Jabril sighed. The Baih family was always like this. Why should he be surprised now?

He decided to let it go.

He stopped trying to explain himself. No matter what he said, the others would still find him guilty. They believed he was the traitor, regardless of what he had or hadn’t done.

Jabril closed his eyes, waiting for the final judgment.

Suddenly, they heard a majestic voice.

“What are you all doing here?” Viive arrived wearing a white cape.

“Emperor Baih.”

“Emperor Baih!”

“Emperor Baih…”

People dropped to their knees, greeting her.

Jabril slowly opened his eyes, thinking he was hallucinating. He knelt when he saw that Viive was actually there.

“Emperor Baih!”

“Rise. What are you all doing here?” Viive’s tone was neither too warm nor too unapproachable.

It wouldn’t sound right if she leaned toward either direction.

“Emperor Baih, we’re here to condemn this spy!”

“We’re at war with Elixir School, but Jabril is spying for them! He should be punished!”

“He’s a member of the Baih family, but he’s speaking for Elixir School. That’s unforgivable!”

Everybody started accusing Jabril, even though he had done none of those things.

However, having been repeated so many times, everybody believed it to be true.

If one didn’t know better, one would immediately believe the opinions of the masses. Even ordinary households would punish Jabril to appease the angry crowd.

However, they were facing Emperor Baih now.

“Jabril, is that true?” Viive asked indifferently.

Jabril felt like a thirsty man in the desert, and those words were his oasis. It was the beam of light that shattered the darkness.

He was in despair, but Viive’s words gave him some hope. Who would want to die when there was a chance to live?

Jabril lost hope again when he saw the looks on other people’s faces.

If he said all those things were made up, the crowd might get in trouble. Besides, Emperor Baih might not believe him.

He would rather take the blame.

“Yes, they’re telling the truth. I support Elixir School and don’t want to see our family go to war with them.

“Why do we have to go to war? So many innocent lives will be lost!” Jabril smiled in despair. If death didn’t frighten him, nor would Emperor Baih.

He was going to die anyway, so why not tell the truth?

Telling Emperor Baih off?

So many people wanted to do that, but they didn’t have the guts. Jabril had just done it!

He closed his eyes, ready to take his own life.

“Nicely said. Do you want to die just like that? It’ll be too easy!” Viive smirked.

It gave everybody the creeps. Was Emperor Baih going to torture Jabril?

What a terrifying idea!

“I can’t even die, can I?” Jabril smiled sadly.

“You’re going to live and watch me going to war with Elixir School!

“After that, you can see how the Baih family will deal with the students!

“Take Jabril to my room. I’ll punish him myself!”

Viive walked away.

The others laughed at Jabril. “Traitor! You have to answer to Emperor Baih now!”

“You didn’t see this coming, did you? How ridiculous!”

“You deserve to be punished! Emperor Baih made the right decision!”

“Emperor Baih is awesome! I would have killed him!”

They spat at Jabril to show their contempt.

Before, Jabril would have punched these people in the face, but things were different now. He had no hope left.

Nothing the others did could affect him.

…

Viive returned to the main hall as the guards escorted Jabril in.

“Leave us.” Viive dismissed them with a wave of her hand.

Only then did she become a little more friendly.

“Jabril, my brother. I’m Emperor Baih now, so there are things I must do. I hope you can forgive me.”

Viive sounded sorry.

My brother?

Those two words triggered Jabril’s memory from his childhood.

A little girl was brought to the Baih family. Jabril was the one who greeted her.

That girl used to call him brother.

Later, the senior members of the family later took her away. He didn’t know where she went. He didn’t have the right to know.

Gradually, he forgot about her.

When Viive called him brother again, his memory was stirred.

Jabril couldn’t believe it. That little girl was Viive, the current Emperor Baih!

No one would believe it.

It was almost like a miracle.

“Jabril, trust your instinct. I know you have many questions, but that’s alright. I’ll answer all of them for you.” Viive sounded excited.

“Emperor Baih, I’m only a pupil in the Baih family. I don’t deserve to be called your brother.”

Jabril didn’t acknowledge the title of “my brother.”

There was such a huge gap between their status that he didn’t feel entitled to be Emperor Baih’s brother.

“Jabril, you know some things can’t be changed overnight. I think you know what I’m talking about!”

She was talking about her relationship with Jabril as well as the relationship between the Baih family and Elixir School.

“Time will change everything. Emperor Baih, you know some decisions are not meant to be made.

“Are you going to war with Elixir School just to take your revenge?

“That’s so unsensible. Why should we go to war with Elixir School?

“Is it because of those two pupils? We shouldn’t take revenge on them!”

Jabril was ready to die, so he blurted out everything on his mind. Although he didn’t admit to being Viive’s childhood acquaintance, he still felt much closer to her.

He wasn’t afraid of her anymore.