Honey : The Empire's Treasure 416 It's Not Over...

Since she and her mother had burned everything in their last residence, they were left with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

Damnit! Why did I listen to her back then...

Looking in her closet, there was not an item she could sell that would give her much credit.

Frustrated, she knew she couldn't ask her father as canonesses don't need substantial funds for their lifestyle.

Sienna sat on her bed thinking hard about where she could get the funds to at least get her to the temple, when her eyes captured a beautiful vase placed at the edge of her vanity table.

She didn't need to think twice as she walked over picked up the empty vase and examined the vivd colors and exquisite design.

I can probably get half the original cost for this…

Picturing all the other household decor around the estate, Sienna smiled bright despite the pain on her face.

___

Outside, Lady Delju and her personal maid left the courtyard.

To stop other clan members from seeing her hands, Lady Delju covered them with a long piece of cloth. 

With her maid helping her to keep her balance, she walked without stopping to reach her destination.

Stopping at the second largest residence in the clan's estate after Mano's, Lady Delju had her maid knock on the gate.

Soon a young male servant opened the door, recognizing Lady Delju as the one of Lord Mano's wives, he immediately let her in.

After showing her and her maid to the drawing room, the male walked off to alert Master Cohnal of his guest.

Ten minutes later, a male of lean musculature stature with reddish-brown hair and facial features similar to Lord Mano, stood at the door.

"Lady Delju, to what do I own this honor?" The male walked over to her.

"Brother Cohnal[1], I came to seek some advice." Delju stood up with the help of her maid to greet him.

"Of course…" Cohnal stared at Delju fondly, "What is the problem that you need help with?" 

Delju looked to the side where his steward stood, getting what she was hinting towards, Cohnal send his steward and her maid away.

"Now, tell me what do you need help with?" He sat down in his chair.

"Sigh...I need a barrel of honey in two days." Delju stated frankly.

Taken back by her answer, Cohnal looked hard at Delju's face, "What for?"

"It's secret...I can't tell you."

"You need a barrel of honey, but you can't tell me what for?"

"….Yes." 

Cohnal shook his head, "Delju, you know I would help you with anything, but since your daughter had her "fun" in the orchards... My brother and your husband has been very cautious of the amount honey going out."

"Cohnal...this is serious…" Delju lifted her arms off of her lap, making the cloth covering her hands drop to the floor.

Her tightly wrapped broken hands were put on display for him to see.

"WhWhat happened to you!? Did he do this to you..." He stood up from his seat to gently place her hands back on her lap.

"In a sense… I can ask no one other than you to help me." Delju bowed her head.

"You should have stayed with me. I would have treated you well." He whispered into her wrapped hands as he kissed them.

"You didn't want me, remember? You needed someone who could help you get the position of clan leader…" She mocked.

"Sigh...that's right." Cohan stood up, "...but who would have thought that my little brother would still be clan leader in the end and marry my love…. I regret not listening to you."

"That is over a done with now, Cohan…"

"Is it?��� You wouldn't have come to me if it were."

"….will you help me?" Delju stress, bring the conversation back to her request.

"Yes..." Delju smiled gratefully at him, "...but two days are cutting it too close-"

"It needs to be in two days, Cohan." Delju pleaded with watery eyes.

"Ugh! Okay...okay…" He calmed her down, he always hated to see her tears, "I will try my best to get you the barrel…"

"Thank you."

"...but what will I get in return."

"W-What...!?"

"Delju, like you said our time is over. If that is the case then this is transaction between the two of us. What will you offer me for this favor?"

"That...I...I don't have anything." Delju would have balled up her hands into fists if her fingers weren't broken.

"Then I'll take this as it's not over between us…"

"….."

As Lady Delju and Sienna were making their plans, in a room blow the imperial palace, Voron sat opposite King Rychell drink a glass of strong wine. 

"We will be getting a new shipment of pure grade honey soon."

"Was that your supplier?" Rychell asked after overhearing the conversation his friend had on his comm.

"En...although I don't think I will be able to get more from her after this...but we will see." Voron grinned.

"How much this time?"

"A barrel... It should be enough to do this round of experiments."

"Good…" Rychell pick up his glass and down the strong wine in his hand.

"Whoa, slow down. This is expensive!" Voron pull the bottle out of his friend's hand as he went to pour himself another glass.

"….how could he come back?" Rychell muttered, after his friend took the bottle from him.

"You knew it was a possibility when you sent him to that city."

"...yes...a possibility…" Slightly drunk and angry, he stumbled as he left his seat to walk towards Voron's table of liquor.

"Rychell, there is no need to get upset. This actually works out in our favor."

"I know it does...I just didn't want that bastard to be...like him." The King's eyes turn vicious.

"…..Let it go, it's been centuries already. You have killed every other fledgling born under the dragon star for centuries, delaying our work. WE won't allow you do it this time." Voron carefully warned his long time friend.

"Don't worry, I won't….I want to see an end to this digusting cycle as well." The King replied, staring down at his hands.

"Good...then everything will go on as planned."

[1] Cohnal - Mano's oldest step-brother by his father's second wife.

Chapter end