After breakfast, I thanked the host and got up from the table, intending to explore this place that I would soon have to call my home. I walked through long, luxurious corridors that seemed endless and constantly changing. This place felt warm and alive to me.
It was significantly different from the places where I had spent most of my life. They were cold and damp, resembling dungeons. Here, there was bustling activity, and I could hear the servants preparing lunch in the kitchen as I made my way through the corridors to the central part of the house. From the windows in the distance, I could see the city. Its walls and the top of the town hall, the spires of temples to the gods, and perhaps an astronomical tower were visible. I could hear that the stars here were exceptionally bright. The last time I had seen them was when I was a child, and I had never seen such a unique night sky since then. As for the city, it appeared strange to me even from a distance, and I couldn't quite understand why.
The opulence of this mansion impressed me, but I understood that the Cortes family was among the five wealthiest in the empire, with treasuries no smaller than the Imperial Vault, allowing them to transform their family nest into, in my opinion, a true masterpiece of architectural art.
As I walked through the corridors, I came across strange old doors that did not match the rest of the house's interior at all. They seemed like relics from the past. However, these peculiar doors and the room behind them beckoned to me, and I walked towards them without thinking. Step by step, I approached the doors. They were frozen, with small ice crystals visible on the frame. I ran my hand down, and the cold burned my delicate fingers. I was scared, something felt very familiar, and I began to retreat. And suddenly, I was back in my room. It sounds a bit strange.
What's happening? I agreed to marry him. How did my life come to this? Just yesterday, I had cleared all the debts left to me by my father and was preparing to start a new happy life. I fell onto the bed face down. Why was I so unlucky? Maybe I should move further south or far north, where everyone would forget about my past?
Yet, I had known his unfairness towards me all my life, but who could I tell? A thief, a woman who spat on all laws and was almost a murderer? And on top of that, someone who saw both the past and the future, and the present. But for each of these gifts, there was a price. The curses of the innocent bore the pain of its creator, dark magic poisoned my body, and my seals cut into my essence, while foresight could save me from a terrible future. It had happened dozens of times before. The last time, I ended up here, just before my arrest, and I had to gather my belongings and flee as far as I could. But for some reason, I stayed.
Tears welled up in my eyes, and I cried. I felt sorry for myself, my life seemed so futile, and I felt so helpless and powerless. I pitied myself, feeling the seal burning me. Something had definitely happened to him. And the scene appeared before my eyes again. Here, not only I was suffering, but he hadn't said a word about it. He hadn't asked about my health. Yes, Constance, get yourself together. You didn't even unpack yesterday. Hands reached for the box and placed it on the writing desk. I quickly unpacked my things and was about to put my mother's box back on the vanity.
A loud crash snapped me out of this strange state. The jewelry was scattered all over the floor. Damn it! I thought I would shout throughout the house. My fingers sifted through the necklaces, earrings, and all the other items. Why didn't my father sell them, all that silver and gold, when he was in debt? I reached for the box and noticed that the carved inner element had fallen off, revealing a letter beneath.
At the bottom was a coat of arms with a lion holding a white and red rose in its mouth. This was definitely the emblem of the imperial family, from a time when they made peace a hundred years ago. I quickly read the text. It mentioned a princess named Constance. It's interesting; that's my name too. But my father, as far as I knew, was never married. So, where could I have come from?... I understand that I could have been illegitimate, but he had described his wedding to my mother so vividly, how they were happy, how I was born, and how my mother died afterward.
There's something off about this letter... I looked at it again. Someone corresponded with my father from the royal family? Well, it's none of my concern, but the mention of Princess Constance somehow intrigued me.
All I knew was that she had been kidnapped, and the search had been ongoing for several years. And there was still hope in her family of bringing her back alive. This could be an opportunity for me to earn money and start a new life... I would gain a title, money, and maybe even marry some baron, and everyone would be happy. I wouldn't even think about Adrian. Why would he need me? A princess – that's just perfect, while I'm a girl with a criminal record and a baggage of troubles.
However, I must admit he's quite the handsome fellow, a man you'd search for. Beautiful long blonde hair, sparkling blue eyes, strong and athletically built with what I would consider a perfect body. Like a character from a stylish romance novel. Plus, he's a rich aristocrat and a magician, which takes my breath away. And he's so hot. As we used to say in the academy, jump straight into bed with him. But with how jealous I am, we wouldn't get along.
I wonder if there's any information I need in the library, because I really need it right now. I don't understand anything here. And there should be a library somewhere here. They all have them. It's like a symbol of their wealth. They're above us. Although I better not make any assumptions. Maybe he'll turn out to be something different. And maybe even better than what I imagine. The corridors changed before my eyes, and eventually, I ended up where I wanted to be.
Gigantic bookshelves stretched up to the ceiling. There were hundreds of editions and books I hadn't even dreamed of holding in my hands. The Cortes family indeed had good taste in this. Even magic seemed to be in the air. The dark floor was made of pink marble and labradorite, and I raised my eyes to the towering ceiling, which resembled a starry sky with constellations visible in this part of the sky. It could be richer than I seemed to be, just a little speck against this background. Everything here is so fascinating!
-Yes, yes... Why are there so many criminal cases here? Philip Cortes... That's his father. He was a terrible person, a tyrant... Died from an unknown illness. I was at his funeral with my father. The skin of the deceased was as blue as ice and even transparent. Adrian was seventeen then. I can't get used to the fact that he's only eight years older than me, - as I spoke, I noticed a sound behind me and turned around.
-Miss Constance, you are the only one who, instead of indulging in frivolities, has come to the library and, moreover, is digging into the criminal records of the master's father from twenty years ago. Do you want to find something specific, or do you just enjoy reading them?- The old man bowed politely in front of me.
-I would gladly go through all the records. But for now, I want to find any mentions of Princess Constance. And maybe a dossier on me. Or on my father. I don't understand anything here, - I replied, shrugging.
-Oh, you're interested in the missing princess... Unfortunately, at the moment, most of the protocols are with the master. There's only one copy of one book from a set of ten. If you wish, I can fetch it for you. After all, you have been granted access to all materials and rooms, except the north wing, - he gestured toward a thick folder that was about fifteen feet high.
-Yes, please, get me that book. I'm still too weak, - I continued to play the role of a weak girl, clutching a small letter in my hand. Finally, the man retrieved the book and placed it on the table, gesturing for me to sit in a chair nearby.
-Thank you so much, - I said, opening the book.
-Please excuse my rudeness. Allow me to introduce myself. I am the private chamberlain and secretary of Mr. Adrian Kortes, Ionah Blackwell, - the man said, bowing.
- Pleased to meet you, - I replied as politely as I could, giving my voice a tone of soft submission. This was how I needed to communicate with people. I'm kind and calm. Simply perfect.