TVSI 13

Chapter 13

After I had immersed myself in reading for several dozen minutes, Marquis Raymon also became busy reading in a comfortable corner.

Come to think of it, where was Hildred?

I looked around for him after realizing he had disappeared at some point.

Did he go outside?

Well, it would make sense if he got bored.

To Hildred Raymon, books weren’t a hobby. They were merely tools for building knowledge.

I wasn’t much different myself, but I genuinely liked the sense of calm that reading brought.

We weren’t especially close, and part of me thought I should just leave him alone wherever he went.

Still, it felt like I was excluding him, so I decided to go look for him.

“Hildred?”

Besides the Marquis and me, no one else was on the first floor.

I passed the spiral iron staircase leading to the second floor.

It’s pretty tall.

Upon reaching the second floor, I could clearly see the Marquis below, completely absorbed in turning pages.

The first-floor view from above was spectacular.

Since I’m already up here… maybe I should check if there are related books in the other sections.

I examined the signs organizing the books by category.

The classification overlaps with the first floor?

History books were lined up on the right side of the first floor.

And in almost the exact same location on the second floor, there were also history books.

What’s the system here? Is the third floor the same?

I ran my fingers along the book spines one by one.

Ah, now I get it.

This library…

The higher the floor, the higher the security level of the books, arranged in reverse order.

“Just from the titles alone, there are many topics that would stir controversy if they spread outside.”

I had only climbed one floor, yet the fact that I hadn’t gotten the Marquis’s permission made my heart pound.

Feeling nervous, I looked down over the railing.

The Marquis seemed to have gotten an idea and was completely engrossed in a book she had opened.

After confirming she wasn’t paying attention to me, I cautiously pulled out one book.

God Shall Take Revenge

That title was dramatic enough to be ominous.

Without hesitation, I opened to a random page.

The madness of the demigod overwhelmed the world… the continent became deeply soaked in human blood… all life upon the earth cried out in grief…

A demigod?

That referred to the mythical ancestor of the Asillesque royal family.

Closing the book, I looked at the title again.

I had thought it was a historical record, but it turned out to be mythology.

If books about ancient myths were already on the second floor, what kind of books were on the third floor?

Glancing toward the first floor again, I thought—

Should I just go up to the third floor?

The hesitation was brief.

My actions were fast.

I slid the book back into place, thinking this opportunity might never come again.

If not for one title catching my eye—

A book hidden behind others on the shelf I had just passed—

I really would have gone upstairs.

Manifestation and Characteristics of Congenital Madness in the Asillesque Royal Family

Instinctively, I pulled it out.

The author was—

“What are you doing here?”

Quickly closing the book so I wouldn’t get caught, I memorized the surname written on the front page.

Rostad.

Whirling around, I found Hildred carrying several books stacked in his arms.

“Help me carry some. My arms hurt.”

Fidgeting carefully, I secretly slid the book back onto the shelf before he noticed.

Hildred narrowed his eyes.

“You weren’t…”

“Ah, um… I didn’t see you, so I came looking.”

“You’re pretty good at lying.”

“What are you talking about? Don’t say things that sound misleading. You asked me to carry books, didn’t you?”

I took three or four books from his arms.

Even when he continued staring suspiciously, I stayed calm until his suspicion faded.

“Mother told you earlier. Don’t come up here again.”

“You say that like you’re inviting me back.”

“You said you wanted to come.”

Unexpected.

Did he really intend to let me use this place whenever I wanted?

Back on the first floor, my arms were beginning to hurt.

I placed my books beside the pile Hildred had already set down.

“Why did you bring these?”

“To repair them.”

Ah.

I had heard that damaged books—ones with loose pages or mold—were repaired to prevent further deterioration.

“You do it yourself?”

“These books are too precious to leave in someone else’s hands.”

Hildred skillfully sorted books damaged by moisture, books with missing pages, moldy books, and so on.

Unlike Emil, who was elegant and beautiful, Hildred gave off a bright and gentle impression.

Watching such a handsome boy focus so intently was surprisingly pleasing to the eye.

Sunlight filtered through opaque glass to prevent paper yellowing and shone over Hildred.

His brown-tinted hair and eyelashes gleamed gold in the light.

His face really is impressive.

I reluctantly admitted it.

Unfortunately, at some point the Marquis had begun watching us.

“I think I understand why Hil invited you.”

That opening sounded ominous.

I waved my hands quickly.

“It means nothing.”

“Oh dear, there’s no need to hide it.”

“That’s not it, Mother.”

Thud.

Hildred closed the book.

The awkward expression on his face made him finally seem his age.

Thanks to my deal with Hildred and my visits to the Raymon estate, I had finally found a clue.

Rostad, Rostad…

After visiting the Marquis estate two more times, the Marquis finally mentioned the name herself.

“Professor Rostad?”

“You know him?”

“He’s an authority in alchemy and pharmacology. He originally came from the small kingdom, but after seeking asylum, he received support from the Crosentin imperial family.”

I already knew which small kingdom she meant.

No doubt about it.

He’s from Asillesque.

The Marquis took a sip of tea.

“He currently teaches at Lilford Academy. Miss Bell, are you interested in alchemy too?”

I think I’m about to be.

That was what I wanted to say, but I just smiled instead.

“It’s less interest and more… a simple reason.”

The excuse I came up with sounded embarrassingly shallow.

“Alchemy and pharmacology make a lot of money.”

Just as I began feeling awkward, the Marquis unexpectedly agreed seriously.

“They’re also very rewarding fields for research.”

She even patted my head and said that if I ever needed a recommendation letter for admission, I should let her know.

I was planning to study independently rather than attend an academy…

I never thought I’d suddenly begin considering enrollment.

Besides, the year-end was approaching.

Lilford’s entrance exams were held at the end of the year.

Yet even after returning home, I remained conflicted.

Just because I meet that professor doesn’t guarantee I’ll learn anything about the small kingdom’s madness.

Maybe it would be better to investigate independently here.

What should I do?

Things were unfolding differently this time.

I had no way of knowing which choice was best.

I agonized over it for more than a week.

But in the end—

I had no choice but to choose Lilford.

If there’s even a chance to completely eliminate the madness, there’s no better option.

That evening, I finally brought it up before Mother and Father.

“I want to enroll at Lilford.”

Both of them immediately turned to look at me.

“That’s sudden.”

Anyone could tell this was the sort of situation where the answer would be no.

If they refused…

Should I just run away from home?

Mother set down her knife and sat silently for a moment before asking—

“…Did you find something you want to study?”

I had no choice but to nod.

Though studying wasn’t my primary goal, technically that was true.

Their reactions couldn’t have been more opposite.

“Then go.”

“No.”

Father rejected it instantly and turned to Mother.

Mother blinked before smiling warmly at me.

“Your father will need some convincing.”

Honestly, I wasn’t sure whether Mother would support me or oppose me—

But I had expected Father to object.

“Do you even understand what kind of country Crosentin is?”

“One of the continent’s two empires.”

“It is not a country friendly to those born in Castone. And you are nobility.”

Too dangerous.

That was Father’s opinion.

Before I was born—back when Lobelin was still alive—tension between Crosentin and Castone had been rising.

It was only natural after Castone swallowed the kingdom of Asillesque.

Their military and national power were nearly equal.

Had both sides not calculated that war would only bring massive losses, the two empires would already be bitter enemies.

“It’s only four years at most. I’ll come home every season—four times a year.”

“No.”

“D-Dad…”

Even though peace still hung by a thread, the future I remembered never involved a direct clash between the two nations.

“I understand why you’re worried. But I really want to go to Lilford. There’s something I need to know.”

“No. You don’t understand the weight of a parent’s worry. You will not go to Crosentin.”

Father was impossibly firm.

Nothing I said would work right now.

So I retreated for the moment.

When I later asked Mother for help, her gentle smile suggested all hope wasn’t lost.

Back in my room, Isana and Ilena comforted me, assuming I was upset.

“Miss, His Grace treasures you too much.”

“So even Isana feels anxious about me going to Crosentin?”

“To be honest… yes.”

Though people from Castone and Crosentin rarely showed open hostility, everyone believed the two nations would eventually clash.

Castone had invaded and swallowed the small kingdom.

Meanwhile, Crosentin strongly viewed the relatively younger Castone as outsiders.

“Lilford Academy has nobles from many countries. Nothing major will happen in just four years. It’s practically neutral territory.”

But Isana still looked unconvinced.

“You don’t understand. Even if nothing terrible happens, someone as precious as you attending an academy…”

“I kind of want to go because no one there knows me.”

It sounded convincing enough.

But truthfully—

I didn’t have time.

Just like before, Emil had already gone north.

I had to find a way to stop him as quickly as possible.

And because of that, Isana failed to change my mind.

Or rather—

She simply couldn’t.

The next morning, as soon as breakfast began, I rushed into the dining room.

“Dad.”

“No.”

“Daaad…”

“No.”

“So I really can’t go to the academy?”

“No— Bell.”

Not working.

Mother, who had been thoroughly entertained watching the two of us, burst into laughter.

“Honey, why not just let her go?”

“It’s dangerous.”

“It’s just the neighboring country. And…”

Smiling, Mother took my side.

“Has this child ever wanted something so strongly before?”

“That’s…”

“At least until now, she never has. And she promised to come home every season.”

“……”

“Our child wants to learn something. We should let her.”

Mother…

She really was incredible.

I felt grateful.

Even though I was hiding my true reason for wanting to attend the academy, her unwavering support made my chest tighten.

Thank you.

That was exactly why I had to succeed.

I had to uncover the truth behind Emil’s madness.

And if possible, find a way to cure it completely.

After Mother joined in persuading him, Father finally began to waver.

“If anything happens…”

“If you tell me to come home, I’ll return immediately.”

“Still, three months at a time is too long.”

“That makes me sad too. I want to stay with you and Mom…”

“Right, exactly.”

“But I also want to exchange letters with you every day. I’ve always wanted to try that.”

“……”

“I’ll learn as much as I can and come back worthy of the trust you place in me.”

Then—

I placed the two books I had prepared onto the table beforehand.