Eavesdropper

  "The Empress of Beasts?" Lotus looked to him in surprise. After all, she cannot reveal that she knew he was eavesdropping on her that day when she was retelling that story. 

  She opened her mouth, "That's unusual. Who told you about the Empress of Beasts?"

  "Ren did." He replied. 

  "That's a rather a long tale... Unless the Prince of Briar Valley enjoyed eavesdropping." Lotus smirked. 

  "Princess..." Malleus huffed in dismay. 

  Lotus giggled, "All right. I won't poke fun anymore. Let's see... The empress of Beasts, was it? She is an unusual figure."

  "What kind of people are the rulers of the beasts back then?" Malleus questioned curiously. 

  "What kind of people they are? That's..." Peony hesitated, "It's been a while. Although there were small rumors... She lives in an area where only the strongest people can survive physically and mentally in society as well as in the wilderness. However, it is unknown where that place is by most people who are not from there. It is similar to the way people refer to gods and heavens as well as demons and hell. They talk of it, but don't know where it is. unless they were cultivators, its existence would also be questioned. Moreover, the humans were cut off from the rest of the races due to conflicts. Not many people know much about them now. However, I've remembered that the emperor was a cold tyrant. He has no interest in anyone else due to the battle for power. His only interests is his wife, the empress, and those she called friends and enemies. The empress was a very firm yet kind ruler. She was dedicated to her work as a ruler and a mother and she seemed to have children before the empress of plant fae's death. In fact, it's easier to say that the only reason the empire of beasts did not fall so easily was because the empress cared for her people and the stability of their kingdom. If not for that, the emperor would have not cared what occurred to his empire in the least. He only became emperor because it ensured his survival with complete power in his hand. His wife was the only person he had given more power than himself. It was well known that she was the only thing in his eyes and even viewed their own children as competitors for her attention. A rather petty man." 

  "That is a very unusual person." Malleus noted hesitantly. 

  Lotus nodded, "The empress was from a distant branch of the emperor's main branch family. Although she was from a small branch, she was still a princess, though from a small kingdom underwater. She was born as a special species of loong and she saw her sworn sisters and elder brother as the only family because her bloodline was so rare that it was unnoticed by her cold family. She faced much backlash from her parents and her other siblings and half siblings only saw her as a competitor. In this background, the empress grew up learning how to survive in society as a quiet person and to remain low profile, even if she wanted to commit big achievements, she must remain anonymous and all information to herself. One day, the emperor visited her branch family due to her brother's involvement with breaking down a big crime organization and wanted to promote him to his right hand man. At least, that was what the public saw. In truth, her brother made a deal with the emperor. To save his sister in exchange that he becomes his servant if he succeeds in the breakdown of the organization. It was there that he discovered her and her talent and decided to recruit both of them to his side instead. From there, both siblings began to breakdown on the atrocity of their biological family before they punished the family and placed her brother in the seat of the head of their branch family. At the same time, the empress had made many connections and found sibling bond with her sworn sisters. Who knew that the emperor had plans to make her his wife due to his intrigue. As a result, her two youngest sworn-sisters did not like her to-be husband. So, they tried to ruin the wedding and blame it on the emperor. However, the results was that they messed up so badly that they were caught by the empress and grounded. Of course, she was a fair person. So, when the emperor was laughing at their misery, the empress grounded him as well in her own way. So, needless to say, the empress of beasts held the most power in their society. Is that what you wanted to know?" 

  "You seem to know alot." Malleus noted in surprise. 

  "That's because I came across it from a journal during my stay on Sage's island. However, I was busy with other matters and had it put away else where." Lotus responded. 

  "A journal?"

  Lotus nodded, "That's right. It should still be somewhere on this island. Though I'm very surprised to find it here."

  "I see." Malleus hummed, "Do you know the exact place you put it?"

  "Hm... Not really. I just gave it to someone who owned the place." Lotus responded bluntly, "After that I heard Grim had stolen Yuu's wallet again so I went to go find him."

  "Is that so..." Malleus hummed curiously, "Do you know who was the previous owner of the journal?" 

  Lotus nodded, "Yup. Though they aren't in the world anymore."

  "I see."

  "You want to look for it?" Lotus questioned curiously. 

  Malleus nodded. 

  "Why? It's pretty much just an old journal." 

  Malleus scowled, "But, everything has its value. You shouldn't have passed on the chance when you did."

  "Here we go again?" Lotus sighed. 

  Lately, she has begun to understand that the only reason he enjoys going out on walks was so that he could visit old buildings and picture how it would have looked like in it's former state. Thus he would often visit Ramshackle dorm and end up getting along with Yuu and Grim due to that. She sighed and said with a frown, "Although the past has their value, you are also turning a blind eye to the present's value. Those who do this will often be so absorbed with the past that they would lose what they have in the present and only cry over it when it has become a thing of the past. Although it is admirable that you think of the past so fondly, you will end up becoming a sad person one day if you continue to ignore the present." 

  She sighed and covered herself under her covers before opening her mouth again, "Anyway, I'm gonna sleep for a bit. Let me know if that guy isn't feeling well."

  Seeing her indifference, Malleus shook his head in dismay before turning away and leaving out the door. Once out the door, Malleus pondered what could it have been that made the princess so irritated to the point that she still didn't want to see the nurse? 

  Inside the room, it was very calm as Lotus snuggled under the covers. Her stomach aches were subsiding just a bit under the warm covers as she noticed how quiet the room was. her original room was usually quiet as well and she did not mind it as it was always deathly quiet. However, in here, the room wasn't disturbingly quiet. In fact, it was a warm quiet tone to it. The room was littered all over with random stuff but, even then, she could not feel one bit upset or annoyed by this. In fact, it reminded her of Maisey's workshop. It was always covered with litter and scraps as his kind enjoys repairing broken equipment and making items impulsively. The room was always full of cheer and enthusiasm. Though this room did not have the same enthusiasm or the smell of freshly cut wood, it was still warm and an outgoing feel to it. She did not seem to dislike it in the least. Though it was warm, it suited her in her need for a calm rest. She felt bad not being able to tend to Huo Wei's health as soon as he awakens. However, she was also not in the best of shape to leave or stay by his side. Though she had already predicted this would happen when Malleus barged into her room, she pondered if he would really come to let her know or if the butterflies would notify her instead...

  Eventually, she was surprised as weariness finally seeped into her. It had been a bit since she last slept so peacefully. However, she feared what would happen if she slept now. With that in mind, she struggled to stay awake this time. However, that soon changed when another fit of stomach cramps hit her again like a wave as if in protest! She cursed under her breath before slipping away into another fitful sleep of nightmares...