Chapter 54
It was a thin book buried deep among piles of books.
If it hadn’t been glowing red, Lucy would never have found it.
Feeling grateful for the Bibliophile skill, Lucy pulled the book out.
Compared to the other old books, it looked quite new.
It seemed to have been written not long ago.
Lucy moved to a brighter spot with her lamp and opened the book.
She briefly worried that she might not be able to read it, but that fear was unfounded.
“This book is…”
Lucy’s eyes widened slightly.
It was a record about Lucy’s mother.
“So the basement also stores imperial history books.”
That must be why access was restricted.
With growing interest, Lucy continued reading.
A record about her mother—
This was information that could greatly affect the ending.
Lucy only knew that her mother had been falsely accused and executed.
But the red-glowing book described the crime her mother was said to have committed.
“Using black magic?”
According to the book, Lucy’s mother was recorded as a witch who used forbidden black magic.
It claimed she used black magic to control the Emperor’s heart and marry him.
“So the Emperor believed he didn’t fall in love by his own will, but because of black magic?”
Only then did Lucy understand the Emperor’s anger.
He must have felt betrayed, thinking he had been manipulated.
Naturally, he wouldn’t look kindly on Lucy, the child born from that union.
As Lucy reflected on how the Emperor had treated her coldly, she kept reading.
To hide the fact that the Emperor had been manipulated by black magic, the palace kept her mother’s charges secret.
“It would damage the dignity of the imperial family.”
The book portrayed Lucy’s mother as a perfect villain.
Someone who deserved execution.
“But Lucy believes this was a false accusation.”
Uncovering that truth was a future quest.
The book also mentioned Cerberus.
Cerberus had the ability to defend against black magic.
Even though Lucy’s mother had Cerberus, she was still accused of being a witch.
The book even claimed she kept Cerberus as part of a scheme to hide her crimes.
“So the ‘power of darkness’ was black magic.”
Lucy thought of the book Alexander had mentioned.
How did he get it, and why did he have it?
Lucy shook her head.
First, she needed to find out who framed her mother.
The person who gave the decisive testimony that sent her mother to execution was Elisha’s mother.
The Emperor highly valued that “achievement,” and after her death, gave her a grand funeral.
He then favored her daughter, Elisha.
Lucy closed the book.
Everything in the book fit together—but Lucy didn’t believe it.
That was how the game was set up.
“Even if I know the truth, proving it is the real problem.”
Who would believe her?
If she told the Emperor now, all the closeness she had built with him would surely collapse.
“I need solid evidence that it was a false accusation.”
Who could help her uncover that evidence?
Elisha?
Would Elisha know something?
“And I need to clearly understand black magic too.”
Lucy wanted Alexander’s book more than ever.
“I should leave for today.”
If she stayed too long in the palace library, the gatekeeper might get suspicious.
She wanted to search for more red-glowing books, but restrained herself.
She could always come back.
Lucy returned the book to its original place and left the basement.
Thankfully, the palace library was still empty.
With a calm expression, Lucy exited the library.
Back at the annex, Lucy felt unsettled.
Because of Cerberus.
“That really is that Cerberus, right?”
Panting happily and wagging his tail, Cerberus looked exactly like a puppy.
He didn’t look like a majestic guardian beast with special powers at all.
“You’re supposed to play a big role later.”
Lucy gently petted him and sighed.
Cerberus, unaware of her worries, rolled onto his back and acted cute.
After rubbing his belly, Lucy took out her fishing rod for the first time in a while.
Getting the palace library basement key reminded her how important items were.
“I should seriously start collecting items.”
With enough items, she felt she could get closer to the true ending.
Whether it was uncovering secrets or raising the male leads’ affection.
Cerberus followed Lucy as she headed to the river.
As she prepared to fish alone, Lucy suddenly felt a sense of emptiness.
Because Bartholomew wasn’t there.
“He didn’t come today.”
Feeling a strange disappointment, Lucy looked at Cerberus.
“Come to think of it…”
Cerberus was a guardian beast meant to protect his master from evil power—black magic.
So what was Bartholomew, whom Cerberus was wary of?
“Does he just dislike Bartholomew?”
Or was there some connection between that power and Bartholomew?
Lucy shook her head.
She didn’t think Bartholomew used forbidden black magic.
He was just a sickly nobleman with bad luck.
“Cerberus.”
Lucy called him.
Cerberus came running over from the grass.
“Why do you hate Bartholomew so much?”
Cerberus tilted his head.
He looked completely clueless.
Lucy sighed softly.
Then she focused on fishing.
Fishing was boring.
The items she caught were usually useless junk.
Still, Lucy didn’t give up.
She patiently stayed in place and kept fishing.
Eventually, she caught something fairly useful, even if it wasn’t a rare item.
“This will be good for dealing with the male leads.”
Lucy immediately thought of how to use it.
To others, it might look like junk, but to Lucy—who had already played the game—it looked different.
She decided to use those items wisely.
Since she occasionally had results, fishing no longer felt so boring.
However, her body started to feel strained.
Her lower back began to ache.
“I’ll stop after just a little more.”
As Lucy thought that and cast her line again—
She felt a huge vibration, far stronger than before.
“What is this?”
Had she finally caught a fish?
Or maybe even a rare item?
Not wanting to lose it, Lucy focused with all her strength.
Soon, something was pulled up on the line.
“What is that?”
Lucy checked the item hanging from the hook.
It was a small, transparent glass bottle.
Ding!
[Congratulations!]
[You have caught a rare item.]
[Item: Eye Drops of Truth]
[Effect: Can be used when the Aestheticism skill reaches max level.]
Eye Drops of Truth?
Eye drops, of all things.
“But what does this have to do with the Aestheticism skill?”
Wasn’t that a useless skill?
Maybe combined with this rare item, it would show a unique effect.
“Still, it’s better than the last rare item I caught.”
Thinking that, Lucy stored the item away.
Without realizing how important this item would become in the future.
