17 Machiavellian Mushrooms

Nero ate the mushroom on her plate as if it were no big deal, despite it being the very mushroom that killed her stepfather.

"I know your obsession with mushrooms is on another level, Locusta. If this were another monarch, you would lose that pretty head of yours."

"You would never do that, Nero," Locusta said, smiling brighter than the sun when she saw Nero willingly eating the mushroom she had cooked herself. 

She could see her monarch was in a good mood, not as angsty as in their previous conversation.

"Of course, I would never do that. You are my best friend, and always will be," Nero smirked.

"So, how does it taste, Nero?" Locusta asked with a hopeful expression.

"The taste of the mushroom needs to be adjusted a little; it lacks the necessary pain. I don't like this tasteless mushroom; it's not fun," Nero commented seriously.

You see, for Nero, death should be as tasteful as the finest wine. She's got standards, even when it comes to murder.

"I will, Nero. So, how about the reports that I gave you? Will you let them live longer?" Locusta was happy with Nero's suggestion and enthusiasm for her mushroom. 

Of course, she didn't forget to prioritize asking about the reports before indulging in compliments.

"Thanks to your report, I know every traitor that needs to be purged. I hope they ate the same mushroom as I did tonight, Locusta."

"Yes, Nero." Locusta knew that if she had not handed over the elixir to Nero, Nero would die. 

So, she picked up the elixir from her pocket and handed it to Nero.

Nero drank it without hesitation, looking forward to seeing the expressions on her enemies' faces when they realized they were poisoned by mushrooms.

Altrouge, who had listened to their conversation, shivered inexplicably. 

Why was their conversation so weird? 

Was this something that needed to be discussed in front of her? She silently ate her breakfast, a stark contrast to the mushroom that Nero ate—her mushroom was 100% safe and without poison. 

And tasty...

"Wait a minute, Locusta. Cancel the plan and tell Burrus to host the banquet under my name. Moreover, our schedule won't be tonight; we will invite all parties from all regions to honor my step-father's death."

"Don't forget to invite the Parthian King and his son to the party as well. I want to discuss diplomacy regarding the Armenian border with them."

"And name the event 'Mushroom Banquet,'" Nero said.

No subtlety here; they were going to kill their enemies in the most public and flamboyant way possible.

"Are you sure, Nero?" Locusta was unsure about the plan. 

If they could sneak attack them from behind, why bother killing them openly and leaving behind an infamous name? 

But she had to admit that the plan was insane, yet fascinating.

"Of course, I am sure, Locusta."

"We won't do it sneakily; we will do it openly."

"My mother shall be honored to attend our party. Invite her, whatever it takes."

"Understood, Nero." Locusta nodded and readily executed her order. 

She knew Agrippina's presence at the party was crucial to Nero's plan. 

Probably, she wanted to use Agrippina as her scapegoat? 

She was unsure how to make it work. 

Nonetheless, she was all in.

After Altrouge saw Locusta had already left, she looked at her sister and asked, "What was that about, sister." 

Altrouge felt she had heard something she shouldn't have heard; it was the first time she saw another side of her big sis. 

She didn't know how to feel about it. 

It was cruel, yet she found it fascinating. 

She realized that if she had her big sis's ruthless character and uncompromising attitude, she wouldn't have ended up like this—abandoned by her own father and captured by the Church. 

Not everyone is born a sociopath; probably she would become a ruthless Eclipse Princess in the future because of her circumstances from the past and her abandonment by her father and her own family, which led her to that character. 

And Nero didn't intend to stop it; she even promoted her to that development. She wanted to develop her to become that ruthless Eclipse Princess, aware that the cruel real world wouldn't tolerate a softie and would seek to take advantage of them. 

In Nero's mind, it's better to make Altrouge overstep the world than let the world overstep her. 

It sounds radical, but she has no better way to teach her; she has no experience in that area. 

After all, she couldn't protect her sister forever, because her life is short compared to Altrouge, who is a True Ancestor; she's only mortal compared to her. 

Before she died, she wanted to make Altrouge learn as much as possible of her knowledge, skills, and shape her character to befit that of a monarch.

"It's nothing important, sister. Remember, if you have enemies in the future, you should never show them any mercy," Nero reminded. 

"Don't play by their rules, don't listen to their morality talk, or pay attention to their high-sounding excuses. Kill them. But if they are willing to submit to your will or seek a compromise with a higher price for their life, you can spare them. Being flexible is important too; if we kill too many, it's not impossible for them to resist you to the death and drag you along." 

"It's important to remember that empathy, morality, and rules only apply to our close ones, not to our enemies. If you want to seek victory, never play by their rules."

"I understand, sister," Altrouge nodded thoughtfully and paid heed to what her big sis said. "I will not show any weakness to any of my enemies in the future, even to my father."

"Good, good," Nero nodded in satisfaction. "Probably you are the most suitable heir of the Roman Emperor for me, Altrouge. When I leave this world, I have decided you will become the Caesar of Rome."

"But I don't want you to leave, sister," Altrouge pleaded.

"No one lasts forever, sister. Not even my life," Nero sighed. 

"But I can resurrect you and make you live forever, sister," Altrouge said.

"You will not," Nero refused. "Never seek my resurrection after my death, Altrouge. Or I will haunt you from the grave; you don't want me to hate you, right?"

"I promise, sister," Altrouge vowed. 

Whether she would really take her promise seriously or not, only time would tell.