Who is the Villain?

Chapter-17

It was a sunny day, birds chirping around across the blue sky while butterflies float around the blooming flower.

A day like this was perfect for an outing or a stroll in the garden or at most, a hike on the mountain. However, for a day like this, Lucien has decided to make her way to the imperial flower garden, a garden that wasn't open to any outsider except for the Imperial family. Regardless of that, Lucien has received the authorization to enter and the only reason is for Renee's medicinal research. 

"Well, later on, this garden will be hers."

Lucien mumbles herself walking her way inside. The Butterfly Garden was the name for this garden.

As a florist, Lucien was fascinated by how this garden was able to stand out among all the other ones. It was located fifteen minutes away from the Scarlet Palace. It wasn't visible from her balcony as it was surrounded by tall trees in every corner.

Every corner you see was surrounded by valleys of flowers. Not even a single sprout was known to her; from the tiniest flower on the surface to the highest trees were magnificent. It seems as though it was a season for the flowers to thrive. Cherry Blossom was planted in each corner of the path but it was white as snow. She remembers Renee informing her that in this particular garden there was no winter and that kinds of flowers continued to bloom however, at nightfall, they dried up until the next sunrise. And for that reason, she requested Lucien to pick flowers before dawn.

No matter how long she walks, there was no end to it and it was going to take forever to pluck flowers but, she wasn't alone. Rosetta accompanied her, pulling a wooden cart from behind. 'Still, then, there are too many flowers. She did ask me to differentiate between two types of flowers. One, those flowers which had been used for medicinal purposes, and two, those which have never been used.'

Renee was aware that there will be too many to keep on plucking and experimenting and, it might take forever to find the perfect balance even if she has found the flower. In the novel, it took 9 years for Renee to find the cure. 'It's too long.' And for this reason, Lucien's ability comes in handy.

"Rosetta, let's start from the above."

Lucien pointed at the top of the hill which had a white wisteria.

"As you wish, my lady." Rosetta bows and sprints in a split second, she was standing there. Lucien hasn't yet moved her right foot, all she felt was a strong gust of wind and a slight fragrance of cinnamon and chocolate.

"Should I arrange your table and chair, my lady?" Rosetta asked from above.

Lucien almost forgot that on the wooden cart, there was a table and a chair along with a picnic basket for evening tea prepared by Maria. 'S..she is definitely not a human.' Lucien didn't think Rosetta would be this athletic and quick when she had first been introduced though it was already written in the novel. Lucien only nodded her head.

Even though it was a little slope, Lucien was out of breath when she reached the top. 'Does this lady ever have any activity or does she simply sits in her room all day?' Both her hand rested on her knees, sweats piling up on her forehead.

"My lady, I'm surprised that you easily get tired from short walks."

'I...I...I..*huff* *puff* I'm surprised my...myself as we......we...well.'

After a few minutes of rest with a refreshing cold water, she was back to normal. Lucien was now seated on the chair, her head raised above staring at those blooming wisteria gently being blown away by the breeze.

She couldn't help but reach out her hand to touch those flowers which were out of the ordinary. With a single touch, every white flower has turned into a thousand butterflies, fluttering its wings around.

Lucien couldn't believe what she had just witnessed. Her jewel eyes widen in amazement. As soon as the butterfly flew away, the Wisteria was no longer white but filled with different hues as though a rainbow has emerged.

'Author, your fantasy is amazing. I could see how it's been portrayed in your mind.'

"I wish I could live in this world," Lucien mumbles under her breath. Nothing had made her move in amazement more than this particular Butterfly Garden ever since she came here. "If only I–"

Lucien slap her cheeks when she was about to make a ridiculous decision out of the blue. 'Snap out of it, this isn't your world. I have a mission.'

"My lady, are you okay?" Rosetta confusingly questions.

"Yes, I am now."

She stood up from her chair. "Thank you, now. I have a job for you Rosetta."

"Anything, my lady." Rosetta bows, her palm across her chest.

'The more I look at her, she is turning into a knight.' But quickly shakes off her mind.

She has learned to use her power after reading a little in that particular book. She hasn't finished yet and she was going to continue again.

Her ability helps her to communicate with plants and she was working on it right now. Taking a deep breath, she close her eyes and, carefully bought both of her open palms together and a little glowing ball instantly appeared above.

As Lucien finally opens her eyes, she told Rosetta to follow those glow balls and bring those flowers where the glowing ball stops moving. Yellow were those which had been used for medicinal purposes while blue were those which had never been used before.

Rosetta had disappeared with the wooden cart in a split second again. Lucien shouted before Rosetta vanished, "be gentle with the flowers."

As Lucien wait for Rosetta's arrival, she noticed that this Butterfly Garden was not allowed for anyone to enter including the gardener. "Than who watered them?" She questioned, sipping her tea. "It's not like those butterflies or fairies are taking care of them." She meant it to be a blunt comment until she saw those white floating butterflies flying down and that they were pouring water on them from a leaf. There were thousands no, it was more. If she observed they were like little butterfly fairies.

'No wonder this was called the Butterfly Garden.' It felt like this garden was meant for those butterflies. She couldn't even described the emotion that was flowing through her when her eyes were witnessing this extraordinary scene.

Only one greed sweeps through her mind from the magnificent sight, 'should I capture them and bring them with me to my world?' However, an image pops into her head crumbling her dreams into dust. Efthalia, the emperor was standing in her way. If she wants to live, she had to survive. 'Even my dream gets crushed just by a thought of him.' Frustratedly, Lucien pinched between her brows. Nevertheless, sighs with a gloomy expression.

"I wonder what happened to Yeong-Su and me in the future?"

It was still hard to believe that the person she had loved her entire life would betray her to the point of destroying her life. When the butler showed her the future in a second, Lucien saw that Yeong-Su asked her out and after 3 months, they became a couple. Everything was going okay, nothing was wrong until 2 years later. He drugged her.

Lucien laid her head on the table and faced the view on her left. "I never want to see him again. I hate him."

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Three months has passed and the first stage of training was about to come to an end. However, five of the noble ladies were removed. They did reach the potential of getting through nevertheless, two of them were caught having an affair with the imperial knights and the other three were caught on the spot making love in the garden.

Lucien wasn't stupid enough to think of not trying any of the methods of getting away from the emperor. She wanted to see if it was possible to leave. However, it turns futile for her attempt. Instead, she was humiliated by no other than the emperor himself.

Lucien made a perfect plan when the emperor made his daily walk in the garden. She made sure he sees when one of the knights hands her a bouquet of red roses. Lucien happily took it. First, she loves flowers, and secondly, she needed to take the roses. The knight bashfully confesses his feelings toward her but when he notices the emperor making his way, he slips away in fright apologizing to Lucien that he should forget about him and that he has a fiancée. The knight never turned back, disappearing among those trees and bushes.

"What the–"

Lucien never felt such mockery in her entire life ever since she was born.

"It seems like a noblewoman like you doesn't suit everyone's taste, what a shame," the emperor spoke from her back. She would be lying if Lucien didn't think he was intimidating when he stood too close to her.

Her heart almost leaped out when his gaze fixated on her. What's more, she hated the way he smirked under his fingers as though he was thinking something. Lucien could only do was grit under her teeth with a narrow gaze. She couldn't give any response in return, even if she did it wasn't going to change anything. She only stood silent as the emperor walked past her. She hates every part of him, even his voice was similar to Yeong-Su. Her hand clutches tightly on the bouquet and flung harshly on the ground, scattering those red petals.

If Lucien wanted to blame, she blamed that knight for dumping her on his first confession in front of her enemy. As much as she wanted to look for the knight and kick his a*s, she held herself back and calm her mind and waited to hear when she'll be disposed from the palace for she was caught accepting a bouquet from a man. However, even after days, weeks or months, she heard no news even when she asked Maria or Rosetta.

Putting her to shame and disgrace has already begun, Lucien wonders what the emperor was thinking.

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Lucien was frustrated every time she thinks about that particular incident that pops up in her mind. It pisses her off. Her finger taps against the smooth table while her other palm rested her cheeks as her gaze is fixed on the garden. She hasn't met Renee yet since last month nor has she called her. Lucien probably guessed she was busy with her experiment.

"My lady." Rosetta appears by the door. "Albia is here with a message."

"Who?"

"Albia is lady Cresella's maid."

A few minutes later, Lucien has made herself somewhat comfortable in Lady Cresella's chamber. The room was filled with one brilliant color, purple. Lucien wonders if everyone was allowed to do that. If it was, why was she never told. Everything was fine except for the dazzling light that keeps on glittering every corner.

'This lady sure loves glittering things.'

No matter where Lucien looks, there was nothing that would stop sparkling. Every piece had a jewel attached to it.

"Lady Lucien, I'm really honored to have you in my chamber for an evening tea." Cresella sat on the other side of the couch. The maid has just served the tea and placed some cakes and cookies.

"Thank you for the invitation, Lady Cresella," Lucien has no clue yet as to why Cresella would invite her for tea. So, she continues with the flow.

"I heard that the Valentius family has been able to discover another rare cave at the West mountain," Cresella uttered as she diligently sips her tea. "I, on behalf of my family would like to congratulate you on your achievements."

"Oh my! News seems to be publicizing around quicker than I expected," Lucien lightly chuckles with her usual smile. "I'll let my father know about this, thank you, Lady Cresella."

'Our family digs caves?'

"By the way, lady Cresella," Lucien continues. "You have a very lovely room. Did you decorate it yourself?"

"It would be a shame if I lie here when I'm receiving such an appreciation. Thank you, Lady Lucien."

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Lucien wanted to leave the room and get into her comfy bed. Her back was killing and her butt cheeks were going numb. It has been 40 minutes and Cresella hasn't stopped chatting about the silk clothes she received from the far-off foreign country or the jewel she was wearing were from the bottom of the sea and whatnot.

"By the way, Lady Lucien." Cresella was now on her seventh cup of tea. "Lady Renee must be struggling with her new medicine." Finally, it was out of the topic. "I heard that you helped her to find some flowers from the Butterfly Garden, is it true?"

'How did she know?' Lucien's mind echoed. 'Wasn't that supposed to be a super-top-secret?'

"Well, somebody wanted an aid and I gladly gave a supporting hand, nothing more." As much as she could, Lucien tried to avoid giving any answer that would turn into a question.

"Ah, I see." Cresella smiles, piercing her fork on the sponge cake. "Recently, she had been asking around to assist her."

"Oh,"

"From what I've surmised, Lady Renee wanted to eliminate the misinterpretation after that tea party." Suddenly the air around the room drops down. "Regardless of that, she cannot enclose what is the truth."

Lucien spoke nothing but silently listens, her hands paused holding a violet cup. "The emperor is beginning to pay awareness to her." Cresella continues avoiding her gaze. "And I know," she raises her head with a stern glance toward Lucien. "That you despise her."