20 Confrontation (4)

"---control the Directive Order."

When that sentence was processing inside my mind, there were no words for this as the letters left me in a blank mind.

I was stunned at the moment when the head butler answered my question.

My lips were still sealed.

It feels like it just loses its function to speak properly.

'... Was it all been played down by someone--'

My eyes widened as those thoughts immediately stopped on their track.

I couldn't take it.

Just thinking about it can make me feel like my heart just stops beating and falls into silence immediately.

It was absolutely hard to keep my breath steady while trying to stand in my place correctly.

I looked at the butler as he seemed confused with a slightly worried expression.

'Don't tell me this is--'

I realized something.

I was anxious at first because of the current situation-- but when I thought of it more, I came up with a conclusion.

It was yet another truth that was told in public.

'.. Is this a lie or--'

I don't understand it anymore.

Azrael never mentioned anyone that can control Directive Order and he didn't even mention Edward Agersia First Order when he talked about the Directive Order.

'... First of all.. Did Azrael actually know there is someone that can control Directive Orders?'

I thought, confused.

I raised my hand and rubbed my hair softly and was astonished about this whole situation.

'... This is causing me a headache.'

I sighed as I let out my emotions for a bit and started to think more rationally.

The moment I get a little closer to the truth, the more it will make me confused about this entirely.

'And Cristo... He's being taken to that place..'

A shiver ran down through my spine at the thought.

I gazed downwards to the floor as I found it more interesting than looking up.

The butler was still standing there as he didn't dare himself to interrupt me.

He couldn't do anything else besides staring right into me as if I had become insane.

"... Your Highness."

The butler started to mutter, which he lured his hand slightly towards me.

I ignored his statement as I couldn't focus on his calling.

I was still preoccupied with thinking worriedly about the worst possible scene that could happen.

'.. Althea.. Edward.. This is getting heavier to think.'

At the heavy thought, I gasped for air as I tried to calm down.

A sudden thought appeared while I'm trying to retain myself.

I looked back at the butler and stared at him, which I took a step closer to him.

"Can you take me to the Central Directive?"

His eyes went wide as he was surprised by the sudden request.

He quickly gestures his hand to move side by side slightly.

He exclaimed in a rising panic tone.

"B-but Your Highness--! The Central Directive is an extremely sacred place."

The butler tried to warn me as he was efforting to stop me from going to that place.

I looked at him in annoyance with my eyes slightly squinting.

I was also worried about Cristo's whereabouts as I already experienced seeing people die by burning and I don't want him to turn into ashes.

With that kind of thought, I didn't think I had time to argue about the place being sacred as I was too focused on his situation there.

"But Lady Althea Genetta went with Cristo there. Is it going to the Central Directive violate the Directive Order?"

I asked, pushing him with my own questions.

I am really fed up with not doing anything and I already feel the urge to burst.

"N-no but--"

The butler still wasn't sure.

I sighed deeply and tried to calm down as I looked at him with a stern serious expression.

"Royal family can enter the Central Directive, right?"

I rephrase my question as I crossed my arms across my chest.

".. Yes."

He hesitantly answered as he started to sweatdrop.

"Take. Me. There."

I harshly exclaimed without leaving any argument to the sentence all so that he knows where he actually belongs to.

".. Yes, Your Highness.".

-

I was looking out through the carriage and it's been one hour since I left my castle.

From what I heard, the Central Directive is far from Capital City.

That's why it's a bit far from where I live and it would take more time to reach my destination.

'... The sight is still the same.'

Looking around the normal town, passing the trees and only red flowers, I was highly nervous and I prepared myself with many possible answers to possible questions that could be asked in that place.

'.. How can Cristo get involved in this? Especially with that problematic Althea. She's going to be a lot harder to handle--'

I sighed deeply but then my expression completely changed.

My eyes went wide the moment I realized something that made me quite taken aback.

'.. If I recall it correctly.. mana user.. can feel other mana users.. Right? Then--! At that time, did Dean Silver Fourth Order feel mana that is coming from Cristo!?'

The panic rises within me as I thought of something that could become an obstacle to saving him.

'In addition to that.. People like us, citizens, nobles, or royals are clueless about having mana in the first place.'

I mentally cursed myself as I didn't realize this sooner.

I continue on moving my gaze towards my own shoes.

'It's just my assumption but-- I told Dean that Cristo is Gray's son.. and the reason why the citizen did not recognize Cristo's appearance and role in this capital city was that he never even once leave the household due to the weak state of his body. Did Dean possibly thought that Gray was hiding Cristo this whole time because of mana?'

I gulped at the misunderstanding that may create problems in the future.

'.. If Dean thought that way, then he will suspect Gray because Gray knows about mana and hide Cristo. But that's not the case! Azrael manipulate Gray's past and Gray's biological child passed away-- Oh my god--!'

I closed my eyes while trying to calm myself down and pinch my nose to relax.

'Dorothy, calm yourself. This isn't the worst possible situation you could get in.'

Slowly, I open my eyes and look at the ceiling of the moving carriage.

'Well.. let's just see what they have to say to me and I will try to defend Cristo before everything gets worse.'

The carriage came to a stop as I realized that we have arrived.

In front of a tall gate.

I can see the visible building of the Central Directive.

It was so high that I think my head won't reach it from the carriage door.

From my on sight, I can't seem to count how many floors are they but I think it's less than 10.

'.. Just like a labyrinth.'

Two Directive Knights come my way and politely knock on the carriage door as I open it and exit the carriage.

They inspect me for around 20 minutes, inspect the carriage, the coachman, and my belonging.

And of course, ask why I visit the Central Directive.

"Only Dorothy Lucretia O'bell can enter the Central Directive. In addition to this, please follow us."

One of the Directive Knight exclaimed with his usual, toneless, and robotic voice.

He started to walk on his way as I followed behind him towards the tall white building in front of me.

I turned my head around to find each small garden that is also filled with red flowers.

Getting more curious about it, I decided to open my mouth,

"Sir, can I ask you a question?"

"You may. Go ahead."

'.. Feels like I'm talking to a robot.'

I thought as I remembered those first encounters with them.

".. Why does our kingdom is mostly filled with red flowers?"

'I never had the time to observe the plants around me and I forgot to ask about it either.'

"The only flower that grows inside this kingdom, the red flower, goes by the name Âme."

I nod in understanding as I glance at those beautiful Âme once in a while as I keep my pace a bit slow to observe the flowers more closely.

'So there's only one kind of flower in this Kingdom... Kind of weird.'

The flowers were overall beautiful and it was quite splendid to gaze on when used to them.

The red color as if symbolizing passion and never give up.

Well, that was what red means in my previous life.

".. Is there a special meaning to the flowers?"

"No."

I was quite taken aback by how bluntly he spoke that but decided to shrug it off and focus on my new mission.

That is to win Cristo over them once again.

It's going to be a bit hard because Azrael is not going to help me this time.

'.. I just have to think and use my brain wisely. One wrong word and they might turn me into ashes.'

After we finally arrived at the front door that is long and plain but also luxurious, I slightly gulped.

'.. Just use your brain, Dorothy. And you'll be alright....'

I reassured myself multiple times, keeping my breath steady and focus on the door that the knights are slowly opening.

However, when it fully opened, it was empty.

The big and bright white halls were empty.

".. Why is there.. no one here?"

.

.

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