On the surface, Eira maintained her façade as the second daughter of the Erikr family, living an outwardly peaceful and comfortable life in the imperial court. But the flames of vengeance that burned within her had never been extinguished. Like the molten lava concealed deep within a volcano, once unleashed, it would bring a devastating force. She understood that to accomplish her vengeance, to overthrow Empress Anya and Chancellor Kalen's rule, and to reclaim what was rightfully hers, she needed to possess immense power. This power encompassed not only physical strength, but also knowledge, wisdom, and mastery of human hearts.
In the imperial court, Eira presented herself as a gentle and naive young woman, untainted by the ways of the world. This facade of innocence lulled her enemies into a false sense of security, causing them to underestimate her abilities. She attended various banquets, balls, and social events, engaging in discussions about fashion, art, and the latest gossip with the other noble ladies, appearing to be a frivolous beauty, a harmless existence with no interest in power.
But behind the scenes, Eira never ceased her studies and training. She retreated deep within herself, using her unwavering will to confront the torment of her vengeance and the fear of the future. She utilized every available moment in the secret chamber, learning from the mysterious elder a vast array of knowledge and skills – magic, swordsmanship, politics, economics, military strategy, and more – like a parched sponge, greedily absorbing every drop of wisdom, nourishing herself to become increasingly powerful.
The mysterious elder, a former loyal servant of Queen Leila and a scholar of great renown, was delighted by Eira's progress. He generously imparted to her the culmination of his lifelong learning, holding nothing back. He believed that Eira would become a great queen, leading the Erylian Empire out of the shadows and back to its former glory. He had placed all his hopes on Eira, hoping she would fulfill Queen Leila's unfinished dream and set the Erylian Empire back on the right path.
"Child, you possess extraordinary magical talents, as well as unparalleled wisdom and courage. I believe you will be able to achieve your goals and fulfill your destiny," the elder said with a heavy heart, his weathered face filled with expectation and trust in Eira. His clouded eyes seemed to glimpse the future hope of the Erylian Empire, the dawn of light and justice overcoming evil.
Eira remained silent, simply nodding. Her deep blue eyes, like two unfathomable lakes, were calm and profound, yet brimming with boundless power and determination. She knew she carried the fate of the Erylian Empire on her shoulders. She could not disappoint her teacher's expectations, nor her mother's, nor the expectations of those who had sacrificed everything for the Empire, only to meet a tragic end. She would risk her life to defend the Erylian Empire's honor, to achieve justice, and to complete her vengeance.
In addition to her diligent studies in the secret chamber, Eira also utilized her life in the imperial court to observe the actions and behaviors of the nobles, carefully analyzing their motives, learning their schemes and the intricate web of their interests. She discovered that the imperial court of the Erylian Empire was a place filled with lies, betrayals, and conspiracies, like a vast whirlpool dragging everyone into its depths, powerless to escape. Everyone wore masks, hiding their true intentions. On the surface, they were cordial and jovial, but behind the scenes, they schemed and deceived, willing to resort to any means, even selling their souls, in the pursuit of power and self-interest.
Eira understood that to survive in this perilous environment, she must learn to disguise herself, conceal her true thoughts and objectives, in order to deliver a decisive blow to her enemies when the critical moment arrived. She had to become stronger, to protect herself and those she wished to protect in this ruthless world.
During this time, Eira's interactions with Duke Ryce became more frequent. Due to the black hunting hound named Caesar, Eira often visited the garden to play with him, and Ryce would often appear there as well. Caesar was a highly intelligent dog, seemingly able to sense Eira's sadness and loneliness, silently accompanying her, gently nuzzling her legs with his warm fur, as if comforting and lending her strength.
Duke Ryce, too, would often appear when Eira needed him the most, engaging her in conversation about seemingly trivial matters, sharing his life experiences and wisdom, offering her encouragement and support, like an elder brother quietly guarding her.
Eira discovered that Ryce was a man of great erudition, with profound knowledge of history, politics, military, and various cultural arts. His witty and humorous discourse, his broad perspective, left her feeling refreshed and admiring. Moreover, he had a special affection for animals, treating Caesar with the same love and care as he would his own child.
Ryce's presence brought a glimmer of sunshine and warmth to Eira's life, which had been shrouded in gloom and oppression, no longer leaving her to feel alone and helpless on her path of vengeance.
However, Eira had not forgotten that Ryce bore a striking resemblance to Chancellor Kalen, and that he was also Empress Anya's confidant. These facts kept her wary of him. She could not fully trust Ryce, nor dare she reveal her secrets to him, for she did not know what kind of man he truly was, nor whether his proximity to her was out of genuine intent or some ulterior motive.
Yet, she could not deny the inexplicable attraction she felt towards Ryce. His deep, captivating gaze seemed to peer into her soul, his warm and sincere smile appeared to melt the ice in her heart, and his low, magnetic voice seemed to soothe her wounded spirit. All of this stirred her emotions, as if an invisible force was drawing her to him, making her unable to resist.
In her interactions with Ryce, Eira gradually came to understand that he was not as simple as he appeared on the surface. While outwardly loyal to Empress Anya, he was actually dissatisfied with Anya and Chancellor Kalen's actions, disgusted by their ruthless struggle for power, and their willingness to sacrifice the innocent people's interests to satisfy their own desires. Ryce hoped the Erylian Empire would have a wise and virtuous ruler to lead it to prosperity and strength, rather than the current path of decay and ruin.
Eira realized that Ryce could be a person to be utilized, a potential ally in her cause.
One day, Eira was in the royal library, searching for a book on the ancient magic of the Erylian Empire. She knew that Empress Anya and Chancellor Kalen were secretly monitoring her, wanting to uncover the secret of her identity, so she could not openly express her interest in magic, nor could she directly inquire about magical knowledge. She had to quietly examine the books and find the answers she sought.
The royal library of the Erylian Empire was the largest in the entire empire, housing countless precious volumes on history, culture, arts, science, and various magical incantations, a veritable treasure trove of knowledge that attracted many eager learners.
Eira had already spent several hours in the library, but she still had not found the book she was looking for. There were too many books, and many were written in an ancient script she did not recognize, making her search even more difficult.
Just as she was about to give up, she suddenly noticed a forgotten corner, where an ancient bookshelf stood, covered in a thick layer of dust, as if it had not been disturbed in a long time. The bookshelf held some volumes that appeared to be of great antiquity, written in a script Eira did not recognize, their covers worn and tattered, as if they might disintegrate at any moment, indicating they had not been read in ages.
Curious, Eira approached the shelf, brushing away the dust. She picked up one of the books and began to flip through it.
The ancient characters on the pages seemed to come alive before her eyes, dancing and flickering, as if conveying ancient stories. A strange power emanated from the pages, like an electric current flowing into Eira's body, making her feel dizzy, as if she had been transported into a dreamscape.
"Child, what are you doing?" a familiar voice spoke behind her.
Eira turned to see Duke Ryce standing there, his expression one of surprise and puzzlement, as if he could not understand why Eira would be interested in these ancient books.
"Your Grace, I..." Eira did not know how to explain herself, how to tell Ryce why she was interested in these forbidden books of the Erylian Empire.
"You were reading these books?" Ryce asked, his gaze falling upon the book in Eira's hands. His expression grew serious. "These are the forbidden books of the Erylian Empire, containing extremely dangerous magical incantations. Common people are not allowed to peruse them, lest they face severe punishment."
"Forbidden books?" Eira exclaimed, only now realizing that the book in her hands was one of the Erylian Empire's forbidden tomes. "Why are these books forbidden?" she asked curiously, not understanding why these ancient volumes were deemed forbidden, as if they held some dark secret.
"Because the magical spells recorded in these books are too powerful and dangerous. If used by those with ill intentions, the consequences could be disastrous," Ryce explained, his tone grave, as if warning Eira not to touch these forbidden books again. "That's why they have been sealed away, and only a select few with the Emperor's permission are allowed to study them."
"I see." Eira nodded. While she was interested in magic, she did not wish to learn these dangerous incantations. She only wanted to study the spells that could help her in her quest for vengeance, the ones that would make her stronger. "I was just curious, so I opened one to take a look," she said, trying to allay Ryce's suspicions.
"Curiosity can kill the cat," Ryce said sternly. "Child, I advise you not to touch these forbidden books again, or you will find yourself in serious trouble."
"I understand, Your Grace," Eira said, placing the book back on the shelf. She knew Ryce was concerned for her and trying to protect her.
"Are you interested in magic?" Ryce asked, his tone softening, his gaze becoming more gentle, as if he had seen the sincerity in Eira. "I can tell you're quite curious about these forbidden books. Do you wish to learn magic?"
"Yes, I am very interested," Eira admitted, seeing no need to deny it, as Ryce had likely already recognized her magical aptitude.
"I see." Ryce smiled approvingly, as if affirming her. "Magic is a powerful force, but it is also a double-edged sword. Used properly, it can benefit humanity, but used recklessly, it can bring disaster. If you truly wish to learn magic, I suggest you start with the basics, and only once you truly understand the nature of magic should you delve into the more advanced spells, to avoid straying down the wrong path."
"Thank you for the advice, Your Grace," Eira said, recognizing that Ryce was kindly warning her to be cautious, not to be seduced by the power of magic. Magic was like a sharp sword – if one could not control it, it would wound them.
"You're welcome." Ryce chuckled. "If you do wish to learn magic, I can help you with that." He looked at Eira with sincerity, as if making a promise.
"Really?" Eira exclaimed, surprised that Ryce had offered to help her learn magic. This only increased her fondness for him and filled her with hope for the future.
"Of course," Ryce nodded firmly. "I know a true master of magic, a reclusive sorcerer of great knowledge and power, who is also an upright and benevolent man. I can take you to meet him, and he can teach you all the magic you wish to learn. But you must promise me that you will not reveal his identity to anyone, nor use the magic you learn for evil purposes."
Eira's heart raced. She realized that Ryce could be the ally she was seeking, the one who could help her accomplish her quest for vengeance.