Chapter 20: Dispute Between Two Families part 2
Lucius had called it a ‘pass,’ meant to signify status, allowing entry into appropriate places. But…
‘A pass… hmm. But do I really want to use it right away, without knowing exactly where I’m going?’
“I smell books from over there. I need to find something.”
Fay’s face brightened. No one in the world would question a wizard’s desire to read more books.
“Is that all? I don’t smell any paper, though.”
“That’s just because your nose is dull.”
Lucius said this lightly but was clearly excited. He hoped to learn what had happened during his long slumber by delving into the imperial library. Besides Morgana’s story, he was driven by a dragon’s boundless thirst for knowledge, eager to absorb every historical treasure, whether fact or fiction.
As he had suspected, the domed building was indeed the imperial library. After signing in, Fay followed Lucius, who was already thumbing through several books.
“Are you planning to finish by today?”
“…”
“Lucius.”
“What? It’s still morning, we’ve got time.”
“I asked the librarian, and they said everyone has to leave by 5 p.m. Will you be ready by then?”
“Yeah, sure.”
Fay laughed at the sight of Lucius burying his silvery hair into the books. Although he usually flaunted his superiority, she found it amusing to see him completely absorbed in reading.
Maybe it’s a sense of kinship? Seeing him so engrossed in books suits him, and I can’t help but keep an eye on him. Even apart from our friendship.
“Alright, I’ll put in an order for your lunch, so make sure you don’t skip it, okay?”
“Just mind your own business and stop worrying about me.”
“You’re not just ‘anyone,’ Lucius. I’ll see you later.”
Fey left the royal library without any lingering attachment, despite being a mage.
Even as her footsteps grew distant, she remained in someone’s view. Lucius, engrossed in a history book about the turbulent period after the fall of the Sharff Empire, glanced over the bookshelf.
‘She’ll be fine on her own, right? She’ll manage… Otherwise, I’d be disappointed.’
His black eyes soon returned to the pages in front of him. There was too much he needed to read by the end of the day. Sure, he could always return to the Tower and send a thought-form to continue reading, but since he was already here, he wanted to get through at least ten books.
It wouldn’t do for an esteemed mage from the Tower, left alone in the Imperial Palace, to immediately run into trouble, would it?
Despite his harsh thoughts, a subtle stream of magic slipped from him, gently wrapping around Fay’s small heart, protecting her.
— — —
Fay, having left Lucius behind in the library, wandered for a moment.
‘Where should I go… Where can I spend some quiet time?’
Perhaps it was because she had just accepted the Crown Prince’s request, but something felt hollow inside her. Lucius had grumbled, warning her not to trust those in power so easily, but the die had been cast.
Fay had some suspicions herself.
The Crown Prince hadn’t told her what exactly she was supposed to do after causing his ‘little accident.’
At the Harvest Festival, he would likely stir up conflict between the two families, creating the perfect pretext to carry out his grand plans. She would complete her task, and time would reveal what consequences would follow.
‘It’s odd, though. Someone like the Crown Prince could easily have found another mage besides me for this. Why hadn’t he done something like this before? The Harvest Festival two years ago passed without incident… Maybe he tried a different approach with House Orleans back then?’
There was no way she could just walk up to the Crown Prince and ask him what he had been thinking at the time.
Walking aimlessly, Fay suddenly realized where she had arrived, letting out a hollow chuckle.
What fault did her feet have? It was her thoughtless wandering that had led her here.
“Haha…”
Beyond the terrace of Arcadnia Hall, which she had worn out with her frequent visits, lay a familiar sight.
A lush garden, its fragrant blooms on full display for the visiting guests of the imperial palace. And tucked within it, a quaint little green hall, shaded by a great tree, built just large enough to accommodate one person or a small gathering of their closest followers.
Despite being called a hall, it was really more of a sanctuary for the elite. Morgana had never once set foot inside that verdant hall.
[“The Green Hall is a place where high-ranking noblewomen and young ladies rest, away from the bustle of the ballroom.”]
That’s all the Duchess of Klein had said before walking off.
Many times, she had abandoned the inexperienced Morgana to the hyena-like noblewomen in Arcadnia Hall while she herself retreated to the Green Hall to rest. Even on Morgana’s first day at the imperial palace.
Left alone, she had struggled to endure the flood of questions and disdain as the ‘Lady’s Eina.’
Back then… How bleak and terrifying it had been.
Fay’s eyes clouded with sorrow.
She did it on purpose, didn’t she? To test the limits of my abilities, to ensure that her precious daughter would always have someone by her side who could withstand anything.
You didn’t even know whose daughter I was, yet you treated me so cruelly… If I had known how my life would turn out, would I still have stayed?
As the cold grip of anger quietly curled around her arms, Fay tried to calm herself.
‘It’s alright. It’s all over now. Stay composed. This hall didn’t do anything wrong. I…’
……
(T/N: ‘This hall didn’t do anything wrong’ I don’t know why it sounded funny to me hahaha)
