At one end of the Ambrose capital, Empress Lilith was telling her story to General Azarios but thinking that the time they were resting in each other's warmth was not spent to plot and scheme was far beyond the truth.

"If Prince Vzeus was punished by the imperial order, then how come you managed to hide him in the Gaerin territory?" Azarios was silent for a long time after listening to Lilith's explanation of her past and wished to know her entire story yet the moment the woman looked at the midnight moon in exhaustion from remembering those painful details, he stopped her from continuing the gruesome tale and instead gave her a light question to answer that might divert her attention.

"My father, starving and passed out while being bound in ropes with his face aghast and lifeless as they kept him hanging on the city gates was the first thing that this one saw while entering the Gaerin capital. This empress remembers feeling bloodthirst at that moment, felt hatred and sorrow like none thrumming through my veins before thus I decided to break all rules and free him.

It was almost a blur, the time was flying when imperial father's clutches were opened and he fell into my arms, he had till then whispered to me that he wished for me to go away....even at the doors of death this one remembers him wishing for my safety yet one could not do so......this one could not bear to see him so helpless.

I took him to a merchant from Eastern Deserts that helped this one in nursing father and applying for medicine overnight, then left him in the caravan of the merchant in care of a physician. They helped me because of my stature in the Eastern Regime, no matter how unwilling one was yet they did not have the heart to betray General brother Casagon."

Silence followed after that, consoling and saying that he was apologetic to what happened to Lilith were like sprouting some meager words which could neither cool down the fire of hatred burning in her nor bring peace.

Then the only thing left to make his beloved happy was to bring her outside to see and participate in a play.

"Does Tulip wants to bid farewell to lady Cecelia?" The meaning behind the words was extremely clear despite the words being innocently vague with onyx eyes glimmering in mischief.

"Wants" the curve of a smile could not be stopped from forming onto the rose lips.

Lady Cecelia, the eldest and most beloved daughter of Prime Minister Zhan was exiled and was to be thrown out of the boundaries of the capital city. No family member or clan relative was allowed to bid farewell to this once eldest and honorable young lady.

Cecelia could not comprehend when and how this situation escalated to be as such. Her father, Prime Minister Zhan wanted her to get married to King Alexander earlier in the days but when years after Prime Minister Manor started slowly edging closer to Prince Baez faction, the matter of her marriage died down. From then she decided to devote herself wholeheartedly to General Azarios unknown to the thoughts brewing in her father's mind who later lashed at her informing that she was meant to be the woman of Prince Baez......Cecelia was not willing.

The woman remembered throwing tantrums in front of her father several times and being forgiven without punishment, then why was this any different. There were thousands of questions in her mind yet there was no answer to any of them.

A plain white gown made of soft silk flowed like moonflower petals falling down after getting detached on a night filled with billions of stars. Two slaves with a maid lighting a fire torch led her to the carriage. In the darkness, forest grounds appeared to be unfathomable and suffocating, unbuilt roads leading to the clearing which was not visible more or less.

"Young lady, kindly enter." The stern tone lead to no further arguments as Cecelia stepped inside the wooden carriage that seemed to be spacious and bigger than the ones she usually had, there was a lack of extravagance yet the supplies were enough to sustain them for the travel to the border town.

She would have felt much comfort if the maid accompanying her right now was someone she had known yet neither one of her companions seemed to be paying attention to her anxiety and even after sitting inside for too long there was a lack of voices from outside.

A sudden movement made her heartbeat erratically with trepidation and fear and the very other moment, the curtains made of velvet were gently pried open to show the face of someone Cecelia hated.

"You! How dare you-" before the words could accomplish their task of conveying the entire speech, the syllables were halted by the general who stood towering over the demoness he considered as precious as a pearl.

Gracefully magnanimous gestures were made as the empress boarded the seat right in front of Lady Cecilia who by now had understood that this situation was more complex than it appeared.

"Your father has chosen life, this one wonders if you will do the same considering that this one abhors people going against me, I wonder if today shall be the last night of your life."

"W-What do you mean, why would my father....why would my father listen to you?" The woman trembled looking at Lilith sitting in front of her, despite Azarios nowhere in sight now it felt as if the beast of Ambrose was watching her every move.

"Does the young lady thinks that your father fell sick all of a sudden? Isn't this all too odd, the Prime Minister withdrawing from the court despite knowing that his position could have been transferred to his sons? Young lady's eldest brother is known to be amongst the best talents of the empire then if Minister Zhan had to retire, why not give his position to his son?

The reason that your brothers are looking after him.....isn't this too vague? In the entire mansion filled with concubines and children even when it involves imperial physicians, isn't that enough?

The fact that your mother, Madam Murem who wholeheartedly dotes on you dragged your pride infront of all others and was the one that threw you out of the house.....doesn't that feels strange?"

Indeed, earlier when her father asked her to marry Prince Baez, her mother was the one who complained and supported her saying that she would not send her daughter to a lion's den, even her father was not raged and tried to give her time to think without imposing his will. Earlier Cecilia's brain was clouded with a sense of betrayal and sadness but now thinking about it this was indeed unusual.

For the most her mother would do was to send her to the temple for praying and reflecting upon herself, banishment was not the way and her father he did not seem too sad these days too.....was that all a conspiracy?

The maid serving Cecilia gently knocked from outside before bowing her head and presenting two pristine white jade cups with plum blossom wine.

"Master has sent this for refreshment mistress." Cecelia who had been too astonished to reply only saw Lilith as the maid bowed to her before presenting the cups.

"W-What is the meaning of all this?" The fragile wrist waved and the curtains were closed again with cherry lips taking a graceful sip of the cold wine that melted into warmth, once inside the mouth.

"This is , in the empire of Gaerin, only the Dutchy of Azakaran has been bestowed with the honor to make this plum blossom wine with a tinge of snake venom from blue cobra. Young lady does not need to fear since it has been known for increasing charm and beauty with only a little side-affect...ah unless you consider it a bane that it."

Cecelia who had not even had a sip of the fragrant wine looked at the jade cup in fear with her fingers trembling.

"What....What is that?" Lilith smiled all the while maintaining an aura of her true prestigious self that made Cecilia somewhat aware that the woman sitting infront of her was someone who was beyond her status.

"There are countless people who get too greedy with the consumption of this, since it is like finding the blue fur leopard in deserts thus the ones finding it if they take more than one cup, the result is instant death, thus your sole lust and hazy mind is responsible for the death yet if consumed in exact amount this one can even cure the most incurable of the diseases."

It was alright if Lilith was only speaking to Cecilia about the wine yet her words were echoing in the her mind were beyond that.

"What does the General lady mean?"

The white cup was kept at the side with a clank as Lilith looked at the woman with eyes that could judge and acquire another's soul.

"Prime Minister Zhan had been following Prince Baez for too long while planning to rebel yet does the lady not know that the Prince who was meant to have you, that same Prince Baez was the one pushing you to the side of my husband general?

Your father who dreamt of obtaining the position of the father of the new empress, he was never the part of Prince Baez's grand scheme and was always meant to be a sacrificial chess piece."

Cecelia could not help widening of her eyes as a chill ran down her spine.

"Then....what do you wish from me?"

"This one can only help your manor only this much in the current scenario yet Prince Baez is a vulture, he might discover the anomalies and kill your family in the future. Once beneficial, once repaid. Since there is no use of me involving in your matters anymore, this one will leave Prime Minister manor on its own.

Prime Minister Zhan has chosen this one's side to survive and make a comeback years later but the question is, will the clan of Zhans survive to make a comeback. Now the choice is yours, I am your salvation Cecelia and I am your death personified, the ones that refuse to follow this one, the demon on the road of underworld follows them till they are breathing their last breath."

[[EXTRA LONG CHAPTER SINCE YESTERDAY I HAD THE SECOND DOSE OF VACCINE AND COULD NOT WRITE DUE TO PAIN IN MUSCLES.

I AM MUCH BETTER NOW!!!!!!!!]]