CHAPTER 32: Leave This Place

He sighed while shaking his head, "Only the heads and the Emperor. The way you discreetly spoke about it to the Emperor just as you are about to leave. The Emperor knew it was not something for everyone to hear."

She smiled sadly, she was just not confident enough that each of them will believe everything.

Drake will surely not, it is what they witnessed after all.

No, not only him but the rest will have doubts as well.

She can face the prejudice from the people of the Empire but she seem to fear the way the other families would think of her.

She was like, 'I am not a liar.'

He can see it clearly, she was still greatly affected by the words from the rest of her team and the looks she received from the other families.

The seven families were the only ones that she truly cared about within the Empire.

That is what he had noticed towards this grand daughter of his.

Even those from the elite squad with her sister were ignored by her and gives very little respect towards them.

"Stop thinking too much, you don't have to force yourself. If you think that nothing will come out good from what you know. Then you don't have to inform the rest."

Asherton could see that she was being troubled by it.

She nodded her head, she really shouldn't think too much about that yet.

They are home to relax and not to worry.

"I guess what I am still lacking is the control over my emotions. Still couldn't control..." she repeated with a sigh.

"No one can control their emotion with what you know, some might even lose their mind because of it. You are already doing a splendid job in retaining your personality despite everything," Asherton patted her head once again.

And his pat allowed her emotions to calm down.

The eyes she received from the people were nothing to her.

Ignoring them was as easy as counting from one through three.

But the eyes that the seven families, whom she had regarded as her extended family, was something she couldn't just ignore.

Since childhood, their playground had always been the whole of the residents of the seven families, the palace included.

She was also ready to feel the pain of being abandoned by their blood related family when she asked the question earlier to her father.

And she was genuinely happy that they didn't abandon them.

She also understood their need to leave, because they are still children.

Her cousins are still children.

The current environment is bad for their growth.

If she were asked then she would have told them the same decision.

Leave this place.

And leave this mess to us.

After all, it started because of our family.

The servants she can simply ignore them, not one of them became close to her in the first place.

But the most painful for her right now, that she never spoke of to Hunter and the rest, were Drake's and Willow's attitude.

It was like a thorn that kept on prickling her heart.

She was genuinely happy when the other three showed changes, of course.

She just didn't know how to act because she was expecting for all of them to change once everything is out.

"I've heard you lit a fire cracker on her anniversary," Asherton spoke.

Saphira looked at him, "She is my sister after all."

The words she heard from her friends on that day was the most painful.

"And that on that day, you also heard some painful words," he added.

She opened her mouth to speak but closed it again.

This happened a few times before Asherton sighed, "You were not angry at them, I can see that but I can also see the pain."

"No human wouldn't feel pain when your beloved is being scorned by your dear friends."

"Archie and Carmilla was never this sensible, they really are lucky they have such a child," he chuckled.

Saphira finally smiled again, "I am lucky you are my grandfather."

He laughed before flicking a finger on her forehead, "Go on and rest now. I know you wanted to just laze around by now."

Saphira laughed, "You really do know me grandfather."

"My blood runs in your veins after all."

They laughed at their own silliness.

"By the way, the Emperor would want to speak with you tomorrow after noon at the hall of heroes," he reminded her before she left the office.

"I will keep that in mind. Goodnight grandfather."

"Goodnight, dear child."

After the door was closed, Asherton's face turned serious.

The emperor told them of the truth that Saphira had spoken to him.

But what hurted him the most was the fact that she took the burden of taking the life of her beloved sister.

Saphira only has her sister and she relied and played with her a lot.

He wanted to ask her the full detail but doing so is like letting her experience the Emperor's power, Memory Reread.

He wouldn't want that.

The pain she went through, he won't let her experience it again.

Because he also knew that he can trust her blindly with everything that she was saying.

Saphira is just that type of person, she can keep secrets but she wouldn't lie about such important things.

No matter how important that person is, she won't lie for their sake.

That is the type of person Saphira is, and even with the eight year distance, he can tell she remained the same.

She hides secrets, he can clearly see it.

The whole of the story of what happened back then, she was still hiding some of it.

What they knew are simply the tip of the iceberg.

As for why she was keeping quiet of the rest, he knew she has a good reason for doing so.

He can only wait until she was ready to speak of it.

He won't hurt her by pushing her to talk, he will protect her this way.

His dear grand daughter.