Chapter 3. Wave of Emotions (2)

Under the drawer?

My head tilted at the unexpected words. I had received many fortunes before, but this was the first time I had been told to do something so specific.

I opened the drawer of the cabinet in the bedroom as Sparkle said. Inside were only a few small writing tools, nothing noteworthy.

‘There’s nothing here.’

Perhaps this wasn’t meant to be so literal but rather metaphorical?

“If you look under the drawer, you can find an old secret.”

“There was nothing.”

“If you look under the drawer, you can find an old secret.”

An old secret……

“Yes, yes. Mr. Lucky Golden Bird.”

At the repeated words, I pulled the drawer out of the cabinet. A key fell with a clatter.

‘What kind of key is this?’

I picked up the key and examined it closely. Though darkened by time, its elaborate design was incredibly ornate down to the finest details.

Where there’s a key, there must be a lock it opens. Upon careful inspection of the cabinet, I found a keyhole hidden behind an ornate leather cover.

I inserted the key and turned it. There was a clicking sound from inside, and a folded drawer suddenly popped out.

What’s this? I carefully approached the drawer.

‘Is this a mechanical secret compartment?’

I was quite surprised and fascinated. It looked like a very intricate mechanism—I suppose being a great noble of the empire means having such things.

I opened the drawers one by one. They were empty. Just as I thought it might be purely decorative, opening the last drawer produced a clicking sound.

The secret was hidden inside.

It was a small black velvet box. When I carefully opened it, inside was a ring with a blue-gray gemstone.

What is this?

As I was examining the gem curiously, a sentence suddenly came to mind.

「The low-saturation light blue topaz breathed fresh air for the first time in a long while.」

It was a familiar gem, if only by name.

Looking more carefully at the ring, I noticed an engraving scratched on the inside. What could it say? I squinted, trying to make out the letters.

Those scratches formed a word I knew.

‘……Rashid.’

A person’s name.

This is the Duchess’s bedroom. So it was very easy to guess who this ring belonged to. And now I also know why this ring was made.

‘Why didn’t she give it to Rashid?’

Or perhaps, she couldn’t give it to him.

Did she want to give it to him?

Countless thoughts rushed through my mind at once.

Well, making something like this means she must have loved Rashid. Until when did that last? Why did she come to hate her own son so much? Was Bled that important to her? Even if he was, did she have to choose a method that would hurt Rashid?

I shouldn’t have opened it. The more I think about it, the more troubled my heart becomes.

Lately, matters related to Rashid often disturbed my heart. Like barnacles clinging to seaside rocks, they firmly attached themselves inside me and wouldn’t let go. While drinking tea, walking in the garden, reading books—I would suddenly think about him.

About his boyhood, the wounds he must have received, his solitude, his sadness…

And about his attitude towards me.

‘Are you alright now?’

He might be, or might not be. Even if I spent every moment between sunrise and sunrise thinking about Rashid, I couldn’t know the answer. Because I am not him.

Knock knock, I heard a knocking sound. I turned toward the door, startled. My heart raced as if I was caught peeking at something. I quickly hid the ring in my hand.

“Who is it?”

“It’s Kendrick.”

He was the secretary Rashid had left at the castle in case of emergencies. I hid the ring back in its box before allowing him to enter.

Kendrick entered and bowed politely to me.

“My lady, we’ve received word from Castle Elzedun.”

“Elzedun?”

When I asked, Kendrick’s face showed momentary discomfort.

“That is, where the former lady resides……”

“Ah.”

I quietly nodded. That was the name of the castle where Rashid had imprisoned Natalie. Known to very few due to its extreme secrecy, the place was essentially a prison for her alone nowadays.

“What’s the matter?”

“They say the seals are showing concerning signs. They request His Grace’s presence just in case.”

“His Grace’s?”

“Yes.”

Kendrick explained as follows.

Natalie, the legitimate heir of the Limnike family, was a mage who could use dark magic.

The Dragon’s Strength dwelling in her body clashed with the Penvernon family’s power, gradually weakening the seals of the restraints binding her arms and legs.

If she breaks free from the restraints, the Limnike family could track her location based on the power contained within her body. Then they would try to rescue her.

Therefore, they needed to occasionally visit Castle Elzedun to strengthen the seals.

“Has His Grace been doing this all along?”

“Yes, my lady. He had to visit at least once a year without fail. He didn’t forget this year either, but they say the seals have weakened again.”

To think he was so desperately keeping his mother imprisoned. My feelings were complicated. I felt sorry for him, yet at the same time, afraid.

“Have you been able to contact His Grace?”

“Using magical tools, it seems he’s currently moving between regions. We’ve sent a messenger bird that way, but I’m not sure if we can establish contact soon.”

“So that’s why you’re reporting to me.”

“His Grace instructed us to consult with you in case of emergency.”

Consult with me……

My heart instantly grew heavy at Kendrick’s words. He left such instructions because I am the Duchess of Penvernon.

Usually, he would have tried to handle everything himself. Does he trust me? A sense of duty weighed on my chest.

“What is her room like? Are there bars?”

“Yes. But considering her abilities, if the seals break, she could escape immediately.”

“If the former lady can use attack magic, things would certainly turn dire.”

“Indeed……”

No one can guarantee what might happen. The situation was more serious than expected.

“Wouldn’t it be too late to wait until we can contact His Grace?”

“That…… I cannot say with certainty.”

Kendrick’s expression was quite grave.

We don’t know when Rashid will learn of this. Perhaps he won’t realize until after the seals break. Or something might happen while he’s on his way to Castle Elzedun.

But right now, only Rashid could solve this problem. Because there were no other direct Penvernon bloodline members in the world. Rashid was the only Penvernon with magic power. He was like a singular existence who had gathered all the Penvernon power.

‘What should I do?’

If only I had magic power. Then I could somehow handle the problem in this emergency. Right now, I wished I could trade my sentences for magic power.

‘Could that gem with his power be useful?’

Suddenly, the charm Rashid had given me came to mind. I hurriedly opened the pouch on the table. The crystal that must have once sparkled transparently now held dark red shadows within it.

‘If it’s Rashid’s magic power…… it might react.’

Though the person isn’t here, if at least his magic power is……

I don’t know what will happen, but this is all I can trust right now.

I had to make a decision. Now was the time to decide as the Duchess of Penvernon—as the person protecting this family and castle. It was something I had to do entirely on my own, without being able to defer to others.

“Consulting with the vassals won’t help, will it?”

“They wouldn’t have any other solutions either. If you’ll permit it, I plan to move some of the remaining soldiers to Elzedun.”

Kendrick had come to me for this permission. They needed military force to hold Natalie back until Rashid arrives.

“Will the former lady be safe if we do that?”

“Given how powerful she is known to be, I can’t guarantee either side’s safety……”

“……The soldiers might die too.”

“I apologize.”

Kendrick bowed his head, genuinely seeming heavy-hearted.

Either it would be resolved after one person, or dozens or more died. Or it could be resolved without anyone dying.

If those were the two choices, what I needed to choose was clear.

“Alright. Then let’s go to Elzedun together.”

“My lady!”

“The magic crystal His Grace left might be of help.”

“It’s dangerous! If it must be done, I’ll go alone!”

At Kendrick’s words, I fell into thought for a moment before shaking my head.

“Well…… I am a Penvernon too.”

I focused on the fact that the magic circle didn’t reject me. I also remembered what Rashid had told me before leaving for inspection. He said the crystal’s magic would recognize me as a Penvernon and respond to me.

If that’s the case, perhaps nothing would happen if Kendrick tried. Then I would have to step up next.

“Hurry. Didn’t you say we’re racing against time?”

When I urged him again, Kendrick bowed his head and left the room.

The crystal Rashid had left behind was flickering more intensely than before, like a burning flame. I trapped that fire in my hand.

* * *