Don't Concern Yourself With That Book

Someone had died and no one believed that Castor was innocent. Instead of killing everyone and pointing fingers like he usually did, Castor just turned his back around and left the palace. All he felt was boredom. When he stopped walking, he found himself at the clock tower. That place meant a lot to him because that was where he first met the female lead, Rusbella, who had been standing there before him. 

“Rebecca! Hurry and help me change my dress!”

She did not know what Castor was thinking when he suggested the bet. Nothing came to mind. The tyrant from the novel? Even whilst reading the original novel, she could never understand his character. All she thought about him was that he was one mad man. All his actions could be explained purely by his obsessions and madness. Even in his tragic end, his madness did not erode one bit. There were some readers who liked the tyrant but not her. 

‘How could he make a bet on someone’s life?’

All she could think about was how crazy he was. Perhaps noticing how anxious their mistress was, the maids moved a little more hurriedly. After rushing to change her dress and tidy her hair, she tried to leave the hall earlier than she originally planned. If a thought hadn’t suddenly struck her, she would have left the place with just Rebecca and her diary in her hand in tow. 

“Rebecca, give me a moment.”

Ashley left Rebecca alone outside the hall before returning to the room and sending all the maids out. Then, she slowly raised her arm and stared at her wrist.

“Brother.”

Ashley repeatedly called out for Amor. After she called for him about three or four more times, the bracelet glowed faintly. Soon, a small flower sprouted out of the bracelet. 

“… From what I’ve heard, the [Primo Salvatio] has ended.”

“I know.”

Ashley slowly clenched her fist before speaking softly.

“I-I know that I’m rambling right now. I know that you’re not well.”

“… What are you talking about?”

“I know that you’re sick. To the point where you’re on the verge of dying.”

She tried to speak calmly but she eventually gritted her teeth. She was in a hurry. All she could think about was the upcoming banquet but she had things to say.

“I don’t know what you’re hiding from me.”

“…..”

Why did he always look at her with such a sorrowful expression? She never understood the meaning behind his gaze. 

“After I finish everything, I’ll be coming to visit you.”

“… You… urgh, stop…”

“Don’t think of trying to run away from me. Because I’m giving you a chance to give yourself excuses.”

Ashley didn’t know why she changed. She might be finding out the reason she did today or maybe she would continue living like this without knowing anything. In any case, she needed to see him. 

“Even though you’ve lied to me, I’ll still come to see you.”

Who said that the only things one couldn’t hide was a cold and love? Ashley smiled to herself somberly. If someone who was incomplete could notice it, how deep were his feelings for her? Did he overwork his dying body just for her?

Hahahaha. The laughter that just burst out of her was filled with sorrow and regret. Ashley held her breath before calling out to him. 

“Brother…”

Strangely enough, it was only when she met him did she realise that she had changed. She had a gut feeling that she wasn’t being herself but her meeting with him made her certain. 

“See you later. I’ll come find you.”

‘That sounded a little strange…’

Ashley swallowed the words that almost burst out of her. 

‘He’s going to welcome me without caring who comes to see him, right?’

He didn’t reply and instead all she heard was a long coughing fit. Ashley then closed her eyes before tearing off the flower sprout from the bracelet to sever her connection to him.

***

“You may head right this way.”

An attendant from the main palace approached her.

“Let me escort you.”

Ashley followed the lead of the attendant before glancing behind her. She watched her lady-in-waiting trailing behind her before once again staring at the pillars she was walking past. The hallway leading to the banquet hall was long and huge. 

It was a quiet night for a social event. 

Against the moonlight, the trees were casting shadows as delicate as a butterfly’s wing on the ground. As she walked across the swaying shadows, the darkness seemed to chase her steps. Carved onto the pillars were the 24 gods of the Empire including the 12 strongest gods. 

“Rebecca, the symposium today… will there be a lot of people?”

Rebecca did not respond. Instead, she looked at her mistress in incredulity. To Rebecca, her mistress must have been asking the obvious. Ashley smiled calmly. She lowered the hand she was initially bringing to her head. She just remembered that she had styled her hair. 

“Rebecca, I have a favour to ask of you.”

The two stopped before a large door. Ashley turned to face Rebecca before speaking but her lady-in-waiting merely stared back at her wordlessly. 

The attendant who was about to call out for her stopped himself before he did. Ashley expressed her gratitude with a wink before speaking to Rebecca.

“Stop the desert princess from meeting her delegation.”

After a moment of silence. Rebecca spoke.

“What about you, mistress?”

At her words, she lowered her gaze before whispering. 

“I have someone I need to look for.”

Her voice was so soft, Rebecca thought she had just dreamt what Ashley had whispered. But Rebecca understood her mistress and crumpled her forehead. Her beautiful lady-in-waiting parted her lips for a moment before closing them again but she did not hide the fact that she didn’t understand her mistress’ intentions. 

“Rebecca.”

After a long time, she finally agreed.

“After this day is over, I have something I have to confess to you.”

Ashley rarely had the guts to look into Rebecca’s eyes. Ashley wondered what expression Rebecca had right now. Ashley’s forehead could barely scrape Rebecca’s chin because she was so much taller than her so she had no choice but to look up. 

“… Your face… right now. It reminds me of the expression my father had before he went to war.”

There was a thin beam of light between Rebecca and Ashley. It was the light leaking out from the crack in the doors. It separated the two people as if it had been setting a boundary. But Rebecca narrowed the distance. The boundary between them disappeared and she slowly raised her hand to grab onto Ashley’s ribbon. Now, Ashley had no idea whether she was going to pull it loose but it was all in the hands of her lady-in-waiting. 

“What are you afraid of?”

Ashley had kept her by her side all this time but Ashley had always kept a certain distance from her. But it wasn’t because she didn’t consider Rebecca someone precious to her. How could she not think she was precious when she saved her life with her own two hands? She was just afraid. She was afraid that the secrets she had been hiding and the act she had been keeping up to deceive Rebecca would unravel. She was scared that she would have to come clean to everything. 

“Whatever you’re going to say, I’ll wait for you.”

Under her delicate fingers, the ribbons formed a perfect bow. 

“Mistress.”

As Rebecca got closer to her, Ashley could no longer hide her expression. Rebecca was the same. But that seemed to be what Rebecca wanted anyway. Convinced that their relationship would remain the same no matter what happens, Rebecca slowly spoke with confidence. 

“I accept your order.”

‘I am your servant.’

That was what Rebecca seemed to be conveying. Just then, the attendant’s voice sliced through the silence and resonated through the hall. 

“The 8th Branch of the Empire, Princess Ashley Rosé Kaltanias.”

As she entered the bright space, Ashley felt as if she had just entered a tent. It was as if she was entering a deep forest filled with light and people. She raised her hand to shield her eyes until she could get used to it. Then, at some point, she realised that she was already standing in the middle of the hall.

A subtle melody flourished her surroundings like background music. 

“I greet the noble 8th Branch of the Empire.”

Someone lowered her head. It was a middle-aged stranger. Following after him, a lady who had elegantly accessorised herself with jewellery bowed her head as well. A slew of greetings then ensued. People started introducing themselves to her using their own names, their family names and even the temples they belonged to. 

However, for Ashley, it felt as if she was underwater and everything she was hearing was muffled. But just then, Ashley bumped into someone and she had to come back to reality from the shock. It was only after nodding to acknowledge some young bewildered templar asking if she was alright did she begin to notice the crowded hall.

‘Someone is going to die here.’

Should she save him? That was an obvious question. She had no intention of participating in an inhuman bet that weighed on human life. All her purple eyes could see were people and more people. There were men, old men and too many people. But she had to find him. She wasn’t doing this because of Castor. Even if he hadn’t told her to prevent that nobleman’s death, she would have stepped forward anyway. 

Another templar walked past her before recommending some wine. The man who seemed to be a Templar of Wine had a large flower tucked behind in his ear. Ashley could not help but to stagger at one whiff of that intense floral fragrance. Her head felt fine but she was pushing her body’s limits. Someone managed to grab onto her falling body.

“Are you alright?”

Ashley was about to raise her head to assure the person that she was alright before she stopped herself. 

‘Dane?’

She faced the familiar yet unfamiliar man. Once he noticed Ashley’s face, he looked troubled. He had well-styled hair, dark skin and a smooth jawline. As if he was trying to seduce her, his languid eyes curled strangely. She tried to search through her memories for his name.

“… Deros.”

“I didn’t think you’d remember my name.”

A mirage overlapped with Dero’s eyes. The way he blinked and smiled looked exactly like Dane. He then bowed his head. 

“Deros Rome Herotores. I am Baron Deros. Of course…”

He curled his eyes.

“Considering how templars control everything in this Empire, this title is just for pretence. Well, I’m just saying what it is.”

His eyes that had a subtle glint in them were as scarlet as the sunset. Just like Dane’s, they were as beautiful as jewels. The man lowered his head before kissing the back of her hand. He seemed completely different from how he was outside the palace. Now, he seemed like a real noble. 

‘Well, I’ll be going now.’

The man blinked languidly before whispering into her ear as if he was actually trying to seduce her. It was only then did she realise she had been talking to him whilst still in his arms. 

“I have orders from my chief so I don’t have time.”

He then turned his back around before disappearing. The man who first came to mind was the white-haired man with split personalities. Hernan. Her heart thumped anxiously. 

The hall she was currently in looked a lot like the hall she was in for the empress’ symposium. Couches filled the hall and mouthwatering food were being served as a buffet. The floor had been embedded with jewels. She could smell the deep fragrance of flowers even past the numerous clothes and under the silvery lights. 

She was getting drunk on that intoxicating scent. 

Ashley felt as if she was standing in the middle of the stage again. Because everyone was looking at her. It was different from the tens and thousands of gazes directed towards her earlier. Their gazes felt starkly different. All kinds of looks including that of fellowship, wariness and pure curiosity pointed towards her. Ashley realised something again. There sure were a lot of people. 

‘What did the diary mention again? A high-ranking templar, white clothes and a middle-aged man…’

Just as she thought, there were too many people. Ashley desperately pondered over what the diary had written. What else did it mention? A high-ranking templar, a high-ranking templar… What did they use as the title to address high-ranking templars? Even whilst she was agonising over it, she was getting surrounded by aristocrats who wanted to greet her and nobles who just wanted to talk to her. Ashley nodded her head before glancing at the templar who just greeted her and noticed his hip swaying. 

‘Their belt!’