There was even a book dedicated entirely to the royal bloodline.
When I flipped to the last page, it listed the current ruler— King Thaddeus Ashbourne.
Then, right before my eyes, new words began to etch themselves onto the parchment in shimmering ink.
What the hell…
The book was updating in real time.
It now included entries on Kairan and Ancillin.
"Kairan Alistair Ashbourne, firstborn of Thaddeus, twenty-four years of age, born with unmatched strength, greater than any man or woman in Valkathra. Crowned heir to the throne at ten."
(Author:-What is he, a Chinese webtoon prodigy?)
I turned to the next section.
"Ancillin Emrys Ashbourne, second son of Thaddeus, twenty years of age. Appointed High Lunarch of the Temple at sixteen. Among all High Lunarchs in history, his mana is recorded as the purest and lightest, earning him heavenly reverence."
High Lunarch? The hell is that supposed to mean?
I dug through the shelves until I found a thick, dust-laced book labeled "Chronicles of the Lunarchs."
Gotcha.
The first page spelled it out:
"The High Lunarch holds the second-highest rank within the temple. Their duty is to cleanse the mana within people. Any wielder of magic must appear before the temple, for unrestrained magic harms both its bearer and the world around them."
"If a person's magic is deemed unworthy, the High Lunarch strips it away.
Those who are capable undergoes Aetherbinding which is a ritual to stabilize their power."
High Lunarchs also led the temple's mages in creating protective barriers around the kingdom, and during wars, they served as healers and physicians.
So basically… the man's a magical doctor-slash-judge-slash-exorcist.
I spent the whole day flipping through books, jumping from legends to bloodlines to weird magical manuals that made no sense but sounded cool anyway.
When I finally got up, my spine made a noise that belonged in a horror movie.
"AHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Dear heavens, my back just filed for retirement.
I straightened, groaning like a dying pirate. My hips were numb, my shoulders cracked, and for a second, I questioned every life decision that led to reading for eight straight hours.
Still, I stretched my arms up like a champion. "It's fine, Sia. You've learned things. You're basically a scholar now."
Then I put one foot on the chair, raised my fist dramatically, and declared, "With this knowledge, I'll conquer the world! You hear me, you motherblender Kairan? You'll be kissing my royal as—"
"Uhm… Lady?"
I froze mid evil monologue.
At the door stood a maid, staring at me like she'd just walked in on a demon summoning ritual. Her eyes said 'I'm not paid enough for this.'
I awkwardly lowered my leg and smoothed my dress. "Yes?" I coughed, slipping back into Meredia's proper noble tone. "What is it?"
She blinked. "It's… dinner time, my lady."
Dinner? Again!? Do these people eat every five minutes!?
I forced a polite smile. "Ah. Wonderful. I adore… sustenance."
The maid nodded uncertainly and scurried away, probably to tell the others the lady had lost her mind in the library.
I sighed and dragged myself out of the library like a corpse that just realized it had to pay taxes. My eyes burned, my back screamed, and my brain was fried from too much "ancient wisdom."
By the time I reached the dining hall, everyone was already seated..
I slipped into my seat, trying to look composed, but my body was one wrong move away from collapsing.
Father glanced at me. "You were in the library all day?"
"Yes, Father." I managed a tired smile. "Learning about Valkathra."
Esther nearly choked on his soup. Kirill just stared like I'd announced I was becoming a nun. Even the Duchess's spoon paused midair.
Why does everyone act like I said I am starting a cult?
Father, however, looked... proud? "Good. But don't stress yourself out."
I nodded, pretending to beam at his approval while inside I was screaming.
Esther muttered under his breath, "Can't wait till she forgets this phase."
I shot him a look. "Can't wait till you grow a personality."
Duchess cleared her throat in warning glaring at him.
Kirill silently laughed into his cup.
Dinner ended in that tense, quiet "we're pretending to be civil but we all love cringe family feels" energy.
As everyeone stood to leave, Father called out, "Meredia, tomorrow you'll accompany me to tomorrow's meeting. It's time you observe kingdom's affairs."
I froze. Kingdom's affairs? Like, the political one? With actual nobles who talk in riddles and backstab for sport?
I smiled sweetly. "Of course, Father."
.
.
.
.
I collapsed onto my bed, burying my face in the pillow like it could protect me from tomorrow.
What was even discussed in Father's meetings? Politics? Taxes? Sacrificing goats for better harvests? I had no clue....and neither did Meredia, apparently.
But I couldn't back out now. I'd begged him to let me attend. I had to at least pretend to be competent.
I kicked my feet against the mattress, groaning. "Oh god! How do I even do this!?"
"Do what?"
…No.
Every muscle in my body locked. That voice.... was deep and too calm to be anyone else's.
Kairan.
My heart started hammering so fast it almost hurt. I didn't dare lift my head from the pillow, didn't even breathe too loud.
The soft thud of boots echoed closer. Then the faint creak of the sofa cushions.
He was sitting right .across from my bed.
Why is he always here? What does he want from me?
"It's rather improper of you to keep lying like that," his voice slid through the darkness.
"I take no pleasure in gazing at a lady's.... back," he went on, tone low, "and yet, every time I find you, this is how you choose to greet me."
What the hell!
He was the one sneaking into my room, and he had the audacity to complain about my posture?
"Sit up."
I couldn't. My limbs refused to listen. And then—without him even touching me, my body jerked, flipped over as if pulled by invisible hands, landing flat on my back.
"Ah!" I gasped, eyes wide. Had he just… done that?
I scrambled upright, pressing myself against the headboard, breath uneven.
The room was dim, shadows clinging to every corner, but those piercing emeralds of his eyes cut through the dark like twin blades of light.
Tears prickled at the corners of my eyes. I blinked, trying to see him clearly.
But by the time my vision steadied, he was gone.
My chest heaved, the air in the room got cold as if he'd taken all warmth with him when he vanished.
I pressed my palm to where my heart was pounding. it felt almost violent.
What was that?
He didn't just walk out. He disappeared. One second those eyes were there burning right through me and the next, only darkness.
I scanned the room, half expecting him to reappear in a corner, or behind the curtains, or worse...right beside the bed.
He's haunting me now, isn't he?
I buried my face in my knees, whispering to myself, "You're fine, Sia. Totally fine. It's just a power-tripping prince with teleportation issues."
Still, sleep refused to come. Every sound...the creak of the walls, the wind outside felt like him watching.
I stayed like that for hours, wide awake, until dawn finally bled through the and reminded me that I had a council meeting to survive… and possibly a stalker-prince problem to ignore.
I woke before the temple bells could even think about ringing and called for the triplets to help me bathe. The water was warm, but my stomach wasn't. it was doing flips.
Father had set the meeting for early morning so he wouldn't have to miss breakfast with the family. Typical Duke efficiency.
By the time I was dressed and walking down the corridor to his office, my nerves were a tangled mess of dread and excitement. My palms were sweaty, my brain replaying every possible way this could go wrong.
What if it's full of pompous old men who argue for sport? Or worse, the ones who smell like ink and superiority?
I swallowed hard. "Okay, Sia," I muttered to myself. "You can handle one little meeting. Probably."
I pushed the door open, rehearsing my polite smile for whatever wrinkly councilmen awaited me—
—And instantly regretted it.
Forget pompous old men. I'd take a whole army of them over him.
Because there he was, The Prince Kairan, sitting on the sofa like he owned the place, sipping tea at an hour when even sunlight was still half-asleep.
My breath caught. My throat went dry like I'd swallowed sand.
He lifted his gaze from the teacup, and for a second, I forgot how to breathe altogether. Those emerald eyes were cool, lazy, too knowing.
Why does a man who once tried to kill me look like sin wrapped in royal etiquette?
My hands fisted in my dress before I could stop them.
Perfect. Morning ruined.
He wore a navy coat embroidered in silver threads that caught the light every time he moved. Beneath it, a charcoal waistcoat hugged his frame, paired with a black shirt and matching pantds that somehow made him look both regal and dangerous. A teal brooch gleamed at his collar, a whisper of color against all that darkness.
That's freaking unfair. No man that ruthless had any right to look like that.
His eyes lingered on me far too long before he finally set his cup down.
"Have you forgotten your manners, my lady? Or is bowing beneath you now?"
My spine stiffened. I forced myself into a curtsey. "Good morning, Your Highness. May the crown shine brighter upon you today."
He let out a low, amused breath, almost a laugh, but heavier.
"Ah. Such honeyed words so early in the morning. You've grown quite... ornate with your greetings."
I straightened, glaring at him. He really could find fault in oxygen if I breathed it wrong.
"I'll take my leave, Your Highness. I came to see my father, but…" my eyes flicked to the empty chair, "he doesn't seem to be here."
Kairan leaned back slightly, one arm resting over the sofa's edge, a half-smile curving at his lips.
"He will be, soon. Sit. It would be discourteous to make your prince wait alone."
That smile made it clear this wasn't a request.
I sat opposite him, spine straight, chin lifted just enough to look composed. Inside, though, my pulse was drumming loud enough to echo in my ears.
He didn't speak right away. He just kept looking at me but noot in the way men looked at women, but in the way hunters looked at something they couldn't quite name yet. His gaze traced my every tiny movementes...the twitch in my fingers, the shallow rise of my breath, the way I avoided his eyes like they were traps.
And then, almost lazily, he said,
"You've been visiting the library quite often, haven't you?"
My head snapped up before I could stop it. "I—yes. Just brushing up on some history."
His tone was deceptively mild, almost thoughtful.
"History."
He tilted his head a little, eyes glinting under the morning light.
"Strange. Lady Meredia once declared history a tedious waste of ink. Yet now you read until the sun forgets to rise."
I forced a small laugh. "People change."
"Do they?"
The quiet weight behind his question made my stomach twist. He leaned forward, forearms resting on his knees, and his voice dropped lower.
"Change leaves traces. A new rhythm in one's speech… a different way of breathing, even the way light reacts to one's presence. Fascinating, isn't it?"
My throat went dry. He was smiling pleasant and politebut there was something in his words, a layer I couldn't peel...something that felt too knowing.
"I… suppose so, Your Highness," I managed, trying not to shrink under his gaze.
"Mm."
He sat back again.
"Unpredictable. That's what you've become, Lady Meredia. A rare thing in a world where people so rarely surprise me."
The way unpredictable rolled off his tongue...it wasn't just an observation. It was a quiet accusation.
I swallowed hard, forcing a smirk I didn't feel. "I'll take that as a compliment."
He let out a soft certain laugh...
"I wouldn't. Change that comes overnight tends to invite eyes you may not want on you."
The words sank in slow, unsettling me. My fingers curled in my lap. "Are you one of those eyes, Your Highness?"
For a heartbeat, silence fell. Then his mouth curved.
"I see what others overlook."
Before I could respond, the door opened.
Father stepped in, his presence snapping the air back to something ordinary.
Kairan rose instantly, every ounce of that quiet menace tucked away, replaced by flawless courtly grace.
"Duke Oberon," he greeted smoothly. "We were merely speaking of your daughter's… newfound curiosities."