"Won't helping me be-"

"Yes, the public may scorn you. After all, the support you receive from the general public is because they expect you to take down the Ageha family." Lillian trailed off. "Will you push me away?" ​​

Zushi shook her head. "I am not an idiot, even though I understand the current circumstances. I won't be able to survive without your help."

Lillian's lips curve to a smile. "At the very least you are using your head. Indeed that is the case, even if you made it through the forest you won't be able to win. Empress, do you want to make a bet?"

"A bet?"

"How many people will chase you once they hear I am with you. Or how many will you leave you alone? Either way their target is still Lucas."

"Then shouldn't you have gone to him?"

Lillian shook her head. "If I went to Lucas, then there would be those who would argue that I am intentionally going against you. The smartest move is to help the clueless Empress. Although helping you has its own share of issues, this is still the best move."

"Thats not what I am asking."

"Lucas will be fine."

"Fine?"

"Yes, Lucas will not complain as long as it makes sense. Also he will understand."

Zushi couldn't miss the tender look on her face when she said those words. It seems Miss Lillian really does love sir Lucas, and yet she wonders why. She wonders why the two have not admitted it. They spend so much time together, normally it would be difficult to spend that much time and not say anything.

They could be dating in secret but she doubts it- Zushi quickly shook her head. She needs to stop reading those common romance novels. It is no wonder her household banned such books. Read too much of them and it is easy to lose sight of reality.

The power of knowledge huh?

Zushi was about to ask her another question when they heard a rustling sound come from the direction of the bushes.

"The food will disappear if you don't stop hiding." Lillian suddenly spoke up.

A figure appeared in the darkness, once they got closer to the light from the campfire Zushi saw a tall man with white coloured hair wearing a navy blue coloured cloak.

"Sir Ramon who disobeyed my orders." Lillian commented.

It took her a moment to understand. Miss Lillian must have sent this man to help sir Lucas, but instead he followed her.

"Like he needs my help."

"Even if he doesn't, you should go."

"And have him beat me up? No thanks." Ramon quickly joined them by the campfire and picked up one of the sticks and bit into the meat. "Besides that guy wont cook."

"You've been trained to go without food, you would be able to survive."

"Even if that is the case, good food is good food. Besides what did you catch? Why is there so many?"

"I shot a large bird, that's all."

Zushi silently observed their interactions. She was looking at the man in particular. That colour hair is he from the Blank family? Just now Miss Lillian made it sound like the two families were at odds with each other. Then again whatever applies to the Ageha family doesn't seem to apply to Miss Lillian.

Ramon turned to her. "Hey, is this one?"

"Right, it's the Empress."

At that comment Ramon stood up and circled around her a few times. There was a puzzled look on his face. "So why does the Empress have your brothers magic inside her?"

Eh? What did he just say?

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, this is definitely that brat Raijus mana. She doesn't have all of it, but there is a large portion."

"Enough to sustain a life?"

"Yeah."

Zushi stared at the two blankly and Lillian sighed. Zushi watched as she put her food down. The girl suddenly stood up and pulled out her sword for a moment all she could do was stare at the girl who extended her blade towards her.

"Do you truly not remember what happened Empress?"

"What do you mean?"

"The accident you were part of it, as a child you met my brother. You two were apprentices in that place. You were both present during the monastery collapse. I have suspicions that you guys caused the fire. But I cannot in my wildest imagination think of the reason why. My brother was supposed to march his troops into the ageha family household that night, but he went to the monastery."

".."

"Zestra Zushi, what happened that night? Unfortunately only you have the answers, since the missing cannot talk."

All of this information was too much for her. Zushi wanted to deny everything miss Lillian just said but for some reason she couldn't. How could she? Even her Uncle admitted that she lost a part of her memories.

'As a member of the Zestra household it would be easy for them to restore my memories but they never did that.' Zushi never questioned her uncle or the households decision. She was still far too young to understand why she would have lost her memories.

She did consider a few reasons why, perhaps a ritual went wrong and she lost her memories as a result. The Zestra family would conduct many rituals every single year. If the general public found out that something went wrong then it could impact the amount of donations received.

Zushi sighed at that thought. So in the end of the day this all comes down to money. She already understood how superficial and rotten the Empire was. That was why she wanted to move out and live a peaceful life with her son. But at the end of the day she realized that she could not escape her destiny.

The only way she could ensure her son's safety is to become the Empress. She had no other path. She tried running away with Braden before but at the end of the day the people from her family still followed her. They used kind words and said they are doing this to protect her but they also gave her a warning.

Lillian suddenly sighed. "I suppose you do not remember. The rumors about you losing your memories must be true then."

Zushi looked at the woman stunned. How on earth does she know that? Only people from her family should know. They took great lengths to conceal this information.

"How?"

Lillian chuckled. "It is easy for me to slip a spy or two into your household. Did you think all the servants in the Zestra manor are loyal? There are many who grow weary of the old fashion traditions and want a way out. It's not just my spies but even my father and that man have planted spies there. My father has been observing the Zestra household in secret for many years. I don't know what he wants but as long as he doesn't get in the way of my spy I have left it be."

*UNEDITED*