Episode 11
“Caesarea?”
Caesarea Monastery was the location of the prison where Rurik had been confined. According to the setting, it was very famous, with the Empire’s most renowned monk, Didio, serving as its abbot.
‘Of course, the issue isn’t Didio; he wants to go because Helena is there…’
Rurik frowned again and replied.
“Why go all the way there? Do you have some wish you desperately want to beg some holy monk to grant?”
If it’s wishes I want granted, of course I have plenty.
But the problem isn’t my wishes.
“I do have wishes, but…”
I subtly led the conversation and added coquettishly.
“I also want to see the famous Caesarea Falls. And most of all, I want to see the blue camellia flowers that are said to bloom only there.”
At the mention of the ‘blue camellia,’ Rurik’s expression darkened further.
‘It was his deceased mother’s favorite flower.’
In the novel, Helena brought him those flowers and helped melt Rurik’s thorny heart.
“I know Caesarea Monastery is far. But if you permit it, Brother, we could get Ren’s help for the travel.”
At the mention of the Magic Tower Master’s name, Rurik’s eyebrow twitched.
Although he didn’t like Ren, it was clear that the capable Tower Master would be useful for this trip.
Sensing Rurik was softening, I quickly added.
“Of course, even though Ren serves His Majesty, since it’s for prayer, wouldn’t His Majesty be pleased too?”
The Emperor was a hypocrite who heavily employed mages behind the scenes while straining to appear a pious emperor before the people.
‘All those pitiful schemes ended when Rurik went berserk and it was revealed the Emperor had bestowed the demonic sword upon him.’
Rurik replied reluctantly.
“I will inquire with His Majesty.”
Feeling relieved internally, I planned the next step.
‘The Emperor knows Rurik is under the demonic sword’s influence.’
Of course, the Emperor didn’t anticipate Rurik would go berserk, but after the incident, he immediately recognized it was due to the demonic sword.
‘That’s why he tried to remove the demonic sword from Rurik but failed.’
I glanced at the demonic sword hanging at Rurik’s waist and thought.
‘Should I pretend ignorance and drop a hint to the Emperor about Rurik’s condition?’
While formulating that plan, Rurik suddenly spoke.
“You’ve really grown up while I was away, Lou.”
Suddenly…?
I looked up at him, puzzled. He shook his head gently.
“…You wouldn’t believe how surprised I was when I received your letter before.”
Letter?
Pricking my ears at the incomprehensible words, he sighed.
“There were so many requests you don’t normally make, I thought something had happened to you. It made me impatient, so I managed to end the war somehow…”
Oh my god.
‘It seems Louise sent him some kind of letter.’
However, among the letters in the drawer, ones from Rurik were extremely rare, and I couldn’t even guess the content of the letter Louise supposedly sent.
‘Wait, he’s a character I created, why is he sending letters on his own?’
I barely managed to conjure an excuse.
“R-, really? Ah, it was probably a letter I wrote randomly on a day I drank too much wine, missing you, Brother.”
Then, I added while gauging his reaction.
“I’m sorry if I burdened you, Brother, while you were on the battlefield.”
“Tch.”
Rurik clicked his tongue, but his expression seemed lighter.
“You blush easily, so it’s better not to over drink.”
Of course, of course.
I won’t be drinking for a while anyway.
‘I am pregnant, after all.’
I was finally alone after the walk.
Using tiredness as an excuse to send even Phoebe away, I lay down and pondered deeply.
‘Something’s definitely strange.’
Of course, more than one or two things are strange, but especially the relationship between the three father candidates and Louise.
If one woman was being intensely courted by three men, and had never clearly refused any one of them…
‘Wouldn’t they normally be wary of each other?’
Of course, the three aren’t completely united.
They clearly get jealous and even sabotage each other to some extent.
‘But I saw it clearly in the numerous letters…’
The three are friends.
In fact, even after causing that ruckus, Ren ultimately returned to Babenberg.
“I should let Cal know about the current situation. If it’s Lou’s wish that he doesn’t propose, he might listen.”
And what did Ernst say to Ren’s retreating back, which was emitting black flames?
“Since you’re going, help with the fire cleanup. You know Cal repays favors tenfold, twentyfold.”
That was clearly words pretending to care for Ren, while actually helping Cal.
‘In other words, he played a suitable mediating role.’
And that’s not all.
Ernst also said this:
“Even if it’s not [mine], it’s fine. I can raise it as my own.”
How on earth?
What kind of mindset allows someone to say that?
‘He’s the Crown Prince of a nation…’
I kicked off the blankets and sat up.
With a new resolve, I scanned every corner of the room and started searching again.
‘Is there really no diary?’
It was something I had tried desperately for days after becoming Louise.
But even after taking out and flipping through each book on the shelves, no hidden notebook appeared.
‘There must be a diary or a schedule…’
Lifting the cushions I had already checked to look under the sofa, and sliding my hand under the mattress proved useless.
‘She was a student until just recently!’
So, shouldn’t there be a class schedule or something?
But the drawers were still full of letters, and only a few empty notebooks lay on the desk.
I had even filled one of them proudly with the novel’s settings in Korean.
“Sigh.”
I sighed and reread the settings I had already scrutinized until they were worn out.
‘Wait. Should I create a comparison between the novel’s timeline I remember and the actual timeline, just in case?’
Planning that, I opened another notebook.
But just before writing, as I habitually rubbed my hand over the paper, I suddenly felt something bumpy, like Braille, against my skin.
‘What’s this?’
I held the notebook up close to the light.
Looking carefully, there was a small embossed pattern near the corner of the open page.
‘What is this?’
When I traced it with my fingertip, letters astonishingly began to etch themselves onto the blank paper.
“Ah!”
I was so startled I almost threw the notebook.
But the hidden words slowly appeared, beginning to reveal their secret.
They emerged leisurely, as if someone were writing them in real time.
Year of Charles 16, Ninth Month, Second Day.
I came to the academy and was assigned a dormitory room.
I only watched the notebook sprawled on the desk with my eyes.
‘It’s a diary?’
I carefully pulled the notebook back towards me.
Letters were still etching themselves onto the previously blank paper at that moment.
‘It must be magic…’
I opened my eyes wide and continued reading the emerging diary.
All the other freshmen share double rooms with a partner, but I got a single room.
To receive unwanted special treatment and be glared at so harshly right from enrollment…
The early parts mostly expressed unfamiliarity, fear, and discomfort with the new environment.
But around the middle, familiar names started appearing.
…But the most tragic news today is that my mentor has been decided.
Of all people, the famous Serpent of Babenberg has become my mentor.
He’s too tall, too large, and his expression is scary… I wonder if I’ll even be able to speak a single word to him before graduation…
You did more than just speak a single word…
‘Cal would cry if he saw this.’
Of course, Ernst appeared too.
…While everyone looks at me like I’m a monkey, Sister Chirilla and Sister Zenise just blow cold winds at me.
So I can’t help but be grateful for Ernst’s presence.
I don’t know how lucky I am to enroll at the same time as him…
So, Ernst was a friend even before enrollment…
Then, Ren’s name also appeared briefly towards the end.
Oh, I heard a rumor that Ren, the Empire’s Magic Tower Master, who enrolled the year before last, got held back, took a leave of absence, and is returning to the academy.
Judging by the subsequent entries filled only with fear of the Tower Master she’d never even seen, it seemed Louise was quite timid and passive.
‘Well, at least in the early enrollment period.’
After one page filled up densely, I quickly tried turning to the next page.
Sure enough, there was an embossed pattern.
‘Let’s see…’
But no matter how much I rubbed it, no more diary was revealed.
‘Are you kidding me?’
I glared intently at the diary that had revealed only one page.
A one-page diary is better than none at all…
‘Why is there magic on the diary?’
It was utterly impossible for the current me to know.
I clung to the diary until I fell asleep, and even slept with it tucked under my pillow.
I occasionally traced the pattern, but unfortunately, no more diary entries were revealed.
