Chapter 214 The storm that is approaching. (7) Lilla feelings.

Words : 1170 Updated : Oct 3rd, 2025

tears fell freely from her beautiful eyes as the weight of everything consumed her. the righteous road she thought she had walked had been a lie, a facade built on the shadows of betrayal. the humans she had vowed to lead were far from innocent, and the realization broke something deep inside her. for several moments, lilla stood there in silence, her head bowed, her tears pooling at her feet. it wasn't anger or defiance that filled the room now; it was sorrow, raw and unrelenting, a pain that cleo could see clearly. but cleo didn't stop. she crossed her arms, her voice cold and unyielding. "this is the empire you're trying to defend, saintess. a crumbling system that would betray even its allies for profit. so tell me, is this the righteousness you spoke of?" read latest stories on empire lilla didn't answer. she couldn't. the weight of it all crushed her voice into silence, and all she could do was cry. "okay, everyone, let's stop here. there's no need to keep pushing this now that it's come to this. how about we take a breather and continue later?" ys said while rising gracefully from her seat and walking toward lilla. her voice, though calm, carried a weight that silenced the room for a moment. "this isn't over yet, ys. not just because she—" cleo said, her cold tone unwavering, but ys cut her off before she could finish. "i said we will take a break!" ys shouted, her usual gentle demeanor cracking. her sharp eyes narrowed, and in an instant, they shifted, becoming slit-like, like those of a snake. the intensity of her stare locked cleo in place, filling the room with an undeniable tension. cleo raised an eyebrow, unfazed by the display, but before she could retaliate, rex placed a hand firmly on her shoulder. "okay, let's go with what ys suggested. we do need a breather," he said calmly, his tone more of an order than a suggestion. though cleo wasn't afraid of ys, rex's intervention was enough to cool her temper. the last thing he wanted was a clash between the two of them, especially now, with relations with the humans already strained to the breaking point. a confrontation here could tip the scales into a three-sided war, something he couldn't allow. ys gave rex a warm smile, her mood instantly shifting. "i knew you were on my side, darling~" she said with a playful lilt, wrapping an arm around lilla and gently helping her to her feet. lilla's legs felt weak beneath her, but she didn't resist as ys guided her toward a hidden exit at the back of the room. ys spoke softly to lilla as they walked. "come on, let's get you out of here. no one needs to see you like this, not even your escorts." the hidden door closed behind them with a quiet hiss, leaving the room in a heavy silence. only rex and cleo remained now, the air still thick with unspoken tension since the twins had left at the same time as lilla's escorts, leaving rex and cleo to face the aftermath of the meeting alone. rex leaned back in his chair, resting his head against its back as he closed his eyes. "so, cleo," he began, his voice quieter now, "what are your thoughts on all of this? about the humans, from your race's point of view?" "but... but everything she said was true, ys," lilla whispered, her voice breaking as fresh tears welled up in her gray eyes. "tell me, ys... everything i've done... was it all wrong?" her trembling gaze locked onto ys's green eyes, searching desperately for reassurance. ys tilted her head slightly, her emerald gaze warm and steady. instead of answering, she reached for lilla's hands and gave them a gentle squeeze. "first, tell me what it is that you wanted to do," she asked with her voice soft and full of maternal care. lilla hesitated, her tears falling freely now, each word a struggle to say. "i wanted my people, the human race, to rise again," she began, her voice quivering. "i wanted us to stop being slaves, to regain our pride and dignity. and i thought... i thought we could repay rex and cleo for helping us reach that goal by showing them the same light i saw when i was a child." her voice cracked, and her breathing hitched as she spoke. "but it's like... it's like everyone's forgotten what we're supposed to be fighting for. they've taken their own path, driven by greed and ambition, and they've abandoned the purpose of our rise." "i don't know what else to do, ys. i'm so tired!" she broke down completely, burying her face in her hands as her sobs grew louder. "i'm not as strong or collected as they think i am! i'm not a leader; i'm just a crybaby!" the confession spilled out of her like a torrent, raw and unfiltered. it was the truth she had hidden from everyone, the truth she had been too afraid to admit, even to herself. but in ys's presence, it felt natural to let it all out, as though she had returned to being the little girl who had once clung to ys for comfort. ys watched her cry, her expression softening as a sense of understanding washed over her. memories of lilla as a child flashed through her mind, and as those emotions swelled, something within her began to shift. her body started to change, almost imperceptibly at first. her childlike features faded away, replaced by those of a mature, charming woman. her delicate frame grew taller, her presence more commanding, but her movements remained gentle and soothing. she wrapped her arms around lilla, pulling her into a warm embrace. "you're not a crybaby," ys whispered as she stroked lilla's hair, letting the girl bury her face in her chest. "you're just carrying too much on your shoulders. let it out, lilla. let it all out." the greenhouse fell quiet, save for the soft rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of birds. lilla clung to ys, her sobs gradually subsiding as she felt ys warmth envelop her. in that moment, it didn't matter that she was a leader or a symbol for her people. she was just lilla, a girl who needed someone to tell her it was okay to feel weak. while ys held lilla tightly in her arms, offering comfort through her warmth and steady presence, the door to the greenhouse hissed open. the faint hum of its mechanism cut through the soft chirping of the exotic birds, and the sound of slow, deliberate footsteps echoed across the lush space. someone had entered and was walking directly toward them.

Chapter 214 The storm that is approaching. (7) Lilla feelings.

Comments (0)