Despite her admiration for his grandpa's strength and leadership, she felt angry on him by giving unfair punishment. She wondered how he could be so unfair to both her and her parents.
Two years ago, (when she was nearing 14 years) Lily approached her grandfather, with a surge of determination, her heart pounding in her chest, and demanded to know why he was being so unfair. However, instead of an answer she was met with his justification, her grandfather insisting that her parents had made a grave mistake and that she had willingly accepted the deal, knowing what was at stake. The air was charged with tension as Lily's eyes flashed with anger, her hands clenched into fists, feeling the sting of tears but refusing to back down. She felt he had been petty in handling her parents' situation, clouded by his own emotions. In that fit of rage, that day she vowed infront of him to not to call him "Grandpa" until she succeeded in their deal, deeming it a fitting punishment for his unfairness.
From then on, Lily kept her word, addressing him formally as "Your Majesty" or "Mr. King" with a stoic demeanor, never even cracking a smile in his presence. Despite this distance, her feelings towards her grandfather were complex, she deeply respected and admired him, knowing he loved her just as much. She believed that beneath his anger towards her parents, he had loved them dearly too. His love had been clouded by hurt and anger, gradually transforming into resentment over time. Lily tried to convince herself that his intense love had morphed into anger after they left, maybe that's why he punished them heavily.
Lily snapped out of her thoughts, stopping in her tracks to stand before the king. She greeted him with a crisp "Your Majesty," her voice formal and edged with a hint of strictness. The sound of her own voice seemed to echo through the room, a subtle reminder of her presence. The dimly lit room was illuminated by a few candles, casting a warm glow on King Riette's face. His piercing and wise eyes met hers as she stood before him. He nodded in response, his movements dignified, and handed her a card loaded with the reward money from the RHA results. "This is what you won," he said easily, his voice firm and measured. "You did well."
Lily took the card, her expression remaining calm as she suppressed the joy surging in her heart at her grandfather's praise. However she didn't acknowledged his praise and stood before him composed and serene. The king's eyes seemed to bore into her, expecting her to flash a smile or make a comment to reply him. But Lily remained silent, her gaze steady. The air was heavy with unspoken words as King Riette exhaled slowly and began to speak again, his voice low and measured. "Now, it's time for you to build your own empire to win the deal. Do you need me to detail how you should proceed, or should I expect you already have an idea?" His piercing eyes locked onto hers, awaiting her response.
Lily nodded thoughtfully, the soft candlelight casting a warm glow on her face. "Yes, I want to know exactly what Your Majesty is expecting," she replied, her voice formal. "You won't need to detail the process, but I'd like to know what you're expecting me to achieve to win the deal."
Grandpa Riette measured her for a second, then spoke with a steady voice, his tone firm. "As a king, I wasn't able to maintain the kingdom's prosperity on my own. I need ministers, military, economy, rules, laws, advisors, guards, workers, and the people. I'm responsible for their livelihood, providing them with work, education, food and protection. And I need their help, their trust, their loyalty, and more. And most importantly I need greater power to be ready to face any challenge, to command and manage them effectively, to keep them in order, and to correct their mistakes and punish them for their wrongdoings. So, I expect you to build an empire that can achieve all these abilities and surpass mine by become more powerful than me and then you can successfully win the deal. You're already knowledgeable in many fields, so build a greater one, not just for show, but for real. I want to see how you'll build it and what kind of leadership you'll demonstrate."
Grandpa Riette paused for a moment before continuing, his voice firm. "From now on, your parents are under your care. That means you're responsible for them, for their well-being, protection, and safety from all harms and dangers. If you fail to protect them, you'll be defeated in our deal. And just like them, you'll be responsible for every person who comes under your care. Do you understand?" He asked sternly, his tone serious and unwavering, his eyes piercing as he awaited her response.
Lily nodded her head and replied with the same indifference, "Hmm, I understand, Gra.. Your Majesty." She paused and when king Riette didn't talk anything she bid him "Then I'll take my leave." She nodded and turned to leave the room. As she reached the door, her grandfather's voice followed her. "Don't be complacent, thinking no harm will come your way. Sometimes, those we trust the most can betray us. Be alert." Lily didn't turn back, but her voice was icy cold as she replied, "You need not worry, Your Majesty. I'm not naive enough to blindly trust everyone. I'll deal with them in the most ruthless way, before they can imagine it, or at least when they least expect it." Her words hung in the air, a subtle warning that left an impression as she left there.
A smile tugged at Grandpa Riette's face as he uttered to himself, "I know, little devil. And I'm waiting to see how you will deal with them."
From then on, Lily's journey to build her empire began, marked by determination, strategy, and a hint of ambition not only for to win but also to live happily. She never did anything solely on purpose for winning, She did things what she really want to do.
••••PRESENT•••
After leaving the hospital, Eli arrived at Allen's mansion. As he entered, he felt the weight of several gazes upon him. He walked directly toward the living room and took a seat on the couch, surrounded by his family members. Their faces were etched with worry, their eyes filled with anticipation to listen about his grandfather condition from him.
"He's fine now," Eli reassured them, his voice calm and soothing. The worry lines on their faces began to fade, replaced by relief.
"It's late," Eli said, glancing at each of them. "Go and get rest now." With that, he stood up, preparing to leave the room.
Eli's mother, Chloe Allen, called out to him before he left to his room with her gentle tone. "Eli, come down to eat after freshening up. Everyone is waiting for you to eat together. Come quick."
Eli turned back, his serious gaze locking onto his grandfather's younger brother, Victor Allen, who gulped and quickly looked away. With a measured stride, Eli headed upstairs to his room. After a quick shower, he descended the stairs and directly went to the dining room and seated himself on his chair.
The room fell silent as everyone focused on eating their meal. The atmosphere during dinner was heavy, and the usual warmth and chatter were absent. The tension was palpable due to the coldness emanating from Eli. Even the elders present seemed to be trying their best to eat calmly, aware of his presence.
As the dinner finally came to an end, Eli's voice cut through the silence, his tone low and authoritative. "Grand uncle Victor" he called as his eyes still fixed on Granduncle Victor, "Do you have anything to say?" The question hung in the air, and Granduncle Victor's eyes darted nervously around the table before meeting Eli's intense stare.
The air was thick with anticipation as everyone held their breaths, waiting for Granduncle Victor's response. Granduncle Victor forced a nervous laugh and feigned innocence, "Do I have something to say? No, nothing, Eli. Ohh, It's already late. It's time for me and my wife to sleep. You're looking tired as well Eli, go and get some rest. Good night." He hastily stood up, glancing at his wife before offering his hand to her. "Jess, let's go."
Jessica Allen rose from her chair, a hint of amusement flickering in her eyes as she watched her husband flustered like a child in front of Eli. Her gaze drifted to Eli, who still looked displeased. She tried to reassure him "It's fine Eli. It's just tonight. He's worried about brother-in-law. Don't be mad."
Eli's gaze met Grandaunt Jessica's, he nodded his head and replied, his tone neutral yet firm, "Hmm, Go and get rest Grandaunt Jess, it's already late."
Jessica's expression subtly shifted, her eyes lingering on Eli's face before she nodded slightly and wished everyone a good night. She then followed her husband out of the room. As they left, the tension in the room lingered, and Eli's expression remained unreadable. "What are you all still waiting for? Go and rest," he said, before turning to leave for his room to sleep.
••••••
The sunlight streaming through the window cast a warm glow on Eli's face, accentuating his sharp features. The room was silent, except for the sweet melodies of early morning birds drifting in from the garden. Eli slowly opened his eyes and stared blankly at the ceiling without blinking for what felt like minutes. His gaze was distant, lost in thought. With a deep sigh, he closed his eyes and murmured to himself, "I'm missing you."
As he drifted into his thoughts, his phone buzzed on the bedside table, snapping him back to reality. Eli's eyes flickered open, and he reached for the phone, his fingers grazing the cool screen. A message from SAO - SECRETIVE ARMY ORGANISATION flashed on the display. Eli's expression turned serious as he read the message, his brow furrowing in concern. He sighed, his fingers typing out a response before he tossed the phone aside. With a subtle stretch, Eli got out of bed and headed to the bathroom to freshen up, the cool morning air greeting him as he stepped out of his warm bed.
After freshening up, Eli emerged from the bathroom and headed to his closet. He opened the door and selected a pair of formal attire, dressing quickly. Once ready, he made his way downstairs, where he found his uncles engrossed in reading newspapers in the living room. His mother and aunt were deep in conversation, their voices hushed. Meanwhile, his siblings and cousins were nowhere to be seen. Eli greeted his family members and strode into the kitchen, instructing the maids to prepare for something.
Eli came back and took a seat in the living room with his family. He glanced at his uncles, Noah and William and called them "Second Uncle, Third Uncle"
Noah Allen and William Allen who was called by Eli, glanced at him and William asked him "Anything, Eli?"
Eli nodded and replied, "Second Uncle, I need you to go to the office on my behalf. And Third Uncle," he paused, pulled out his phone, and sent a number to his Third Uncle's phone, which buzzed on the table. "That was Grandfather's saviors' number. Convey our thanks to them. Also, make your day free, you're coming to the hospital with me. I'm leaving today." Both uncles nodded in agreement. "Okay," his Second Uncle, Noah said concernly, "Take care." Eli nodded and responded, "I will."
The Allen family members who were present in the mansion gathered in the dining room for breakfast. Unlike the previous night, the dining room was now filled with lively conversations. After breakfast, a maid served vegetable juice to Granduncle Victor and Grandaunt Jessica. Granduncle Victor's brow furrowed, and just as he was about to ask why she had brought it, Eli's voice intervened, his tone clear and firm, leaving no room for argument. "Granduncle, this will help you and Grandaunt Jess remember to eat on time from now on. Have it."
Everyone in the room struggled to suppress their smiles as Granduncle Victor's mood soured. His grand nephew was being a bit too much for him, and he knew better than to argue further with Eli. Pursuing his lips, he took the juice, aware that arguing would only worsen the situation. Unlike him, Grandaunt Jess looked at Eli with pleading eyes, trying to persuade him. "Eli, have pity on your grandmother Jess. I won't eat late again, even your Granduncle did."
Eli glanced at her for a moment, nodded, and said nonchalantly, "Then, Grandaunt Jess, you can drink half of it, and the other half will be for Granduncle Victor." Granduncle Victor, who was sipping his juice, choked and spat it out upon hearing Eli's words and cursed him. "Are you serious, Eli? Oh, come on! It's just one time we ate late. Don't be such a naggy old man!" Eli's eyes narrowed, and he said in a final tone to his Grandaunt, "Grandaunt Jess, I give you an option. It's up to you to decide." He stood up from his seat, took the breakfast prepared for Grandfather Felix from the maid, and turned to Uncle William. "Third Uncle, let's go."