The Lotus Of East Palace
Chapter 24 (Elias)

"Go to the top of Mount Reux in Montreux. Meet a woman who lives there, and ask her to come with you here. Treat her well and respectfully the way you treat your mother. Tell the Great Fire Dragon needs his help right away."

That's Xavier's orders. When we were supposed to look for Yeon-Hwa, he ordered me to go all the way to Montreux, to meet the woman who lived on a snowy mountain.

It has been days since the return of the Emperor's family to Jungdo, but I still can't find Yeon-Hwa. I wanted to take the wolf army and release them all over the Orient to find him, but Xavier forbade me on the grounds that their existence could ignite a dispute with the empire. So Xavier asked me to be patient and leave the task of finding Yeon-Hwa to the Twin Dragons. I can't go against his orders either.

It's been over a week and none of the Twin Dragons have been seen in Dong-gung. Either that means they manage to find Yeon-Hwa but have trouble bringing her back, or they get caught and are in danger. Both are equally bad. But Xavier looked calm as if he could control this chaotic state. I'm not really sure about him, but I have to trust him.

One thing I believe in, Yeon-Hwa is not dead. He must be alive. My father once said, when one of the soul mates dies, then his partner will definitely feel it. At least my father's words can calm me down.

So I went to Montreux by teleporting. Damnit. I forgot that the cold air here can be deadly. I forgot to wear thick clothes and still wear hakama.

"Hello, can I help you?" A woman's voice surprised me.

I turned around and saw the woman there. An adult woman I estimate is not far from me. Not particularly. The more I looked, the younger he looked. His skin was glowing as if he had just swallowed the sunlight. She wore a simple white dress and did not wear any jewelry. Her long hair up to her eyes are gold colored and decorated with various flowers that also grow around her. The woman was watering her plants. I just remembered that now I was at the top of Reux mountain. Normally, no plants can grow in this soil. But in fact, now my feet rest on a stretch of green grassland with various plants and flowers that thrive.

The woman smiled when she saw me confused. "Elias Winterthur, heir to Grand Duke Winterthur, right?" Ask. I'm nodding. This time his smile grew wider. "You're the perfect blend of your father and mother. Your mother's face, with your father's eye color and hair color. How are Wolfgang and Lilithier?"

I'm still mute. I don't know him at all, but he seems to know me and my parents very well. "Sorry, am I supposed to know you, Lady?"

"The last time you saw me, you were three. So maybe you won't remember me."

I tried to remember who he was, but it didn't work. "I'm sorry, I don't remember at all."

"My name is Lucielle. I used to work in the Palace as a royal herbologist."

Oh. Now I know. "King Vlad kicked you out of the Palace because—“

"Failed to heal Queen Irene." He cut my words. His expression turned a little grim when he said it. "true."

"But you're still very young. And that was twenty-three years ago."

"To be precise, I'm not aging." He said while smiling again. "Oh, you must be cold out here. Why are you dressed like an Easterner? The clothes are not enough to ward off the cold air above here. Let's get inside." Said. Though she herself wore a thin dress that was not at all suitable to be worn in the cold climate freeze the peak of the mountain Reux.

Lucielle led me into her little cottage made of wood. He lived alone on this snowy mountain with only his crops. How could?

I looked at the little house. It doesn't even deserve to be called home. I don't know because I'm not careful, but I don't see any fireplace in this house at all. Even so, strangely this house feels warm. There is no room whatsoever, there are only a few large furniture such as cabinets and wooden shelves that separate the bed with living room sofa. Almost all the furniture in the house is made of wood. On the ceiling of the house hung pastel—-colored flowers some were almost dry so the color became brown— which made the small house filled with pleasant aromas such as the scent of Schiereiland flower garden in season semi. On one side of the room was a huge shelf filled with books that looked old and weathered. In front of the shelf, there is a long table on which there are many glass cups and glass jars filled with various colors. Around the table are two tall wooden chairs. He let me sit there.

"You want to drink something?" He asked when he saw me watching the colorful liquid.

"I've seen something like this in my twin sister's house." I said finally after finishing observing the strange liquids.

"Little Eleanor seems to have grown into a smart and powerful witch. Oh, should I call him Her Majesty now?" He was then busy putting various liquids into a glass and stirring it. He took another glass, scratched some of that multicolored liquid and mixed it up and heated it in the cauldron, on top of the furnace— I now understand why this house feels warm. The aroma of the room instantly changed to the same scent I knew but I had no idea what a warm, pleasant and intoxicating—aroma was. "Is it good?" Lucielle asked as she rummaged through the contents of the cauldron, not one bit switching from its quality.

"I haven't seen Elle in a long time. But it looks like he's okay." Because if not, I would have known.

"Meet him for a minute. She must have missed her twin brother." Lucielle then took a glass of hot liquid from inside the cauldron and blew it. When blown, the liquid that was once golden turned gray. He put the gray liquid into a bottle and handed it to me. "Give it to him. Good for his health. I heard she was pregnant. Although the child would not be the heir to the royal throne, the child was still precious. You have to look after her. Protect your twin sister."

I immediately put the bottle in the bag I was carrying. I won't ask how he knew about all that when he seemed to live in isolation on this mountain. There was something strange and mystical about the unageing woman who lived alone on this snowy mountain. "Thank you very much. I'll give this to him later. But, there's something more urgent now."

Lucielle looked confused. "I thought you came here because you wanted to ask for the potion for your twin sister. My guess is wrong, right?"

"I'm so grateful for this potion. But, I came here because I was sent to take you to the Orient. The Great Fire Dragon needs your help right away."

...****************...

I managed to bring Lucielle to Dong-gung, and the mysterious woman, somehow or what she did, managed to make Queen Anastasia as healthy as she was before she became pregnant.

"I thought you were waiting for help from the Huang Clan." I said to Xavier one morning after I finished taking Lucielle back to the top of Reux. "Why didn't you tell me you knew someone like that? He's...no ordinary man, is he?"

"Shuu's not back." He said half a day. He sounded like a person who had just lost his son. "I've been waiting for him for two days, but he's not coming back."

"So you sent Shuu to go to the Huang Clan Palace? I thought you assigned him to look for Yeon-Hwa."

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you that." Said. His eyes looked bright, not really looking at me. There's a secret he hasn't told me. This time I did not interrupt, I waited for him to say the next sentence with forced patience. "We've found Yeon-Hwa."

My reflexes immediately stood up, preparing to leave. "Where is he now?"

"Sit down, I'll let you know you're calm."

So I sat down. "Where is he now?"

"The Jade Palace."

"So he's been in Jungdo all this time?"

"true." Said. But he looked down like he had made a mistake. I just realized that he didn't dare look at me.

"Why is he in the Jade Palace? You're giving him a new assignment?" I made sure my tone remained calm, even though I was not at all calm. He said something was not right. So how can I just be calm.

"No. He's stuck there. He can't go from there for a while."

"I don't understand. You just have to get the Twin Dragons to pick him up. You can order me and I can go there right now. Why did you say you couldn't?"

Xavier. There's regret in those emerald eyes. He rarely regretted anything related to me. But this time he was really sorry. Something is really going on.

Then he told me everything. Every word that came out of his mouth, every fact he just revealed, felt like a blow to me. The more information I hear, the more unreal it feels, the harder it is for me to digest it. How could he not have told me all that in the first place?

"I'll be there. I'll pick her up no matter what you say. I have to pick him up now." My hands were clenched, holding myself back from directly lunging into the Jade Palace. I know very well that right now we should not act hastily and should think about all the consequences. But I can't just shut up. It's about Yeon-Hwa.

"You will only endanger his life and endanger yourself. For now, trust everything to Kaze. He can keep Yeon-Hwa there."

"You're asking me to entrust her life to a thirteen-year-old little girl? You're not serious, are you? Don't forbid me. I have to go now."

"Kaze isn't just a thirteen-year-old little girl. He's a Wind Dragon. And you're not going there. You're not going to challenge me, Elias."

"You have no right to ban me!"

"I'm still your King!"

"He's my soul mate, Xavier!"

"And he was a soldier of Nordhalbinsel. He's our good spy. She's a Montreux female knight. He can do his job, and we have to trust him. If you go there, you'll just add to the complicated situation. If they see you, they can use this to attack our kingdom. It is enough that we are in conflict with them because of the death of Prince Yi. Don't add any problems."

"Prince Yi's death was not our fault. It wasn't Elle."

"We can't prove it, can we?"

Xavier is right. As sure as we are that Elle did not kill Prince Yi, it would be useless if we could not prove it. And I understand that Yeon-Hwa's presence around Haru may be helpful to get proof that Elle is innocent. But what if Yeon-Hwa is really married to Haru? And what if they also kill Yeon-Hwa?

"Let me go there." That's Queen Anastasia's voice.

I looked behind me, towards the stairs towards the third floor. The Queen stood on the stairs. He was already wearing a typical Orient—Yeon-Hwa outfit calling it a hanbok. He let his red hair which is now long stroked but still neatly arranged. The hue of his face made him look very lifelike compared to days before. With steady steps he went down the stairs as if he had never been lying for days on the bed. He looks so healthy than at any time.

Queen Anastasia stopped before me. I, automatically, bowed respectfully to him.

"He was involved because of me. Because I was the first to assign it. Let me take responsibility." Queen Anastasia said. He turned his eyes from me to Xavier. Xavier seemed to strongly disagree with his words.

Queen Anastasia frowned confusedly, "Why should I go to Westeria?"

"Yes. Why would he go to Westeria if he could indeed do something to free Yeon-Hwa from the Jade Palace and the Queen Mother's crazy plans? Let him go to the palace." I said. I can't hold back my emotions.

"Shut up, Elias." Xavier warned.

"I'm not your dog. Don't tell me to shut up."

"You're my serial. I am your King and he is your Queen. You will obey orders, and my wife cannot enter the Jade Palace. The risk is too great."

I can't calm down anymore. I kicked down the table between us, leaving the King and Queen shocked. "Yeon-Hwa is facing that big risk right now!"

For a moment, both of them seemed silent. Xavier seemed to be holding back his emotions, while the Queen looked surprised. I regret raising my voice before the Queen.

Queen Anastasia grabbed her husband's hand, persuaded him, trying to ease the tense atmosphere between us. He spoke very softly, "Elias is right, dear. Let me pick up Yeon-Hwa. I can disguise myself as Diana, be one of the ladies. They are looking for the Queen of the Dragons. I'm what they're looking for. And if I get caught, I can fight them. I still have your sword. Let me go to Jade Palace."

Xavier looked worried. I understand his feelings. He doesn't want his wife to be in danger, just like I don't want my soul mate in danger.

"No." She shook her head. "You're pregnant, Anna. Don't—“

"I'm pregnant, not dying." The Queen said firmly. He seemed to be holding back anger. But his eyes were glazed like they were holding back tears. "I can still fight. Stop treating me like I'm helpless. I'm not the one who's sick. I know you plan on coming there yourself. If you can fight, then I can too. I'm not gonna let you go, so just let me get there."

My heart almost stopped. I was speechless as I realized Queen Anastasia's words as if implying that she already knew. He knows about Xavier's condition.

"What does that mean?" Xavier turned to me, demanding an explanation as if I made a mistake. Then he looked back at his wife, "What do you mean, Anna?" ask him carefully.

The Queen's voice choked, her tears welling up in her eyes, "You who are sick. You're the one fighting the poison. You're the one dying, not me. I know, Xavier. So stop pretending to be okay in front of me, you can complain to me, don't hold it back. You can count on me. And stop facing everything alone as if you have no one by your side."

"I swear I didn't say anything to her." I replied directly before Xavier accused me.

Xavier seemed at a loss for words. He looked at his wife in silence.

"Ludwig told me." Queen Anastasia said. "I've known for a long time. Even before I asked you to propose to me that night at the thousand-star festival. I was waiting for you to tell me because I was pretty sure you wouldn't keep anything from me anymore. My guess is wrong."

"Anna..."

"You didn't tell me! You let me know nothing about your true condition!" The Queen was screaming and crying at the same time. Angry and sad at the same time. And I don't know what to do. This is what I fear, the Queen can find out about this from others and she will definitely be very disappointed and angry. The Queen turned her head towards me, her gaze capable of scaring me even though, "So you already know but didn't tell me?" Said me. Now I feel guilty for keeping it a secret. I was just carrying out orders.

Xavier looked down, looking very guilty, "Don't blame Elias. My fault. I'm sorry, Anna. I'm just—“

"You think how I feel when I know that from someone else's mouth? Others know, but I don't. What do you think it's like to know you're going through all that? You suffer alone and keep everything to yourself. You should have told me from the beginning so I could help you. I can try to do anything to cure you." Her crying. I'm not sure if I should give you my handkerchief or not, but just before I decided, Xavier had already hugged her.

"You can't. You've tried. You've been trying. But there's nothing you can do. I know you're gonna do this, so I'm still looking for a way to tell you without worrying you. I'm sorry."

"Don't leave me."

"I'm not going anywhere."

"You have to fight the poison. You have to hold on. You need to heal. We'll get rid of the poison any way."

Xavier said nothing. I guess because he himself couldn't promise it either. But if the information from Yeon-Hwa is correct, if Ludwig can indeed make an antidote for his poison, there might be hope for him. I still haven't told Xavier about the information because I'm afraid of raising his hopes.

"Did it hurt so much? When the poison takes hold of you, does it hurt?" Ask the Queen in between her sobs that are beginning to subside.

"Absolutely not."

The queen broke free from Xavier's embrace and hit him softly, "Bas a liar." then he turned to me, "Is he in pain?"

"true." Answer directly. I don't want to lie to him anymore. More precisely, I can't.

"Not true." Xavier's Refutation. "When you're around me, I don't feel any pain at all. The poison is afraid of you."

"So this whole time when we were apart... When I was in Schiereiland and you were in your palace..."

"He vomits blood several times a day. Sometimes his blood came out of his eyes as well. Sometimes he would curl up on the floor and scream because he couldn't hold it." I'm exposing the facts. "If you're not with her, she drinks a lot of wine to ease her pain. Or maybe it's him doing so he's drunk enough not to feel anything."

"Elias!" Xavier. I don't give a shit. I can't lie to my Queen.

"Look at me and answer honestly, when the poison was attacking you, what was the pain like?"

Xavier looked at her, seeming to have difficulty describing the pain she was feeling. "It felt like death was so much easier and more pleasant." He finally decided to answer honestly.

"You're not going to die. We're gonna figure out a way to get the poison out. I've asked Saintess Lucia to find out how. He said it was black magic so ancient that he needed time to figure out how to get it out." Queen Anastasia's words sounded like a reassuring promise.

Wait for. Who was he saying? "Saintess Lucia?" I'm flabbergasted. "What's in those ancient scriptures? Who helped the Great Queen of—I mean you in the past—to meet the four dragons?"

"Lady Lucielle from the Reux mountain you just delivered, that woman is Saintess Lucia." Xavier explained.

Now everything's clear. It was only fitting that the woman did not seem like an ordinary human being.

"Then, I won't go to the Jade Palace." Said The Queen. "I don't want to leave you and make you feel that pain. So let Elias go to the Jade Palace. After all he could teleport, it would have been easier if he had gone."

Xavier sighed, "Alright." Said. He turned to me, "I let you go to the Jade Palace. But not now. There's something important and urgent you need to do first."

"What's? Justsaytheword. I'll do it right now." I said excitedly. I am very grateful to Queen Anastasia for her blessing I was allowed to go to the Jade Palace. Actually, I'll still go there even if Xavier forbids me. But this way, I don't have to break his orders.

"You must meet Maharani Sae-Byeok." Xavier. This time he and the Queen were already sitting on the sofa that was in the middle room of this second floor. Though it was just an ordinary sofa, but somehow they made it seem as if they were sitting on a throne. Now they look more like the Emperor and Empress of the Orient in that dress—and the interior of this room, than the King and Queen of Nordhalbinsel.

"Why should I meet him?" My toot.

"Because he knows you. Because you know him, too."

"You must be wrong. I do not know the Maharani at all. I've never even met him."

"You said Elias must know her." Queen Anastasia told Xavier.

"He knows her. He just forgot." Xavier turned to me again, "You sure you don't know Maharani Sae-Byeok? What about Danika Lee?"

"Who—“ I just wanted to ask again, but then the memories from a few years ago directly hit me. Damnit. I know that name.

Long ago. Once upon a time when I was a teenager—I don't remember exactly at what age maybe twelve or thirteen I'm not sure, a girl named Danika ever made me cry for a week. Stupid, I know. Thinking about it now, I wanted to slap myself in the past. But I was very young at the time. Danika was my first love and my first heartbreak.

I wonder how Xavier knew. Elle might have told him.

"Well, I know him. What does this have to do with the Orient Empress?" My toot. Danika had not filled my mind for a long time, I had almost forgotten her name. But since Xavier mentioned it, all those old memories invaded me. Sucks.

Danika, as I recall, is not a pure Nordhalbinsel. If it's not wrong, his father is from the Orient. He and his family moved to Nordhalbinsel because of the massacre of his father's extended family. Lee Clan. The massacre against the Lee Clan took place when Qin took over the government and killed Emperor Lee who was his own father.

Danika Lee's. Lee Clan. Lee Sae-Byeok's.

I didn't want to hear Xavier's explanation, but it was Queen Anastasia who finally told me, "And if Lee is Lee Sae-Byeok's Empress."

...****************...