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Chapter 5
Roselia headed straight for the Count’s family library in the main manor.
The library was the largest archive within the Hailen estate, preserving ancient books that had been passed down since the days of the family’s founding Count. Only direct descendants of the Hailen bloodline were permitted to enter.
Massive wooden bookshelves stretched endlessly in neat rows, packed tightly with thick, leather-bound volumes that had weathered countless years.
It was also a place Roselia had visited often in her previous life.
I don’t possess even the slightest spirit power, yet I felt Sven’s spirit thanking me.
If I’m going to understand what happened, I need to look for books about spirits.
Fortunately, every bookshelf had an alphabetical index attached to it.
Roselia carefully checked each catalog as she walked between the towering shelves.
At last, she found what she was looking for.
There were only three books related to spirits.
For a family renowned as water spirit summoners, I expected there to be far more than this.
Most of the shelves reserved for spirit-related books were almost completely empty.
Carrying the three volumes, she sat down at a desk beside a window.
She picked up the first book.
On the Water Spirit Summoner Family
It read:
“Elenia Hailen, one of the heroic spirit summoners who helped found the Ortia Empire, became the first head of the Hailen family.
She possessed silver hair and blue eyes and commanded a high-ranking water spirit. Her healing abilities were so extraordinary that they rivaled the divine power of the Holy Temple.
For that reason, every member of the Hailen family born with the aptitude to become a water spirit summoner has inherited silver hair and blue eyes.
The Hailen family has passed down contracted water spirit orbs through the generations. When a spirit summoner channels their spiritual energy into one, the orb transforms according to the summoner’s abilities. A high-ranking spirit manifests as a fully bloomed crystal rose, while a lower-ranking spirit appears as a crystal rosebud.
Their petals shimmer with brilliant rainbow colors beneath sunlight. Their stems gleam like gold, while their leaves sparkle as though dusted with diamond powder.
Both high-ranking and lower-ranking water spirits possess the ability to manipulate water and perform healing, though the gap between their abilities is immense.”
I already know all of this.
Closing the book, Roselia opened the second.
It described the Empire’s other great spirit families.
Alongside the Hailen family’s healing water spirits were:
- the Naizer Duke’s family, masters of purifying fire spirits,
- the Cheshui Duke’s family, guardians of earth spirits,
- and the Notche Count’s family, wielders of wind spirits.
After finishing the third and final volume, Roselia shut it with a soft thump and sighed.
I’ve read all three books…
But none of them mention anything like what happened to me.
Someone without spirit abilities shouldn’t be able to feel a spirit’s emotions…
Disappointed, she returned the books to their shelves.
“Even after searching all these books, there’s no record of anyone like me.”
She muttered quietly.
“Maybe… I only imagined it.”
Back in her room, Roselia weakly tugged on the bell cord to summon Mary.
A few moments later, the maid entered.
“Did your visit to the library go well?”
Mary tilted her head.
“Although… you don’t seem to be in very good spirits.”
“It’s nothing.”
Roselia forced a smile.
“By the way, what happened to the rabbit?”
“Thankfully, Mr. Hans treated its injured leg. He also said he’ll look after it until it’s completely recovered.”
“That’s wonderful.”
Roselia smiled.
“I should visit the rabbit sometime soon—ugh…”
As Mary helped her change into more comfortable clothes, Roselia suddenly staggered.
“Lady Roselia!”
Mary quickly caught her.
“Are you all right?”
Roselia pressed a hand against her forehead.
The dizziness and pounding headache were overwhelming.
“I-I’m fine.”
She took a slow breath.
“Could you bring me the bottle with the yellow pills from my desk drawer? And some water.”
Mary carefully helped her onto the sofa before hurrying to the desk.
“Here.”
Roselia removed one of the yellow tablets from the nearly empty bottle and swallowed it with water.
Closing her eyes for several moments, she waited.
Gradually, the dizziness and headache subsided.
“What kind of medicine is this?”
Mary examined the bottle.
“It’s almost empty.”
“Oh…”
Roselia smiled casually.
“I’ve always had a weak body, so I’ve been taking it since I was little.”
“I see…”
“And I’m tired today.”
She leaned back against the sofa.
“I’ll skip dinner and go to bed early.”
“Understood.”
Mary nodded.
“I’ll let the head chef know.”
After Mary left, Roselia lay down on her bed.
Just searching through books in the library—and dealing with Sven earlier—had left her arms and legs feeling as heavy as soaked cotton.
This useless body…
Still… Gray said he’d probably find Kardian soon.
I have to meet him as quickly as possible if I’m going to change the future…
Her thoughts slowly faded away.
Before long…
She fell asleep.
* * *
A week passed.
Today was one of the rare occasions when Roselia was supposed to have a meal with her father, Count Felis.
When she entered the dining room, however, every seat at the table was empty.
Where is everyone?
Did I arrive early?
Tilting her head, she sat down.
Just then, the dining room door opened.
The butler, Jayden, entered and approached her respectfully.
“My lady.”
He bowed.
“The Count had to leave unexpectedly due to an urgent matter. He asked me to apologize for being unable to join you for the meal.”
“What happened?”
“A matter arose in the capital, and he went there to investigate.”
Jayden smiled reassuringly.
“It isn’t anything you need to worry about.”
Something happened in the capital?
Right…
Around this time, that incident should be happening.
“I understand.”
Roselia smiled politely.
“It’s unfortunate, but I’ll simply have another meal with Father another time.”
“Thank you for your understanding, Lady Roselia.”
Jayden bowed again.
“Oh, and Lord Sven said he wasn’t feeling well this morning, so he won’t be joining us either.”
That’s actually good news.
Once Jayden departed, Roselia finished a simple meal by herself before returning to her room.
She had barely sat down on the sofa when someone knocked.
Opening the door, she found Mary waiting outside.
“What is it?”
After checking that no one else was nearby, Mary stepped inside and handed her a letter.
“This was left in my locker this morning.”
Roselia examined the envelope.
Her own name was written on the front.
The sender was identified only by a single letter:
G
“It’s from Gray.”
Mary looked puzzled.
“Really? Then why did he contact you differently this time?”
“If he’s the head of an information guild, I’m sure he has countless ways to send messages without attracting attention.”
Roselia immediately unfolded the letter and quickly read through it.
A moment later, she tucked it back into the envelope.
Looking up at Mary, she smiled.
“I need to meet Gray today.”
“Please prepare a carriage.”
“Well, it’s fortunate the Count isn’t home today.”
“It certainly is.”
Had her father not left for the capital, she wouldn’t have been able to leave the estate on such short notice.
When Roselia arrived at The Fisherman Who Catches Whales, Gray immediately ushered her inside.
“Please, have a seat, Lady Roselia.”
Unlike her previous visit, today’s table had been prepared with a plate of chocolate cookies and a steaming mug of hot cocoa topped with whipped cream.
Both happened to be her favorites.
…He even knows what I like?
“Why did you ask to see me so urgently?”
“Before I answer that,” Gray replied, “there’s something I’d like to ask you.”
“Go ahead.”
Although he had been the one who wanted to ask a question, Gray studied her quietly for a long moment before finally speaking.
“As I mentioned in my letter, a mysterious fever is spreading throughout the capital and many regions of the Empire.”
“No one knows the cause.”
“So the existing fever medicines are completely ineffective.”
“And?”
Roselia asked calmly.
“A healer recently discovered an effective medicinal herb.”
Gray watched her carefully.
“That herb… is hibiscus.”
He paused.
“As a result, the price of hibiscus has increased by more than twenty times.”
“Wow!”
Roselia widened her eyes theatrically.
“What an incredible coincidence. How fascinating.”
Despite her obvious act, Gray remained perfectly serious.
“Lady Roselia.”
He fixed his gaze on her.
“Are you… a prophet?”
She laughed softly.
“No.”
“I’m not a prophet.”
“I simply learned about it beforehand because someone warned me.”
“Is that truly so?”
“Why would I lie to my own business partner?”
Technically…
She wasn’t lying.
The “someone” who had warned her was simply…
Her past self.
Gray slowly nodded.
“In that case, we should revise our contract.”
“My conscience won’t allow a fifty-fifty split anymore.”
“I believe it should be seventy-thirty.”
Roselia blinked.
“The profits are really that large?”
Gray burst into laughter.
“Haha!”
“Large doesn’t even begin to describe it.”
“At the moment, we can practically name any price we want.”
“If that’s the case,” Roselia said, smiling, “then let’s revise the contract to seventy-thirty.”
“And I’d like to ask another favor.”
“What favor?”
“I’d like half of my profits deposited into an anonymous bank account.”
“And with the remaining half…”
“I want to buy the land bordering Hailen territory.”
Gray frowned.
“That couldn’t possibly be…”
“You mean the place that used to be a lake long ago but has since dried up?”
“Yes.”
Roselia nodded.
“That’s exactly the place.”
Gray could not hide his bewilderment.
