Grand Ducal Palace
“I want to see her.” Claude said when he heard that Grandma Luo had woken up. “Just this once! I want to see my grandmother!”
Zhou Jingren eyed him before he stared at the painting inside the room where Claude was kept. “She didn’t ask to see you.” Finality laced his tone. “She asked for Lily.”
“How could that be?”
A sneer escaped Zhou Jingren’s lips. “You really think too highly of yourself. Your grandmother knows what you did. She must have known that you only stayed because you wanted to know who your real mother is.”
“That— That is not true. I did it because— “
“Because you were afraid that your mother now will know that she is actually raising the kid of her husband’s mistress. I know.” Zhou Jingren said. “Putting your life at risk just to keep the secret would not make your grandmother happy.”
Claude knew this. He lowered his head, hesitation flashed in his eyes. If his grandmother knew then… does that mean she knew that he was a bastard too? Embarrassment settled inside him.
“You care too much about what people think of you kid.” Zhou Jingren said. “In the real world, other people’s opinion does not matter.” He stood and walked towards the door. “I only came here to tell you that she is awake. I will asked my people to escort you once she requested for your presence.”
…
Meanwhile, Lily let out a sigh as she stared at Madam Luo’s weak smile. Her wrinkled face was still pale, yet the relief in the older woman’s eyes was undeniable.
“I’m — sorry.” Madam Luo said in a soft almost whisper like voice.
“I don’t see why you are apologizing to me.” Lily forced a smile out of her lips. “You owe me nothing.”
“Not— not—” Madam Luo shook her head. “Not true. I owe Lilian my life.”
Lily stared at the older woman. “I don’t think you have the energy to talk about this now? Why don’t you rest for a couple of— “
“No.” Madam Luo said. “They will be here to kill me soon. They might be looking for ways to get close to me right now.”
“They?”
“Your grandmother’s organization. The Order of the Spectre.”
“Do you know a lot about them?”
“I know enough.” Madam Luo let out a small cough. “Re— research.”
“And you wanted me to know about them? I don’t see the reason why —”
“You are one of them.” Madam Luo interrupted her. “You— You will soon… become one of them.”
“That is not possible.” Lily smiled. “I am not one of them and I honestly don’t think these people will choose someone unrighteous like me.” Her words made Madam Luo chuckle, she let out another series of small and soft coughs.
“You really should rest. You are too weak.”
“I am dying.” Madam Luo’s eyes turned resolute. “You don’t have to pity me. Dying is natural. It is a part of life.”
She pursed her lips in response. The Doctors already informed Lily about Madam Luo not having a long time to live.
“I have a letter.” Madam Luo smiled at her. “Necklace… it is in my necklace. The key. Read it.” Madam Luo tried to touch her neck, only to realize that it was missing.
“I have it.” Lily looked at the small box to the older woman’s left. They took all your jewelry when they performed some operations to save your life. She opened the box and was somehow relieved to see that the pendant was still there. It was a long rectangular pendant about the size of her thumb.
“Open it. Inside… is the key.”
Lily followed the older woman’s instructions. And just as what the older woman said, inside the rectangular locket was a small golden key. “Its gold.” She frowned and eyed the small sign on the ring. “Rome?”
“It means… Room.” Madam Luo smiled. “I thought… once people stole it from me. They will immediately think that my possessions are in Rome. Heh… ” Another series of coughs left her mouth. “It wasn’t.”
“Room? Like… the room in your mansion?”
“Secret Room— Study— Globe. Turn it towards… towards… Rome.” Madam Luo cleared her throat as she forced the words out of her mouth. “Turned it.” Slowly she folded her fingers and secretly showed Lily the number three, five and one. Lily immediately thought this was a password of some sort. She nodded in response.
“I understand.”
“My grandson… is young…. Please don’t hurt… don’t hurt him.”
“I can promise you that.” Lily decided to be honest. But Lily won’t be able to promise that she would be able to protect him from the organization. “My grandmother…”
“Lilian… never loved Fred when they met.” Madam Luo said. “She was a ruthless woman… she was not a killer. But she … manipulator. She was an expert … in manipulating people. She — She saved my life.”
Lily let out a sigh. At least her grandmother was not some sort of assassin that killed people for money. For some twisted reason, Lily found manipulation not as scary of a secret as being a killer. Was it because Lilian always taught her the best ways to manipulate people?
“Lilian… was here to change… change the king. Then… she fell in love with Fred. Because of this… people mocked her for falling in love with the man that she manipulated.” Madam Luo smiled. “The — Those people only allowed her to be with him… if she promised… if she promised to stay and become the mediator of the top — top people.”
“I— how did you know this?”
Madam Luo chuckled and ended up coughing again. “I… I was the mistress of… of one person… he liked to screw my body all the — the time… I was hoping I could find information about Lily and I ended up — I ended up knowing the worst that this world could offer.”
Lily nodded. She saw tears roll down from the older woman’s eyes. Slowly, Lily’s hand held Madam Luo’s hand.She squeezed it, as If telling her that she would be fine soon. Then… tears started to pool in Lily’s eyes.
Hormones.
She reasoned inwardly as the first tear rolled down on her own cheeks. This is only her hormones.
…….
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I might have another mass release Friday! I need to release more chapters. hehehhe
