Chapter 83
Part 18. Change of Emotions
Helena worked in the secret archive of the Royal Library in Feton Castle. Among the other librarians, she was famous for being an easy target.
When Charlie, who had gone with her to the Phoenix Gambling Group, first learned that Diana Estrella was the Holy Maiden, he almost fainted. When King Kyle was with Dee, he seemed quite gentle. But when she was not around, he felt cold, as if he carried the smell of blood.
When he hired Helena at the library, he had said this:
“Use all the information you know only for me, and speak of it only when it benefits me. That is the condition for me paying off your debt.”
The king had spoken without expression. It was chilling. But thanks to him, she was freed from her debt. Even the orphans she cared for received proper support.
One day, she received a message from the king asking if there was any special method for members of the imperial family to use their seals.
Helena had already read every book in Feton Castle in a very short time. She knew the materials there were not enough. So she immediately sent a reply.
She asked if she could check the archives of Royden School, the most prestigious academy in the Vitensia Empire, famous for gathering only geniuses.
As soon as she asked, Kyle sent word telling her to leave immediately.
Helena quickly packed her things. At sunrise the next day, she left the library to depart for the Vitensia Empire.
At that moment, someone who often wandered around the royal castle walked toward her, waving his hand. It was Jin Clais, Kyle’s younger brother.
“Hey, easy target!”
“Prince Jin?”
Helena, who had already gotten used to her nickname, greeted him. Jin gestured for her to follow.
“You’re going to Vitensia, right? Kyle said to bring you when I go.”
“Y-Yes? Then… are we leaving together?”
“Yeah. Let’s go.”
Sharing a carriage with royalty was uncomfortable. But it was efficient. With a fast carriage, they would reach the Vitensia Empire in ten hours.
Helena hugged her luggage tightly and followed Jin into the carriage.
After it started moving, Jin asked her, “You heard the rumor that Cyan came back alive at dawn, right?”
“Yes, I heard.”
“For a while, things are going to be chaotic. We’ll have to check in real time whether we’re still alive.”
“A-Actually, Holy Maiden Diana always tells us to be careful.”
“Right. By the way, why are you going to Vitensia?”
“It’s a secret!”
Kyle had never said she could tell anyone. Helena answered firmly. Jin smiled.
“Strangely, Kyle is lucky with people.”
“R-Right? I think so too, Your Highness!”
Helena, nervous, rambled without realizing she was praising herself.
As the carriage moved, she stared out the window and clenched her fists. Her eyes shone with academic passion.
At seven in the evening, on the last day of the year, the carriage stopped in front of Royden School, the greatest academy in the Vitensia Empire.
When she entered the library that held the secret archive, a staff member blocked her.
“Where are you from?”
“From Feton Castle.”
“What type of materials do you need?”
“His Highness Kyle wishes to investigate the various uses of the imperial seals. Here is his archive access permit.”
As Helena presented the permit stamped with Kyle’s seal, students studying in the library began whispering.
“She’s from Feton Castle.”
“Wow, how lucky. Directly under a prince. I wish I got a job like that…”
Under their envious gazes, Helena felt both proud of her success and the sadness of being a humanities student.
After checking the seal, the staff member nodded.
Helena, who had entered the archive much more easily than she expected, let out a deep sigh.
This secret archive contained materials about the imperial family. Only royals or those with special permission could enter. Of course, some students sneaked in at the risk of expulsion. But most of the books were written in ancient language, unreadable to ordinary students.
“To enter a place like this so confidently… I’ve really succeeded, Helena!”
She quickly began searching through the archive.
In the reply allowing her to go to Royden School, there had also been a letter from Dee.
She was to pretend she was researching the imperial seals. But what she truly had to investigate was the legend of Diana Estrella’s reincarnation.
Especially important were these points:
How the man chosen by the god Roxand died.
How the man who stole the emperor’s throne did it.
And how Diana Estrella responded.
Dee had repeatedly emphasized:
“Cyan Clais might be looking for the same information. Your life could be in danger, so make sure—make sure—to leave the archive as soon as the fireworks begin. The imperial family must attend the fireworks, so no matter how fast Cyan arrives, it will only be after they end. I’m saying this again, Helena! Even if you find nothing, the moment you hear the first firework, you must leave! Remember, your life is far more important than the materials!”
The fireworks lasted about three hours.
Dee could not take her eyes off the colorful explosions. Kyle let out a small laugh.
“You’re really fearless.”
“What do you mean fearless? I’m actually very timid.”
“Don’t joke. I’ve never seen anyone as bold as you.”
The fireworks were loud, so they could barely hear each other. Kyle bent closer to Dee.
“Can you afford to relax like this?”
“It’s fine. Cyan is still over there. We have to pretend to relax. If we wander near the archive, Cyan might do something to it right away.”
“If you’re thinking that, tell me.”
“You should notice before I say it. Try developing the ability to read my thoughts.”
Kyle frowned. “You can’t read my thoughts either.”
“Why not? I’ve shown all kinds of abilities, and you still treat me like a fraud?”
She laughed brightly. Kyle asked, “What do you think I’m thinking right now?”
“Hmm… It’s cold? No. You’re thinking the fireworks are noisy and boring since they happen every year.”
“…Not something that obvious.”
He really had thought that. Though he had many other thoughts too.
Kyle turned toward Royden School. “Anyway, Helena must have left the archive by now. You told her to leave when the first firework exploded.”
“Yes. I did. But we should still check later. That girl is seriously clumsy.”
Dee muttered, looking worried.
Helena definitely heard the first firework. Royden School was not far from the lake, so the sound was loud enough to shake the building.
But it had been a long time since she returned to her old school’s archive. She now had access to books that normally required imperial permission. Greed grew in her heart.
She thought she would be safe during the fireworks. So she kept reading. Just one more book. Just one more.
Then she discovered something important and whispered in a trembling voice.
“This… this is impossible…”
She should have left. But she could not stop confirming the information. She lost track of time.
Suddenly, she looked up in shock.
The fireworks had stopped.
“T-This is bad!”
Dee had emphasized again and again that her life was in danger.
“When did the fireworks end?!”
Helena, pale and panicking, rushed toward the door. But she froze when she heard it open.
The archive door opened. People walked in.
Cyan Clais.
The mage Wis.
And the Holy Maiden, Renette.
“Wow, there are really a lot of books. How are we supposed to go through all this?” Wis complained.
His voice stayed where he was. But someone else’s footsteps slowly approached Helena.
She quickly pulled out a random hero biography, pretending to read it. Then a voice spoke beside her.
“What are you reading?”
Her shoulders trembled.
She hid her notes under the book and awkwardly looked at Cyan. She checked the emblem on his uniform before carefully speaking.
“Y-Your Highness?”
“Your name?”
“I-I am Helena, from Feton Castle.”
In a trembling voice, she answered. Cyan pointed at the book in her hand with his long white fingers.
“Can I see that?”
“This? Th-The biography?”
“No. What you hid behind it.”
At his gentle tone, her body stiffened. She slowly turned her head. Cyan leaned against the bookshelf, smiling softly. When their eyes met, her heart and voice felt frozen.
“I-I’m sorry, but…”
He bent slightly closer.
“I’m asking nicely.”
She instinctively understood.
If she refused, she might die here.
Helena remembered Dee’s letter.
“Remember, your life is far more important than the materials.”
She slipped her small memo between the pages of the biography. Luckily, it only contained minor notes. Most of the important information was already in her head.
Helena handed the paper over. Cyan gently patted her hair.
“Thank you, Helena.”
He turned away. Then he opened the lamp he was holding and slowly poured oil onto the bookshelves.
Helena realized what he was about to do. Terrified, she stepped back.
Cyan read the paper she gave him and walked out of the library.
“Burn it,” he told Wis.
“As you command, Your Highness.”
Immediately, fire caught on the door. The flames quickly spread into the archive.
Helena looked around in panic and ran to the window. She tried to open it, but it was too hot to touch.
She threw books at the window, but the glass of the empire’s greatest archive would not break so easily.
“A-Am I… going to die like this?”
Tears filled her eyes as she desperately flipped through books.
“Okay, find a painless way to die— No! That’s not right! Oh, my fate! I just finished paying off my debt!”
As she cried loudly, she suddenly heard the sound of glass shattering.
Smoke began to escape through the broken window.
