Chapter 8

As we arrived, I got out of the carriage, looking over the coachman.

"Where's Leilaly?" I ask

"...She..She left, M'lady." He says, handing me her Resignation paper

So all that promise for her to stay by my side was a mere lie? Reillana...

I clenched the paper. ..you've really done it.

It was around nine to ten pm, I sat on my bedroom, How could Reillana put Leilaly in suffering when she's the only one who cares for her?!

I gripped onto my hair. No, this is not the time for regrets. I have to keep going, with or without Leilaly!.

It has been a day or two since Leilaly left, I had been taking notes about the whereabouts of Holly's father, he's the sole proof I can have to prove that Reillana and I are siblings.

"M'lady, you have a guest."

I entered the tea room, those eyes.. Priest Arthur.

"So what, get to the point." I said, sitting on the chair in front of him

"Fine, Weaken the Imperial Temple, the only help I could give you is a piece of advice. About your nature."

I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms, "And? Was that all? Was my approaching for you was all for a fruitless tree?"

"An important advice." He says, cutting through the threat I asked, "You're an Important person in the whole Empire. May it be as Haru.. or as Reillana."

"Why is that?" I asks, could this be the missing piece? The last piece of confirming?

"The Emperor, The Emperor has chosen you, as the one who will kill her own father, the Duke."

His words cut, The Duke? I suspected much, but there's still a lingering thought I couldn't quite describe,

Should I ask piece by piece? Or should I just be as straightforward?

"Leilaly."

His eyes widen

"What's Leilaly's role on the Temple?"

He went silent, that's when he look up, his gaze bore on mine.

"Have you heard about Jaehan Kruzul?"

"Jaehan? Who's that?"

" A few years ago, she had made her appearance in the middle of the dark forest where the Emperor's soldiers is finding a cure for the Empress." Arthur says

"She had claimed she knew the cure to heal the Empress, The Emperor, who's in a hurry to have the Empress awoken for the upcoming ceremony, agreed to let Jaehan Kruzul make the cure."

"but, The Empress died?"

He went silent, clenching his fists before his eyes lock on mine.

"She did it to become the current Empress."

Huh. Cunning enough, if someone has the guts to kill for the throne, it must be Jaehan Kruzul.

"But, that's not what I asked, Priest Arthur."

"...Leilaly is currently under Jaehan's wing, Leilaly has her loyalty on yours and only you.. going such lengths as this only means one thing.."

"Leilaly wants me to take the throne."