When Libitina settled for bed that night, her conversation with Sydney rang in her mind.
…
"Sylvester is waiting for you to write to him."
Libitina had frowned in confusion. "What do you mean?"
The mention of a game character's name was abrupt and unexpected, and for a moment, Libitina was vividly conscious that the world she was in had been a game world of her past life.
"Lina, were you not going to plan my birthday party?" Sydney looked at her sadly.
"Yes, of course!" The Royal Princes in Clomodor had official birthday parties, but Sydney was talking about a private party where he would invite only his close friends and comrades. Libitina had volunteered to help plan it this year as the usual planner, Second Princess Sorcha Jair, was busy with her marriage arrangements.
"Good! I thought you backed out for a moment," Sylvester folded his fingers as usual and pressed his lips to them. "This year, I want someone special to come to my private party."
"Who?" Libitina asked guilelessly.
"It is my little brother, Third Prince Sylvester Jair."
Sydney continued without noticing Libitina stiffening. "I am sure by now you have heard of the abandoned Third Prince of Clomodor. Born from a maid who had drugged my Royal Father under the orders of an Aristocratic Party officer, he was taken in by my Royal Father due to his royal bloodline. To prevent being a puppet and a threat, he enrolled himself into the Knight's Academy in Auglarus. He hasn't been back for five years…this year, I want to see him at my party."
"Are you very close to him?" Libitina asked.
"Once upon a time, before I knew who he was," Sydney smiled sadly. "Now I want to rekindle that bond. Maybe he will feel better if he knows someone remembers him here."
Holding her hands, Sydney had pleaded, "Can you help me write an invitation to him? However, it has to be kept secret from my Royal Mother, so you are the only one who can help send it to him."
"Even if he doesn't reply, or refuses to come?"
"Yes, please. At least I'll know that I've tried. I'll leave it up to you."
…
She sighed. Elizabeth noticed her melancholy.
"My Lady is there something bothering you?" she asked attentively. Libitina smiled at her.
"Don't worry, I just have some heavy thoughts. Remember to wake me up earlier tomorrow. I've got a meeting to prepare for."
"Yes, My Lady, I shall leave you to bed then."
Libitina watched Elizabeth retreat from the room thoughtfully.
Since she had entered the Merveille House, Alisa had assigned her two personal maids, Elizabeth and Sabrina, who are of the same age as her. Over the two years together, they had slowly gained her trust.
Perhaps the fact that her mother was the head maid in the Merveille mansion was a great reason for Elizabeth's unyielding attitude towards manners and protocols. Elizabeth was the one who kept order in Libitina's life. Meanwhile, Sabrina was more vivacious and wittier. Currently, the latter had been sent off to run an errand, and she should be back in a few days.
Once Elizabeth had excused herself from the room, Libitina removed her silver mask, cleaning her face with a wet cloth before plopped back into her soft bed, turning her mind back to the task Sydney had given her.
"Please help me write an invitation to him."
But why should she?
Ever since she had parted with her game characters in Enzak, she thought she would never meet them again. After all, in this world, the main characters and her would never stand on the same side of the story; she remained the Demon Spirit Persephone and they the heroes who will eradicate her. Contacting them out of her own volition would only lead to more confusion, conflicts and emotions that she could not afford. It was also too dangerous, as the Enzak incident had been seemingly erased from the records by someone in power.
Without power, it is best to be inconspicuous.
Libitina had already accepted that the current world is her reality, at least temporarily, while she searches for a way back. To treat these overpowered game characters as mere objects of affection would be too foolish and demeaning. Besides, she could never be a hundred percent sure that her game knowledge of them was enough to protect herself from their ill will. Every interaction with them was therefore a risk and variable that she did not want.
So, she quietly assumed a different identity, using the Merveille name to hide herself. The promise with Marianne had to be broken. Besides, they probably thought she was dead, and it was better that way.