Rosie's Games

Chapter 361: Fleur Family

THE ASTER EMPIRE

Federico's location was still unknown and it had been days since he disappeared.

Many speculations had started with the most popular one being the fact that the Duke of Wugari was somehow involved in this accident. Still, not one of them could prove a thing.

"My father would not just leave…" Martin said. Since it had been a few days since Federico disappeared, he was forced to do all of Federico's jobs, and that included talking to the representatives from the other families. While it was not exactly that obvious, the members of the seven families once again started talking and exchanging information. All of them were interested in the beast tide that threatened Aster.

"Without proof, you wanted us to raise our swords to the young Duke who just saved your Empire?" Lachlan Blaize scoffed. "I always knew this meeting would be useless."

"Lachlan… will you just listen to His Blessedness Martin?" Jean Hydran asked. "This was not just some political official. This was Federico, The Federico Lux."

"Right. That was the only reason why I came here. If not for the fact that it was 'The Federico Lux', I would not have come." Lachlan did not hide the sarcasm in his voice.

"Your Blessedness, please do not mind him," Jean said.

"It is fine. I understand—"

"Tell us why we should believe you," Lachlan suddenly said.

"What?"

"Considering your potential motivations, it's not far-fetched to think that you framed the Duke and concealed your father. This could be a scheme that Federico, himself, devised!"

"You— Are you—"

"Lachlan, it's time to step away from this situation. Let's leave and allow you to calm down and regain some clarity of mind." Brinley Fleur got up and accompanied Lachlan out of the room.

Once they left, Brinley immediately asked. josei

"Must you do that?"

"Those people were trying to frame their savior— the one who saved their empire from being destroyed by the beasts. Do you think people like that have any integrity left?" To Lachlan, people who tried to betray the people who saved them were not considered human.

They were just like the beasts that were trying to kill them.

While Lachlan was obsessed with fighting, he was not someone that would betray a person who had saved him in the past. To him, that was simply wrong.

"What makes you think that Federico planned all this?" Brinley asked.

"What makes you think that he did not?" Lachlan fired back. That man was known for his scheming. If he wanted to destroy the reputation of the Duke, using himself would be the best way. A man like that would do everything to achieve his goals and yes, that included using himself as the victim!

"Seeing that you chose to drag me outside, I knew you do not believe this… nonsense. If the Duke wanted to kill Federico or take him, he would not do it the night before he left. He would do it once everyone believed that he already left. Even a child could think like that. Did they really see him as someone that stupid?" Lachlan snorted.

"I—"

"What? Am I wrong?"

"No. You are not." Brinley uttered. "In fact, I— I wanted to talk to you about something."

"What is it?"

"It is about my father. He wanted to work with you and Douglas."

"So…" Lachlan smirked. He knew that soon, the others would make their choices. He just did not expect that it would be like this. The Fleur Family eh?

They lived in the Sloryn Empire and were not actually considered the strongest or the weakest among the seven families. They were not the richest or the mightiest, but today, Lachlan believed that they just showed that they were one of the smartest families.

"Your father made the right decision."

Brinley nodded. "Although he expressed hesitance, the seven families are unwilling to let go of their traditionalist views, resulting in our stagnated progress and frozen state of mind. He wanted something new, something… challenging. He wanted Sloryn to grow and he believed that the Duke could help us."

"Since you wanted to work with us then… why are you telling me this?"

"Father instructed me to ask you for a favor. He wanted you to accompany me to Wugari to talk to the Duke."

"Ah… " Lachlan nodded. Again, the Fluer Family was not exactly the strongest. Their strength was mediocre at best. It would make sense for them to ask him to accompany them.

"However, would you keep this a secret for now?" Brinley asked.

"A secret?"

"We— My father did not want to let the others know until we have finalized our deal with the Duke."

"I understand."

"Also… please do not let the Duke know that we are coming."

"Why is that?"

"I— We suspect that someone close to him is working for the seven families, at least one of the seven families."

Again, this is a logical possibility. Lachlan already knew that everyone was busy sending spies to everyone else. Naturally, he knew that many people had wanted to spy on the Duke's activities even before the tide.

After the tide, after seeing what the Duke was capable of, the others were now clamoring and doing their best to know the secrets behind the Duke's strength. The best way to do it would be to have some spies around.

"When are we leaving?" he asked.

"After the meeting. Let us meet on the border of Aster and Lonyth."

Lachlan's eyes narrowed. While he understood the man's reasoning, he still found it hard to believe that the Fleur family would suddenly make a big move like this. Was it just because the old man wanted progress and change?

Lachlan looked at the view of the capital of Aster. From where he was standing he could see the bustling streets of Aster. However, he knew that Aster—just like the other Empires— was rotting from the inside.

This was because of the views.

This needed to change.

He thought of the Duke and slowly, a smile appeared on his lips.

He couldn't contain his excitement as he eagerly waited for the day that he would visit the Duke in the North!