I decided to call my mother first. It's just like starting the game on easy mode until later feel more comfortable with the special moves and such .. Stock up on health potions etc ..
" Sweetheart you finally called, I thought .. I'm gonna have to talk through Remy for the next 4 years. "
" Mother it's only been a few days, and it's not like I did it out spite, with school and the party .. anyway I called to thank you for your help with that. " I bowed head a little.
" Hmm strange... I happen to know, you hated it spending the night sulking on the balcony, people hardly saw you. " she said crossing her arms.
" Mother I would prefer if you seized all forms of spying, through Remy or .. your maids. "
" Hmm.."
" Hmm.."
Complaining about calls when she knew more now then, back when I was living at home.
" Your sisters are furious. " she said looking aside.
She was a master of changing subjects, considering 20 plus years of training as noble women.
" They talked to father? " I asked.
" No love, they mad at you for blocking their numbers. "
How could they possibly now about that, was it Remy or Sol?
Did he lull me into a false sense of security only to stab me in the back.
Shit ..
You are your mother son that's for sure. I can't forget about the fact that mother is a manipulator of the family. She's just fishing.
" You're bluffing. " I smiled.
" Am I? You're right, there is no way they could figure it out on their own .. so they asked Fin to intervene and his superiors did him a favour. "
Ohh .. Finton I forgot about you and your tendency to be a simp to any and all females relatives or not.
" Mother how we supposed to show our unity as a family if the constant betrayals never truly end? "
She chuckled a bit but turned serious, she had something important to talk about.
" I suppose you also know about what's happening with your great uncle and his sons. " she asked.
" Yes I do...Sol told about it just minutes ago, he also said that even though Seth didn't die yet, people already taking sides about his succession. "
" Did he also told you that Sisi is being considered? " she asked.
My sister Sistine was born with a mutation of black flames, the very signature and one of the requirements to be eligible to the crown.
She's only 1 of 10 currently with those dark flames of the Huang line. It's the very ability that helped Seth father with his initial ascendancy in the first place.
" No...it will not happen. "
They would want my sister inside that den of snakes? Surrounded by the trash and the self interest of others? No need think about it, they want someone they see as easy to control. That will make her a target to all others in the process who wished for the crown for themselves like Viego and Maliketh and God knows who else.
" Your father agrees, but the nobility is pushing and it will end up involving her one way or another if this game keep being played. She might get hurt .. "
" Whose leading them? " I asked.
I tried my best to remain calm, but I felt my eyes burning and hands shake with repressed rage. Sol .. why didn't you tell me?
" It's multiple someone's but the ring leader is Shien Rastor obviously. He is meeting your grandfather this Wednesday to discuss this with him and to officially endorse it if he agrees .. what will you do my son? "
The same guy my sister turned down twice already. I knew,
I should've dusted him when he dared to push for the second time.
" There's only one thing left to do Mother, I kill Shien in 2 days, then find out all those who supported him, hunt them down and their acolytes slaughtering the lot of them, then we use their corpses stacked neatly to a build a monument of terror...as a warning, to all those who think they can use my sister as a pawn in their political games. "
I didn't meant my words to sound so angry, I also didn't meant to evaporate all furniture around myself. I closed my eyes shut and had to find my breath. I need to be calm down and think.
If I kill him, it might start an avalanche that will lead to war between powerful families, but if I don't and this insanity takes foothold among the common people, who loved my sister, then it will turn our uncles against us when Seth expires.
" Mother .. I will kill him and those responsible .. I'm sorry but it's something I have to do. Don't want my sister in this position, I will depart tomorrow night. "
My eyes still closed, I managed to calm myself, but still decided that killing that annoying creep and his cronies is the best course of action.
" Look at me .. "
I did what I was told. She was smiling.
" Your father saw this, and he also agrees, so am I. These people making moves against our family ... they only understand the language of violence .. I frankly don't care about whether they have good or bad intentions. My daughter will be in danger by her own relatives if we don't put a swift end to this .. so go my son. Kill those who would hurt her..your father and I will deal with the fallout. "
My mother might look frail to people, just some noble lady with a healing ability she most like never even use, but I knew better.. she was the strongest among us all. Without her swordsmanship and accepting of a grimly unwashed 9 year old goblin with nothing but hate and distrust in his eyes I would be nothing.
" I will not fail our family mother. I'll promise. "
---
I called my sister right after mother disappeared from my screen.
" Sisi it's me .. "
" Stivanstin...you got a lot nerve blocking our numbers and don't play innocent either Fin already told us everything. CILY will kill you. We cut our trip short and everything .. "
" Sisi I know about Shien..." I cut her off.
She remained silent for a second but didn't deny it.
She looked a spitting image of mother inheriting both her green eyes and golden hair.
" It's nothing you need to worry about, I already refused both his offers of marriage and support for the crown..."
" You know it doesn't matter...when Seth dies those looking to ascend will kill you, just to make sure they have a clean slate and a better claim. If the people get behind you because the Rastors keep pushing this.. its gonna be an all out war with our own family. "
Damn cockroaches, Shien's grandfather is 2nd hand of the Emperor and Duke of Korea.
Ordinarily our relationship with the Rastors is cordial and nonchalant but since last year or so after Shien proposals were denied they changed their tune. It's time to end them.
Sistine had no reason to retort, everything I said was truth.
" Besides it doesn't matter, I've already got permission from our parents, I'm joining grandfathers meeting with that cockroach sometime in the coming days. I know your flight is soon, once you land home, stay there with Sicily, mother will explain everything."
I needed her to understand it's already done, and hoped she knew none of this is her fault. It's the snakes and the background characters stirring up trouble.
" You will kill him? " she asked.
" We need to nip this in the bud Sisi, before it becomes out of control, we can deal with the Rastors but not our Uncles, if I end Shien with grandfather present nobody can say it wasn't a family decision. They can't retaliate and even if they try by ending this now, we still have imperial support of our Uncles. "
Her silence told me her dislike but there's nothing to be done.
I will have words will my brother hiding this from me. I was angry at my grandfather to, my mother was careful with her words leaving grandfather out when it come to their support. Meaning I might have to fight him on this.
" I understand, I will leave it you Stivanstin. I'm sorry..."
Ughh her apologetic face broke my heart and just made me angrier.
" You didn't choose your ability Sisi, none of us can. This is not your fault either. Please just go home and don't leave the estate. Where is Cily? Is she there with you? " I asked.
I did my best to change the subject and pull her out of this mood.
" She is, but still angry at you when saw you call went away and now sulks in her room. Refuses to talk to you as punishment. "
" Fine tell her, I don't want talk to her either. Believing proven data and science instead of my words. "
It was nice to hear her laugh, I needed to protect that sound whatever it takes.
" Sisi call me after you land tomorrow, and please don't think to much about this..." I asked trying to take her mind of it.
" I'm ok .. I promise .. I will be..I love you, and be careful. "
" Promise, hug Cily for me and lay some ground work for my apology. I love you. "
I can't let this happen, I felt relieved my parents were behind me on this. They wanted all their children nothing but happiness and would never force us into something that make us miserable. I heard footsteps approaching, I knew who it was.
" You seem determined Young Lord. Have you considered his Grace's opinion? " asked Remy.
He knew everything already of course.
" There's nothing to consider Remy, whatever they may be. "
" What happens if his plans don't align with your own and your noble parents? "
It already crossed my mind.
" If they willing to sacrifice my sister's happiness for their own gains .. but that's impossible. It got to be something on their minds that would in the long run benefit us, obviously. "
" Let's say that is the case, are you willing to change your plans and let Shien Rastor live? "
" Of course not, if it comes to it you and I will kill him and his retinue in secret, no body's mean no crime etc..etc. After all,
I did promise him last time we meet to keep even his thoughts away from Sisi, or I will send him straight to hell. Oh well..."
" I understand young master, I'll make preparations just in case and devise a training plan for tomorrow in the meantime for maximum efficiency. " he said enthusiastically.
Boy he must be bored, who trains to step on ants? But he did look super into it, and I did miss mother's training which used to be a bloody nightmare, and she's wondering why none of her pampered children were willing to learn.
" Yes .. ill leave it to you Remy. "
I was afraid that he might be against my plan B, considering that his oath was to the current Duke, my grandfather. He might be best friends with my father, but he was also a loyal solider to the bone, and his ability is problematic if he were to turn against me.
" There's no need thank me young master, my duties are to see you through school for the next four years, is there any word on your upcoming field trip?. " he asked with hope in his eyes.
" You're not coming Remy, now get to the .. the .. get to it. "
He bowed his head a little,than left me alone.
I wanted to chill a bit on the couch, but the couch was no more so I just lied down on the floor looking at the lights dancing on the chandelier above me. I can't believe things getting out hand so fast.
All this, everything I suppose .. father foresaw all of it.
I was letting out a sigh, the man is an enigma...what does it feel like? Knowing the future and have the mind and ability to change it. Must make him lonely, I mean he does have us and Remy but still.
I kept seeing Sisi's sad expression, if she only awakened normal fire or any other ability .. she must had an even harder time in school than me, considering in the empire's capital they view those with mutated black flames as demi gods and she probably just worshipped or avoided entirely.
I need to make sure that her life and Cily's are filled with happiness and peace.
Always did my best trying to protect them, from imbeciles and leeches not to mention their own poor judgement. Bless their hearts, they can't tell a snake from a cucumber ..
I chuckled imagined them as kitten's running away from pickles and such.
I haven't seen them in person for over a week, I miss them and made my resolve once again to kill and do whatever it takes to keep my sisters smile unchanged.