The Two Empresses
Meeting Preparation

"Hey, what do you want me to do? After dragging me in this stupid ring quest, now you dare to make conditions for the throne business?" asked Saciel annoyed. Lao just chuckled and poured the tea into Phillip and Julian's cup.

"Sweet, if I don't make conditions for you, there could be a civil war. You're the most dangerous witch in Careol. Can you work with me?" lao is sweet. Saciel was silent for a moment, slowly he relaxed his muscles to reduce the grip of Julian's vine.

"Alright, tell me what you want, Lao. If I find any strangeness in your words, I'll burn these tendrils and I'll strangle you" Saciel said. Lao held back his smile and sipped his tea.

"That's great. Well, here's my plan. Within 3 days, the elders will hold a meeting of the head of the family to discuss the heir to the throne. Since only Vristhi has just been discovered, inevitably you have to be present as the head of the Arakawa family and show the ring. If you can't make trouble, right? Your mouth could have made the elders kill you on the spot. No head of the family is too stupid to attack you. Cerlina will also be taken to the meeting place, after the poison is neutralized" Lao said.

"That's all? It's easy," Saciel said dismissively.

"And Phillip, I hope you're there too. Well, to help me keep an eye on this girl" Lao continued.

"Alright," replied Phillip calmly. Julian pulled back the tendril that was twisting Saciel and invited her to sit down together. "But can the elders be cornered just because of the ring?"

"could. No one dared to oppose the queen's wishes before. In addition, the title Vristhi and Saciel have is also high, namely the Archduchess. Funny too, the archduchess are 2. It's likely that one of you will descend into duchess" Lao replied.

"I honestly don't want the throne" Saciel murmured.

"Yes I know, sweetie. But since we're in a situation far from the safe zone, I hope you'll still be in the crown princess selection" Lao replied. "Oh yeah, is there any news you want to tell me, Julian?"

"Ilmol is already inside the temple. Luckily no one was suspicious of his sudden presence, but several priests watched him. Cerlina's condition is better now. He made it through his critical period" Julian said. The relief radiated clearly on the faces of Saciel and Phillip.

"Then do you know who poisoned Cerlina?" ask Phillip.

"Unfortunately no. The temple girl who brought her tea has run away, I'm afraid she's been silenced by the culprit. I'm still looking for information through my plant intermediaries, but I think he's pretty good at finding places where there aren't any plants at all. Like...."

"The desert" said Lao and Saciel.

"Yes, that. I'll ask Istvan to track down in the desert" Julian said.

"I guess free. It could have been the culprit burning the body or storing it with magic" Phillip said.

"That's a witch. If not?" ask Lao. Phillip was at a loss for words and just scratched his head, puzzled over what to answer.

"We can ask the ruler of the desert" Saciel said. "I heard there are gods who dwell in the desert."

"To be able to communicate with a god is not easy, dear. Not all gods are willing to show themselves, but it never hurts to try" Lao said. "Julian, you're still working on your plan with Istvan."

"Alright, I'm leaving first" Julian said as he stood up and left the Lao residence.

"Oh yeah, who's Ilmol?" ask Saciel.

"You don't know? She's the first daughter of the Phoenix family" Phillip said.

"And the new head of the family" continued Lao. Saciel and Phillip frowned hearing that.

"Don't the head of the Phoenix family have to be male?" ask Saciel vulgar.

"Your word please? Not manly, but man," Lao replied, increasingly dizzy with his increasingly unruly behavior. "Phillip, how can you hold it with him?"

"I also want to know the answer" said Phillip resigned.

"Oh, you go home. Prepare your best clothes, shower and sleep. Don't have much behavior okay? Especially you, Saciel Arakawa."

"Damn it, why are you so bad because of me?" asked Saciel in surprise.

"Plate, stupid. But thank you for your condolences" Phillip replied amusedly. Saciel becomes more and more so, making Lao move him home, where Aunt is busy sweeping.

"God! Miss, are you back?" aunt's screams were shocked.

"Ssh, Aunt. Don't surprise me, dong. Yes, I'm back. Sorry to make Aunt anxious" Saciel said calmly. Aunt immediately pulled him in her arms and cried sobbing, a sense of kangen and anxiety was wiped out by his presence. "I miss you, Auntie."

"I miss you too, Miss. Is Miss hurt?"

"Well, I'm hurt anyway. Later it can be arranged, rather than that can Aunt prepare my family's headwear? Three more days I have to attend the meeting" Saciel said.

"Miss, I think you should make a new outfit. Your old clothes are no longer fit after the coronation 4 years ago," said Bibi confused. Saciel sighed and scratched his head.

"I doubt there is a tailor who can make it in a very short time" Saciel murmured.

"I have the acquaintance of a seamstress who is reliable and quick. Want me to call now?"

"...as long as he can keep his mouth, I don't care" Saciel said. Aunty nodded and went to contact the tailor, while Saciel changed her clothes. Some time passed, Bibi came with a young man who looked eccentric.

"Miss, the tailor has come" said Bibi.

"Good day, Miss. I'm Raz, a tailor ready to sew all your clothes, "he said cheerfully. Saciel laughed lightly and extended her hand.

"Hello, Raz. It's nice to meet you. Please cooperate."

"So what clothes do you want?"

"Dress for the head of the family. Auntie will bring you an example" Saciel said. Aunty immediately went to pick up a single shirt stel and flaunt it on Raz.

"Hm...like this? Can I change the design? This design is too old for you" asked Raz.

"Is that so? As long as it doesn't damage its function, you can change its design" Saciel replied. Raz smiled widely and began to measure Saciel's body, occasionally bragging about her clothing that became popular among noble witches.

"I've got the size. Lots of changes, especially in the chest. I'll bring it in two days" Raz said. "See you in two days."

After delivering Raz, Bibi brought tea and cake for snacks in the greenhouse. Saciel was busy playing hibiscus flowers, occasionally muttering.

"Miss, what are you doing?"

"Oh, hello Auntie. Just fun playing. What's today's snack?"

"Citrus cake with Assam tea to neutralize the acid citrus," Bibi said, putting it all on the table. Saciel was enjoying the cake, but his mind was in a mess. "Did Miss think of Miss Cerlina?"

"I think you've heard the news?" ask Saciel.

"Mr Julian told me. No rumors were spread from the temple," Auntie replied.

"They're trying to hide it."

"It's very cruel, to hide that fact from the public" complained Auntie.

"That's a warning to me. They're wrong to look for trouble for me."