I could tell right away that neither the Saintess nor the High Priest had any interest in my castle's rich history. They might have tried to hide it, but the effort to keep their expressions neutral was unmistakable, almost amusing. The Saintess even pulled her veil back down, likely to conceal how utterly bored she was.
Not that I could blame them. Aside from tales of war and magic, much of my family's history is tedious, even for someone as proud of it as I am. I remember how difficult it was to stay awake during those long, dull lessons in my youth. Things had changed drastically after I returned at twelve to take on my duties as heir.
But this time, I was doing it on purpose. I needed to make them leave of their own accord. As the highest-ranking noble, I couldn't simply throw them out. That would spread like wildfire in the capital, and I had no intention of giving those sycophants any more reason to worm their way into my or Belmont's affairs. So, I droned on, hoping to bore them enough that they would excuse themselves.
As I led them through the halls, I didn't notice right away that we were passing near the library—until the doors caught Celeste's attention.
"Is that your library?" she asked, her voice cutting through my monologue. "I've heard your collection rivals even that of the Imperial Palace. May we take a look?"
My heart sank. The last thing I wanted was for them to enter the library, not if Mara was still in there. The memory of her describing how the Saintess's blessing had stung her was too fresh, too unsettling. But I couldn't think of a reasonable excuse to deny them entry.
Silas, ever the serpent, added, "I'm also interested in perusing the titles. But if you'd prefer to continue the tour, I could always request Legacy Scriptum from the King, and we could return another day."
His thinly veiled threat tightened my jaw. Legacy Scritpum would mean allowing them unrestricted access to the library for days, possibly weeks. No noble family in Lumicrestia could refuse it, no matter their rank. And I wasn't about to let that happen.
I forced a smile, though I could feel the veins in my neck straining as I contained my anger. "You're here now," I said, the words practically hissing through my teeth. "Let me show you the way to the library."
As I led Celeste and Silas into the library, I immediately heard a gasp escape Celeste's lips. I turned to see her spinning in a slow circle, her eyes wide with astonishment as she took in the vast chamber around her. I knew the sight of the library would leave an impression—it was a marvel, one that had been expanded and refined by each Duke before me.
"How is this possible?" Silas muttered, his voice tinged with disbelief as he, too, took in the grandeur of the room.
I allowed myself a moment to appreciate the space, even though I was no stranger to it. The library was a masterpiece, the crown jewel of the castle. Towering bookshelves reached up toward the vaulted ceilings, which seemed to vanish into the heavens, adorned with intricate carvings of mythical creatures and ancient symbols. The shelves were filled with countless volumes, their spines a kaleidoscope of colors and textures, some so old that the titles had faded into whispers. A massive crystal chandelier hung from the center, casting a warm, ethereal glow that danced across the polished marble floors. The scent of old paper and leather permeated the air, a comforting reminder of the knowledge contained within these walls.
"The library appears to be the size of the entire castle," Celeste observed, her voice breathless with awe.
In truth, it was larger than the castle itself. Like much of the estate, the library was imbued with ancient magic, a powerful enchantment that had endured through the centuries. This magic allowed the space to expand infinitely, growing to accommodate the needs and desires of each Duke who inherited it. But I wasn't about to share that piece of information with the Saintess or the High Priest. While select noble families were permitted to practice magic, their abilities were nothing compared to the power that Belmont and I had access to—the ancient, lingering magic that thrived within the walls of our castle and throughout the lands of the Duchy.
I knew that if I revealed this secret, the High Priest would undoubtedly try to invoke Legacy Scriptum, demanding to spend time within these walls to study its mysteries. That was something I couldn't allow.
As I scanned the room, I felt a surge of relief when I realized I couldn't sense Mara's presence in the library. She must have returned to her room or ventured to another part of the castle. Good. The last thing I needed was for her to encounter these two.
I watched as Celeste and Silas moved among the shelves, their fingers grazing the spines of the books, their eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and envy. My thoughts drifted to Belmont and the others. Had they been successful in infiltrating the temple? I assumed so, given that no Holy Knight had come rushing to drag Silas back to the temple.
Just as my mind began to delve deeper into the possibilities of Belmont's mission, Theo entered the library, his presence as calm and composed as ever. I quickly introduced him to Silas and Celeste, and Theo seized the opportunity to remind the High Priest of their previous encounter—the surprise visit that still lingered in my memory. The flicker of discomfort that crossed Silas's face was immensely satisfying. In that moment, I realized I'd discovered a new hobby: making the High Priest squirm.
Theo leaned in, his voice low, "Your Grace, a raven has arrived from Lord Belmont."
"Enjoy your time here," I said, leaving the two of them alone in the library.
I walked with Theo through the grand hallways, the weight of the day pressing down on my shoulders. As we entered my study, I saw the large raven perched on its ledge by my desk.
With a steady hand, I touched the sigil on the raven's head, and as its sleek feathers unfurled, Belmont's voice filled the room. His words carried the weight of disappointment.
"We were unable to locate any items that seemed out of place. The sleeping draughts we made were not strong enough, and the Holy Knights began to rouse from their sleep, cutting our time short. We did find the vial that we sent—it was hidden in a secret compartment in Silas's desk. Alaric was unable to discern the contents. It must be something important for Silas to have kept it hidden."
As the message ended, I could feel the fury coursing through me, barely contained beneath a veneer of calm. I had known there was a chance they would come back empty-handed, but I had hoped—no, expected—they would uncover something more than a single vial. Something that could give me an edge, a way to confront the Church with tangible proof of their trespassing.
I held the vial up to the light, staring into the glimmering purple contents with narrowed eyes. Alaric, one of the most skilled alchemists I knew, couldn't identify it. That alone was suspicious, but it wasn't enough—not enough to link it directly to Zandel Forest or to whatever game Silas was playing.
The frustration simmered within me. Whatever this substance was, it was important enough for Silas to hide it away. Yet, without more information, it remained a mystery—a puzzle piece that didn't quite fit into the larger picture I was trying to assemble.
I handed it to Theo, who took it with the utmost care.
"Start figuring out what this is," I instructed, my voice tight with the tension I was trying to contain. "And have you found out how the Church knew to be in Zandel Forest that day?"
Theo hesitated, something he rarely did, before admitting, "I still haven't been able to uncover that information, your Grace."
I raised an eyebrow, more surprised than I let on. "Keep digging," I said firmly.
"Of course, Your Grace." Theo bowed and left the room, cradling the vial as if it were the most precious artifact in the world.
As the door closed behind him, I found myself alone with my thoughts, a gnawing anxiety growing inside me. I ran a hand through my hair, trying to clear my mind, but the weight of the situation was hard to shake. I knew that uncovering the truth behind the Church's sudden interest in Zandel Forest on the day of the convergence spell was more critical than ever.
For a moment, I allowed myself to drift away from the troubling thoughts that plagued my mind and let them wander to Mara. Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out the locket, my fingers tracing the familiar outline as I flipped it open to gaze at the photos inside. It had to be her. It was impossible that it wasn't. But the heaviness in my chest only deepened as I whispered to myself, If it's really her, why doesn't she remember me?
I had waited so long—years filled with searching, hoping, and yearning for this moment. All I wanted was to hold her, to confirm what my heart so desperately needed to believe. But without confirmation, I knew I had to tread carefully. The thought of it not being her, of facing yet another failure after so many years of trying, was almost unbearable.
The urge to see her now gnawed at me, a pull so strong that I considered seeking her out, confident that Silas and Celeste would be occupied in the library for some time. Just as I was entertaining the idea, a knock sounded at the door. I knew it would be Pascal.
"Enter," I called out, my voice steady despite the turmoil within. As expected, Pascal stepped into the room, his demeanor as composed as ever.
"Will the guests be staying for dinner, Your Grace?" Pascal asked dutifully, his question sending an involuntary shiver down my spine. The mere thought of entertaining them for an entire evening filled me with dread.
"No," I replied, already formulating an excuse to send them back to the temple. "They should be heading back soon. I'll make up something to have them leave."
Pascal nodded in understanding and turned to leave, but I stopped him, the need to know suddenly overwhelming me. "Has Miss Mara had lunch?"
Pascal paused and then confirmed, "Yes, Your Grace. She had lunch in the garden by the library earlier."
I couldn't help the smile that tugged at my lips. The thought of her in that garden, likely enchanted by its beauty as I had been, almost confirmed in my heart that it had to be her—the one I had been searching for all this time.
"Where is she now?" I asked, the urgency creeping into my voice. The need to see her, to confirm what my heart already knew, was growing stronger by the second.
"I saw her heading back to the library on my way here," Pascal answered.
A cold wave of realization hit me, and my heart began to race. What I had been trying so hard to avoid was just about to happen. Without another word, I rushed past Pascal, my pulse quickening as I sprinted down the halls, desperately hoping to reach Mara before she entered the library and collided with the last people I wanted her to meet.