234 Wixx, the Red Phoenix (1/2)
Although Tilly was amused by Wixx's ”grand entrance,” she still couldn't help but feel like he was just playing around.
The bar in choosing a Beast God is really in hell.
”My dear Soleil, why are you looking at me like that?” Wixx asked in a voice that almost sounded like a whimper. And then, he jumped off of Aku Moonchester's head to stand in front of her. ”Are you mad at me?”
”Yes,” Tilly said bluntly. ”You'll have a lot of thing to explain, Brother Wixx. But for now, I want you to stay put. I still have business with the Moonchesters.”
Her brother looked disappointed but thank god he stepped aside quietly.
She didn't miss it when Wixx glared at Kiho who just ignored him.
Ah, right. The Red Phoenix and the Black Serpent never got along in the past because of her. And it seems true even now.
Anyway…
The humiliation that she saw in Aku Moonchester's face was laughable. Nia Moonchester couldn't even turn to her own brother out of shame. She could tell that the emperor was only holding back because of their temporary ceasefire.
”Aku Moonchester, just so you know, I will bring all the gods by my side,” she informed him. ”Once your side is ready, just send us a message. We're ready to leave the Royal Capital anytime.”
”Leave,” Aku Moonchester said in a cold voice. Ah, as expected, he was really angry. ”We will send you a message soon.”
Tilly smiled ”brightly” at the emperor to annoy him even more. ”I'll be waiting for that,” she said. ”And if you want compensation for your, uh, damage in hair or scalp, don't hesitate to tell me, Aku Moonchester.”
***
”HONEY, please go ahead.”
Tilly was surprised when Kiho said that when she got in the carriage. No wonder her husband remained standing outside instead of following her inside. ”Where are you going, Kiho?”
”I just need to talk to Wong,” Kiho said seriously. ”I'll make it quick.”
Her brows furrowed in confusion.
She knew that Wong and Kelsi arrived with Wixx because she felt the two Keepers' presence outside the temple. But when they got out, she didn't see Wong. Not even Kelsi.
But come to think of it, even in the past, Kiho and Wong would always get into fights behind her back. She had no idea how the two could talk in secret. Were their minds linked to each other with the sole purpose of picking a fight?
”I have an idea what this is all about but please hold back, Kiho,” she said while shaking her head. ”We need all our allies in good condition.”
Wixx, who sat across from her after he invited himself inside the carriage, scoffed. ”I should be the one saying that to Wong, my dear Soleil,” he said smugly. ”Wong is the strongest Keeper that I ever created. I'm sure that he's on the level of the Beast Gods.”
Her brother's smug smile disappeared. It seemed like he was shocked to hear that. But in the end, it was obvious that he recognized that it was his fault why Wong tried to hurt Winter.
After all, Wong was created out of Wixx's hatred for the Black Serpent.
”You should also hold back from roasting your brother, Tilly,” Kiho teased her. She knew that her husband did that to lighten her mood. And yes, it was effective. When she turned to him again, he leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. ”I will be back, honey.”
She nodded and kissed him on the jaw. ”Take care, hon.”
Kiho nodded, then he walked backwards until he disappeared. The only thing that was left on the spot where he stood a while ago was some pieces of tiny ice daggers.
He must be using his full Mana to go where he agreed to meet Wong.
Wherever that is.
”I can feel your hostility towards me,” Wixx said in a hurt tone when the carriage left the temple. ”I know why you're angry at me, my dear Soleil.”
”Please call me by my current name,” she said in a distant voice. ”I'd like to think that I'm no longer the Soleil Rosenberg that you know.”
”If that's the case, then you can't claim Julian as your son.”
”Excuse me?”
”You didn't give birth to Julian in this lifetime,” he reminded her, using the same cold distant tone that he used on her a while ago. ”If you want to use the logic that you aren't Soleil, then don't claim things that belonged to her.”
”I didn't say that I'm denying Soleil Rosenberg's existence. I just don't want you to think that I'm the same foolish sister that you had in the past,” she snapped at her brother. ”And most importantly, my son isn't a thing so don't talk about him as if he's a possession.” She knew that she shouldn't easily jump to conclusions. But when she remembered what Julian told her about his past life, she couldn't help but feel angry. ”Brother Wixx, is true that you hunted down Julian's family in the past?”
To be honest, she wanted to talk about that once they were reunited with Julian. But she decided that she needed to listen to her brother's ”excuse” first to avoid hurting her son's feelings. Plus, she wanted to know Wixx's reason for hunting down Julian's family back then.