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After the whole incident at the Ryuichi manor, Yanyi, Irene and Eker finally returned home after three days of sleepover. From that day onwards it's just some mundane moments. Eker would follow her to the station, waiting for Luyao to come and train him while Yanyi focused on her new temporary role.
Luyao is at the station not because of work but rather for teaching convenience. Since Yanyi will be taking over his job for the time being, she needs a little help to get all the tedious stuff handled like taxes, bills and whatnot.
She can handle the case, those are fine.
Also another point for convenience is that by training at the station, neither Yanyi nor Luyao has to go back and forth from sending and picking up Eker. Yanyi can also return home with Eker after she finishes work.
Yanyi is now on lunch break and is sitting on the balcony of the office looking over at the courtyard. Eker is currently doing some physical muscle training by doing a couple of sets. Proud of his quick progress, a smile slowly carved its way to her rosy lips.
A cup of hot Verin tea was placed in front of her. She gladly took it with a word of "Thanks" to whoever sent it to her. She didn't have to think much as he is also watching the young kid down in the courtyard beside Yanyi.
"He is progressing really fast in his training. Faster than an average person." Luyao can't help but express his bewilderment. He had his fair share of training some of the guards, police and military members in the Ryuichi territory and none had been as fast as Eker.
Yanyi — "It has only been a month since his first day. I even need to train for 2 years before reaching the basics."
Luyao — "Think he might break the record for the shortest one?"
Yanyi — "Shortest training, yes. But the youngest? I'll still hold that title. Elotion ceremony at 6 years old."
Luyao — "Aren't you 7 at the time?"
Yanyi — "By year, yes. But my birthday has yet to pass. So~ I take it as 6 years old."
Luyao chuckled before continuing watching Eker, giving him some points in his forms. That is when Yanyi starts to become curious and ask him. "I have a question though. How did you come to be the adopted son of Ryuichi?"
Luyao — "Come again?"
Yanyi — "I mean the talk about the Marquess taking in a boy as his son is all over the empire at one moment. But that's what weird me out. You never took the Ryuichi name. Your name is Chen, right? How come you get to live with them?"
Luyao smirks before side-eyeing the girl sitting beside him. "Curious about me much?" Yanyi's eyes bugged out from embarrassment before pouting her cheeks and looking forward again. "You're my friend now, so I thought it would be nice to learn something about you."
She's sulking.
Luyao can see it. He didn't tease her further and decided to lay everything he could down. "I was left at the military camp during a war 20 years ago. I was just 2 years old at the time and I don't remember anything. The first memory I had of my childhood is listening to a lullaby that the Marchioness sang while she was cradling me."
Yanyi didn't interrupt him and kept a quiet and pose posture. She is ready to listen to everything her inspector wishes to share.
Luyao — "About 15 years ago, when I was seven years old, the Marquess decided to take me as their son. I … didn't really like the full idea of that."
Yanyi — "Why not? You and Kazuto can be brothers for real. Sharing the same name."
Luyao — "We would. But I didn't want to be a sudden pressure in his life. Also, I feel like I see the Marquess and Marchioness more as my godfather and godmother. So I don't want to change that."
Yanyi — "..."
Luyao — "I also have a feeling that my parents, biological parents, wish for me to at least continue something. Even if it is with or without their name. So I decided to not take the Ryuichi name and continue calling them Aunt and Uncle. However, to the eyes of the public and themselves, I will be considered as their son."
Yanyi didn't say anything. The birds started to chirp around them. The only other noise they can hear is the heavy breathing of Eker in the courtyard as well as the faint bustling call from the stall vendors outside of the station.
Luyao noticed Yanyi's stiff posture and decided to ease a bit for her sake. "I don't really know who my parents are. But I have a feeling that they didn't wish for me to be in pain." Yanyi look down at her own tea before a faint smile creeps onto her lips.
"... Yeah… All parents would have wished for that."
Seeing his attempt wound up in a bit of a failure, he decided to flip the table and ask her his own question. "So. What about your stories? Care to share some hidden stories of the Holy Maiden?"
Yanyi laughs it off, not taking Luyao seriously until she looks back to her right and sees Luyao staring at her, dead center. Yanyi was caught a bit off guard and didn't move nor blink for a good 10 seconds before a loud "Ow!" from below bring her back.
Yanyi cleared her throat before playing it off cool, I think. "My life is just as what they document. Just filled to the brim with work left and right. Helping Leon if he needs something. Go over to the city center to give out some hand. Nothing much." It would have been convincing if it weren't for her reaction.
Eyes darting away from Luyao's direct gaze.
Fidgeting with her tea cup.
Her tongue ran around the inside of her cheeks.
At last he has to pull the superior card. "I'm your superior you know."
"Not right now."
"I will be after this moving forward until you quit or leave."
Yanyi — "..."
Luyao — "Also, as Eker's teacher I ought to know a bit about my student's guardian, right?"
Yanyi, again, didn't spill a word. But the more she refused, the more intense she would feel from all the pressure Luyao has on his blood crimson eyes. "Fine! I'll tell you!" He backed away from staring at her. Waiting to hear all the stories she can provide.
Taking a deep breath, Yanyi looked down at her own hands. No to be more precise, she is looking at her own…wrist?
Yanyi — "My birth name is Xue Yanyi, first child and daughter of the Grand Marquess Xue family. Albeit all know it as Marquess Xue. I have three other siblings all of which are male. One pair of twins and the youngest is 10 years old."
Luyao — "The same age as Eker."
Yanyi — "Yes. My father is, well you already knew, Marquess Xue Xenzi, the justice reaper. My mama, her name is Xue Kalmin Ariani, her name is Ariani. I met Leon when I was a year old. According to my mama, I was a frail child and even they were afraid to bring me outside. They went to the temple to pray for my wellbeing."
Luyao — "..."
Yanyi — "Coincidentally, the Empress is there with her oldest son who is quiet and … empathetic. According to what my mama said, when Leon saw me for the first time, he went over to me and held out a finger to my hands. Mama said that for the first time, I have enough energy to grasp something so tightly."
Yanyi — "They then brought us over to the High Priestess and called in the Emperor and my father. Low and behold, on that same day our bond was forged and be known as the Holy Guardian and Holy Maiden."
"That's all the part that I would allow you to know for now." Yanyi walked off the balcony and was about to enter the office when Luyao, yet again stopped her from going any further.
"What about your reason?"
Yanyi didn't move. Didn't turn. Didn't speak. She stood quietly for 1 minute before a playful chuckle came out from her teeth. Turning her head to look at Luyao with a pair of innocent looking eyes. "I'll tell you that when I'm ready to be an open book, teacher."
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One day,
It was another normal day at the station.
Eker and Luyao training.
Police patrolling the city.
Yanyi with her duty.
As of this moment she is reorganising the file case as per Luyao's request and need. Honestly, he sure did categorise them based on importance. But he didn't even organise those files according to date. He just put it wherever he wants.
Thankfully when Yanyi learned of this the moment she grabbed a wrong file, he was reprimanded before requesting Yanyi to fix his mistake. There's no need for unnecessary shouting so she did his bidding.
Knock! Knock!
Turning her face sideways, she saw Max at the entrance of the office. "Lady Yanyi, you have some visitors."
"Visitors?" Yanyi places the rest of the case files on the coffee table before coming outside and seeing Irene and Kazuto waiting in the courtyard.
Seeing her friend out of the office and walking down the stairs, Irene wastes no time to talk to her. On the other hand, Kazuto gestures towards Yanyi before Luyao shakes his head. "I'm not in charge for now." The red boy didn't say much and walked over to Yanyi.
"What's the matter?" She asks as she grabs the piece of newspaper Irene handed over to her. "Read the headline." Is all her friend says.
Pivoting her gaze to the paper before her eyes, just one word caught her off guard. The headline read "Lack Security Causes Venium Drug Misuse". The word Venium is the trigger for Yanyi.
Venium is a type of plant which is often used as painkiller ingredients in nature and after lab manufacture. It has soothing properties that can help not only to soothe physical pain but mental too. Albeit for a small time.
Even with its wide range of use the empire fear that taking the painkiller without any prescriptions or regulation could lead to poisoning, assassination, or suicide cases. This is a special property of the Venium plants. No matter how much a person tries to build a tolerance towards it, they can't.
Its soothing pain properties disallow for the person to even build any tolerance towards it. This is the reason why regulation is needed even for the most used medication.
The party who uses Venium regularly are the military. Venium can be found in the wild fairly easily for those who knew. Because the military protects the city and the empire from unwanted beasts they would often get themselves into bad shape. Thus, Venium is used to soothe their pain long enough to get the needed treatment.
Although it is easily found that doesn't mean anyone can sell and manufacture Venium as they wish. If it was found that they either manufacture Venium or keep their plants illegally, serious consequences would follow.
The only people who are allowed to keep them are the manufacturer who has the approval from the High Lord General as well as the Elite Noble of the state they are manufacturing in. This is to ensure that the High Lord General would be able to get their supply for Venium for the troops as well as preventing any illegal activity.
Like increasing the concentration of the plant in the pill.
Because of its high usage in the military circle, the process of Venium manufacturing as well as their distributor are often kept secret. It is considered as a military secret. Thus, people who knew about it have taken a life oath to never speak about it in public or share them.
If they did…
They are dead.
"Who the fuck create this headline?!" Yanyi curses even when Eker is here. This is the amount of anger she let out. As the Holy Maiden she has to keep the society in good shape.
The spread of such news could invoke people to start blaming the higher ups. If not contained properly or spread out, a whole riot could break out from the negligence of those who are "supposed to protect them".
Irene — "One of the head editors of the newspaper."
Yanyi — "Has it been published?"
Kazuto — "Not yet. Irene met me outside the moment she read the headline. And I thought that it would be best to get you in."
Yanyi grips the newspaper side into crumples before throwing it down. She marches to where Kazuto's vehicle is and goes inside. She is ready to bring a storm if one gives her thunder. The other two followed her suit.
Luyao who saw the whole commotion came over to where the newspaper was thrown and read the headline. He let out a deep sigh with his eyes furrowed in discontent. "Good luck to whoever it is. Pray that she didn't rip your head apart."
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Meanwhile, at Irene's newspaper company.
Inside a dark sage room, a woman is smoking her cigarettes while holding onto a newspaper. The headline read "Lack Security Causes Venium Drug Misuse. The same one a certain young lady had just read.
Snickering to herself, she grin with confidence. Believing that this headline can roar the streets to thunder. "I did a really good job, didn't I?" She twirls around in her office chair with her legs crossed on her office table.
The name tag on the table read "Chief Editor Riqa Phoor".
Leaving out a big sigh she praised herself. "For months that dumb new girl kept on getting the best headline over and over again. Well now, I have an upperhand. Hihihi~. This headline is going to blow up!"
"What is going to blow up?"
The familiar male voice that has roamed the streets of Kinsel for a long time ring near her door. Kazuto and Irene came in through the door where many other co-workers stood to hear the commotion.
I mean who wouldn't be afraid when the future head of the state came barging into one of the chief editor rooms. Something big must have happened.
All would be fearing for their career if they were in Riqa's position. Welp, not her apparently. The only polite thing she did was let her legs down from the table.
She didn't fix her posture.
Didn't fix her speech
And didn't even fix her grin.
"What's the problem, Young Maquess? Did that girl tattletale on me? About what? The headline. It's the truth isn't it?" She is now provoking Kazuto. Defending her headline. After all, the newspaper company is meant to be reporting on the truth, no?
'Good. All the workers are here to listen in. Perfect to show my dominance.' She thought to herself. Irene, who is standing behind Kazuto, is about to reprimand her for speaking without any formalities.
Kazuto holds her back.
Seeing that he has no reaction, Riqa figures that she can push further into her teasing. She exposed her identity right then and there. "I'm Riqa Phoor. The cousin of Young Marquess Luca Phenorr. Our close bond as family gave me the authority to do my work without any disturbance."
"You are walking on a thin line, Riqa Phoor." The boy gave her a warning.
Did she take it?
Nope.
"What thin line? All I'm doing is just spreading the truth. Don't blame me for your family incompetence, Young Marquess Ryuichi. Only people who make mistakes fear the future." She bites into an apple on the table.
"So you would follow your life oath then?"
The mysterious voice mentioning the sacred life oath brings Riqa from her laid back posture. Yanyi emerged from the crowd of workers to enter the room. Her piercing silver pupils that hold nothing but silent rage slash through Riqa's laid back posture.
Immediately, the previously laidback lady starts to sweat and fixes her posture. She tries her best to clean her clothes which didn't even have any dirt anywhere.
"L-Lady Yanyi…"
Yanyi — "Speak your stand, Riqa Phoor. I am not a patient woman when it comes to the empire."
Riqa — "I-I was just sharing the truth! I-I didn't do anything wrong!"
Yanyi — "The truth? Well then care to show me your document from the High Lord General of either the state of Iholes or Kinsel?"
Cat got her tongue. Riqa can't speak to defend herself. The truth is, these headlines all came from the rumours going around small streets. She was so desperate to one up Irene that she forgot her family life oath.
I told you one thing.
Yanyi surely didn't.
Yanyi — "Spreading the "Truth" that is widely known throughout the empire as a military secret to the public. Without even consulting or gaining permission from any relevant authorities."
Riqa — "I-I…"
Yanyi — "You are the cousin of Young Marquess Luca, right?"
Riqa — "!"
"If I tell Marquess Phenorr, your uncle directly. Do you think he would spare you? Someone who leaked military secrets and jeopardised the people of the empire." Riqa's eyes which had been staring down onto her laps suddenly turned up the moment she heard Yanyi's threat. She shook her head in fear.
Albeit being related to the Phenorr family, she knew how the system worked in general. If a person in the family broke the life oath, the family has to choose to either cut ties or defend them. The founding father family would rather pick the safety of the empire instead of bloodline.
Her life would be over.
Her career would be none.
Her title would be nonexistent.
Yanyi didn't wait to respond. She heard the rushing footsteps, figuring that it was the director coming by. Re-educating the people would be a nice touch.
"We hold onto the life oath for a reason, Riqa Phoor." All the eyes are now stuck to her words. "The very existence of these secrets is life threatening to the people. Thus, those who protect the empire shall bear this oath for life. We protect the people, not the people protecting us!"
The director had long been standing at the door, hearing all the words Yanyi had said just now. Sure enough, he is shivering with rage to the one being reprimanded. "I hope that there would be NO MORE such instances. Do you understand, director?" Her gaze is now on the director.
He quickly agreed and bowed more than 5 times, apologizing for his workers misbehaviour. He then instructed the printing team to stop the printing and burn all the already printed newspapers. Also all the workers were shooed away back to work. All aside from Irene.
Kazuto and her then have a little chat with the director. He explained that the misinformation of the headline could cause not only a riot among the people but could halt the usage of Venium. If continued it could cause severe harm to the people as well as the safety of the empire.
No Venium means militants have to endure the pain through battle.
Enduring for too long could bring immense physical stress
Eventually leading to death.
Enough piled up…
Unwanted possibility.
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After talking with the director, Kazuto went back inside while Irene continued her working hours. Yanyi didn't say or do anything aside from sitting.
Riqa, who had moved to the couch in front of Yanyi, also mimicked her.
Seeing Kazuto entering and having his own seat, the before angry maiden turns to the person sitting right before her. With an interrogative tone she called. "Riqa."
She was stiff.
"Where did you get this info?"
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-~*~-