Many rumors regarding the Mist Kingdom 46th Queen Lyn, say she's a kind person who won't harm a fly. They consider her weak due to all the peace talks. While they acknowledge she's a good Queen, people say her methods are too lenient. But that's only because those people do nothing to harm her or her friends. The moment somebody steps over the borderline and harms those she cares about then she becomes a ruthless Queen.

A part of herself that she kept hidden because of the brutality involved. Yes, she can become just as brutal as the members of the Snow Kingdom. But who wouldn't become brutal once their family members and precious friends are hurt? They are the ones who started this. So n.o.body can blame her for being ruthless.

Ever since she was younger, she found herself to be absorbed entirely already in the world of knowledge. That's right long before she even met Kazuya, books that contained the knowledge of the world attracted her.

At first, though it was only a means of escape, escape from all the negativity. Her family life wasn't exactly as peaceful as everyone thought it was. That family already long fell apart, so perhaps what happened then was atonement.

Atonement for what happened before. In that sense, there really is no meaningless misfortune. When she first stumbled upon ancient scripters, Lyn learned the meaning in more depth, what real tragedy is. Her form of escape were those books. To block out the sound, she would listen to music and escape in the world of stories. But that is too much of a fantasy.

A person cannot escape from a reality that is there. She found out many things. So then how is she an outsider of society supposed to fit in?

The answer is simple. She has to live the same as everyone else. And another is that most humans won't accept something as a fact. If it is outside what they consider common sense.

Upon realizing these things, she realized though, that even if she did that it wouldn't change anything. It won't make her world any less dark than it already was. It won't bring out the light she's seeking which is why she didn't try it and lived a life without lying.

That's right. She doesn't lie. Because she's never once seen the point of it. Individuals, who do lie? She doesn't understand them very well. No matter how much she observes them, she can never understand what they're thinking.

Individuals with a purpose?

Those with strong goals and motivation, she didn't get that either.

Lyn walked over to the person she brutally beat up moments ago, she barely had to do much though. No magic involved but only her brute strength.

"Will you share me her location?"

"We know nothing mam..." the shop keeper trembled in fear.

Know nothing? Lyn laughed; the evidence was all around them. Signs of illegal trading. For the last few days since her brother's arrival. Lyn has desperately been searching. If her brother wants revenge, she will help him. Lyn won't encourage him to act recklessly. After all, she is still the Queen. But after a few days, her emotions became numb. Losing her first friend and the cause is her best friend's people. It made her sick.

"Hey Lyn, I found the elderly guy," Rhys called out.

She rolled her eyes, "Did you find the right guy this time?"

"I think this is him, a large beard that looks like it's rotting?"

Lyn laughed at that comment as she made her way over, she removed the curtain and entered the back room. There Rhys had chained up a person to the wall.

She paused when she saw the chains, "Brutal wouldn't you say?"

"Says the one who brought the place down with a single knife."

"By the way, this is the knife I keep on me all the time," Lyn brought up. She meant it as a warning, but as usual, Rhys didn't take her seriously.

Lyn looked at the man Rhys chained up, dark beard, dull-colored eyes. Unique clothing. It was indeed Elder Nicholas.

She strolled over, a menacing look in her eyes. "Now Elder, it seems like we meet again?"

When she saw him in the last town, she seldom believed her eyes. Why is somebody important away from the Mist Kingdom at such a critical time? As the Queen, it's okay for her to go out like this. But the elders have to maintain a balance, so the majority don't stray from the Main city. However, Elder Nicholas is here. How many others are here too? She will route them all out.

Gabrielle's incidence has already spread far and wide through the Mist Kingdom grounds. n.o.body can blame her for being brutal. The girl's parents not responding to the SOS death message of their daughter however concerned Lyn. As heartless as they may be, they spent all their effort to raise her. Surely the death of their fighter would anger them? Lyn expected them to complain to her and her brother. But n.o.body has heard from them.

Considering what happened with Gabrielle, Lyn couldn't rule out the chances that something happened to them. She did a bit of digging around and heard that the last person who saw them was Elder Nicholas. He was trying to convince them to support his son to become the next King. Knowing the girl's parents, they most likely went onboard with the idea as long as Gabrielle became Queen.

How sickening.

Those people are desperate for the throne, the riches, and benefits that come with it. But these stupid parents of hers may have unconsciously been involved with their own daughter's death. After all, "You met with Somina didn't you?"

"What are you talking about? Rather Queen Lyn, what are you doing in a place like this and with that man of all people?" Elder Nicholas looked over at Rhys with disdain. Lyn sighed, is this person serious?

"Trying to accuse me of an affair? Go ahead. It's not like you'll leave this place after tonight."

Elder Nicholas face color turned pale at her words, "Queen Lyn, even if you are the Queen you can't commit murder..."

"Are you challenging me?" Lyn said, her words remained cold as she looked at him with an indifferent and yet dangerous look on her face. She spun her blade in her hands, "You see Elder, my patience is running out. Your careless actions in my Kingdom aside. I heard from the little a.s.sistant girl that you slept with her. She told me she got the poison from you, and then I heard you met with the enemy's secret agent."

When she heard the story, Lyn already decided this man's death. A slow and brutal death.

"Don't worry, if your words convince me. Maybe, just maybe I'll let you go."

Lyn saw his eyes lit up with hope at her words and she wanted nothing more than to stab her blade at him directly. Yet she held herself back. Self-control. If she kills him right away, then the mysteries surrounding Gabrielle's death won't be exposed. Though she more or less figured out the story.

Elder Nicholas received the poison from Somina, and he gave it to one of his bedtime partners. It all seemed fairly straightforward. However, she knew there's something more to it than that. What kind of poison was it?