Zosia: Quick Transmigration System
Chapter 99 - 97- Arc 3

They arrived at the Empress Courtyard. The courtyard was strongly guarded with the guards standing in disciplined rows. They straightened even more as Zosia and Kamal approached, their eyes fixed forward, betraying no emotion.

"Who goes there?" one of the guards challenged, though his tone softened upon recognizing Kamal.

"It is I, Kamal," the young prince replied, standing a bit taller. "And my sister, Zosia."

The guards nodded, stepping aside to allow them entry.

The Empress's courtyard was a lush haven within the palace, filled with vibrant flowers and meticulously maintained hedges. A small fountain bubbled in the center, its soothing sound a stark contrast to what Zosia was currently feeling.

Kamal led her through the courtyard to the Empress's private chambers. The doors were grand and imposing, carved with intricate patterns of blooming flowers and swirling vines.

Kamal knocked lightly, and a voice called out from within.

"Enter." A cold voice came from inside.

They stepped inside to find the Empress seated on a luxurious divan, her elegant features composed as she surveyed them. She was a striking woman, her beauty un-diminished by time, though her eyes held a hardness that Zosia found unnerving.

"Mother," Kamal greeted her with a bow, his voice filled with childlike affection.

The Empress's gaze softened slightly as she looked at her son. "Kamal, my dear. And Zosia," she added, her tone neutral as her eyes landed on this daughter of hers.

Zosia noticed the flicker of disgust in her eyes. She couldn't help but wonder what exactly the original owner did to warrant such hatred from her mother.

Why did she hate her like that? Was she so unloving?

She noticed the expression full of love the Empress had in her eyes as she looked at Kamal. It made her feel uncomfortable.

Now, she understood why the original owner dislikes her brother and why Kamal always seeks for the Emperor's attention.

They each had a parent that loves them. Though she wasn't sure if either of them even loved their favorite unconditionally.

The Empress wants Kamal for the throne while the Emperor wants the same. At least the Emperor is better.

Zosia still found herself puzzled by the Empress's reason to cheat. Why did she cheat? And with a married man, at that. So what does that make them? A married woman who cheated on her own husband with a married man.

"Greetings Your Highness." She greeted, her posture in accordance with the norms.

Amelia's eyes flickered with a hint of astonishment. She expected Zosia to fail in her greeting so she could find fault and punish her.

Because she had been confined, she had been unable to properly deal with Zosia. She knew sending poisons is as good as useless, since she was very aware of the fact, that her body loves poison.

She couldn't send an assassin either, since Zosia is currently staying beside the Emperor. If she still wants her head to be on her neck, she knows what to try and what not to.

Her gaze scanned Zosia, her eyes stopping on her veil for a moment. Turning to her first hand maid who is also her aide, she whispered into her ear.

Zosia watched the Empress whisper into the ears of the maid and watched the maid leave. She actually heard what the Empress had asked her to do, but she lowered her head like she heard nothing, being the obedient girl she is.

If Karl or the Emperor heard her thoughts they would scoff. Obedient? It would be great if she doesn't force your hand when she needs something.

Kamal had gone to stay beside his mother, his eyes bright and filled with affection.

"Mom, I tried to come and see you but they refused to let me. If not for sister who has been taking care of me, I probably would have cried till I am sick." He continued laying out his complaints unaware about the emotions going through the Empress.

Her eyes darkened and her had clenched into a fist. Her nails dug into her palm, but she still had to put on a smile and nod occasionally.

Zosia observed the subtle but telling signs of the Empress's agitation. Her ability to maintain a composed facade while clearly seething inside was both impressive and unnerving.

Zosia decided to stay silent, knowing that any wrong move could trigger the Empress's ire.

"Thank you, Zosia, for taking care of Kamal," the Empress said, her voice smooth and controlled. "It is good to know that he has someone looking after him."

"It is my duty, Your Highness," Zosia replied, keeping her tone respectful and neutral.

The door opened again, and the Empress's maid returned, carrying a tray containing tea leaves and some herbs. Zosia's eyes flickered to the tray, her instincts alerting her that something was amiss.

The tray consisted of natural healthy herbs, she isn't generally good in medicine, so she turned to chip, she had learnt a little in poisons but she had heard of nothing about mixing the herbs will do anything to her or act as a trigger.

The moment she thought of the word "trigger", she suddenly remembered what the Chief Imperial Physician had said when he diagnosed her.

He had mentioned about her sustaining her body with poisons as any healthy thing could offset it.

Unfortunately that would be correct if the poison had not become an innate part of her turning her normal constitution to a poison constitution.

She has been taking the stream water that had great detoxifying effect, antioxidant effect, etc and yet, she still remained the same. If such couldn't offset her, would it be such herbs that even have some faults.

"Chip scan their properties." She said Inwardly. It was still better to be on the safe side, so she had chip scan them.

"You know it isn't right covering your face when talking to your parents." The Empress said while the maid did the tea.

"I don't dare disgust the Empress with my countenance, spoiling the Empress mood." Zosia responded.

Amelia frowned, Zosia's response was perfect and immaculate. She couldn't say that she was not being considerate.

"Sister, How could mother feel disgust. If mother feels disgust, how is she still your mother?" Kamal chipped.

He felt that his sister is too rigid and up-tight.

"Is this why father likes her?" He thought inwardly. He remembered that sister has always been formal around the Emperor and anybody, including her teacher. He had never seen her wheedling the Emperor or acting like she was so favored.

"Or are what people saying wrong?" Since he had never seen any of those, how could it be considered favouring. Feeling that his brain was too small to think further, he sighed, "The adults have a lot of strange thinking" He muttered to himself.

Zosia smiled at Kamal but inwardly shook her head. "He is still a child."

Amelia turned stiff at Kamal's words. Kamal would not be wrong if she actually loved Zosia but.... Nevermind, she decided to go with flow, as far as she could get what she wants done.

Inwardly, Zosia was going through the result of what she had checked. She found the tea leaves to be strange as the system had marked its name as unknown as well as it's properties.

Her eyes flickered. "Seems like my knowledge bank is still not enough." She thought inwardly.

"Chip scan through the knowledge bank." She ordered. Her attention was pulled by the Empress voice.

"Remove the Veil or didn't you hear as your brother said." The Empress cold voice entered her ears.

Kamal ears twitched. "Why is mother sounding angry?"

Zosia gently and smoothly removed viel, revealing the vine-like marks on her face that stretched from her neck to her forehead.

The Empress face flickered with disgust while Kamal shivered inwardly. Despite seeing his sister's face many times, it still scares him.

The maids present in the room all had varying degrees of expression. But they immediately lowered their head, unwilling to be caught.

Zosia took in everyone's expression but said nothing.

"Sit, you have been standing, unwilling to sit even after being dragged by Kamal." The Empress spoke.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

"Kamal, my dear," the Empress said, turning her attention to her son. "Why don't you go with Lila and pick out a treat from the kitchens? You deserve something special today."

Kamal's eyes lit up with excitement. "Really, Mother? Can Zosia come too?"

The Empress's smile didn't reach her eyes. "Not this time, Kamal. I need to speak with Zosia alone."

Kamal feeling disappointed but he obediently followed Lila out of the room, leaving Zosia alone with the Empress. The maids also took the cue and left. The door closed behind them, and the atmosphere in the room grew tense.

"Zosia," the Empress began, her tone now devoid of the warmth she had shown Kamal. "Why are you treating Kamal nicely, what do you expect to get from it?"

"What is she planning again?" Zosia looked at the Empress dropping the good girl look she had few minutes ago.

Since the room was currently devoid of maids, she didn't have to pretend much again, but she could finally say somethings.

"Since I can't receive love from you, for reasons I do not know. And since he also can't receive the Emperor's love, we have just each other." Zosia responded calmly.

The Empress scoffed in response, her lips curled up to form a dangerous smile, "You can keep dreaming. I will just warn you. Stay away from my son.

He will be the heir to the throne and shouldn't be tainted with your bad luck." She spat coldly.

Zosia maintained her composure, despite the searing disdain in the Empress's voice. She had expected this hostility, but hearing it directed so blatantly at her still stung.

"I understand your concerns, Your Highness," Zosia replied, her tone calm and measured.

The Empress leaned back, studying Zosia with cold, calculating eyes. "You are a clever girl, Zosia. But do not think for a moment that I am fooled by your innocent facade."

Zosia met her gaze steadily. "I have no desire to deceive you, Your Highness."

"But I do have a question for you. I wonder if the Empress is willing to grace me with an answer.

I have been pondering over this question."

Zosia eyes flickered with a hint of mischief, just like how the Empress looked at her with derision and hateful eyes, she decided to wipe that look from her face.

Since she would be leaving soon and knowing that the Empress wouldn't be in confinement for long, as the matter had been discussed every day in the morning court, causing the Emperor to get angry many times.

She wasn't sure Kamal would still be salvageable by the time she comes back, so it's better she gets the Empress to act on her own and let the Emperor find a reason to remove her.

"Speak."

Zosia asked her question with her voice tinged with a mix of incredulity and accusation, "How could you betray the Emperor and yet possess the audacity to propose Kamal as the heir?"

Zosia's blunt question touched a nerve.

Amelia has never expected such a question and for her affair to be revealed. She looked around, seeing that there was no one, she breathe a sigh of relief.

Turning to Zosia, her hatred and anger was in full view. "You should say what you are capable of taking responsibility for. "

"I am well aware of the gravity of my words, Your Highness," Zosia replied, unflinching. "However, the question remains. Why did you risk everything for an affair? And with a married man, no less?"

The Empress's face twisted with rage, but she quickly masked it with her usual cold composure.

"You insolent child," she hissed. "You know nothing of the complexities of this palace, nor the sacrifices I have made."

Zosia's eyes remained steady. "Enlighten me, then. What could possibly justify such actions?"

The Empress rose from her seat, her movements graceful yet menacing. She approached Zosia, her eyes narrowing.

"You dare to question me, after all I've endured for this family? You, who have been nothing but a blight upon my life?"

Zosia held her ground. "I dare because I seek the truth. Kamal deserves to know the truth, as do I. We are your children, after all."

"Children," the Empress spat, her voice dripping with venom. "You are a constant reminder of my failures. Kamal, at least, has potential. You, on the other hand, are nothing but a burden."

Zosia's heart ached at the harsh words, her pity for the original owner increasing.

"If I am such a burden, why not rid yourself of me entirely? Why keep me around?"

The Empress's eyes glinted with a dangerous light. "Believe me, if it were within my power, you would have been long gone. But your father, in his infinite wisdom, deems you useful. For now."

Zosia clenched her fists at her sides, her nails digging into her palms. "And what of Kamal? Is he just a pawn in your schemes for power?"

"Kamal is my son," the Empress snapped. "He is destined for greatness, unlike you. I will not allow you to taint him with your poison."

Zosia raised her eyebrows, "Tell me, what makes you hate me so much?"

The Empress turned away, her back rigid with tension. Instead of answering Zosia's question, she said, "You are a fool, Zosia. A naive, idealistic fool."

"Maybe so," Zosia replied softly. "But I am not the only one living in a world of delusions."

The Empress whipped around, her eyes blazing with fury. "You insolent bastard." She cursed swinging the tea cup she was holding onto Zosia.

The tea cup broke on Zosia's forehead. The sound resounding in the room leading to a pin drop silence. Luckily, there was no tea in it.

Since she had been cultivating more of her soul and less of her body, the expensive tea cup was still able to cause her to bleed out but not a lot.

Touching her forehead that was oozing with blood, she wiped it.

Seeing the blood, Amelia's eyes flickered. "Get out!" She roared in anger.

Zosia's gaze turned cold as she stared at Amelia but she turned and left, neither saying anything.

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Thank you all for your constant support. I decided to try the italics today, may not be constant though.

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