Ch.95Strange Fate (1)

I’ve posted a new fan art in the fan art section! The quality is so amazing that I’ll be using it as a cover!

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As time passed, Adelia seemed to have collected herself enough to calm down. But perhaps because she had burst into tears to the point of wailing, she occasionally hiccupped with a “hic!”

It seemed her insides were quite shocked, so she quickly drank water from a nearby fountain, but there was no sign of improvement. Moreover, her eyes were severely swollen, and the tip of her nose was red like a strawberry.

Not only was she in no condition to view the exhibition, but if she happened to meet the Teres royal family again, things could get even worse.

“I think it’s better to just rest at the mansion until evening.”

“Are you sure that’s okay? There must be many works you haven’t seen yet.”

“It’s a bit disappointing, but the highlight starts in the evening anyway. Until then, I’ll calm my mind through meditation. If I go like this now, who knows what might happen.”

In the end, Adelia decided to return to the mansion. Even though I offered to accompany her, she firmly declined.

She said she didn’t want to involve me and that it would interfere with my exhibition viewing. Though disappointing, her reasoning made sense, so I had no choice but to escort her to the mansion.

On the way, we were naturally anxious about possibly encountering the Teres royal family again. Adelia seemed to share my concern as she kept looking around nervously.

‘Should I just write about this in my book?’

In my heart, my regard for the Teres royal family was already at rock bottom. Even if she was an illegitimate child, treating her with such contempt was never right.

Even if they didn’t acknowledge her as their child, they should never inflict emotional abuse. Honestly, it was a miracle that Adelia had grown up properly.

I wanted to include a story about illegitimate children in the Biography of Xenon, but it lacked plausibility and had a high chance of being discovered by the Teres royal family. Since the relationship between Adelia and the Teres royal family was kept secret, the list of suspects would be narrowed down significantly.

So, regrettably, it was wise to wait for the right opportunity. If I struck first out of anger, it could lead to danger.

Thus, with anxiety in our hearts, we moved more quickly toward the mansion. Fortunately, we didn’t encounter the Teres royal family on the way.

“Adel!”

“Huh?”

Soon we arrived at the mansion and found Nicole standing in front of the gate. Adel looked slightly flustered upon seeing Nicole.

Come to think of it, didn’t she say she got lost while walking with Nicole? While I was thinking about this, Nicole strode over to us and began scolding Adelia.

“Where on earth have you been! I’ve been looking everywhere… Wait, what’s wrong with your eyes?”

“…I have my reasons.”

Nicole was about to scold Adelia but stopped when she noticed her swollen eyes and expressed her confusion. For Adelia, with her complicated circumstances, it was naturally a secret she couldn’t share, so she evaded the question.

When Adelia showed reluctance to speak, Nicole’s curiosity was momentarily diverted to me standing beside her. Her gaze seemed to ask if I could explain instead.

But I couldn’t tell her either, so I just shrugged my shoulders. Seeing my nonchalant evasion, Nicole had no choice but to let it go.

“Well, you must have your reasons. But do you know how long I’ve been searching for you?”

“…Sorry.”

“It’s fine if you understand. I came back to the mansion just in case, and here you are returning with Isaac. Let’s go back now.”

“Um… if it’s okay, could I rest at the mansion for a while? I’m a bit tired…”

“What?”

At Adelia’s cautious request, confusion appeared in Nicole’s golden eyes. It’s understandable that she would be puzzled, as Adelia’s attitude was very different from usual.

Then Nicole gazed intently at Adelia’s swollen eyes and somewhat anxious appearance. Nicole, being quite perceptive, probably had a rough idea that something had happened to Adelia.

And sure enough, Nicole slowly nodded, deciding to listen to Adelia. The fact that she didn’t ask for details seemed to be her own way of being considerate.

“Alright. Then let’s go out together later.”

“No, no. I’ll rest alone, and you can go enjoy the exhibition.”

“I’m worried, that’s why. What if you wander off again and get lost?”

“I’ll just be at the mansion, how could I get lost?”

“Enough, let’s go inside. What about you, Isaac?”

Nicole asks me. I thought Cecilly and Marie would be back soon, so I planned to continue viewing the exhibition.

“I’ll keep looking around the exhibition. I still have company.”

“Oh, right. Then Adel and I will be at the mansion, so come back around dinner time.”

“Okay.”

“But Adel, are you really okay?”

“I’m fine.”

And so Nicole and Adelia returned to the mansion. I stood in place, watching until the two of them moved beyond the gate.

Then Adelia turned back to look at my face, and she smiled gently as if to thank me and nodded her head.

‘I thought she only ever smiled boisterously.’

Anyway, now that Adelia had gone back, I turned my steps to go view the exhibition again.

Marie and Cecilly should be returning soon, so I planned to go to the town square. I was wondering what to do until then, but our territory is quite large, so wandering around here and there should be fine.

‘Ah, right. Maybe I’ll buy some books?’

Since Father had made contracts with various merchant groups, diverse goods had been imported, and among them would surely be books. There was already a bookstore in our territory, so books would have been delivered there.

At the thought that new books might have arrived, I quickened my pace with joy. Passing by the statues and stalls I had seen earlier, I entered the shopping district.

Before, there were only blacksmiths, simple clothing stores, and general stores, but now I could see that there were many more. And my eyes caught the bookstore I had frequently visited before entering the academy.

Since I had enough money, I entered the bookstore without hesitation. As soon as I stepped inside, the distinctive smell of paper pricked my nose.

“Welcome… Oh my. Young master. It’s been a while.”

As soon as I entered the bookstore, the owner, a middle-aged woman, greeted me warmly. She had just entered middle age but had a face that suggested she had once been quite beautiful, and her kind smile was characteristic.

This middle-aged woman’s name was Luna. I had become acquainted with her before entering the academy, so we were somewhat close.

I bowed my head politely in response to her greeting.

“Hello, Luna. Are you very busy today?”

“Don’t even mention it. So many books have come in. I’m sure you’ll like them, young master.”

“Thank you. Where are the new arrivals?”

“They’re in that corner over there.”

Thanking her once more for her kind treatment, I turned my steps. Looking at the books densely packed on the shelves and display stands below, I couldn’t help but gape.

As Luna had said, new books were piled high. Clearly, many merchant groups had come and gone.

‘Wow. This explorer’s new book is out? And historical texts too.’

Since packaging technology isn’t well developed, books can be viewed directly. Of course, if caught, one would be immediately expelled, but I am the son of the lord. Luna would surely turn a blind eye to me reading while standing.

Still, feeling guilty, I planned to just skim the beginning parts before making my choice. I intended to select mainly exploration journals and historical texts, but…

‘…There are too many?’

Just the historical texts alone numbered more than 10 volumes. Moreover, somehow they had not only human history but also the history of other races.

While human history was understandable, historical texts of other races were very difficult to obtain, and I had no idea where they had been procured from. With my curiosity rising rapidly, I picked up a historical text related to elves and read the title first.

‘Let’s see… The Culture and History of Elves…’

I had read plenty of books about elves in Professor Elena’s research room, but those available in bookstores might be different. Honestly, the books in the research room were closer to research texts and were difficult to understand.

Whether this book would be easier to understand than the research room texts, or if it was just kindling, I would know after reading it. I was looking at what seemed to be a recent publication and was about to turn the page.

“Ahem. Ahem ahem.”

“Hmm?”

Just before turning the page, I heard someone clearing their throat beside me.

It sounded like a deliberate cough meant for me to hear, so I turned my head in the direction of the sound. And I could see someone standing below my eye level.

I don’t know when they arrived, but they wore a snow-white hood that made it difficult to see their face. As I looked at them with a puzzled expression, they spoke.

“I’m sorry, but you should not read that book.”

If Cecilly’s voice tickled the ears, this girl’s voice was clear and pure like rolling jade beads.

Momentarily distracted by the voice, I soon raised my head and met eyes with the girl who was looking straight at me. Uniquely, she had eyes and hair that were a harmonious mix of silver and gray.

She had an aura like a fairy descended from heaven. She exuded a mysteriousness that seemed inhuman.

“…Huh?”

“It’s just full of fancy words on the surface, with nothing actually helpful inside.”

The aristocratic language usage that emanated from her speech pattern. I immediately realized that this hooded girl was a noble’s child.

She was speaking down to me, perhaps not knowing I was a noble, but maybe she had a rank comparable to the Teres royal family from earlier. Otherwise, there would be no reason to speak condescendingly to a stranger.

I stared at the girl for a moment, then showed her the book in my hand and asked.

“Have you read this book before?”

Judging by her hood, she seemed to be hiding her identity, so I didn’t feel the need to use formal speech. Using this as an excuse, there would be no diplomatic issues. If anything, the problem would be on the girl’s side.

The girl didn’t seem to mind that I was speaking informally and explained about the book in her characteristically clear voice.

“Of course I have. But I frowned while reading it. It’s a book written by someone who knows nothing about us, meant to disparage elves.”

“Hmm… I understand that, but ‘us’?”

“…Ah!”

When I pointed this out, the girl seemed to realize her slip and covered her mouth with both hands, stepping back. Seeing this, I asked her with a suspicious voice.

“Hey, are you perhaps an elf?”

“N-No! Absolutely not! And I’m not a child either!”

“Denying it so strongly makes me more suspicious.”

The girl fluttered her arms like a bird flapping its wings, flustered. Both her appearance and behavior were like a child pretending to be an adult.

Eventually, the girl seemed to judge that it was water already spilled, and with a deep sigh, she quietly opened her mouth.

“Ugh… Anyway, that’s not what’s important right now. First, put that book down and look for another one.”

“No.”

“W-Why?”

The girl was flustered again when I refused without a moment’s hesitation. She must have thought I would comply with her words.

But I had no intention of putting the book down. What I wanted was ‘diverse history,’ not someone’s ‘subjective opinion.’

Originally, records related to history are always ‘subjective.’ As the saying goes, history is written by the victors, and unless one is a god, history can never become objective.

Therefore, one must encounter many books and find commonalities among them for history to become truly meaningful. Moreover, the girl before me was presumed to be an elf, so she could not view things objectively.

“That’s how perspectives work. If you really are an elf, you might dislike this book. But for us humans, it could be a really good reference. After all, historical texts about other races are rare.”

“Humans call elves walking libraries. I can proudly say that I have more knowledge than you, at least.”

“That may be so. But in the end, that knowledge is also written from an elven perspective, right? The content in this book and the knowledge you have will inevitably clash. And elves, living much longer than humans, are often stuck in their ways. Meaning they don’t change much.”

“I-I’m not like that.”

As if something had struck a chord, the elf girl timidly rebutted. I smiled faintly at the girl who had answered with a small grumble.

‘Is she a daughter from a family who secretly left Alfheim?’

I know that Alfheim is governed by both the Senate and the Queen, who check each other’s power. According to what I heard from Cindy, they have a very bad relationship and are checking each other to maintain their vested interests.

The Senate, if compared to humans, would be like nobles who have surrendered all their titles and united as one force. Of course, not all powerful families are in the Senate; some also help the Queen.

This girl might have secretly escaped from such a family. Judging by her speech, she can’t be considered an ordinary elf.

“By the way, are you also participating in the exhibition? To see the Biography of Xenon?”

“Of course. How could I miss an exhibition held for the Biography of Xenon?”

The girl answered with slight excitement. She really seems to be a fan of the Biography of Xenon.

Feeling somehow proud, I felt my favorability toward her rising as I slightly bent my knees. It was to match eye level with the girl.

The girl flinched slightly when I matched her eye level, but soon she faced me, her silver-gray eyes shining. I met her mysterious eyes and quietly asked.

“My name is Issac Dukar Mayshall. I’m the second son of the Mayshall family who hosted this exhibition. And what is the little lady’s name?”

At my introduction, the elf girl hesitated slightly before answering in her characteristically elegant manner.

“Arwen. Call me Arwen.”

Arwen. A name that is ordinary among elves.

So ordinary that it could be used as an alias without any problem.

While I was thinking that to myself, the girl who introduced herself as Arwen grumbled to me.

“And I’m not a child. Despite how I look, I’ve lived about 10 times longer than you.”

“I understand, grandmother.”

“How dare you!!!”

Even her scolding is very childlike.

*Shiver*

“Huh?”

Suddenly feeling a chill on the back of my neck, I turned my head. But there was no one behind me. Only bookshelves filled with books caught my eye.

Feeling somewhat uneasy, I rubbed the back of my neck and muttered quietly.

“What was that…?”