Chapter 44.2
Chapter 44.2
“Doesn’t suit me? No way. I thought it was a rather dashing look. Really not flattering?”
She tucked her hair under the cap, her tone playful. Damian’s lips pressed into a thin line, his expression unreadable. Adeline realized she’d been smiling a lot since entering District 10. Instead of answering, he steadied her as she stumbled over a length of scrap material. Just then, Rune spoke.
“There’s something I need to ask.”
His voice was suddenly serious. Adeline stepped over a long piece of metal as she replied.
“Ask away.”
“I heard the Serpent King call you ‘Adeline.’ What’s your last name?”
“Oh, I suppose I haven’t properly introduced myself. My last name is Graciel. It means ‘bearer of God’s grace.’”
“So your full name is…”
“Adeline La Graciel.”
A long silence followed. Turning back, Adeline found Rune frozen in place, his face ashen, as if he’d heard a terrible curse. His expression was so unsettling that Adeline felt a flicker of unease.
“…Is…is that name…is it common among humans?” Rune stammered.
“I don’t know. I’ve never met another Adeline La Graciel. But that’s just where I’m from. I don’t know about other places. Why do you ask?”
“I…I saw your name in an old book at the library.”
“An old book? My name?”
“It was a history book. The pages were yellowed, the cover worn. No one ever touched it. I’m probably the only bookworm in District 10 who ever read it. It was on the highest shelf, tucked away in the farthest corner. And in it…”
He trailed off, his voice laced with tension. Adeline waited patiently.
“…in it, there was a record of humanity. Of the human who first conquered our district.”
The phrase ‘record of humanity’ wasn’t surprising. Someone had to have conquered the 10th District for humans to rule it now. But what Rune said next was indeed shocking.
“That first conqueror had the same name as you. Adeline La Graciel.”
Five heartbeats of silence hung heavy in the air. Sharing a first name might be a coincidence, but the same last name, too? It was too much. Adeline had never met anyone with the same name, let alone the same full name. And for that name to belong to a conqueror? She didn’t know how to react. She stared at Rune, his body rigid with tension, and finally spoke.
“That’s…a strange coincidence. But if it’s an old book, it must be ancient history. How long ago are we talking?”
“The 8th year of the 10th Queen’s reign. 359 years ago.”
Adeline stopped dead in her tracks, frowning. 359 years. Impossible. The numbers didn’t add up. District 13 used Underground Reckoning, starting from when humanity retreated below ground. This year was UR 152.
“That can’t be right.”
“Why not?”
“Humans weren’t underground then. We went underground 152 years ago.”
“152 years? Where did you get that number?”
“I read it in a history book. Back in my district.”
An awkward silence fell between them. They both sensed something was wrong, but neither knew who was right. After a moment of thought, Adeline decided to ask a different question.
“Where is this old book? Is it still in the library?”
“It’s gone now.”
“Gone?”
“When the humans burned down the royal palace, the library next door burned with it.”
Rune’s voice was filled with regret, bordering on grief. Adeline, a bibliophile herself, could sympathize. Even the thought of a few books being used as kindling was painful, let alone an entire library. Damian spoke quietly.
“So, according to you, humans have ruled this place for 359 years?”
“No, not continuously. The current rule began two years ago. But history shows two previous human invasions.”
“Two invasions, and they still weren’t prepared?”
Rune bristled at the pointed remark but couldn’t offer a defense. It was clearly something he’d pondered himself.
“That’s…because…neither reign lasted very long.”
“How long?”
“I don’t know.”
Adeline, exasperated, finally spoke.
“You said their rule wasn’t long. Doesn’t the history book say when they were liberated?”
“That’s the strange part. No other book mentions a liberation date either. But it’s clear their rule ended. All mention of humanity just vanishes from the records, as if they never existed. I estimate each reign lasted between five and ten years.”
Did this place even have history lessons? It was bizarre to have records of conquest but not liberation, even if it was centuries ago.
Discussion
0 CommentsNo comments yet.