Tori Transmigrated Chapter 78: I Don't Want to Lose You

Sebastian tilted his head to the side and gave her a quizzical expression. What are you talking about?

She settled against the chair, but didnt take her eyes off of him. Before we left, you didnt protest when I embraced my friends.

I dont have a problem with you telling your friends good-bye and that youll miss them.

You have no problem with Ewan sleeping just outside my door when were in Axtons inns, she said, raising a brow.

Sebastian shrugged. He was in the main room with the twins.

I slept right next to him on the way here, Tori stressed. You put a blanket over the both of us.

I only had one blanket.

Sebby. Tori sat up straight and frowned. Im serious. Why are you so averse to Piers?

The fire light danced across Sebastians face and he seed to be thinking. Twice, he glanced towards the door, as if contemplating simply fleeing to avoid this conversation.

Is this sothing we need to discuss? he asked, his voice even. I am your older brother. Can an older brother not be protective of his fifteen-year-old sister?

Protective against a specific person? Tori frowned. Whenever Piers is involved, you beco hyper-vigilant against him. Hes never shown any hostility towards nor has he made any unwelco movents. Piers is unable to even hug . He has always shown the utmost respect. She shook her head at her brother. I dont understand why you wont let be alone with him when you have no problem with my other friends.

Piers is different. Her brothers voice dropped and his eyes narrowed. He is unlike your other friends. Piers situation is unique. Hes very attached to you.

Tori closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Ive told you before-

I know, Tori, I know, Sebastian said, closing his eyes and looking exhausted. Youre not in love with Piers, but its very clear you care about him and I cant help but worry that one day, youll end up marrying him.

She stared at her brother and opened her mouth. I...I am not planning on marrying anyone.

Maybe not right now, but the situation may change in the future, Sebastian told her in a firm voice. We dont want you to marry into such a perilous position.

Tori narrowed her eyes. What do you an?

Her brothers green eyes crinkled up and he didnt seem to know what to say. He looked around the room and inhaled deeply.

Do you have silence charms? he asked, suddenly. Tori drew her head back, but nodded. Good. Put one on each wall, door, and window. He rose from his seat and reached into his pocket. He took out a raw, light blue stone and walked off the oval rug in front of the hearth, where their chairs were.

Tori stood up and stepped back, watching her brother put the stone on the tile ground and press down, dragging it to make a circle around them. She couldnt make out the faint line with her eyes, but there was a sort of energy there, surrounding where they were seated.

Sebby....

As a precaution, put up the silence charms, Her brother said as he stood up straight once he completed the circle. What Im going to say cant leave this room.

Tori looked down and blinked. She gave him a small nod and went to her bag. She used silence charms to keep noise in and noise out of her rooms at inns. She took her small stack and placed one on each wall, door, and window in the main chamber. When she was done, she returned to her chair.

Sebastians eye swept over her room, lingering on each charm before he took a deep breath and returned to his seat. He leaned forward and placed the blue stone on the floor at his feet. It was glowing a faint light and there was a steady stream of energy coming from it.

Her brother closed his eyes and leaned forward, placing his arms on his knees.

How many tis do you think the Empress and Emperors lives were targeted? His voice was hoarse and Tori drew her head back.

She narrowed her eyes. Their lives were targeted? You an assassination attempts?

Sebastian lifted his head and stared ahead of him, into the fire. Its not sothing that is widely known. Whenever there is an attempt, it is kept quiet. Very quiet. As marches, we are made aware of any attempts as it gives us a warning on who to be careful of. We are the empires security, so this is sothing only Papa, I, and a few close mbers of the family know. Even Mama doesnt know.

Tori frowned. Mama is a Marquess-

Imperial order from the Empress. Sebastian gave her a sad smile. She didnt want Mama to worry about her.

Tori crinkled her eyes and her hands clawed into the sides of her chair. She took a deep breath, but her voice was still unsteady. Who would target them?

There are extremist factions within Soleil; groups that dont agree with where the policies approved by the imperial family are going. There are outside forces trying to cause conflict and chaos to weaken the empire internally. There are those who simply want revenge because the imperial family did sothing that ruined their lives. That is the reason the imperial family is always surrounded by knights, poison testers, and rarely leave Horizon.

Sebastian took a deep breath before he continued. The safety and stability of the empire are an illusion, Tori. We are not an indomitable entity and the marches and the imperial family are well aware of that. It is our job to protect our people as best as we can so that they may live without fear.

Tori looked down at the table between them. In this world, everything seed so peaceful aside from defending the eastern border. Soleil seed politically stable with many allied-nations. It was wealthy, there appeared to be minimal internal conflict. Certainly, there was a danger for the imperial family for simply being figureheads, but Sebastians words made the danger much larger than she anticipated.

Have Piers and his brother been targeted?

Sebastian turned his head towards her. Why do you think Axton and that von Dorn kid have a position? They have agreed to beco expendable lives for Piers and Gideon, should the case co to it. Axton is both lucky that Piers can defend himself in a fight, but unlucky in that not only is Piers the first born, but he has difficulty dealing with people, which can lead to panic attacks that make him vulnerable.

Tori swallowed hard. But has there been any attempt?

Her brother held her gaze for a mont before turning back to the fire. We thought Gideon would be the primary target for a while, as Piers seed out of the picture; however, Piers food has been tampered with a few tis at gatherings in the past. If you see him eat and hes just moving things around his plate, its because he knows its been tampered with.

Tori frowned. Why doesnt he say anything if he knows?

To protect the imperial familys appearance of strength, Sebastian told her. If he brought it up, it would cause a wave of fear. Fear leads to uncertainty. Uncertainty leads to panic.

But what if hes poisoned? Her stomach twisted. What if there are no poison testers, such as at als outside the palace?

Piers and his brother carry around charms to test for poison, Sebastian said. And the cooks and kitchen staff at Lyce are carefully monitored.

Now that she thought about it, Piers always ate food from Cafe Fortuna; food his nanny cooked and was delivered to him by his knight. People he could trust. When they were at the Three Queens, she didnt doubt that Axton made sure whoever was preparing and delivering Piers food was trustworthy.

He had food testers at the delta and the only other food shed seen him eat in large quantities without hesitation was hers. Shed put food directly on his plate. She drew her lips inward. He never questioned her.

Have they been attacked before? Her voice was tight.

Sebastian, unfortunately, nodded. Gideon was well protected with plain clothes knights who were able to step in before he knew what was going on. I doubt von Dorn knows that Gideon was targeted and almost attacked twice. Piers has also been attacked, but he was able to focus and defend himself. At the ti, Axton was away on training.

What about the Emperor and Empress? She hadn't answered him when he asked. She hadnt dwelled on their possible assassinations.

Sebastian continued to look at the fire. At least a dozen tis each since they were crowned. The Emperor was poisoned several tis in his youth and twice more when they were married and had yet to ascend the throne. One particular instance had him bedridden for a month. Empress Monica has had her food tampered with, her carriage broken into with her inside, has had her entourage attacked when she was outside the city, and been physically assaulted. She was stabbed in the leg, and once, she dislocated her shoulder. He looked at Tori. Do you know why?

She shook her head. No.

Sebastians eyes reddened as he stared at her. The Empress stepped in during an assassination attempt on the Emperor. I dont know if it was because he is her husband or because she was raised in a marquis family and it was her instinct, or if it was both, but when I see you with your friends, I know that you would do the sa for them in a heartbeat. I would do the sa for Idunn. Kasen.... Sebastians damp eyes narrowed for a mont. I dont know if Kasen has any friends hes that close to, but if he does, he would do the sa. It is an instinct that, for lack of a better word, has been bred into us.

Toris throat was dry. Thats not necessarily a bad thing....

Her brother gave her a bittersweet smile and shook his head. Its not, he said. But its a dangerous thing. Your other friends: Ewan, Miss Agafonova, and the others...they wont face the sa dangers as Piers. Even the Zisos boy, who was followed around by plain clothes Belcoy guards the entire ti we were in Karap, doesnt face as much of a threat as Piers. Sebastian ran a hand down his face and t Toris eyes. Tori, Piers is a good kid. I know that. Hes different, but hes an honest and diligent person. And I know he would treat you well. Im not doubting he would. If you asked him for the moon, he would bring it back with stars and lay them at your feet, only asking you to spare him a glance. What terrifies is that being connected to him may cost you your life.

40-years-old and that never crossed her mind. At most, she thought it would be annoying to have people misconstrue her intention and treat her as soone she wasnt. She wasnt interested in any of the honor and massive amounts of responsibility that Piers partner would be forced to have, and wanted to avoid it.

But when her brother explained his concern, it brought to light a terrifying risk she never considered and her body grew cold.

Sebastian seed to watch her sink into her thoughts. I heard that in Horizon, people are talking and saying that you are being looked at as a prospective partner for him. Im sure you already know how troubleso just a rumor is. People will begin to treat you differently. How much worse would it be if things beca official? How many people do you think would want you out of that position so badly, that they would risk everything to remove you from it?

What? Tori lifted her head.

Master - the General, told that there were many rivals for the Emperors spouse when they were younger. The Empress faced constant verbal attacks, rumors, hostile peers, and got into several physical altercations all because the Emperor was pursuing her.

Were there attempts on her life?

Sebastian seed to glance around the room, as if making sure no one was listening. He quietly nodded his head. Sotis, the General doesnt understand why she married the Emperor when it put her in so much danger. Sebastian looked down at his hands as he clasped them in front of him. He took a deep breath and looked at her. How can I sit back and let you be targeted? I care about Piers, too. He is my pupil...but you are my sister....

His voice began to shake and Toris eyes reddened. Sebby....

I dont want you to die.... His broken voice reached her ears and Toris eyes rimd with tears. She watched his arms fall at his sides as he shut his eyes and looked away. I dont want to lose you.

She rose from her seat and rushed in front of him, putting her arms around him and pulling him close so she could hold him. Sebby, we can try to avoid death, but if it wants us, it will co. That was sothing that lingered in the back of her mind constantly.

His trembling arms wrapped around her so tightly, she almost couldnt breathe. Dont say that....

She closed her eyes and tried to stroke his back. If this was his intensity at the thought of her death, then she could see why hed try to resurrect her. If I die, dont bla others. Just let rest.

Sebastians head shook against her. I wont let you. He buried his head against hers. Please...not then, not now.

Tori blinked through her tears and tried to look at her brother. Then? You an the accident?

She felt him tense against her before slowly pulling away. Yes. He lowered his eyes and put his hands back on his knees. He gripped them tight. I saw my baby sister almost lose her life. I dont want to see it again. He choked out his words.

Her heart ached. There was no way she could promise him everything would be fine. She knew her position in the ga. She knew what her possible ending was.

I will try, she said in a breathy voice. But I cant make any promises....

Sebastian looked pained. His hands rose and gripped her shoulders. But Piers-

Im not going to abandon him, Tori told him.

Her words seed to inflict even more pain on her brother. Dont marry him.

Tori closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Sebby, Im only fifteen. There is still so much I want to do and so many places I want to see. Marrying him would trap in Horizon. The chances of marrying him are low to none.

This seed to calm her brother. Sebastian nodded. Good, good...

But I still wont abandon him, Tori said. She did not and never had abandoned anyone who was good to her. I wont abandon any of them. And if its dangerous, then I will just need to make my chances of survival better.