“!”
I looked back in surprise, but there was nothing there.
Did the book I put down earlier fall?
The sound was too light to be called that.
Judging from the sound of it rolling, it seemed to be a small, light object like a ring.
Did my seal ring fall off by any chance?
I hurriedly checked my finger, and luckily the signet ring was still there.
I walked towards the sound of the problem, feeling relieved but also nervous.
The sound was heard between the bookshelf and the table, but no fallen objects were seen when I checked the surrounding floor.
So what on earth was that sound I heard?
I don't think I misheard.
While I was looking around in a puzzled manner, this time, a book that stood out among the tightly packed books caught my eye.
Unlike other books, it had no title.
What book is this that doesn't have a title?
I opened the book as if I was splitting it in half.
[Empire 519, December 7]
Is this... a diary?
[Olben said that Adele had a natural talent for swordsmanship.]
It was my father's diary, too. My name was mentioned in it, but I could tell right away by the handwriting.
I was curious and wondered why my father's diary was there.
My curiosity grew even more as the page I had opened happened to be the one where Lord Olben had told my father about my talent for swordsmanship.
I wonder what my father was thinking.
It's bad behavior to steal someone else's diary, but I decided to just check this, so I leaned against the bookshelf and read it carefully.
[Lord Olben was delighted, saying it was a great celebration for the family, but this was not a celebration, it was a curse.]
Curse. The word stuck in my mind.
Naturally, the pile of books about curses I had seen earlier came to mind.
Could it be that my father was the one who brought those books?
[We must never let anyone know that Adele has a natural talent for swordsmanship.]
When I saw that the handwriting was getting darker, it looked like it was written with heavy pressure.
[Especially, I must not let him catch her. If he does...]
The sentence ended there. I turned the page, but there was no further content written.
The flow of the story was interrupted at the most crucial point, which was disappointing.
At the same time, what made me depressed was that my father thought my talent was a curse rather than a blessing.
I already knew that my father hated the way I wielded a sword, but I never thought it would be so severe that he would call it a curse.
So that's why he tried to stop the rumor from spreading somehow.
Why on earth?
Why do you hate it so much, Father?
When the Duke's knights showed off their outstanding swordsmanship skills, you smiled so brightly that your mouth hung from ear to ear, but why did I...?
Tutuk-
“...”
I turned my gaze in that direction as I heard the sound of something falling again.
The sound was duller than before, and it was between the bookshelves that I had just checked and passed by.
There was absolutely no reason for anything to fall.
That means there's someone here.
Could it be Chernosser?
Even though I thought it couldn't be true, I couldn't help but think, "No way," because I kept hearing strange sounds.
I covered my father's diary, took it to my bosom, and headed toward the sound.
“...”
Then, on the bookshelf, a bloody handprint was clearly visible, so creepy that just looking at it sent shivers down my spine.
Bloody footprints were also visible on the floor.
It was even more eerie because it wasn't there before.
I didn't want to get close, but I had to know why it was there, so I swallowed hard and slowly approached it.
Clang-
Then something light touched my foot.
Let's take a look below. I saw something shining brightly, reflecting the light.
I bent down and picked up something shiny.
“These are... cufflinks?”
Cufflinks are usually engraved with the family crest of the person to whom they belong, and the one I picked up had the imperial family crest clearly engraved on it.
The fact that there were cufflinks engraved with the imperial emblem there was clear evidence that Chernosser had come that far.
I went there to check just in case, but I never thought I would find traces of the real Chernosser.
I was terribly embarrassed.
It was also creepy to discover bloody handprints and footprints that were believed to have been left by Chernosser.
How on earth did he, who was not a blood relative of the Duke Leopold, get in there?
Besides that, the reason Chernosser went into the basement.
Is he really gone? Is that bloodstain really his?
And my mind became complicated because there were so many unsolved questions, such as where the escort knight had gone.
First of all... I need to check if there are any exceptions to the basement rules.
As far as I know, there wasn't, but you never know.
There may be some way I don't know about.
I had to search through the books in the library to find out about them, but finishing up the Chernosser case took priority, so I grabbed the cufflinks and my father's diary and left the basement.
The sunlight was so bright that it dazzled my eyes. I squinted and made a window with my hand.
“You're finally out.”
Perdes looked at me like that and greeted me.
Because of the backlight, I couldn't see his expression, but I could tell from his voice that he was somewhat angry.
“You didn’t come out for a long time, so I thought something had happened and I was worried. Do you know how worried I was?”
Was it that long? I looked out the window behind Perdes.
It seemed to be late morning, judging by the sun high in the sky.
Since I went into the basement just before dawn, that meant I had been there for at least six hours.
I said I would be back soon, but I stayed so long that Perdes was understandably angry.
I was willing to apologize, but Perdes said something unbelievable.
“What on earth were you doing in the basement for two days?”
“Two days...right?”
I thought it was 6 hours, but it's been two days?
“That’s ridiculous. Don’t joke around.”
Perdes leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, laughing as if he found it ridiculous.
“It’s true. Why would I joke around with something like this?”
That's true, but...
“If you don’t believe me, ask other people.”
I shook my head, not that I didn't trust Perdes that much.
By the way, it's really been two days.
While I was feeling bewildered by the unrealistic flow of time, I belatedly remembered what my father had said.
“Adele, they say it’s another world, separate from reality. So, if you’re there, time passes more slowly or faster than in reality, so try not to stay there too long.”
That's what he meant. Now I understand.
“More than that, did you find any clues in Chernosser?”
"Yes."
I showed Perdes the cufflinks I had brought.
Perdes checked the imperial emblem engraved on the button and then gasped.
“That bastard really went in here. Fearlessly entering a place that is strictly forbidden to anyone other than the blood relatives of the Duke Leopold family...”
From what I've heard, it looks like Harness or someone else has heard about the secrets of the basement while I was away.
“But they say that if an unauthorized person enters, they disappear without a trace, but why are there traces like this?”
Perdes returned the button to me and asked.
I too was puzzled by that part, so I shrugged and answered.
“I just wanted to find out what happened anyway.”
“Is there any way to find out?”
“You have to try that to find out.”
I put the button back in my pocket so I wouldn't lose it.
Then, I looked at the Duke seal ring on my finger because it was tangling.
I vaguely remember hearing from my father that if Duke Leopold entered the library, he would find a third door that no one else could see.
So I had hoped that if I wore the ring, I might be able to find the door... but it was a vain hope.
It seems that simply wearing a Duke signet ring isn't enough.
I smiled faintly and took off my ring, putting it carefully in my deep pocket.
Perdes' gaze suddenly fell on my father's diary that I was holding.
“Could that book be a clue?”
I answered, pulling the diary closer to my arms.
"No."
It was also a silent expression that I wanted no more interest in the diary.
Perdes, who was quick-witted, immediately understood the meaning and changed the subject.
“While Young Lady was away, I searched thoroughly not only the Duke’s residence but also the dukedom, but I couldn’t find Chernosser's escort knight.”
I answered as I walked back to the bedroom.
“I couldn’t find any trace of the escort knight inside either.”
“So, did they succeed in escaping without anyone noticing?”
Perdes, who had been following me like that, tilted his head.
“Or did they disappear without a trace?”
“Well, we can check which one it is from now on.”
“How are you going to check?”
“We’ll release people at the Martina train station. The quickest way to get from the Duchy of Leopold to the capital is by train.”
The river was frozen, making it impossible to travel by boat, and traveling by horse would take at least two weeks.
So, if that escort knight is alive, he will try to catch the train to the capital by any means necessary.
Perdes nodded as if he understood.
“Then it would be better to keep the fact that we found traces of Chernosser a secret from Count Martina and ask him to help us find him.”
“Yes.”
“If you find that escort knight, it would be best to drop that button somewhere a reasonable distance from Leopold’s duchy and pretend not to know about it.”
I was given one, but it was comforting to see and be enlightened by more.
I also thought it was fortunate that he was on the same side.
I was just turning the corner of the hallway leading to the bedroom when he told me to do so.
Dada dadadak!
I heard the sound of something running quickly, and then it laughed heartily and hugged me tightly.
“You’re finally here, darling!”
I looked back in surprise, but there was nothing there.
Did the book I put down earlier fall?
The sound was too light to be called that.
Judging from the sound of it rolling, it seemed to be a small, light object like a ring.
Did my seal ring fall off by any chance?
I hurriedly checked my finger, and luckily the signet ring was still there.
I walked towards the sound of the problem, feeling relieved but also nervous.
The sound was heard between the bookshelf and the table, but no fallen objects were seen when I checked the surrounding floor.
So what on earth was that sound I heard?
I don't think I misheard.
While I was looking around in a puzzled manner, this time, a book that stood out among the tightly packed books caught my eye.
Unlike other books, it had no title.
What book is this that doesn't have a title?
I opened the book as if I was splitting it in half.
[Empire 519, December 7]
Is this... a diary?
[Olben said that Adele had a natural talent for swordsmanship.]
It was my father's diary, too. My name was mentioned in it, but I could tell right away by the handwriting.
I was curious and wondered why my father's diary was there.
My curiosity grew even more as the page I had opened happened to be the one where Lord Olben had told my father about my talent for swordsmanship.
I wonder what my father was thinking.
It's bad behavior to steal someone else's diary, but I decided to just check this, so I leaned against the bookshelf and read it carefully.
[Lord Olben was delighted, saying it was a great celebration for the family, but this was not a celebration, it was a curse.]
Curse. The word stuck in my mind.
Naturally, the pile of books about curses I had seen earlier came to mind.
Could it be that my father was the one who brought those books?
[We must never let anyone know that Adele has a natural talent for swordsmanship.]
When I saw that the handwriting was getting darker, it looked like it was written with heavy pressure.
[Especially, I must not let him catch her. If he does...]
The sentence ended there. I turned the page, but there was no further content written.
The flow of the story was interrupted at the most crucial point, which was disappointing.
At the same time, what made me depressed was that my father thought my talent was a curse rather than a blessing.
I already knew that my father hated the way I wielded a sword, but I never thought it would be so severe that he would call it a curse.
So that's why he tried to stop the rumor from spreading somehow.
Why on earth?
Why do you hate it so much, Father?
When the Duke's knights showed off their outstanding swordsmanship skills, you smiled so brightly that your mouth hung from ear to ear, but why did I...?
Tutuk-
“...”
I turned my gaze in that direction as I heard the sound of something falling again.
The sound was duller than before, and it was between the bookshelves that I had just checked and passed by.
There was absolutely no reason for anything to fall.
That means there's someone here.
Could it be Chernosser?
Even though I thought it couldn't be true, I couldn't help but think, "No way," because I kept hearing strange sounds.
I covered my father's diary, took it to my bosom, and headed toward the sound.
“...”
Then, on the bookshelf, a bloody handprint was clearly visible, so creepy that just looking at it sent shivers down my spine.
Bloody footprints were also visible on the floor.
It was even more eerie because it wasn't there before.
I didn't want to get close, but I had to know why it was there, so I swallowed hard and slowly approached it.
Clang-
Then something light touched my foot.
Let's take a look below. I saw something shining brightly, reflecting the light.
I bent down and picked up something shiny.
“These are... cufflinks?”
Cufflinks are usually engraved with the family crest of the person to whom they belong, and the one I picked up had the imperial family crest clearly engraved on it.
***
The fact that there were cufflinks engraved with the imperial emblem there was clear evidence that Chernosser had come that far.
I went there to check just in case, but I never thought I would find traces of the real Chernosser.
I was terribly embarrassed.
It was also creepy to discover bloody handprints and footprints that were believed to have been left by Chernosser.
How on earth did he, who was not a blood relative of the Duke Leopold, get in there?
Besides that, the reason Chernosser went into the basement.
Is he really gone? Is that bloodstain really his?
And my mind became complicated because there were so many unsolved questions, such as where the escort knight had gone.
First of all... I need to check if there are any exceptions to the basement rules.
As far as I know, there wasn't, but you never know.
There may be some way I don't know about.
I had to search through the books in the library to find out about them, but finishing up the Chernosser case took priority, so I grabbed the cufflinks and my father's diary and left the basement.
The sunlight was so bright that it dazzled my eyes. I squinted and made a window with my hand.
“You're finally out.”
Perdes looked at me like that and greeted me.
Because of the backlight, I couldn't see his expression, but I could tell from his voice that he was somewhat angry.
“You didn’t come out for a long time, so I thought something had happened and I was worried. Do you know how worried I was?”
Was it that long? I looked out the window behind Perdes.
It seemed to be late morning, judging by the sun high in the sky.
Since I went into the basement just before dawn, that meant I had been there for at least six hours.
I said I would be back soon, but I stayed so long that Perdes was understandably angry.
I was willing to apologize, but Perdes said something unbelievable.
“What on earth were you doing in the basement for two days?”
“Two days...right?”
I thought it was 6 hours, but it's been two days?
“That’s ridiculous. Don’t joke around.”
Perdes leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, laughing as if he found it ridiculous.
“It’s true. Why would I joke around with something like this?”
That's true, but...
“If you don’t believe me, ask other people.”
I shook my head, not that I didn't trust Perdes that much.
By the way, it's really been two days.
While I was feeling bewildered by the unrealistic flow of time, I belatedly remembered what my father had said.
“Adele, they say it’s another world, separate from reality. So, if you’re there, time passes more slowly or faster than in reality, so try not to stay there too long.”
That's what he meant. Now I understand.
“More than that, did you find any clues in Chernosser?”
"Yes."
I showed Perdes the cufflinks I had brought.
Perdes checked the imperial emblem engraved on the button and then gasped.
“That bastard really went in here. Fearlessly entering a place that is strictly forbidden to anyone other than the blood relatives of the Duke Leopold family...”
From what I've heard, it looks like Harness or someone else has heard about the secrets of the basement while I was away.
“But they say that if an unauthorized person enters, they disappear without a trace, but why are there traces like this?”
Perdes returned the button to me and asked.
I too was puzzled by that part, so I shrugged and answered.
“I just wanted to find out what happened anyway.”
“Is there any way to find out?”
“You have to try that to find out.”
I put the button back in my pocket so I wouldn't lose it.
Then, I looked at the Duke seal ring on my finger because it was tangling.
I vaguely remember hearing from my father that if Duke Leopold entered the library, he would find a third door that no one else could see.
So I had hoped that if I wore the ring, I might be able to find the door... but it was a vain hope.
It seems that simply wearing a Duke signet ring isn't enough.
I smiled faintly and took off my ring, putting it carefully in my deep pocket.
Perdes' gaze suddenly fell on my father's diary that I was holding.
“Could that book be a clue?”
I answered, pulling the diary closer to my arms.
"No."
It was also a silent expression that I wanted no more interest in the diary.
Perdes, who was quick-witted, immediately understood the meaning and changed the subject.
“While Young Lady was away, I searched thoroughly not only the Duke’s residence but also the dukedom, but I couldn’t find Chernosser's escort knight.”
I answered as I walked back to the bedroom.
“I couldn’t find any trace of the escort knight inside either.”
“So, did they succeed in escaping without anyone noticing?”
Perdes, who had been following me like that, tilted his head.
“Or did they disappear without a trace?”
“Well, we can check which one it is from now on.”
“How are you going to check?”
“We’ll release people at the Martina train station. The quickest way to get from the Duchy of Leopold to the capital is by train.”
The river was frozen, making it impossible to travel by boat, and traveling by horse would take at least two weeks.
So, if that escort knight is alive, he will try to catch the train to the capital by any means necessary.
Perdes nodded as if he understood.
“Then it would be better to keep the fact that we found traces of Chernosser a secret from Count Martina and ask him to help us find him.”
“Yes.”
“If you find that escort knight, it would be best to drop that button somewhere a reasonable distance from Leopold’s duchy and pretend not to know about it.”
I was given one, but it was comforting to see and be enlightened by more.
I also thought it was fortunate that he was on the same side.
I was just turning the corner of the hallway leading to the bedroom when he told me to do so.
Dada dadadak!
I heard the sound of something running quickly, and then it laughed heartily and hugged me tightly.
“You’re finally here, darling!”
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