Chapter 33 - An Unknown Presence

Chapter 33: An Unknown Presence

“But you might run to someone on your way to…”

“It’ll be alright! Luna has been observing it too right? There are not many people going back and forth near Lady Lise’s palace.”

“But…”

“And yesterday, big brother Raytan showed me a shortcut. He said there’s no one there. So don’t worry about it, alright? If I end up running into someone on the way today, I’ll go there with Luna tomorrow..”

Other than that, it’s also when Luna should be sleeping. It’s all because of me that Luna has to get up this early and struggle with preparing breakfast for me.

Sezh didn’t want to bother Luna anymore. Luna kept saying, “I think it would be better for me to go with you.” But Sezh was persistent about it. So after a long discussion, Sezh was able to go out of her palace alone.

My steps towards going towards Lise’s palace feel light. I feel pretty good too. Even though it’s early in the morning, it’s warm and sunny outside and the spring breeze feels so refreshing…

Sezh hummed cheerfully as she walked with a skip in her step. Soon, she arrived at the shortcut that Raytan had shown her earlier. The shortcut was at the back of Lise’s palace and Raytan said it was the most secretive and quickest way to the library in Lise’s palace.

It’s called a dog-hole or something.

“Hmmm…”

It seemed that this “dog-hole” was living up to its name.

The small door was just big enough that she had to lean in low to the ground to be able to enter the hole. She grunted while struggling to pass through the hole.

It’s my first time using this passage so I’m a bit confused about where to go next, Was it… um… this way?

Sezh hesitated but she decided on a direction to walk and find out for herself.

It took her exactly thirty minutes after that to realize that she had taken the wrong path.

I’m doomed.

My brain cells are all saying, ‘You’re doomed’. I felt like I’m in the middle of a labyrinth.

The corridor was endless and no one was around. Judging from the way the road was turned around, it seems to be spinning around the same space. I won’t starve to death because I’m lost and couldn’t make my way out, right? If I knew this would happen, I’d have just come with Luna…

But it’s too late to regret this.

Setz walked forward without hesitation. She walked and walked. She passed so many rooms while passing through endless corridors.

Wait, I’ve already gone through here. But, how come I haven’t run into anyone yet?

This is indoors and a road to the palace.

This is really strange. Why aren’t there any guards around?

I remember last time the front door was full of soldiers.

At the end of the hallway, there was a corner room. The noise could be heard behind the closed door.

“…”

Sezh became tense and started to think.

Should I open the door and ask where am I, or should I just keep wandering around on my own…

To be honest, I have nothing to be worried about for now, but I don’t have the strength to walk anymore.

Sezh eventually sighed and decided. She knocked gently against the closed door.

Knock knock.

The sound rang out in the empty hallway but there was no reply.

I’m sure I heard some noise.

She knocked a few more times, but the result was the same. Sezh swallowed her saliva and turned the doorknob carefully. The door creaked open with ease.

“……”

Sezh poked her head in, craning her neck as she looked inside nervously. The room was full of books stretching high up, standing tall.

But why are there two library rooms in this palace?

The moment she tilted her head. She heard a voice behind her.

“How did you get in here…?”

The unknown voice sounded wary of her presence.

Is it a library with an owner? But this is Lady Lise’s palace though?

Sezh looked back and startled.

“Huh…?”

Sezh opened her eyes wide in surprise.

***