The Rainlands: Grand Delusion

Chapter 51: Soju

"IF SHE'D WHAT?" Levi couldn't control himself this time and Jasmine had to clap her hand over his mouth with a glare and a nod at the door. "Sorry...but come on Jasmine. This is Eleana we're talking about. She'd never hurt a friend of mine. Never..." He trailed off as he realized she'd just had a man executed and imprisoned Jasmine. Her words refused to stop repeating in his head. It's for your own good Levi. Jasmine laughed seeing the realization on his face.

"Yea...I'm not so sure about that. Think about it. It's what I'd do. If I was in her position." She took on a softer tone after his fists tightened on the sheets. "But you're her brother. If you don't believe me, why don't you ask her yourself?"

"I will!" Levi said angrily. This is ridiculous! Whoever wrote this note is clearly playing a joke on us. Some scheme to get me to fall out with my sister. But even still...if they're right...

At that moment a knock came at the door. Eleana poked her head in.

"Oh! Sorry, am I interrupting? Levi do you mind if I take a moment of your time?" She looked from Levi to Jasmine on the bed. "Alone?"

"Sure thing." Levi tightened his hands around the note, hiding it in his palm. He nodded to Jasmine apologetically. "We'll talk later okay?"

"If you say so." Jasmine went back to her deadpan, uncaring voice and Levi hoped it was just an act. He left the room and met Eleana outside. She snapped her fingers and Levi's two guards accompanied them as they walked. Levi was puzzled as she went a different direction than the way to his room.

"We're going to my study, if you're wondering." Eleana's shoes clicked on the floor. "I'm afraid things are getting a bit...strange, and I have to ask you a question. It's a bit sensitive so wait until we get inside."

"Okay. But I have to ask you something too." Levi said. He wondered if what he was doing was wise, but there was only one way to get a concrete answer. Jasmine, you told me to ask her, so I will. When they were inside, Eleana dismissed the guards.

"Ryu, Will? Why don't you take a break? I'd like to speak with Levi alone. You can wait for him by his room, he won't be long."

"Milady!" The guards immediately turned and left. Ushering Levi into her study, Eleana offered Levi one of several wooden chairs arrayed in front of her desk. There was a small bookshelf on one side, and a liquor cabinet on the other, full of fancy bottles. Before going to her desk, she went to the cabinet and grabbed a decanter of some clear fluid, as well as two glasses.

"I didn't know you were a big drinker." Levi remarked as she filled a glass. She flicked him a look from under her bangs.

"And I didn't know you were a prude. Come on lil bro, you have my genes, don't tell me Elder Shisshion or Dan never taught you to drink?" She handed the glass to him and poured a second for herself. Levi heard her hum softly as she walked behind the desk and sat on the other side in a padded chair. She began to tap her fingers against her glass.

"Sorry about the chairs. I have the most comfortable one, I find it helps to keep people sharp if they can't sit comfortably." She apologized. Levi found himself struggling to sit up straight.

"But then won't they be sharper than you?" Levi asked, staring into the cup of clear liquid.

"I hadn't thought of it that way. It's Soju by the way. Don't worry, it's not strong." She grinned, taking a sip. "Who would have thought, after all these years, I'd be getting to drink with my lil bro up here. Go on, it's not poisonous. Well...not unless you drink a bucket of it."

Levi washed away his doubts with a sip. The flavor was strange, fruity, followed by a burning sting. He made a face, putting down the glass as the heat raced along his throat.

"You sure it's not poisonous?" He said wryly, wishing for water to try to put out the fire. "What is that taste?"

"Lychee, I have it flavored. You have no idea how hard it is to get good Lychee up here. Want some more? It's expensive!" She raised her glass expectantly and Levi touched his to hers, taking a slightly bigger sip. He found it tasted better the second time around, though the burn still made him cough. Eleana laughed, but then turned around to glance out the window. Levi felt the alcohol going to his brain, or am I imaging it?

"So, you wanted to ask me something?" He asked. The words were more difficult to get out than usual, he had to work to form the vowels and consonants right. His sister sighed.

"Okay lil bro, I'm sorry, but I'm afraid today's more than playing catch up. This is important. I really need to know. How sure are you that Jasmine is...well who she says she is? Have you ever seen under that mask of hers? Well I suppose you wouldn't know what Yujeon looks like anyways." Eleana tapped the side of her cheekbones, her eyes intently watching Levi. He scratched his head. What's she playing at? I thought she was going to talk about taking over the world or something.

"I..." Levi was about to answer but then he realized he really never had seen under her mask. When they were traveling, she never took it off, not even to eat or drink, and it had seemed too inappropriate to sneak a peek while she was sick. "I've never seen under it, no. But she's always said she was Yujeon and Anton...her retainer, definitely seemed like a servant of a noble house." He stopped, not wanting to volunteer more information than he needed to. "Why do you ask?"

"Are you sure that's it? I need more than that, Levi. Think, think! Has she ever given you a reason not to trust her?" Eleana frowned, her eyes fixed on Levi's.

"No. Whenever she talks about the palace." Levi paused, remembering that Jasmine really hated talking about her time in the palace. "Whenever she talks about what her tutors taught her, she's always been truthful with me. Why're you asking me all this?"

Eleana sat back in her chair, taking another sip from her glass. She looked out the window, into the night and the moon, before drawing the curtains shut.

"Well, well, well when did my lil bro become such a detective. Well, I suppose that's good. You need to know things if you're going to survive out here." Her face became harsh, her jaw clenching. "Just be careful, not everyone is on your side. Asking the wrong question to the wrong person could get you killed, Levi."

"You didn't answer the question." He replied softly, trying to keep his face even. Eleana's face flickered. Then she grinned.

"Hahaha, I like the new you bro. Okay, I'll tell you. The reason I'm asking you these questions is because I need to know who to trust. Say there's two people. One of them is you, Levi. You're my brother. I trust you've answered me truthfully. Which means that I can no longer trust the other person. That's why I'm asking you all these questions. I'm trying to figure out why someone would lie to me." Eleana's answer was vague, and Levi's brain too fuzzy to truly understand what she was saying. He wanted to ask more but from the way she pursed her lips, he knew she wouldn't explain any more than she already had.

"Okay...then I have another question. What happened to Hyeorang?" Levi took a gamble, deciding to try a different approach. Eleana's finger froze, just for a split second, before resuming tapping. Interesting.