"Cough, Cough! ...Look at all the dust. Cough!"
The moment she opened the door to the underground Library, a musty smell assaulted Livia's senses. The underground Library was a mess with dust everywhere.
'It looks like all the Maren Family members doesn't like to study, looking at how much dust in this library'
"Anna, Marisa" Livia called both of them inside.
"Yes miss." Both responded in unison.
"Help me find the underground chamber of this room. Look through all the second selves of the library. If any of you find the chamber call me"
"Yes."
"Okay… Now, let's start"
With a determined nod, Livia started her work. On her way back to the main residence she suddenly remembered that Livia had indeed been to the underground chamber once. That's why she knew where to look for.
Livia stepped further into the dim, dust filled library, her boots leaving faint prints on the floor. There was heavy silence. Suddenly The heavy silence was broken only by the soft footsteps and the occasional sneeze from Anna or Marisa as they got to work.
Each second shelf was wide and filled with old, leather-bound books—many of which were bloated from humidity or chewed at the corners by bugs or the time itself. Livia dragged her gloved fingers along the wood, eyes scanning for any sign of irregularity: a false panel, a crack or anything.
"Underground chamber…" Livia muttered quietly. "It has to be hidden somewhere… Sigh! Nothing in this house is ever straightforward"
Marisa, carefully examining a section near the back, pulled out a thick book and gave a small yelp as a cloud of dust burst into her face.
Livia glanced over but said nothing. She continued down her row, knocking lightly against the back of one shelf, then another.
"Again Nothing…"
Suddenly, Anna's voice echoed from the far end of the room.
"Miss Livia! I think I found something!"
Livia's head snapped up.
"Don't touch anything, yet" she ordered, striding across the library floor.
"Show it to me."
Anna pointed to a section of the second shelf where one book stood out. It was slightly misaligned, it was far less dusty than the others.
Livia leaned closer, inspecting it carefully. Then, without hesitation, she reached out and pulled the book.
There was a faint click.
A low rumble followed. Slowly, the shelf to the right of Anna began to tremble—then creaked open, revealing a narrow staircase spiraling down into darkness.
Livia smiled faintly.
"There you are," she whispered.
Livia, with her two maids close behind, slowly descended the narrow staircase. As soon as they stepped inside the chamber lights lit up all around the room.
"Cough, Cough!"
"It's even more dusty than the library."
The workshop was a mess of unorganized books and materials, and dust had settled everywhere, as if it hadn't been cleaned in ages.
Livia covered her mouth and nose with one hand and slowly stepped inside. With each step, she kicked aside neglected documents and flasks, feeling a surge of disgust.
'No wonder they are declining'
Perhaps it was because of their bloodline, which was steadily losing its magical power. No one in the current Maren family was devoted in the magic. Yet despite everything they entered capital through using curse magic.
The Maren family's underground workshop was filled with materials on curse magic that the Maren family had researched and developed over the years. Livia's parents and Livia herself didn't know how to utilize the curse magic. But she had no choice but come here.
'If the curse was cast by the Maren family, then the counter-curse must also be here."
According to the current head of the Maren family, Livia's father Baron Oliver Maren, the powerful curse placed on Livia the formula was created by the Maren family. She only knows that as a part of the deal with Feliste family the curse was placed on her but she had never been told who, when and how it was cast.
She began to examine the materials in front of her one by one. It was difficult to decipher but the Maren family's curse magic was uniquely distinctive so she could understand it quite a bit.
"Miss…Are you searching for something?" Marisa asked hesitantly.
"Yes, Anna and Marisa. I need your help" – Livia replied without looking up.
Anna like always, she quickly picked up a material from the table and spoke.
"Should we look for materials related counter curse?"
Livia nodded.
Maria tilted her head in confusion- "Counter curse?... But don't even know magic, so how are we going to find counter curse?"
"Just look for something like two snakes or close to it. I'll take care of the rest."
Marisa stood there for a while but Anna nodded silently and began their search.