emperor?'

"Efthalia doesn't prefer anyone visiting his garden without permission including the servants unless it was his order." Ajex didn't have a smile on his face and Lucien could tell from the way he spoke. It was frightening. She felt like she was caught doing something she wasn't allowed to.

'Where the hell did I end up to? Rosetta, why did you never tell me about this?'

"I understand what you mean my lady, however, anyone entering this garden without permission can get executed if the emperor discovers and I'm doing my responsibility not to let that happen."

'Execution? Execution? Am I going to die for entering this garden? Why was I never told about this? Rosetta, you are coming with me to hell.'

'YOU SHOULD HAVE PUT A SIGNBOARD IF ITS PROHIBITED.' Was what Lucien wanted to shout in his face. Her face was burning more when she realized what she had argued about. 'I want to crawl under the ground.'

Ajex sighs pinching between his brows. "Anyways, I'll let you off, my lady. Since you were unfamiliar with this." He stares at Lucien with a solaced gaze. "My lady, please leave this garden before somebody sees you, particularly the emperor."  He gave a reassuring smile and leads her to the other end of the garden avoiding the noise.

Lucien never in her life wanted to meet the same person again. She couldn't even gaze back at him nor could she utter anything in return. She could only do was bow and leave. 'Rosetta....' Her teeth grit under the name.

.

.

"My lady..."

As soon as Lucien sees her maid, Rosetta waving at her. She quickly made her way in a swift.

"Why did you never tell me about that garden that it was prohibited?" She grabs hold of her collar towards her with a threatening voice. Her gaze pierced her soul.

"Ah, I apologize, my lady," Rosetta apologizes however, refuses to meet her gaze. "I mistook it for another garden until I realized, you were already far away then."