Chapter: 14
Lilith blinked blankly.
Her biological father, Vincent La Noella, was the Minister of Justice, overseeing the Empire’s entire judicial system.
The moment that fact crossed her mind, her expression stiffened.
Vincent had known.
That the paperwork had never been submitted to the court.
Noticing her gaze, Edrion spoke carefully.
“It happened while I was preparing for the coup. His Excellency came to my military camp in person. He told me…”
“No, it’s alright.”
“Lili?”
“I don’t need to hear the rest. I think I already know.”
Lilith recalled the contents of the original novel.
Although Vincent was the Minister of Justice, that was only one of the many positions he held.
His true role was as the commander of the intelligence organization known as The Emperor’s Ears.
In the original story, Vincent used his position to skillfully blind the Emperor while secretly extending a hand to Edrion.
When Edrion asked why he would ally himself with a traitor, Vincent simply replied that it was a decision made for the future of the Noella family.
The Vincent of the original novel had recognized Edrion’s potential.
He knew that one day Edrion would obtain power and authority that no one could rival.
Come to think of it, there’s no way Duke Noella wouldn’t know whether a single document had been submitted to the court…
Yet he had never informed her.
To him, a daughter born at the cost of his wife’s life was insignificant. It made no difference who she married or how she lived.
As long as he could establish ties with the Akshard family, sacrificing me was a profitable deal.
A bitter feeling settled inside her.
She had always known Duke Noella was cold-hearted, but she had never imagined he would truly treat his own daughter as nothing more than a tool.
Then I won’t let Father’s plan succeed.
Separate from avoiding the tragic ending that awaited Lilith in the original story…
There has to be a way.
A way to avoid marrying Edrion La Akshard.
Returning to her bedroom, Lilith immediately searched for the manager’s employment contract.
“The detailed conditions are written here. Read them and sign.”
Of course, she had signed it without actually reading it.
According to Aitana, there had to be additional conditions hidden in the contract.
Lilith’s eyes moved past the clauses that read:
“If you disclose the contents of your assignment, your entire family will be exterminated. If you display suspicious behavior, your entire family will be exterminated. And naturally, if the World Tree withers, even your relatives by marriage will be exterminated.”
Further down, she finally found what she had been looking for.
[If Lilith La Noella succeeds in making the World Tree bloom,
Aitana Akshard La Soleria will grant one wish of Lilith La Noella’s, no matter what it is.]
Only after reaching the very bottom of the lengthy contract did Lilith finally discover the clause she wanted.
“Any wish…”
This was it.
If she succeeded in making the World Tree bloom, she could truly break off her engagement to Edrion.
Not only would she escape the horrifying ending of the original novel, but she could also deliver a massive blow to that damned Vincent La Noella.
The only problem was…
“If I succeed in making it bloom…”
Was it even possible?
The World Tree’s flower was a legendary existence said to have bloomed only onceāon the very day the Empire’s first Emperor proclaimed the nation’s founding.
“No. Negative thinking won’t help.”
After all, people always said that if something seemed impossible, you simply had to make it possible.
Fortunatelyāor perhaps unfortunately, though it leaned more toward unfortunateāshe could at least communicate with the World Tree.
“I wonder when the tools I bought today will arrive.”
If she took care of the World Tree and improved its mood, it would probably be easier to bring up the subject of the flower.
After thinking for a moment, Lilith stood up, intending to ask someone about the delivery.
Just as she flung open the bedroom doorā
“…!”
For some reason, Edrion, who had been pacing through the hallway, froze in surprise.
Lilith narrowed her eyes.
“Sir Akshard… are you watching me?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Then why does it feel like I run into you every single time I step into the hallway?”
“That’s not…”
After hesitating briefly, Edrion quietly walked over to her.
Then he suddenly produced a bouquet from behind his back.
It was overflowing with beautifully blooming pale pink roses.
“I couldn’t stop thinking about how gloomy you looked at the cafĆ© today. It seemed as though something had deeply disappointed you.”
“Ah…”
Lilith blinked in surprise.
Her mood had indeed been ruined because of Duke Noella, but she hadn’t thought she had shown it.
She certainly hadn’t expected Edrion to be watching her closely enough to notice.
Meeting her gaze, he smiled awkwardly.
“It’s nothing special, but… I hoped this might cheer you up, even if only a little.”
“…Ed.”
“Yes, Lili.”
Lilith accepted the bouquet into her arms.
As she stared up at Edrion’s face as though entranced, she carefully asked,
“If you’re talking… why isn’t your mouth moving?”
“I’m using ventriloquism.”
“…Why all of a sudden?”
“Haha… Seeing you so surprised is a little embarrassing. Fortunately, I’ve always been quick at learning anything involving physical skills.”
Despite Edrion’s shy smile, Lilith only frowned harder.
Taking a cautious step backward like the pedestrians who fled from Bear and Jason, she remembered something from the past.
“Do you happen to know ventriloquism?”
“No. But if you want me to, I’ll learn it immediately.”
“Uh… that’s really not necessary.”
She had never actually told him to learn ventriloquism.
It felt more like Edrion had wanted to learn it himself but needed an excuse, so he had used her as one.
Could this bouquet be part of something strange too?
Feeling increasingly suspicious, Lilith cautiously glanced down at the flowers.
Apparently misunderstanding her gaze, Edrion gently took the bouquet back from her.
“I’ve been inconsiderate, making you carry something so heavy. I’ll have the servants arrange the flowers, so you don’t need to worry about them, Lili.”
“Um… alright.”
“And there’s one more thing I need to tell you…”
Reaching into his inner pocket, Edrion pulled out something with an expression that suggested he wasn’t particularly happy about it.
It was a golden envelope bearing the Empress’s imperial seal.
“My sister has invited you to this year’s Fiorian.”
“Me?”
“Fiorian” was the grand spring banquet hosted every year by the Empire’s successive Empresses.
Aside from the autumn Harvest Festival, it was the largest event held in the Imperial Palace.
Even foreign envoys attended, so every Empress prepared for it with meticulous care.
Accepting the invitation, Lilith fell into thought.
So… it’s finally time.
The first major incident of Part Two of The Promise of the World Tree.
Aitana had originally been a direct descendant of House Akshard, and her mother had also been born into the imperial family.
Her bloodline was considered more perfect than that of any other woman in the Empire.
Despite the hardships of her past, she had been regarded as more than worthy of becoming Empress.
At least until that incident occurred during Fiorianāthe first banquet she hosted as Empress.
“The Empress personally invited me. Of course I’ll gladly attend.”
“I heard you don’t like crowded places. If you don’t want to go, I can decline on your behalf…”
Lilith gently shook her head.
“It’s been a long time since I left the capital, so I don’t really know many gentlemen anymore. Would you escort me that day?”
“Of course. I was actually hoping to ask you the same thing. I’m glad you asked first.”
“It’s nothing important.”
Edrion possessed the authority to conduct independent operations without seeking approval from his superiors.
If he was with her, resolving the upcoming incident would become much easier.
Lilith smiled in satisfaction.
At that same moment, a pitch-black shadow appeared atop a hill overlooking the Imperial Capital.
A man dressed in a jet-black robe dismounted his horse.
“My lord.”
“How is the operation progressing?”
“Smoothly.”
That single word was enough.
The man nodded knowingly and stepped forward.
Below him lay the Imperial Palace, shrouded in darkness.
Beneath his mask, the corners of his lips twisted upward.
“At last…”
It was as though he could hear the grief and desperate cries of his ancestors, who had been unjustly exterminated a thousand years ago.
Before Conrad La Soleria, the Empire’s first Emperor, appeared upon the continent, five duchies had coexisted peacefully.
Akshard.
Noella.
Sharis.
Widro.
And Lytan.
Ah…
Before they were driven from their homeland and branded with the contemptuous title of Shadows, their proud name had been Lytan.
“Conrad, who monopolized the power of the World Tree and forced our ancestors into lives of oppression… and even Akshard, who betrayed the sacred alliance between the kingdoms…”
Neither would ever be forgiven.
Especially not the bloodlines of Soleria and Akshard.
The blood-red eyes visible through the mask revealed the immeasurable hatred he carried.
The resentment his people had accumulated over the past thousand years had finally reached its peak.
“Yes… it’s time to move.”
The man muttered quietly.
He was Raven, the King of the Shadows.
