Chapter 84
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She wanted to check its secret contents, but Perry re-entered the room, forcing her to hurriedly tuck it into her inner pocket.
Late that night, Edith held the note up to the lamplight on her bedside table to read it.
[Tomorrow, as the sun begins to set in the west, come to the library.]
The paper was very small, making it hard to write everything, so the message was quite concise. The problem was, there was no indication of who had sent it.
‘Just ‘come to the library,’ huh… Like I’d go without knowing who it’s from.’
She worried it might be someone’s trap, but figured that with Perry following her around the library to keep watch, nothing too serious would happen.
‘I’ll go tomorrow and see. As the sun begins to set in the west…’
* * *
It was past noon the next day when Edith asked Perry if she could go to the library.
“Finished it already?”
“Oh, I couldn’t sleep last night, so I read… and ended up finishing it quickly.”
“I see.”
She had just been to the library recently, which could have seemed suspicious, but apparently, Perry let it slide without a second thought.
Her heart pounding with nervous tension, Edith pressed a hand to her chest and headed to the library with Perry.
Though not as grand as the Empire’s, the kingdom’s library was still considerable in size.
The circular space was filled with bookshelves towering three stories high, so tall one needed a ladder to reach the top.
Inside the library, usually frequented only by Silverwind’s scholars, Edith discreetly glanced around, searching for the note’s sender, but she didn’t see a single familiar face.
“What kind of book are you going to pick, Miss Edie?”
“I’m, um…”
She hadn’t actually finished her previous book, and since she came because of the note, she hadn’t even thought about what genre to choose. Edith drew out her words, thinking it over.
“Have you read the history of Silverwind?”
Suddenly, someone approached them and spoke while handing her a book.
The person was none other than Tisha Almarjan.
It was unexpected to meet her here since she hadn’t seen her since that day. Even more surprising was that Tisha, who should rightfully despise Edith for supposedly taking away her chance at becoming princess consort, was amiably recommending a book.
“Miss Tisha, I see you here.”
‘Could it be that Tisha was the one who sent the note?’
Standing beside a greeting Perry, Edith took the book with a look of uncertainty.
“No, I haven’t… Thank you. Since you recommended it, I’ll be sure to read it.”
“Yes, as you read it, you’ll come across a part about the great oasis that explains why the kingdom was founded. The scenery there is so beautiful, it’s almost a shame it’s only described through illustrations.”
‘Ah, I think I’ve heard Perry mention that before.’
“Our family’s villa is located right where you can see the entire oasis. It’s close to the palace, too. If you’d like, I could invite you sometime.”
Tisha was being unnaturally friendly towards her.
From the way she spoke, one might even think they shared a special bond. Edith, feeling awkward and unsure how to react, simply smiled.
“Yes… thank you.”
‘Guess the note wasn’t from Miss Tisha after all…’
Currently confined, Edith’s allowed range of movement was limited to within the palace. She had never once been outside its walls, and she doubted Kazan would allow it, so her reply was merely polite.
“Well then…”
Tisha wore her characteristic haughty expression and gracefully took her leave.
In the end, Edith lingered a while longer in the library, waiting for the note’s sender, but no one approached her.
Unsure whether it was someone’s prank or a trap, she returned to her room, clutching the book Tisha had recommended.
“Would it be alright if I rested a bit early today, Mr. Perry…?”
Though it wasn’t yet evening, the fruitless outing had completely drained her. Edith told Perry she was tired and wanted to take a nap.
“Are you sure you’ll be alright without dinner, Edie? Just call for me when you wake up.”
Edith hurried him out despite his concern, then collapsed face-down on the bed.
‘I went all the way to the library for nothing… I thought it was Miss Tisha, but she just talked about the oasis and left… Oasis…?’
Suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind. Edith sat up and grabbed The History of Silverwind from the table.
She flipped through the pages, searching for the section about the oasis.
‘Here it is…!’
Tucked inside a page with the subheading [The Heart of Silverwind, The Oasis] was a letter.
‘So the note was from Miss Tisha after all!’
She hastily unfolded the letter. Feeling like the protagonist of a mystery novel, she was so excited her hands trembled uncontrollably.
But as she read the contents, Edith’s face slowly twisted into confusion.
“How… that can’t be…”
[Someone who came from the Empire is waiting to meet you.
They will be staying at our villa for the time being.
I think it would be best if we went together soon.
—Tisha Almarjan]
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