Episode 43
After walking for a few minutes, the Imperial Library, hidden in a secluded area, came into view.
As I curiously tried to enter, the librarian blocked my path.
“You can’t enter without authorization.”
I quickly showed him the silver coin I received from the Crown Prince, and the librarian stepped aside. I was about to enter when I noticed Pona, who had been following me, wasn’t coming in.
“Pona, why aren’t you coming?”
She smiled awkwardly and said,
“I’m not authorized. His Highness only gave you the token, Lady Valerie, so I can’t enter.”
“Ah…”
“Lady Valerie, please don’t cause any trouble inside. I’ll be scolded by His Highness. Okay?”
Her worried tone made me chuckle. She still saw me as a small, helpless bird.
“It’s okay. Don’t worry.”
‘Including my past life, I’ve lived longer than you.’
Besides, after already destroying an Imperial building, I doubted anything worse could happen.
I entered the library, my only thought to learn more about how to use divine power.
The door closed, and as I was searching for books in the quiet library, I found one right at my eye level. The title Divine Power, You Can Use It Too! A Beginner’s Guide shimmered before my eyes.
‘There was a textbook just like that when I was taking piano lessons. It told me to color ten circles, and I would color only four and then scribble the rest black.’
As I recalled that small memory and reached for the book, a chilling voice whispered in my ear.
“Valerie, it’s been a while.”
“…”
“You can’t enter here without permission from a member of the royal family. Did my brother give you permission?”
Cold green eyes scanned me ominously.
‘What is he doing here?’
Chills ran down my spine. The Second Prince’s approach, as if he had been waiting for me, felt like a snake stalking its prey.
‘I thought he lost interest? Why is he approaching me again?’
I had been relieved by his recent lack of contact, but that was my mistake. There was no rule saying the Second Prince couldn’t visit the Imperial Library.
I bit my lip awkwardly and bowed my head.
“Greetings, Your Highness.”
“Lift your head. I’m not trying to scare you.”
‘You’re lying. You deliberately approached me when I was alone, without even a maid.’
The Second Prince, Cardian, had a strange inferiority complex towards Aaron, the Crown Prince. Swordsmanship, academics, reputation – even with the Empress’s backing, he fell short compared to Aaron.
And he often took out his frustration on those beneath him. For example, on me, who was nervously trying to appease him, a member of the royal family.
“Thank you.”
‘You’re truly malicious.’
I smiled, thinking the opposite of what I said, and stealthily prepared to escape.
But the Second Prince was blocking my path. His outstretched hand touched the book I was about to take. Shimmering green eyes scanned the title.
“Is this the book you were looking for?”
“Yes.”
“Divine power. You’re looking for an interesting book.”
His subtly changed gaze made my heart race. I touched the necklace-shaped artifact concealing my mark and exhaled.
‘Even a short conversation with him is uncomfortable.’
I desperately wished for Pona to be waiting for me outside.
Then, Cardian spoke.
“You said you came from another country. Were you near the Holy Kingdom?”
“The Holy Kingdom…”
The words sent a strange shiver down my spine. My heart pounded strangely.
“It’s a place blessed with divine power, where priests with true divine power reside. It’s difficult to find priests with abundant divine power within the Empire. It’s also hard to find books about divine power.”
He observed me with narrowed eyes and continued,
“So, if you came all the way here to find this book, I assumed you either wield divine power or are curious about it. And since you said you came from another country, I wondered if you were related to the Holy Kingdom. But you seem completely clueless.”
“…Yes. I came from somewhere else, not there. As you said, Your Highness, I was just curious about this book.”
I almost stammered.
I swallowed nervously, feeling like he would bite my head off if I showed any weakness. As I was trying to catch my breath, Cardian pressed on,
“Is that so? Curious… I’m also curious.”
“Pardon?”
“I’m curious about you.”
‘Can’t you be curious about someone else?’
Suppressing the words rising in my throat, I forced an awkward smile.
“You’re a member of the royal family, Your Highness. I don’t think you would be interested in someone insignificant like me.”
“Insignificant? You’re a guest my brother specially summoned from another country for an important task. You’re an important guest staying at the Imperial Palace, and I have many things I’d like to ask you, but this place is a bit cramped.”
The word “cramped” sent shivers down my spine. My instincts blared warning signals.
“It’s spacious enough. If you have something to say, we can talk here…!”
But before I could finish my sentence, he approached me. With dangerously shimmering green eyes and a demeanor that could only be described as threatening, Cardian proposed,
“Why don’t we enjoy some tea together?”
‘This isn’t an invitation for tea; it’s an attempt to poison me. The atmosphere is chilling.’
“I can’t because I haven’t finished the task His Highness the Crown Prince entrusted me with.”
He chuckled at my hasty excuse.
“Haha. Is that so?”
His tone was clearly displeased.
I flinched as his hand rested on my shoulder. His silent gaze made me apologize involuntarily.
“…I apologize if I’ve made a mistake.”
“A mistake? You haven’t made one yet.”
‘He emphasized the word “yet.” It wasn’t just my imagination, right?’
“So, why don’t you come with me while I’m still being nice? Miss Valerie. Of course, you can refuse. But hasn’t my brother told you what happens to those who disobey royalty?”
“…”
“I’ll tell you. Personally.”
“I’ll go. Please lead the way, Your Highness.”
‘I don’t know what the Second Prince wants, but he seems to have taken a bad interest in me, so I have to be careful.’
This wasn’t the Dukedom, where I had a cozy nest.
Having left the nest, the bird faced a cold, dog-eat-dog world.
Cesar leaned back languidly in the rattling carriage. He would arrive at the Imperial Palace soon.
“The Second Prince… This is unsettling.”
He had sent a letter expressing his intention to visit, but it was still the Second Prince who had readily invited him. It was arrogant of him to think he could win over the head of the noble faction.
But Cesar had no other way to secretly enter the inner parts of the Imperial Palace, so this was his best option.
Looking out the window with a sense of displeasure, he felt the arrival of summer, brimming with life.
“From spring to summer… If I don’t find her, autumn will pass, and winter will come as well.”
His words were laced with a chilling coldness.
Cesar, with the empty birdcage beside him, looked at the shimmering communication device. After checking the caller ID, he sighed and answered,
“What is it, Master?”
The one who had hidden his bird, which had transformed into a human and run away, spoke casually,
[I was wondering how you were doing, so I called.]
“I’m doing well. I recently learned something interesting.”
[Oh? What is it?]
His voice, asking as if he didn’t know, was calm. Unlike Cesar, who was anxious, his master was leisurely.
“…My bird has become human.”
[Become human? How surprising.]
“I’ve already acquired a magical tool at an auction and compared Lily’s feathers with the hair I found at the Magic Tower. You already knew all of this, didn’t you, Master?”
The Tower Master, who had been denying it until now, smiled playfully and replied,
[Yes. Since the Magic Tower manages magical tools, I already knew. But it’s interesting. You’re acting quite hastily, unlike your usually cautious self.]
The Tower Master’s words were true. He had never acted so hastily before, but now he was acting recklessly, as if he couldn’t think straight.
He was obsessed with finding his bird, not even caring about his appearance. He hadn’t even acted like this towards Sylvia.
“It seems I’ve grown more attached to Lily than I thought.”
He had become accustomed to having the bird by his side. An insignificant bird he would look for if it was out of sight had become precious to him, but that bird had transformed into a human and left.
[What do you intend to do if you find her?]
Cesar knew he couldn’t kill Lily. So he had initially planned to confine her to the cage.
But he realized Lily was now in her human form.
“I was planning on capturing her and keeping her in a cage so she couldn’t run away again…”
‘It’s okay. I’m not going anywhere.’
Instead of the familiar chirps, he recalled the voice that had lied to him.
“Now that I know she’s human, I’ll have to think of another way.”
[Are you confident you can find her?]
“Confident? I think I’ll be able to find her whether I want to or not.”
[It seems you have a reason for such confidence.]
Cesar smiled.
How could he not find her? She had caused all sorts of trouble and incidents while staying with him.
“If it’s my bird, she’ll surely cause trouble somewhere and attract attention. Speaking of which, I heard there was an explosion in the Imperial Palace. Are you aware of it?”