The Crown and The Rose
Chapter 61: Leaving Behind

Chapter 61: Leaving Behind

The Crown

"I don’t understand what you are talking about, Lord Typhon." I sound colder than I intended to. But I can’t help it. The way my heart is squeezing inside my chest... the way the hurt and the sadness trying to take me in a chokehold... it is hard not to be affected. "Why would I even want to lend one of my most precious servants to you?"

It is quite clear as to why. Keith is not stable enough to handle any of the work that Typhon has up for him. Erick is not made to do paperwork. Even when he was in the council of Syx, he’d barely do any paperwork. Seraphina would most likely burn the archive down if she were to put n there to deal with the things that don’t concern her. Vermilion will without any doubt bury Typhon alive if he asks him. That leaves Edward.

Vermilion... right...

Edward is a perfect man for the job. His skills are on par with Phillip’s which is quite impressive. I just hoped that both of them would want to reduce the amount of nag they put me through every time they see me. I am tired of it.

We are now leaving for the Empire of Red. Only Erick, Zhen Xin, Edward, and I are going there. Phillip had to take care of Erick’s horn and endure a lot of trouble to make him look human-like before Vermilion, Seraphina, and he returned to the southern palace. I actually appreciate that.

I have some firm orders: Visit the Red Empire and investigate whether the rumors about the increasing number of dark magic users in that area are true.

I have been also hearing a lot about these rumors while I was still at the palace. But I know this is just a half-assed excuse to get rid of me. And Vermilion didn’t even try to sugarcoat it.

It hurts.

It hurts so fucking much.

And I am pissed.

"It is just for a short while, Your Highness." Though Typhon is smiling his forever get-under-my-skin smile, I can see the eagerness in his eyes. This is a territory and he needs someone to handle the work that he alone can’t handle. "I hope you can understand how dire the situation is."

I do. This is why I sigh defeatedly. Zhen Xin is sitting on my shoulder. Not actually sitting. He is changing his position repeatedly. One time he is on my shoulder then next to my head or dangling behind my back. This isn’t bothersome but it definitely proves my point how he is just an adorable little cat. Erick doesn’t seem to be too fond of this little cat as it is a bit too clingy to me and hostile to him. Zhen Xin doesn’t even let Erick touch him.

I turn to Edward who is standing beside me with a stony expression but I can tell that he is contemplating something.

"What do you want to do Edward?" I ask him, my eyes softening but there is a hint of distraught in my eyes. I am not actually in the right mindset to deal with this. "Lord Typhon needs your assistance as you can see. What do you want to do?"

I have known Edward almost my entire life. He has been loyal to me since I was born. I know that he will decide to come with me whether I tell him to or not. Or... he won’t. The contemplative and conflicted look in his eyes worries me.

I inhale a large amount of breath and say softly, "Edward... you can stay here, I don’t mind."

Edward bites his lip and his dark eyes flick over me, "Y-Your Highness, I—"

"It is completely fine." I grin, "I am going to the Empire of Red, Rosalia is there to accompany me and both of us know better than anyone that she would rather die than let anything happen to me." This is a statement where there is nothing but truth.

Edward pauses for a moment then nods his head, "Understood, Your Highness."

I turn my head over my shoulder to look at Zhen Xin, "Xin-Xin, do you want to draw the circle?"

Zhen Xin instantly jumps down from my shoulder, "Yes, Your Highness." He starts to draw the circle.

I spin and face Typhon, "Lord Typhon, I expect you to return my servant to me unscathed."

"This goes without saying, Your Highness." He seems genuinely happy. I don’t know why, maybe because he has an assist now, or maybe... No. This is not possible. I might be reading into the situation more than needed.

Not everyone is like me after all... who falls in love with someone who wants nothing but to get rid of me.

Once he has drawn the circle and poured magic into it, Zhen Xin hops onto my shoulder, and Erick pats my back. "Shall we go now, Your Highness?"

I nod, and look at Edward, "I will be get going now, Ed. Take care." I grin widely, not showing the storm destroying my inside.

Edward nods and smiles, "Alright Lush. I will see you in a few months."

With a last look at him and Typhon, I enter the portal that has stretched into the mid-air out of nowhere. I walk into the lush greenery of a luxurious courtyard. The sun is bright up in the sky and dazzling. Erick walks to my side and the dark portal vanishes behind us.

"The sun is...irritating," Erick comments, holding up his hand to block the sunray directly hitting him, but this is a futile attempt. No doubt that he is a demon.

I grin at him, "I can bring you an umbrella if you want."

"I’d be grateful." He grins back.

That night, Nix approached Erick wearing my skin and made him lower his guard and then the rest is history.

"Lush? Is that you?" A surprised voice a female voice pulls me back into reality.

"Rose?!"

No wonder this courtyard seemed so familiar...