Lilly's mind swirled with questions and emotions, each one more turbulent than the last. The most pressing question, if her thoughts were correct, was perhaps whether Eolande had been part of it or not. 'Could that be the start of her change of heart then? It would fit with the timeline…'
"Elly," Lilly finally broke the silence.
"Lilly, if you've come to the conclusion I think you have, please pretend you haven't. Please lock it away until you won't be in danger just for knowing it," Eolande urged, with a hint of desperation in her voice.
Lilly calmly stood up, walked over to her desk, and pushed her hand against a round surface. A formation started glowing in response to her touch, and a strange hum enveloped the room.
She walked back to the couch and sat down again before continuing the conversation, with a serious expression on her face. "Now this room is perfectly soundproof, so don't dance around the subject. Were you guys behind the Vermilion extermination?"
Eolande winced at the question, hearing it confirm her fears. "We were," she eventually confirmed with a quiet voice.
The hurt Lilly felt clouded her judgment, but even knowing that was the case she still continued, "So the secret was just to hide your own guilt?! To hide the fact that you were part of it?"
Eolande gasped, and her face drained of color. "No! I had no other choice in order to keep you safe! I would have told you the moment I returned if I could! I swear!" She pleaded with Lilly to understand her side, and Lilly could feel her desperation.
Lilly fought to maintain composure, recognizing the truth in Eolande's plea. "I know... it's not your fault."
But Lilly was extremely frustrated, feeling the burden of her bloodline and its history weighing down on her more than ever before. She slammed her fist into the table, feeling powerless to change anything. Eolande winced, looking extremely ill at ease at the moment.
Lilly started thinking again, having confirmed her suspicions. 'So the extermination of the clan was for the sake of peace? In what way? Myndia told me they might fear her return, but wouldn't they fear it more than ever now? After they annihilated her descendants?' A realization dawned on her. 'Is that why they're not attacking me, because I could unleash an enraged demigod if I were pushed beyond my limits?'
"Elly, how much do they know about the flame? Do they know I can talk to the dead?"
Eolande pondered the question seriously for a good while before shaking her head. "I don't think so. They knew it could purify materials and that rebirth was possible, but not that part. The Vermilion family kept their secrets well."
"I should keep that a secret then." Lilly thought aloud, mentally listing everyone she'd told that secret to. 'Gramps, Mia, Eolande, I don't think I've told anyone else. Gallus and Selene knew about the flame, but not the afterlife part, I'm pretty sure. I hope Mia didn't tell her family.'
She fixed her gaze on Eolande, seeking more clarity. "Since we're at this point, you might as well reveal the other secrets you had to keep as well, right?"
Eolande looked down at the table, noticing a black burn mark where Lilly's fist had impacted. "I might as well... The other secret is that Thundrel and Selene were sacrificed by the king to trick Dortfell."
Lilly felt outraged, but also exhausted. She leaned back on the couch and sighed deeply, looking up at the ceiling. "That's why you said it was complicated… So the attack was planned by our side, tricking Dortfell into thinking your clan of assassins is on their side. Selene and the city would be sacrificed for the sake of earning their trust…"
Lilly decided to lie down on the couch instead, trying to find a comfortable position. "I hate politics. I hate war. And that damned king can shove his crown somewhere unspecified…"
She thought about the attack, about Selene sitting in her own blood, and all the people fleeing in fear. And of what could have happened if not for her. The anger started building in her chest, moving its way up her throat, and resulted in a primal scream that echoed through the soundproof room. Eolande just closed her eyes and furrowed her brows, letting Lilly get her frustration out.
She lay there, feeling the exhaustion and frustration fight for her attention. Reflecting on her recent conversation with the princess, she murmured, "I hope Princess Adelia wasn't aware of it."
"It was likely just the king and his generals, and maybe the crown prince," Eolande conjectured.
"That's good, at least," Lilly sighed. "But where does that leave me?"
Eolande met her gaze, giving her a determined look. "You're not alone, Lilly. Lean on the people you can trust."
Lilly felt a sharp retort at the tip of her tongue, but she restrained herself. Instead, she threw Eolande a neutral look, letting her know there was something left unsaid. She changed her previous sentence, but still subtly avoided the inclusion of Eolande. "But where does that leave me and the people I trust?"
Eolande noticed, and her expression was a complex mix of hurt, fear, and offense. "Lilly!" she exclaimed, clearly affected by Lilly's implied distrust.
Despite knowing her frustration was unfairly directed at Eolande, Lilly struggled to hold back. "Fine, where does that leave us, my 'trusted' bodyguard?"
Eolande met Lilly's gaze head on. "You're the authority here, Lady Protector. If you're fine with accepting everything you just learned, nothing needs to happen. You'll be safe as long as the secret remains hidden."
Lilly searched her heart momentarily, but she already knew what she would find. "I don't think that's an option, Elly. The king needs to answer for sacrificing this city and its people, and if Thundrel's highest authority, me, won't make sure that happens then no one will. And exterminating an entire family, whose prestige and loyalty have never been questioned… That should never be allowed to happen again."
Eolande's face was filled with understanding and concern. "I understand where you're coming from Lilly, but if there's one person in the world I wouldn't make my enemy, it's Grandfather."
Lilly countered, "I don't think he would risk antagonizing me, Elly. You know the first holder of the flame I told you about? Her name is Myndia, and she's an actual demigod."
Eolande looked shocked, and seemed to put some things together. "Is that why the flame is so special?"
Lilly nodded, looking back at the ceiling. "Another power of the flame is that the holder can return it to her when they die. And if I'm right, she will go after your clan the moment she's strong enough, seeking vengeance."
Eolande seemed deep in thought. "That does sound like something he would want to avoid. The wrath of an immortal demigod hell-bent on revenge would put fear in any heart."
"That's what I figured. So I think they want me to stay alive for as long as possible, and they probably won't do anything to push me into a corner."
"But they can still make your life difficult," Eolande warned. "They might have ways to incapacitate you, like keeping you in a perpetual state of semi-consciousness for years."
A chill ran down Lilly's spine at the thought. She was dealing with people who believed the ends justified the means, capable of cold and calculated actions as long as they reached their goal.
Seeing that her comment had made an impact, Eolande asked pleadingly, "Can you just keep it a secret? Please?"
Lilly's voice was filled with resignation. "I don't feel like I have much of a choice right now…" She sighed, feeling the weight of her helplessness against such entrenched and powerful forces. "Do you think I'll ever be strong enough to stand against them?"
Eolande considered her question for a bit, clearly thinking of different scenarios. "I don't think you could on your own, even if you train the flame for years. But with others on your side, equipped with the best enchantments you could make, I think you might have a good chance honestly."
"So what, I make a team of powerful people I can trust?" Lilly smirked, almost dismissing the thought immediately. "Who would I even convince besides you?"
Eolande could tell Lilly was far from convinced and began listing the possibilities. "Thoren, for one. He would never forgive the king for endangering his family here in Thundrel. Eldrin would likely follow suit, given our history. And Selene… she would likely join if she knew what happened, considering she was betrayed more than anyone. She's been nothing but loyal to this country since she was a child."
Lilly considered this deeply. Did she really want to spend her future plotting against the most powerful entities in Eldoria? Was it worth the resentment and worry she would feel?
But on the other hand, could she just let it go? Just let the king and 'Grandfather' off without consequences?
Or was there a middle ground? One where the king pays for his betrayal, and 'Grandfather' swears never to target innocents again, without any bloodshed?
Lost in these thoughts, Lilly draped her arms over her face, seeking refuge from the overwhelming revelations. "I wish you never told me any of this Elly."
Eolande's response was filled with regret. "I'm sorry Lilly, I shouldn't have told you about the clan. I should have known you would put the pieces together on your own."
After a moment of silence, Lilly sat up again and rubbed her eyes. "I need time to process all of this. For now, I'll just pretend I never heard anything."
Eolande looked relieved, but she still seemed to have some lingering regrets. "... Are we okay, Lilly?"
Lilly met her gaze with weary but kind eyes and gave her a gentle smile. She rose from the couch with slow and deliberate movements and stood by the table, extending her arms in a welcoming gesture. "Come here."
Eolande's misty eyes opened in surprise when she realized Lilly's intentions. She hurriedly got up next to Lilly and embraced her, almost desperately, in a warm hug.
Lilly's voice was a soothing whisper, "Nothing you have done since the first time we met has been for selfish reasons, Elly. How could I ever blame you?"
As Lilly felt Eolande's arms tighten around her, a muffled sob broke through the silence. It was a raw, vulnerable sound, one that Lilly had never heard from Eolande before. It spoke of years of pent-up emotions finally breaking out.
Lilly gently swayed from side to side, offering her silent support as Eolande let her emotions out. In that embrace, amidst the tears and the heartache, Lilly knew their relationship would be stronger than ever.
From this moment until forever, Lilly could trust Eolande with her life.