Chapter 19

𝕾𝖔𝖓𝖌 𝖙𝖔 𝖑𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖓: 𝕴 𝕬𝖑𝖒𝖔𝖘𝖙 𝕯𝖔 𝖇𝖞 𝕿𝖆𝖞𝖑𝖔𝖗 𝕾𝖜𝖎𝖋𝖙

***

How many years has it been? I wanted to ask myself, but every time I did, I got clouded with a foggy vision as I would always look for the moon's comfort.

While the silver rays descended on my room, my hands and vision kept their stance on a particular thing. Cold, but I was thankful that it wasn't rusted, my fingers continued to caress the part of its heart.

Whenever I look at the shape, I can't help but feel this tingly emotion mixed with a little bit of pain.

"Can Henry still remember that day?" Whispers of sweet nothings came from my mouth and got carried away by the cold caressing breezes until I closed my eyes and landed the clip in my secret drawer.

"It's been five years, and he was supposed to come to my estate a year later, but he never did. All I got was letters detailing his routine life and questions about mine as well," For the longest time, I stared at the ceiling, unable to move.

Barely, shifting my gaze to anywhere but the calmness of the silvery specks of dust. I shook my head and my eyes narrowed.

The corners of my lips lifted and before I knew it, my hands kept on caressing the soft fabric that I managed to claim from my cabinet, his scent stayed strong, and made my heart flutter from the ideas coming to my mind.

Nevertheless, in those years, instead of facing heartache from missing my very first friend, I got to smile every day to see that the people I cherished continued to do their best.

The children of the orphanage grew to be healthy and hard-working. Sister Cristine got an illness last winter but I managed to save her because of my research.

Even though years had passed by in seconds, my heart would never be lonely, not when I got to be this strong for the people who have become a part of my life.

That night, despite reminiscing about the past with Henry, I slept lightly like a feather

"Vestia, are you even sure?" I heard Claudius whisper through my ears as he leaned in closer. I narrowed my eyes to look at him when he only creased his eyebrows and moved back to his previous seat.

While I looked out the window, the scenery kept changing as our carriage kept going, but my grip on the bag remained tight, despite the possible outcome and consequences.

I took a gulp and when I shifted my attention from the outside to look at Claudius, I could feel that his eyes kept narrowing. I got the impression that he'd been studying me the whole time I requested for my parents to grant us a pass towards the market.

At first, they wouldn't agree if I didn't take Anna and Sir Francis but I guess saying Claudius' name was enough to let them sigh.

"I've never been more certain than this, Claudius," I say looking directly at my reflection in his soul and I could see how he averted his vision and sighed.

"Then at the very least, if you found something, you should keep your mouth shut. Information from amongst the nobles was restricted to the grand library unless we were granted permission by the household," Claudius said while looking at the window, the same move I did earlier only that he wasn't gripping to any at the moment.

I stared at him for the longest second before letting go of my vision. I got to be cautious with anyone, but with Claudius and my friends, I got to let them see the weak side of me, the vulnerabilities I wouldn't let others know.

Then my sight went to the bag beside me and the corners of my lips lifted.

"Don't worry Claudius, I won't let anyone know how we will be going to the grand library besides I got this," I shook from my hands the object that would grant us direct access to any noble information.

When Claudius looked at my hands, I couldn't help but chuckle upon seeing his wide-eyed reaction.

"Where's you got your family's seal, Vestia1?" Those were the last words I heard from him before the carriage stopped as I proceeded to come down first leaving him dumbfounded.

"It's a secret, Claudius, well, I might tell you someday if you keep following me," Then I didn't wait for him to move as the horseman informed us that we were already at the market.

No one knew what Claudius and I would be doing. Since my father and mother only knew that we would be going to the market to shop for some things, they let Claudius be my guide.

The horseman didn't even know our next move as he was only parked at the outside of the market. I feel sorry for Jack but he has to wait for more than a few hours.

Going to the Grand Library is my main priority since in the past, I wasn't granted to go even though I was the crown princess. Even though I got the seal of my family, the knights who were loyal to the imperial household would never let me in.

I wondered what was the reason, and now that I knew everything, it had something to do with Caliere. He must have hated my existence to never let me walk within the empire's golden information haven.

The grand library was only a hundred meters away from the market, and only prominent figures could come but even children could come as well, provided that they obtain the seal of their household for entrance verification.

For the past years, I managed to learn about medicines, since the moment that I've discovered the people's empire getting sick. The first medicinal herb I made, I gave them to Sister Cristine last winter.

I've been busy for those couple of years with my duties as an heir to the household, preparation for being an incoming knight to be, and as well for knowing a lot of medicines.

I realize that the world I've been living changed, there have been a lot of changes happening and I couldn't be certain that one day, my loved one would still be alive, if not for someone's plot, they would contain some illnesses.

That's why I managed to study medicine.

"Vestia, I'm not here to put some doubts in you but knowing something could lead to you being in danger," I could sense Claudius' words being shaken up with warmth and the other with fear.

"Claudius," I paused and halted walking as I turned to look at him. I could see our height difference now. When I was six years old, he used to be taller, and even now, only that I have grown as well.

I'm not tiptoeing my way to look at his eyes but I managed to look directly without making much effort, then I sighed when all I looked at was myself.

"I know what I'm doing Claudius so can't you just support me this time?" I felt his hands wrapped around my shoulders. I could feel how tight they were.

I could even see how he bit his lower lips and hid his eyes from his bangs. I don't know why but the image of him being like this made me chuckle.

I let go of my other hand holding the bag and gently caressed Claudius' bangs. I could see how his eyes widened but they never went in my direction.

"I know that there's something that father and mother were hiding from me ever since the Duke of Vellitas household came that winter and never came back. I have sensed something was wrong from then on, so this would be the only one I could get myself some information from my curiosity Claudius"

"I know but...."

"Don't you also want to know more about Henry? We've been friends ever since we met each other, right?" By the time I let go of those words, I knew that his grip on my shoulders loosened and now they landed on both of his sides.

I looked at him and he was biting his lower lip before sighing.

"I felt like sometimes, you're always a step ahead of me that I could never reach, no matter how hard I tried, I felt like one day, you would conquer the world without anyone and instead, your smile would corrupt the people, Vestia," the way he expressed those words were enough for me to know that he's already fine.

"Can I take that as your agreement, then?" I never let him say anything more than to follow me as I move towards the place of the Grand Library.

When I spotted the knights guarding the place, I could feel as if my throat had gone dry. The grand Library felt like a fortress of magical information, forbidden to people and only the elites and privileged people would enter.

My eyes widened when the familiar warmth cascaded on one of my shoulders

"Then I guess, it would hurt if you got another person to support your ideals, but whatever you may find, I only have one two words Vestia... be careful."

***

"Claudius take a look in here," I pointed from the book, and there was information about the Vellitas household though it would be too vague to understand

"From the Winter's sonata, the book opened and welcomed the sword that would pierce its heart..."

"What does that mean, Claudius?"