"Declaration of war??"
Immediately, I threw the dried flower onto the table as if it were burning my fingers.
"This is not a declaration of Faction War, right?" I asked, my voice trembling.
Lady Octavi shook her head, her expression grim. "No, My Lady. It is not about a declaration of war between the Royal Family and the Aurelius Family. It is a personal problem between you and the Third Prince. Giving someone a Tansy flower is a way of expressing deep animosity and a refusal to reconcile."
"So it will be a problem between me and him…"
I leaned back in my chair. Back in the Palace, Tito had given me a warning about Fabian. I didn't know he would react this fast or this harshly.
"Do my parents know about this envelope?" I asked Octavi.
"Which envelope, My Lady? If it is the first envelope from the Crown Prince, I believe they will know it. But for the second envelope from the Third Prince... it depends on their informant around this house."
"Wait! What?" I blinked. "So they have an informant inside this house?"
I was surprised. I never thought my parents would spy on me in my own residence.
Lady Octavi looked at me with a knowing smile. "My Lady, it is not uncommon for noble families to have informants in their households. It ensures safety and helps them stay informed about any potential threats or alliances. Especially since it is your parents, My Lady. It is natural to have another ear around you."
I couldn't help but feel uneasy. My parents kept hearing and seeing me, even when I thought I was alone.
"Do you think they will be upset with me for receiving such a gift?" I inquired, gesturing to the Tansy.
Octavi paused. "It is hard to say. Your parents may understand the complexities of the situation, but they could also be concerned about the potential consequences it may bring."
"On this matter, what do you think I must do?"
After what happened in the carriage yesterday, I wondered if Octavi would give me advice or just say it depended on me again.
There was a pause in the room. I saw Octavi glance behind me. Immediately, I knew she was looking at Adel.
Octavi's gaze lingered on Adel for a moment before she finally spoke to me, her voice filled with caution.
"My Lady, I believe it would be wise to keep My Lady inside this house until your parents arrive for the Hunting Event."
"Why?"
"With Sofia arriving tomorrow, I believe everything you need is in the house. And with this situation, I believe the Palace isn't a safe place for you right now. Our concern is with the envelope from the Third Prince, which can be a threat to your safety. It would be best to stay here."
"Ah, yes, I almost forgot that Sofia would come here…"
I looked back at Adel. "What do you think?"
Adel nodded immediately. "I agree with Lady Octavi. This matter is serious. It can be a threat to you, My Lady. Staying inside is the safest option."
Finally, both of them agreed on something.
"Does this plan make me a weak and helpless Aurelius?" I asked, frowning.
"You have a great view towards this matter, My Lady," Octavi said. "Yet, it can also be an intriguing plan. I believe the other nobles, especially the Royals, won't assume we are weak or helpless."
Adel added, "On the other hand, they will assume we are planning something which they won't or don't have the guts to do first. All of them will wait until the Hunting Event to see our move."
"I see…"
So, I would be confined to the house until my parents arrived.
"While I am waiting for my parents to come here, there is something I want to do," I said, looking at the reddish book on my lap.
"What is it, My Lady?" asked Octavi.
"I want to learn this Transmutation."
Lady Octavi seemed taken aback, her eyes widening in surprise. "I know My Lady is eager to learn it, yet are you sure?"
"Yes, I am certain," I replied confidently.
"The best instructor for you is Madam, your mother. Yet Madam isn't here. And I heard Cassius offer himself to become your instructor on this matter. In my view, it is a bad idea…"
As Octavi said that, I looked at Cassius. He shifted uncomfortably, clearly unhappy with her assessment.
"For me, I think it is not a bad idea to let Cassius teach me about this Transmutation," I countered.
"Why does My Lady say that?"
"Mother taught and raised Lady Octavi and Adel until both of you achieved Black Transmutation. Yet both of you were familiar with sword technique or how to fight. Like Lady Octavi, you were a graduate of the Knight Academy. And Adel was a former assassin…"
Spontaneously, everyone gasped. Even Octavi looked shocked. All eyes snapped to Adel.
I was confused. "Is your background a secret among the family?"
Adel sighed, keeping her face flat. "Well, My Lady, it isn't a secret anymore. My Lady has told everyone in this room."
I waved my hand dismissively. "That is interesting, right? I have a former assassin maid. Anyway, forget about that part."
I continued, "So what my mother taught Lady Octavi and Adel maybe isn't a basic thing but more a specialized skillset for fighting and technique. However, for me, I don't have anything. I don't have any basic skills, footwork, or technique. In conclusion, Cassius teaching me Transmutation isn't a bad idea because he will teach me the basics, not like my mother who teaches both of you more advanced arts."
Lady Octavi rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "I understand your view, My Lady. You are right; what Madam taught us is more advanced. Even the Academy has not taught it to me. I agree with Cassius becoming your instructor…"
She turned her sharp gaze to Cassius. "However, the thing inside of My Lady is way stronger than Cassius. So on this matter… I want to ask Cassius himself."
She pointed a finger at him. "I believe you have faced My Lady in a state of uncontrol. Yet at that time there was Adel and that woman," she gestured to Valerie, "who were beside you. If that happens again, in the middle of teaching her, you need to understand the risk. Even if Adel is beside her, it may not be enough to prevent potential harm to you, who is the closest person. Are you aware of that? And still want to offer yourself as her instructor?"
I saw Cassius hesitate. I waited for him to answer, watching his face closely.
He took a deep breath.
"I offered myself as an instructor, fully aware of the potential risks involved," Cassius stated firmly. "After seeing My Lady in a state of uncontrollability, I realized that someone needed to step in and help her. I understand the dangers, and I am willing to take on the responsibility."
Octavi nodded slowly. "Well, if you are aware of the situation, I approve of you as her instructor. Yet, I want you to teach her the theory of Transmutation fundamentals and the basics of sword technique. And Adel needs to be beside her all the time."
She turned to me. "Is all of that alright in your mind, My Lady?"
I was puzzled. "Why do you approve him just to teach me theory? Why not everything?"
"The problem is that the thing inside of you is unique, My Lady," Octavi explained gravely. "Even I don't know how I will teach you to control it. Do you remember who teaches and trains your brother?"
"My father…"
"Correct. I believe now that the Young Master is still undergoing learning Transmutation under His Grace. And I will not allow Cassius to teach you how to control Transmutation because only His Grace and Madam possess the knowledge and ability to bring out what is inside Aurelius children."
She leaned forward. "They have been trained in this matter throughout their dynasty, making them the only ones capable of imparting this skill. A single misstep in learning to control Transmutation can be extremely dangerous. It can result in Cassius losing his life; if he is lucky, he will lose some of his limbs. So I hope My Lady understands about this matter."
"I understand the consequences," I said solemnly. "So I will follow your advice on this matter."
I saw Lady Octavi and Cassius nod at me.
"Great. With this, we have taken precautions. Now," I looked at Cassius and Valerie, "may you two take a seat at the table? So we can have breakfast together."
They finally approached the table and sat down. As soon as they took a seat, Adel clapped her hands. Servants came in to serve the food. We had our breakfast in relative peace after the morning's revelations.
As I watched Valerie and Cassius eat, suddenly I remembered the Twelve Key Figures beside them.
I asked myself, Do I need to gather all of them at once before Nona meets them all?
Yet all of them were scattered around the Kingdom. Luck was on my side when I met Cassius and Valerie.
I glanced at Lady Octavi. Do I need to order someone to find them?
There was a good chance that this would have a negative impact on the Aurelius reputation—to bring these people in front of me without their consent.
And again, a great question appeared in my head: Are Nona's Paragons aware of my fate? Do they know about these twelve figures? Does Nona share the book with them to make sure everything follows as the book says?
If they were aware, this was a race between me and them.
Wait a minute. If Nona shared the book to make sure everything followed the script, then her Paragons couldn't change or alter anything from the book—like getting ahead to recruit these figures. That meant they would wait for everything to happen as written.
Yet, the timeline was shifting. The real-world time was different.
But Cassius and Valerie's case was different; they came from that town, so when Adel and I passed their town, we sought the tavern to know their whereabouts, and luck was on my side.
The book didn't give me more detail about the figures' background or exact locations.
I needed help finding them.
…
"What? My Lady, are you serious?"
"Yeah, I am," I said, leaning over the table later that day.
"Why do you need me to find this stupid byname?" Valerie asked, crossing her arms.
"Just help me find this byname, okay? You may seek it at all the taverns in this Capital…"
I handed her a piece of paper with a single name written on it.
…