319 Confronting The Truth [2]
After exchanging initial greetings and a few more words, Minerva insisted that we both take a seat and kindly offered us some tea.
Placing a platter full of sweets before us, Minerva began a lively gossip session with Amelia and me.
She inquired about the current curriculum at Global Academy and the level of talent among the cadets these days.
I had a feeling that she was mostly interested in any confidential information we could provide her about these talented cadets.
Truly, she lived up to her sobriquet of the Queen of Secrets.
Personally, I had no appetite for snacks or gossip. I was impatiently waiting for her to start talking about my case.
However, I did not want to seem rude so I let her continue the gossip session and did not interrupt.
After all, aside from knowing about Lucas' past, my goal here was to secure Minerva's alliance for the future.
I kind of felt guilty for wanting to take away a pawn like Minerva from Nero, but hey, in my defense, they don't even know each other yet!
Besides, I could use someone like Minerva's talent far better than a victory junkie like Nero.
Thankfully, it didn't take long for Minerva to bring up the topic I had been eagerly waiting for all this time.
"So, Lucas," Minerva inquired, "I've been told that your memories were tampered with, that someone manipulated you."
I nodded, voicing my thoughts, "It's still a suspicion. That's why I need you to tell me if that was truly the case. Did someone really manipulate me?"
"What if I said no?" Minerva reclined on the sofa, bringing her hand up to her chin to support it. "What if I told you that only you are accountable for your own actions?"
"I'd believe you," I instantly replied. "But I'd still ask you for an explanation about my fragmented memories."
Minerva stared at me, her expression blank for a moment, before she erupted into laughter.
Eventually, she calmed herself and offered a courteous smile, brushing a finger along the edge of her eye.
"Why would you believe me so easily?" She questioned. "I could be lying to you."
"You have no reason to lie," I countered with a shake of my head. "Besides, if you really know about me, then you would know it's best not to make an enemy of me."
Minerva leaned back once again, a smirk blossoming on her alluring face. "Is that a threat?"
I also wore a polite smile and shook my head again. "That depends. Are you going to answer my questions truthfully?"
The graceful smirk on the redhead's face only widened as she responded:
"Well, of course. I said I would help you, so I will. But can you answer a question of mine first?"
A frown of confusion crept onto my face.
"What is it?" I inquired.
The next words that left Minerva's lips left me stunned for a few seconds...
"Tell me, why did you do what you did in Silveserine? I'm sure you had a reason for slaughtering so many young souls instead of alerting the Military Police. Also, how did you even know about it?"
As soon as she posed her questions, I felt my heart thumping wildly.
A wrenching, morbid feeling of disgust and shock settled in my gut.
I tried my best not to let it show on my face, but I could tell I had started sweating profusely. My mind was not much less of a wreck.
How did she know about it? I made sure not to leave any trace of it!
Did she really dig up so much information about me in just two nights? Wait, is that a threat?
Damn it, should I just kill her?
If she lets the word out about how I killed a human, I could very well be sentenced to imprisonment.
No, no, no, no!! I can't let that happen!
Just as I was drowning in the midst of such a maelstrom of thoughts, Minerva's voice reached my ears again.
"Lucas, I asked you something."
Shaking out of my daze, I noticed that Amelia was looking at me, a mingled look of concern and confusion visible in her deep emerald eyes.
Gritting my teeth, I composed myself and turned to Minerva with a fierce glare.
"You are prying where you shouldn't," I retorted sharply. "Answer my questions and take your payment. That's all I need from you."
Minerva's eyebrows shot up at the sudden change in my tone. She regarded me with a reassuring gaze and said, "Listen, dear, you have no reason to worry. Whatever you say in this room will not leave these walls–"
Before she could finish her sentence, I interrupted her.
"No thanks," I scoffed sharply. "I'm not going to trust you. The last person who made that mistake is being tortured right now, am I right?"
This time, it was Minerva's turn to widen her eyes. Her face paled, slowly drained of all color. A ragged breath escaped her lips along with some trembling words:
"Max… H-How? How do you know about him?"
I locked my gaze with her, staring deep into her quivering eyes, and stated, "I do not wish to answer your question. I just want to know about my past. Tell me what you know about me, and I'll be on my way."
Minerva hesitated for a few seconds. She clearly wanted to ask me how I knew about Max. But in the end, she reluctantly decided to let go of the topic after seeing the fierce hostility in my eyes.
Closing her eyes, she massaged her temples, her previous playfulness nowhere present on her face.
I knew I shouldn't have disclosed what I knew about her, but I needed to let her know that she wasn't the only one who knew about others.
As for her alliance, I can not trust her anymore, so I can't work with her. It won't work out. I'll always fear that she'll betray me.
As I came to that conclusion, Minerva finally looked at me, a mixture of regret and resignation in her eyes that quickly changed to callous disinterest.
In an even tone, she finally gave me the answer I had been searching for long.
"It was your mother. She used an Arcane spell and a magic potion to block most of your memories."
My brow furrowed into a deep frown as I briskly shook my head. "No, that's not possible…"
She dug her hands into the pockets of her jeans and took out a bunch of long paper receipts, throwing them at me.
I caught the slips of paper and started inspecting them, the frown on my face turning into a scowl.
"Around six to seven years ago, she started brewing a potion. She imported rare and expensive ingredients from all over the globe. Those are the receipts of her transactions."
A short, shuddering breath escaped my lips as I clutched the receipts tightly in my trembling hand.
I gritted my teeth, barely stopping myself from tearing the fragile paper in my hands to shreds.
Mother? Why… Why would she do something like that? What did I ever do to her?
Heaving a guttural breath, I rose from my seat, my fists clenched tightly around the paper receipts, crumpling them.
I guess I'll just have to confront her.
