The Flower of Separation

She watched as the two left hurriedly and turned to Ramon.

"Thank you for coming on such short notice."

"When I heard about this little meeting, I figured you would summon me eventually."

"You make it sound like I use you for my beck and call."

"Didn't you? But after meeting sir Lucas, you-"

"Lucas is more useful."

"Hah, you're the same."

Lilian chuckled. "You still came here, though?"

"I wanted to see you for something; considering how you've rejected meeting me for so long, I have a lot to say."

"Then sit down."

Ramon sat opposite her. "The fact that my brother approached you for an engagement. I only heard this recently."

"It does seem like recent news. But other than keeping Lucas away from me, I believe there is another motive."

"There are rumors that Sir Lucas is your lifeline."

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Lilian blinked when she heard those words. It seems those people are sharper than she thought. "So they noticed? Indeed they are correct; without Lucas around, I would die in a heartbeat."

"Then you must have a countermeasure?"

"No, not at all."

Ramon frowned at her words. "I apologize in advance if this sounds rude, but-"

"You may go ahead, speak freely."

"It is hard to do that when so many things are watching."

At that comment, Lilian blinked and tilted her head. Ramon pointed to the ceiling. She looked up and saw the red spider lilies covering the dome. "I am surprised you noticed; your brother didn't, and he is the main reason why I have them up there."

"I thought it was odd that you accepted the meeting, so you already took countermeasures."

"I would have left him half dead." Lilian sighed deeply. "What a waste."

"I am sure you can play elsewhere."

Lilian held up the envelope. "This information is very useful, so you secretly investigated when you went to the battlefield?"

"The battle itself was rather stale. The other side does not intend to fight, but they do not withdraw their troops either."

"Is there any chance there is miscommunication? Perhaps the men you met did not receive the information since they are at the front of the battlefield."

Ramon blinked. "That is correct; how did you know?"

"It frequently happens in fights outside of the Empire."

"Have you gone to many of those?"

"Not as much as I would like. I am still restricted to maintaining the affairs of the Empire, even though I am not the Empress."

"The New Empress. I was not present for the coronation, so I have not seen her."

"You didn't meet her on the way--" Lilian paused. "You snuck in."

"It is not my style to take the official entrance. Besides, quite some time has passed since I last appeared here. If I hadn't snuck in using the secret passage, then people would have ambushed me."

"You still remember that passage?"

"It is a bit difficult to use now that I am older."

It was then where she got a proper look at his appearance; there were traces of dirt and leaves on his clothing. Lilian burst into laughter, and Ramon sighed.

"Is this how your going to be? Not even an apology for not speaking to me for ten years."

"I didn't think you would hold a grudge. In the past, you got annoyed that I followed you around."

"That was before you saved me."

Oh right. Back then, she already had her eyes on him. To escape the Ageha family, she needed to have strong connections. This man was on her list of people to win over. She frequently engaged in conversation with him whenever she saw him, but he would not take the hint.

If it were not for that incident in the forest, she knew he would remain vigilant and cautious around her.

The reason she ignored him for ten years. It was not intentional, but after she got to know Lucas. Lilian realized that it would be bad if the two met and clashed. During that time, Lucas provided to be more useful for her, so she did not bother with sir Ramon.

But in recent years, her father has repeatedly mentioned a plan to eradicate the Blank family.

"The information on this envelope.."

"It seems the places outside the Empire are planning a large-scale attack to take down the seven ruling families."

"Not the Empress?"

"It is more like they will take the Empress, the imperial family down much later. I understand how they feel, I have not met her yet, but it appears as though she is rather unreliable?"

"Indeed, for now, that is."

But if that woman stops fearing her power, then she can be useful. If she breaks out of that shell, she built around herself. Lilian fiddled with the cup in her hands before she brought it to her lips; however, Ramon extended his hand out before she could drink.

"Don't," Ramon mumbled. "I know my brother very well; look closely, Lilian."

Lilian glanced at the cup in her hands and watched it for a few minutes; nothing seemed amiss. So she took out a small knife and cut the edge of her finger. A small drop of blood landed on the cup, and in the next second, the lilies on the ceiling headed towards the cup, causing her to drop it. She watched for a few minutes before, one by one, the lilies fell to the ground.

She sighed. "The most obvious trick in the book."

"Poison?"

Lilian shook her head. "No, it is a strong drug."

"Even worse." Ramon trailed off. "He should start thinking with his head instead of chasing women to climb to his bed."

Indeed, besides, these things don't work on her. It seems that guy did not do his research and just came here expecting that he could control her. Moreover, how many people have tried such things over the last few years?

"You sound resentful."

"You know I am."

No matter how resentful he is, however, Lilian knew that he would never hurt a person. That is the type of man he is.

Lilian pulled something out of her pouch. It was the list Lucas gave her. "If you have spare time, would you like to accompany me?"

…

The first place on Lucas List is the manor of middle ranked viscount. However, after she read the information, Lucas obtained she felt furious. The murder and **** of a beautiful common girl, bribery, and corruption. The list of crimes for the first one was horrendous already.

It was the middle of the night, to be exact, one in the morning. Earlier on, sir, Ramon told her that they would meet up later.

Her gaze fell on the man at the entrance, who wore a similar cloak to her. "You came, but we didn't have to come separately."

"It would be troublesome if we went then, you would make Lord Lucas worry."

Lilian sighed. "I should be the one worrying. Do you know what he did earlier?"

"Slapped her? There is a mark on her."

"Then you should have checked for marks on her neck too."

When she heard the full story from Lucas earlier, she burst into laughter. That woman who acted so innocently behaved that way.