Chapter 26
[To Sister Rose,
Sister, how have you been? It’s been so long since I last saw your face.
I want to see you again, but I suppose that won’t be possible for quite some time…]
A soft, warm feeling filled my chest as I read the words. The letter continued with gentle, uneventful sentences — only small, quiet anxieties that one couldn’t easily speak aloud.
Worries like whether she’d be able to complete her initiation, or if she even belonged there at all.
“…Heh.”
The maid reading the letter beside me gave a faint laugh. My hand instinctively tightened around the paper. Then, as if nothing had happened, the maid’s face returned to its usual expressionless calm.
“Now that I’ve shown you the contents, may I take the letter with me?”
I wanted to sound casual, but my voice trembled slightly at the end. The maid’s impassive eyes turned toward me.
“Yes, that’s fine.”
“Then I’d like to read it again alone. I’ll return to my room.”
The maid said nothing. I rose and left the parlor by myself.
The maid didn’t follow me into the bedroom. No doubt she had gone scurrying to the Emperor again, to report that there was nothing suspicious in the letter.
The thought should have been reassuring — but instead, my grip around the letter opener tightened.
I took a deep breath and sealed the envelope once more. Then, slipping the letter opener into the small gap where the seal had already been broken, I muttered to myself.
“It should appear if I do this, right?”
But the envelope stayed flat. Still empty.
Was I tricked? Did someone run off with the diary?
Then suddenly, radiant light spilled out of the envelope like droplets of water. The glow piled onto the desk, merging together until it took the shape of a thin book.
Gradually, the light faded. The diary appeared exactly as it had when I’d handed it to Mikhail. Opening the cover, I found a short note tucked between the pages.
[To Madam Rose,
As requested, I’ve completed the analysis of the book. It indeed originates from the Tehit Empire and was primarily used as a diary.
The pattern on the cover appears to be embroidery or an overlay of leather, but in truth, it was made by an ancient, lost technique involving delicate application of heat…]
Mikhail’s note was detailed and technical — a glimpse of the serious side he showed only when he worked.
A diary, huh.
He must have realized what it was but not that there were actual entries inside. That must be due to magic. I set the note aside and turned the page. The diary picked up right where I had last stopped reading.
“So that’s all I got from it.”
No new progress. Crossing my arms, I closed my eyes.
If I wanted to learn how Rosalyn was connected to the Magic Empire, I’d have to dig deeper. Theo’s words also kept bothering me.
He’d said we used to visit the outskirts of the Land of Death often. But I had no memory of that at all.
Maybe I’d lost those memories when I transmigrated.
Still, if the original Rosalyn really went near that cursed land often, it might have had something to do with magic.
Where else can I find information about magic?
I clenched and unclenched my hands. If only I could use magic myself…
“Come to think of it, Father once mentioned that the Imperial Palace has a secret library…”
If that’s true, there might be books on magic there. Even if the Magic Empire fell abruptly, the survivors who built the current empire were once mages themselves. Surely they would’ve hidden away a few volumes.
The problem was where exactly that secret library was located.
Most likely in the central palace — where the Emperor himself worked. Sneaking in was impossible. He already thought little of me; any request to enter would only make things worse.
Maybe Demian could help?
I swung my feet lightly, thinking of how to bring it up. But avoiding his suspicion would be difficult.
If I said I wanted to find mysterious records about the Land of Death, he’d definitely grow suspicious. He’d probably say something like:
“You can find those in the royal archives, can’t you? Why do you need access to the secret library? And how do you even know it exists?”
Just thinking about it made my head hurt. In the end, the only place I could look for clues was the Land of Death itself. With magic relics still being excavated there, maybe even a few intact grimoires would turn up.
“Before the Emperor announces the honeymoon date…”
If I could just stop by an old bookstore in the capital before then, that’d be enough. I bit my lip and sighed.
“Demian.”
A lilting voice brushed against his ear. His brows twitched slightly, but he smoothed his expression before anyone could notice.
Across from him, Rosalyn was smiling. He could feel the maid’s watchful eyes behind her.
“Yes, I’m listening, Rose.”
Demian gave a bright, easy smile — his usual armor. A mask to keep her actions from reaching his heart too deeply. She only ever acted gentle when she wanted something. This time would be no different.
“We’ve been cooped up in the palace for far too long, don’t you think…?”
As she spoke, Rosalyn twirled a lock of hair that reached her chest around one finger. He only smiled and let her continue.
By “too long,” she meant a week — hardly much time, though for her, it was. She had always been the sort to stay indoors, even at her father’s duchy.
Mindful of the servant’s presence, Demian chose his words carefully.
“Would you like to go outside?”
“If you’re too busy, I understand. It’s just… I sometimes miss those days before our marriage, when we could meet freely outside.”
Rosalyn said this with a quick glance toward the servant, her crimson eyes glinting.
Eyes that were perfectly adorable — and completely devoid of sincerity.
Demian smiled.
“That’s a good idea. I’ll ask His Majesty about it.”
He kept his tone mild enough to avoid raising suspicion. First, she’d asked about visiting the outskirts of the Land of Death, and now she wanted an outing?
He’d agreed so far since it cost him nothing — but it was time to see what she was really after.
“By the way, Rose, our honeymoon destination has been decided. It’s near the old Shardena territory. Is that all right with you?”
Her eyes widened. After a pause, Rosalyn repeated softly, “The old Shardena territory?”
“I thought you might like it. You used to visit there often as a child, didn’t you?”
Rosalyn nodded naturally — but there was a tiny hesitation, a flicker of uncertainty that he didn’t miss.
“Yes, that’s right. It’s such a nostalgic place… I think I’d almost forgotten how much I loved it.”
Demian smirked inwardly. She couldn’t possibly remember. She’d forgotten nearly all of her childhood except for her younger brother.
That place was where they’d first met.
The Shardena County, now buried beneath the Land of Death, had once served as the empire’s front line. The Earl of Shardena had been a strong man — his aide and younger brother, Viscount Lujan, was none other than Rosalyn’s maternal grandfather.
The family was long gone now, their lands consumed and their children dead.
Theo’s face, when he’d heard the name “Shardena,” came to mind.
“That place…?”
A dark shadow had crossed his expression, as if he wanted to demand, Why there, of all places?
Demian hadn’t answered. He didn’t need to.
Perhaps going there would help her recover her memories.
He saw her sudden curiosity about the Land of Death as a good sign — a spark of the past reawakening. Whatever her motives, if she remembered the man he once was to her, he’d even kiss the devil’s feet in gratitude.
Still, her desire to visit the Land of Death seemed unrelated to her memories.
“She’s up to something.”
Was it truly just to help him? He doubted that completely. Perhaps a little trip outside the palace would reveal more.
“His Majesty may refuse the outing,” he warned gently.
The Emperor didn’t watch his every move — he tended to ease his vigilance when Demian claimed to be meeting Rosalyn.
That excuse had allowed him several trips to the duchy and various salons for reports.
It was one of the Emperor’s strange whims. Lately, he’d been unusually obsessive, perhaps because of the upcoming marriage — but even that would fade in time.
“Was it just a week ago that I asked to be engaged to her?”
Demian smiled at Rosalyn.
Whatever the case, he wanted to become someone she could trust.
“I’ll try to persuade His Majesty.”
