NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 66: The Engagement
The king's proclamation was clear: my engagement to Ludwin was announced. Our wedding was destined to occur two or three years after our graduation from Althemer's Royal Academy. I stealthily escaped. As the ball continued, I found solace in the solitude of the night, sitting by the fountain in the garden, clasping my hands over my heart. Whispers of fury intertwined with my very essence.
"Eli..."
"Kill them... No peace..." The whispers were insidious, laden with images of sorrow and despair. The visage of my mother's smile haunted me, a relentless reminder of the seething hatred that lay dormant within. Gazing towards the ballroom, I realized that even after an hour, I remained the sole figure in the darkness. In this world, I was utterly alone.
"Lady Eli, are you alright? Many are eager to speak with you inside," Alicia approached, her presence startling me, yet my burdened heart stifled any reaction. Her perceptiveness quickly cut through my facade.
"Is something on your mind, my lady?"
"Yes, this is all too sudden. I'm unsure about marrying Ludwin," I confessed, my voice a blend of Sana's and Eli's—Sana, the soul that had journeyed to this world to inhabit Eli's body. The actual Eli harbored only one desire: to unveil the assassin of her mother and grandfather. Hence, the notion of marriage had little consequence for her. My feelings, however, were tangled in doubt.
"I understand the prospect of royalty may seem daunting, and your distaste for the aristocracy is an open secret. But take heart, you're to be wed to Prince Ludwin, not Prince Heracles. Ludwin, as the second prince, will likely assume a ducal or margravial title under one of the three factions should nothing befall Prince Heracles. Your obligations won't be as burdensome as you fear."
"So, I am to become a princess, and then a duchess once Prince Heracles ascends the throne?" I said, reminiscent of Johann. I wonder if Prince Heracles and Prince Ludwin will be as cordial as King Andre and Prime Minister Johann.
"Yes," she replied, catching the melancholy in my smile. I was, after all, merely the second daughter of a count.
"Alice, did you know? I am a—" Before I could finish, my confession was abruptly interrupted by none other than Prince Ludwin, who excitedly asked me to return to the ballroom. "Eli! I've finally found you! Let's go back; a dance has started, and I want to dance with you." His intrusion couldn't have been more ill-timed, effectively burying my secret even deeper. Now, it seemed likely that my identity as a reaper would follow me to the grave, unnoticed. I wondered if R25B was aware of this development.
After a somewhat quotidian dance, consumed by frustration, I returned to my dormitory without engaging in other antics or requests, the echoes of rage accompanying me. That night, as I surrendered to sleep, she manifested in my dreams under a moon dyed red, standing atop a mountain of corpses, her red eyes seething with undisguised loathing.
"Are you displeased with the notion of peace?" I dared to ask her.
"No," she responded curtly. "You are aware of my pursuit."
"Yes, I'll continue the search for your mother's murderer. The monster tamer is in Elderan, correct?" I sighed, weary. It would be preferable if she could relinquish her thirst for vengeance and hatred. The toll of lives I've taken in her name weighed heavily; a child like her should be immersed in play and joy, not the grim pursuit of killers.
"No." Then, a deluge of despair overcame me. Visions of her grandfather, consumed by decay, flickered before me. She emerged alone from a box in the forest, foraging for sustenance, rummaging through discarded suitcases and boxes. The rustle of animals startled her back into her makeshift refuge, a box that offered a semblance of comfort in its darkness.
Yet, she harbored the memory of the one responsible—a figure shrouded in a hood. Through the box's crevices, she spied on the sinister silhouette. Abandoned, despair was her only companion. Food spoiled, and hunger encroached, yet the fear of wolves, drawn by the scent of life amidst death, kept her confined. The hyenas, unsatisfied with the remnants of her grandfather and soldiers, hungered for her, their hunger blocked by a firm metal chest. Night after night, she wished for death, yet the instinct to survive persevered.
Then, in her solitude and despair, she prayed for someone, anyone, to avenge her grandfather. As the night of the killing comet enveloped her world, she found herself blessed through a mysterious contract.
"I see. You've endured so much," I said, embracing her. The horrors she faced must have been unimaginable. It's said that one's magical essence is influenced by their deepest desires or experiences. She yearned for safety, which is why her magical aura was so intimidating. Her gaze alone could deter the predators lurking in wait—the wolves that craved for her. "I'm truly sorry."
"Thank you," she replied, her voice light as she danced across the mountains of the dead in this crimson realm. "I know about your struggles, too. Living in a white cage, seldom venturing outside. Our parents loved us deeply, yet we felt powerless to do anything in return."
Her words pierced me, a sharp reminder of my own inaction. My parents and Eli's mother sacrificed so much for us when we were young, barely ten years old and seventeen.
"I will find the killer, I promise. And when I do, you'll choose their fate."
"I will entrust you with my body," she promised. "You deserve freedom. You'll surpass me, who was consumed by vengeance. You have friends; I did not. Even as a child, I was isolated, feared by even the household staff," she confessed. "I envied you for befriending Laura, the maid. Now, you have Alicia, Nana, Safira, and even Prince Ludwin."
"But Laura is gone..." I said with a bitter smile, recalling how Laura had died at the hands of bandits attempting to kidnap Alicia. "I was helpless. She cared deeply for you."
"I'm quite awkward, aren't I? I should leave now. Thank you, Sana. I entrust my body to you, for the moment."
"Thank you, Elidranthia. For bestowing upon me gifts I once believed were only possible in dreams. Thank you for lending me this body. I vow to find your mother's murderer. Having the freedom to move and act as I wish has brought me happiness. Something that I lacked before." I bowed respectfully, and in response, she attempted a curtsy, albeit clumsily.
"You might want to work on that curtsy. What have you been doing here, anyway?" I asked Eli. She can't be here on the mountain of corpses all day, right?
"I've been observing you," she replied, turning her gaze towards the crimson moon. "Our time together is drawing to a close. Until we meet again, Sana."
"Goodbye."
I awoke from the dream back in my dormitory, the room still engulfed in darkness. Dawn had yet to break; it seemed I had gone to sleep unusually early. Slipping into my fluffy sandals, I ventured out to the open-air cafeteria for some fresh air, despite knowing it would be closed.
My conversation with Elidranthia lingered in my mind, a haunting yet oddly tranquil memory. Her sorrowful demeanor and depth of despair urged me to assist her despite her occasional stubbornness. Now that I think about it, would it not be simpler to embrace the peace deal, travel to Elderan, and seek out the monster tamer? It appeared her judgment was clouded by hatred, impairing her ability to think clearly.
Contemplating on Eli's memories, I recalled Elidranthia's fascination with sharp objects, despite the occasional injuries they caused. Laura was always concerned about this; Elidranthia's mischievous nature probably led her to feel unloved by Laura. Yet, when I took over her body and showed Laura kindness, she warmed up to me instantly. It was regrettable that she met her end so soon.
With information from the novels and Reapers network. It was easy to surmise the mastermind of Alicia's kidnapping attempt after a while. However, unlike Eli, I harbored no desire for vengeance against Duke Luca or the merchant faction responsible for her demise. Could this be the root of our differing behaviors? On Earth, we rely on the police to resolve such grievances. Here, however, the judiciaries are distant, and the concept of settling scores through official channels is foreign until one attends the royal academy, allowing resentment to fester into a thirst for vengeance.
Finding nothing else to occupy my time, I stood up from my seat in the cafeteria and decided to return to my dormitory.
"R25B, how many points do I have?"
"Previously, you had 184 points. With the jammer's demise, you were awarded an additional 400 points, and then 150 points for your last reconnaissance of their HQ. It's baffling how the invasion faltered despite the intelligence you provided—utterly incompetent. Anyway, the last 100 points were for monitoring Claire, totaling 834 points," R25B detailed. "Is there anything you wish to purchase?"
"No, I'm seeking information. I need details on Elderan's monster tamer."
"Elderan has been resilient against our probes, so acquiring such specialized information will be expensive."
"What's the cost?"
"We'll start the bidding at 500 points. However, I can't promise the availability of the information. Should there be no takers, we might need to raise the price."
"Agreed."
"You're truly embodying the role of a seasoned reaper despite being with us for just over a year. Your targets are notably unique. Should you manage to investigate them, our guild would compensate you generously. But let it be known, you're delving into high-risk territory. Do you think it will be worth it? What were you after?"
"Revenge," I stated, my voice steady and imbued with an unwavering calm.