Lost

"My brother, did he also get involved in the monastery incident?"

Lillian's gaze dimmed. "That time, me and your brother. Me and sir Aaron received orders from your brother. They said you were still in the temple and he would rush over and get you."

"So the destruction of the monastery?"

"We planned it, the route of all evil was there. But something went wrong, we had no intention of burning the place down. Somebody interfered. Nobody was evacuated, nobody received the fake rumor we created to get them out. It also explained why you were still there." Lillian took a deep breath. "It seemed they did it deliberately to get my brother away from me and sir Aaron."

Zushi didnt say anything and listened carefully. She has to listen properly, maybe she will recall something.

"When we saw the fire sir Aaron got on his pegasus immediately and I forced myself on. Those flames around the monastery were my brothers. Something went wrong, he must have lost control of his powers. At a glance it merely looked like normal flames but I could recognize it. This is the part where things get puzzling. I arrived at the monastery with sir Aaron, but we ended up separated somehow."

"Somehow?"

Lillian looked very frustrated as she clenched her fist. "Somebody knocked me out. The last thing I recall was sir Aaron and I being surrounded by wild beasts. When I woke up the accident was already over. People from the imperial guards were clearing the fire. My brother, sir Aaron and you were missing." She trailed off. "But you showed up again a month later on the Zestra family doorstep. You looked lost and confused. Luckily it was an old servant who was cleaning the gate that day and they immediately informed the head. The rest I am unsure of, because that year your father passed away and your uncle took over."

Zushi felt her face colour turning pale at those words. She didn't know what it was, but she had a premonition. Her father passed away that very year her brother went missing. She was missing for a month and showed up at the doorstep confused, most likely with no memories.

Then what happened after? Zushi placed her hand on her forehead. It felt like she could see an image in her head just then but - she felt a throbbing pain in her head and then her chest.

It was pounding very loudly.

What is this? Why is she suddenly in so much pain.

Lillian extended her hand out and an unusual coloured light emerged from her palm. "If talking about it has this effect, it seems I can resort to extreme measures next time."

"Miss Lillian."

"Please get some rest. The night will be a long one."

____

Meanwhile on the other side of the forest, an annoyed looking Lucas wore the biggest frown on his face. "I already told you not to follow me!" He exclaimed.

The man trailing behind him however didn't seem phased by this at all.

Lucas sighed. 'Why did Lillian send over this stone faced man who is hard to abuse?' Then again it is better than her sending that Ramon guy over. No matter how many times they met, they did not get along. A deep sigh passed his lips, ever since that man appeared before Lillian again he has spent less time with her.

Lucas paused in mid-thought. 'I wonder when did I get so used to being with her everyday.'

'It is natural that from now on there will be days where we will be apart for so long, so I hope you can make the enchantment around me stronger.'

The enchantment around Lillian was something they agreed on when he realized how quickly she was to end up in danger. Lillian is working hard right now in order to achieve her goal. It is not like he is unsatisfied but why does she have to drag Ramon along with her everywhere?

He did a great job over the past few years intercepting those damned letters from reaching her. But it seems that it did little to damage their relationship.

This silent stone faced man is Orion Bonaveto, a member of the bonaveto family, to be exact the young heir. He was currently a hot topic in upper society for beating his uncle and obtaining this position.

The only reason he even remotely paid attention to somebody like this is Lillian.

'I need to gather allies.' When Lucas heard Lillian such words he felt very frustrated. The only reason she feels the need to gather more allies is because she does not want to burden him. While he understood that mind-set, it frustrated him.

If he told her that he had enough strength to burn the entire empire down, she would be delighted. But at the same time she would think about his well being. Despite how she acts, in front of the people who are dear to her she shows kindness.

It is that consideration that led to him being more protective over her.

If her enemies caught hold of that tiny piece of information she would be in mortal danger.

His thoughts broke off hearing a rumbling sound. It was not the sound of thunder but the sound of the ginger haired man's stomach.

Lucas eyes twitched annoyed. "I thought you said you won't be causing problems."

"I am not. I also received training to suppress hunger, I am fi-" Right as Orion said those words his stomach made another large growl.

A deep sigh passed his lips. Lucas scanned the area they were in, it was a clearing that split off into several different paths. He supposes this is a good place. He quickly set up a campfire, he didn't bother carrying the wood and just used his magic. He took out the fish he caught earlier and started to fry it.

"Should you not conserve your strength?"

"Whose fault is it that I am even using it?" Lucas snapped.

"I apologize."

Lucas clicked his tongue annoyed. This is annoying, why does he even have to bother dealing with these people? Then again if he thought about it recently he has had to deal with more people instead of just Lillian. For so long when he first decided to come with her, he just remained by her side following everything she did. But since the Empress coronation ceremony, they have spent more time away from each other.

It seems Lillian predicted it since before he went on that long mission she said those words about strengthening the enchantment. The night before he went on his mission huh? He could remember it clearly.

It was the first time she invited him to his room. Although it was not his first visit there, normally he would have to sneak in. It was the first time she invited him. She looked a bit docile that night, and her complexion was paler. When he entered there were all sorts of books and magic circles on the ground, as well as traces of her blood on the magic circles.

Lucas could guess what she did to make herself look so pale. That stupid girl always ahd the bad habit of treating herself like some kind of human experiment. That was partly his fault for telling her that she has more blood than the average person, and her large mana can make up for blood loss. He didn't think she would be so careless with that little piece of information.