DSFL | Chapter 88

~Chapter 88~

“Did you forget how to knock?’

Cedric barging into the room without waiting for an answer left me speechless.

“Is there a problem?”

If I had done that, he would’ve gone on and on about manners and probably even brought up the names of my old etiquette teachers.

“No, nothing.”

…But I’m not as confident with words as Cedric is.

When I put the invitation down, Cedric immediately noticed the seal and asked,

“Are you planning to attend?”

“Yes, I am. What about you?”

“That’s good. I came to confirm your intentions.”

It sounded like he was only asking out of formality—but his answer surprised me.

Wait a second.

“…Are you going too?”

Cedric gave a small nod.

“W-Why?”

“Am I not allowed to?”

I just hoped he wouldn’t go…

But of course, I didn’t say that out loud.

“Haha, that’s great!”

“…”

“It’s wonderful. It’s always nice to have someone you know around!”

Cedric squinted suspiciously, so I added some dramatic flair.

“Do you have business there?”

When I asked, Cedric hesitated for a moment. It was the first time I saw him unsure like that, and it caught me off guard.

“How much do you trust Viscount Owen?”

He means Leon.

“How much do I trust Leon?”

“He’s like family to me.”

I answered honestly. To me, Leon was like a savior. He had pulled me out of isolation and was the first to reach out a hand when I was all alone.

But Cedric didn’t seem happy with that answer.

“…I see.”

“Didn’t you trust him too? I mean, you left me in his care during that ball.”

If he hadn’t trusted Leon at least a little, he wouldn’t have done that.

Cedric didn’t answer for a long time.

“…It’s about the item Leon stole from you, isn’t it?”

It was a topic I hadn’t brought up in a long time. I had asked about it once or twice in the past, but Cedric didn’t like talking about it, so I dropped it.

“…Yeah.”

He sighed deeply, clearly frustrated. After a long pause, he finally spoke.

“What he stole was an award I received during my time at the academy.”

“…What?”

“It wasn’t a pleasant experience.”

“Milady, I brought tea and dessert!”

Just then, Emily’s cheerful voice came through. I snapped out of my thoughts and told her to come in. She opened the door with a bright smile.

But the moment she saw Cedric, she quickly bowed.

“Perfect timing. Please bring my brother a cup as well.”

“Y-Yes, right away!”

Cedric leaned back in his chair and looked out the window, his eyes clouded with thought.

Emily, clearly sensing the tension, tried to lighten the mood.

“It’s nice to see the two of you spending time together.”

“Y-Yeah, you’re right. Brother, didn’t you hear Emily? Let’s spend more time like this.”

“Back when you were attending the academy, you couldn’t spend much time together. It would be lovely to see that now.”

Cedric froze at that.

“I remember how proud Lord Bluea was of you back then…”

Emily wiped her eyes and bowed.

“If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to call me!”

After she left, silence filled the room.

…Right. That’s how it used to be.

In the past, Leon would often click his tongue at Cedric’s coldness toward me. He basically filled the role of an older brother.

Cedric always seemed impatient back then. His entire presence was sharp and hard to approach.

He was also very stubborn. Even though he didn’t need to, he pushed himself to enter the Imperial Academy.

Most nobles sent their non-heir children to the academy so they could serve the royal family. But Cedric was the clear heir to the Roygin family and still graduated at the top.

After some hesitation, I spoke softly.

“I don’t think Leon is the type of person to steal an award…”

“He thought I cheated to win it.”

Cedric spoke about the past in a calm voice.

“I never imagined he’d betray me like that while hiding his resentment and thinking I stole something that should’ve been his.”

“There must have been some misunderstanding. Neither of you is like that.”

“Misunderstanding?”

He let out a bitter laugh.

“He had an inferiority complex. I’m sure that’s why he approached you on purpose, because he was jealous of me. And that’s just a misunderstanding?”

I could understand why Cedric felt that way. But from what I had seen, Leon wasn’t like that.

He’d been by my side for years. If it was just because of jealousy, then all that effort he showed would be too much.

Everything Leon did for me… felt sincere.

…But how do I explain that?

Cedric would never believe it.

“He wants to investigate Dremokan in Cardiff.”

“For free?”

“Of course not.”

Well, of course. This is Cedric we’re talking about.

“Leon will be there too, so I figured it would be best if you came with me.”

As if he were done talking, Cedric stood up.

So basically, he didn’t want to meet Leon alone, so he’s dragging me along?

Now the sudden invitation made perfect sense.

“S-Sure. Sounds fun.”

I can already imagine how draining it’ll be being between the two of them.

Seriously…

***

Not long after Cedric left, I took out Arkan.

[Oh! Finally!]

“About that rule where I can only ask three questions a day—is that still possible? Ah, that’s not an official question! I’m just asking!”

I quickly spoke before accidentally wasting one of my precious questions.

[How touching! I’m so happy to know that you cherish our conversations! Since you’re my companion now, there’s no need to follow the old rules anymore~!]

[I’m bending the rules just for you, so feel free to be grateful!]

Yeah… really brings tears to my eyes…

“You said you could edit the records in the library. What exactly does that mean?”

[Exactly what I said. Or… was my explanation unclear? Or is it your understanding that’s lacking? Hmm, awkward either way!]

Honestly, I’ve felt it before…

Arkan has a real talent for getting on people’s nerves.

I forced a smile even though I was annoyed. Immediately, Arkan drew a face full of tears.

[You’re scary when you make that face, milady…]

[Humans make mistakes, right? Guides are the same! It’s only natural to make an error while handling vast records! Not that I’m admitting I was naive or anything, of course.]

[So it’d be great if you could help by reading the records for me!]

So it’s like a history book?

But if that’s the case… how is fate—what’s supposed to be the future—recorded?

And isn’t fate already fixed?

From the sound of it, Arkan records the present…

There were too many things I wanted to ask, but I chose the most important one first.

“So if I go to the library, I can edit records from the past or future too?”

[My explanation was clearly perfect!]

[But there’s one condition you don’t meet yet.]

“What condition?”

[You’ll find out soon enough! But I’m sure that if you knew what it was right now, you’d never set foot in that library.]

Just as I opened my mouth to press him further, Arkan started erasing his words in the frame.

He was refusing to continue the conversation.

“Is he serious? Saying everything he wants and then shutting down?”

I waited, hoping he’d pop back out and argue with me, but he didn’t move at all.

See?

He’s really good at annoying people.

Feeling frustrated, I shoved Arkan out of sight.

‘Anyway… I really need to take care of that thing too…’

My eyes drifted toward Ricardo’s robe again.