The next morning, Selene was finally permitted to enter and exit the barrier on her bed as she liked. She decided not to waste her first day of freedom and went straight to the library, where she began gathering as much information as possible about the current state of magic in the world.
She read through piles of books for hours, but irritation grew with each page. And, as it turned out, her suspicion was correct: the world's knowledge of magic was severely lacking.
But one book annoyed her in particular: it kept saying that light magic and holy magic were the same thing. The theories of magic in the other books were incomplete or just plain wrong, and the descriptions of demons and their classifications were full of mistakes.
If this is the knowledge they're using to fight the demon army, no wonder they struggled to defeat them. She silently cursed the authors of these books and wondered where they had gotten their information.
After what seemed like an eternity, Selene finally closed the last book, stretching her stiffened muscles. She had spent nearly the whole day at the library, and by the time she was through, it was afternoon already.
She mentally noted that she had to speak to Magnus about this and left the library in his search. This wasn't just about her survival anymore. Everyone's lives were at stake.
As she walked down the corridor, she passed by a closed door and stopped when she heard a man shouting from inside.
"You must be under a spell or a curse by that girl!" the voice bellowed.
Selene froze, her curiosity piqued. Glancing at the door, she realized it was the conference room where Magnus often held meetings with dignitaries, ministers, or other nobles.
Another meeting? she thought. I'll wait until he's done.
But the yelling continued, and Selene wondered what the commotion was about. After ensuring the corridor was empty, she gently and quietly pushed the door open just enough to peek inside.
The room was large, dominated by a grand table surrounded by men in fine clothing. Magnus sat at the head, his expression stern, while Alaric stood beside him with a composed demeanor.
One man, red-faced and yelling, stood in the middle of the room. "You must go to the temple, Your Grace! This is madness!"
Magnus visibly irritated, rubbed his temples. "Lord Elric," he said sharply, "I am not under a spell. Calm yourself."
But Lord Elric, undeterred, continued his tirade. "If you are not under a spell, then why are you protecting that girl? And do not tell me she is your daughter! Of course, no man in his right mind would raise a cursed child!"
Selene's eyes widened and her chest tightened as she continued to listen.
"If you're only keeping her because she's engaged to Crown Prince Aldric," Elric sneered, "don't bother. It's only a matter of time before the crown prince or the king annuls the engagement, and then she'll be useless to you. Just throw her out now!"
The words hit Selene like a dagger to the heart. Her breath hitched as doubt and fear crept into her mind.
Was that the reason Magnus was keeping her? Her mind was a maze. Had everything he had done so far, the tender loving care, all been an act?
She remembered those moments they shared, the warmth whenever he was close by, and that strange feeling of belonging she grew to hold dear. Was it all a lie?
Her mind turned over, reaching for answers: the store interface, her otherworldly origins, and perhaps those are the reasons behind his favor toward her.
The feeling of desolation suddenly welled up in her, and with a sudden clarity, a screaming shout came out of the room.
Selene snapped back to reality, her heart pounding like a drum. She stumbled back from the door, trying to steady her breathing as she wondered what had just happened. That scream had been loud and sharp, cutting through the air like a blade.
Curiosity won over caution. Selene peeked through the crack in the door again. Her eyes landed on Lord Elric sprawled on the floor, clutching his face as though nursing a grievous wound. Next to him, lying innocently on the ground, was the very same encyclopedia Selene had given Magnus the other day.
The scene immediately pieced itself together in her mind. Magnus must have pulled the encyclopedia from his storage space and hurled it at Elric's face after the man's insulting remarks. Selene's mouth twitched, torn between disbelief and amusement.
The men seated around the table were reacting in various ways, some shaking their heads, others rubbing their foreheads, or pinching the bridges of their noses in exasperation.
Magnus stood from his chair, his aura commanding and stern. His voice, clear and authoritative, echoed through the room.
"She is not a cursed child," he declared, his tone brooking no argument. "Her name is Selene Adelina Ravencroft, my daughter. My flesh and blood. Even if she has been granted a dark class, it changes nothing. She is my daughter. And as such, as the daughter of the Duke of Ravencroft, you will treat her with the respect she deserves."
Magnus's gaze swept over the room, pinning each man with his steely eyes. "I am utterly disgusted by the audacity of those who sit here and dare to question my judgment or insult my family. You forget yourselves. It is not your place to decide the worth of my daughter, nor is it your right to demean her with your baseless accusations. If any of you wish to remain in this room, I suggest you remember your station and hold your tongues."
Selene, listening from her hiding spot, felt warmth spread through her chest. Her earlier doubts began to dissipate. She mentally scolded herself for overthinking. Magnus really does care for me, she thought, her lips curving into a soft smile.
Just as Magnus was about to continue, he paused and glanced toward the door. His eyes locked onto hers.
Selene stiffened, realizing she'd been caught. She plastered on an awkward smile, slowly stepping back as if to retreat.
"Selene," Magnus called firmly, his voice cutting through her thoughts. "Come in."
Her grimace deepened. She hesitated for a moment before pushing the door open and walking in sheepishly.
The room fell silent, all eyes turning to her. Selene could feel the weight of their gazes, making her feel small under the scrutiny.
Elric, still covering his nose, turned his reddened eyes toward her. Fury blazed within them as he pushed himself to his feet. "You!" he spat, his voice trembling with rage.
Before anyone could react, he rushed toward her like a madman. One of the men jumped up, trying to intercept him, but Elric shoved the man aside.
"She's bewitched you, Magnus! I'm doing this for your own good!" Elric shouted as he closed the distance to Selene.
His hands grabbed her collar roughly, yanking her forward. Selene froze, her mind racing as fear rooted her in place.
But before he could say another word, Selene's instincts kicked in. Her fist shot upward in a clean uppercut, striking Elric squarely under the chin. The force of the blow lifted him off his feet, sending him flying through the air. Blood and a few teeth scattered mid-flight before he landed with a heavy thud and rolled into the far wall.
The room erupted in chaos.
Every man in the room shot to their feet, their faces painted with shock. Magnus and Alaric both sucked in sharp breaths, cringing at the sight.
Meanwhile, Selene stood in place, clutching her chest as she panted heavily. The sudden encounter had rattled her nerves. The image of a bloodied, enraged Elric charging at her had sent her instincts into overdrive.
Magnus turned to Alaric, his voice low but urgent. "Get a cleric to tend to him."
Alaric nodded and moved to leave, but before he could reach the door, Elric began stirring. Groaning, he pushed himself to his feet, his movements sluggish and unsteady.
When the dizziness cleared, his eyes burned with even more fury. "You dare hit me, you cursed brat?!" he roared, his voice filled with venom.
Elric surged forward again, but this time the men around him intervened. Several of them grabbed his arms, restraining him while trying to calm him down.