Lucien had spent most of the night staring at the same page.
He hadn’t slept.
The ancient book remained open on his desk, its pages covered in faded writing and symbols that most people in Varethis would no longer recognize.
But Lucien did.
At the center of the page was a silver symbol.
A circle surrounded by three curved lines.
He had seen it before.
Years ago.
In the royal archives.
It belonged to an ancient bloodline that had disappeared long before his reign.
The Elaris.
Lucien leaned back in his chair.
That was impossible.
The Elaris had vanished generations ago.
At least, that was what everyone believed.
He looked toward the window.
Liora’s strange reaction to the flower.
The vision.
The silver mark.
The magic in the east wing.
Too many coincidences.
Lucien closed the book.
He needed more information.
And he needed it without alarming Liora.
The next morning, Liora entered the kitchen carrying a basket.
She stopped when she saw Lucien already sitting at the table.
She stared at him.
He stared back.
“Why are you here?”
“Eating.”
Liora blinked.
“You’re eating?”
“Yes.”
She looked at the plate in front of him.
Then at him.
Then back at the plate.
“I think I’m witnessing a miracle.”
Lucien raised an eyebrow.
“Do you intend to stand there all morning?”
“No.”
She placed the basket down.
“But I’m proud of you.”
“Don’t be.”
“Too late.”
One of the kitchen servants quietly laughed.
Lucien ignored her.
Liora began preparing breakfast.
After a few minutes, she noticed him watching her.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re staring.”
“I was thinking.”
“About?”
“You.”
Liora nearly dropped the spoon.
Lucien seemed to realize how that sounded.
“I mean your work.”
“Oh.”
She looked back at the food.
“That’s less alarming.”
Lucien said nothing.
But the servant behind them was struggling not to laugh.
After breakfast, Liora returned to her duties.
She cleaned the library.
Organized the study.
Checked the kitchen supplies.
And complained about the number of books Lucien owned.
“How does one person need this many books?”
A voice came from behind her.
“I read.”
Liora turned.
“Clearly.”
Lucien walked into the library.
She held up a book.
“This one hasn’t been touched in years.”
“How do you know?”
“Dust.”
He looked at the shelf.
“You checked?”
“I’m a maid. I notice things.” This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
Lucien looked at her for a moment.
That answer caught his attention.
“You notice everything?”
“Almost.”
“Interesting.”
Liora narrowed her eyes.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Like what?”
“Like you’re trying to figure me out.”
“Perhaps I am.”
“Good luck.”
She returned the book to the shelf.
“I’m complicated.”
Lucien almost smiled.
“I’ve noticed.”
Later that afternoon, Lucien entered the royal archives.
Only a handful of people were permitted inside.
The archivist bowed.
“My lord.”
“I’m looking for records concerning the Elaris family.”
The archivist froze.
“The Elaris?”
“Yes.”
“They haven’t appeared in the records for centuries.”
“That’s why I’m asking.”
The old archivist hesitated.
Then he led Lucien toward the oldest section.
They passed shelves filled with ancient histories, treaties and magical records.
Finally, the archivist stopped before a locked cabinet.
“This is everything that remains.”
Lucien opened it.
Inside were only three books.
He picked up the first.
The Elaris Bloodline.
He opened it.
The first pages described the family’s history.
Ancient.
Powerful.
Magically gifted.
But then he reached the final pages.
The records suddenly became vague.
The family withdrew from public affairs.
Their whereabouts became unknown.
Their bloodline is believed to have ended.
Lucien frowned.
“Believed?”
The archivist nodded.
“That’s the wording.”
“Why?”
“No one knows.”
Lucien turned another page.
There was a drawing.
A woman with long silver hair.
A man standing beside her.
And between them—
A child.
Lucien’s eyes narrowed.
The drawing was old.
Very old.
But the symbol beside the child was identical to the one he had seen on Liora.
His grip tightened around the book.
“Who is this child?”
The archivist shook his head.
“There is no name.”
Lucien stared at the drawing.
Someone had deliberately removed it.
That evening, Liora was carrying fresh towels toward the guest rooms when she heard voices.
She stopped.
Two servants were talking around the corner.
“Did you hear?”
“Hear what?”
“The master went to the archives.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
“Was it about the eastern wing?”
The other servant lowered her voice.
“Maybe.”
Liora frowned.
She quietly walked away.
The east wing again.
What exactly was in there?
She had never been good at ignoring mysteries.
Especially mysteries that seemed to involve her employer. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
She reached the end of the corridor.
Then stopped.
A thought crossed her mind.
I could just ask him.
She immediately rejected it.
Lucien would probably say something annoyingly vague.
Or stare at her.
Or both.
She sighed.
“Fine. I’ll figure it out myself.”
That night, Liora passed the east wing again.
She wasn’t planning to enter.
Not really.
She was only walking past.
At least, that was what she told herself.
Then she heard something.
A faint sound.
Like someone whispering.
Liora stopped.
She looked at the doors.
Her heart began beating faster.
“Hello?”
Nothing.
She took a step closer.
The silver markings on the doors suddenly glowed.
Liora froze.
The same warmth she had felt in the garden moved through her hand.
The markings brightened.
A sharp pain struck her head.
She stumbled backward.
Then—
The doors opened.
Just slightly.
A thin line of darkness appeared between them.
Liora stared.
“What the—”
A hand suddenly grabbed her wrist.
She gasped.
Lucien pulled her away from the doors.
“What are you doing?”
“I heard something!”
“You should not be here.”
“I know!”
“Then why did you come?”
“I was curious!”
“You could have been hurt.”
His voice was sharper than usual.
Liora stared at him.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then she noticed his hand was still around her wrist.
He immediately released her.
“Go to your room.”
“But—”
“Now.”
Liora frowned.
“You’re being very bossy.”
“I am aware.”
She crossed her arms.
“You’re hiding something.”
Lucien’s expression remained unreadable.
“So are you.”
Liora blinked.
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing.”
“That definitely meant something.”
Lucien walked toward the doors.
The silver markings had already stopped glowing.
He turned back.
“Stay away from this wing.”
Liora sighed.
“Fine.”
She walked away.
After a few steps, she looked back.
Lucien was still standing there.
Watching the doors.
His expression was troubled.
Liora didn’t understand why.
But something told her the strange mansion she had entered a week ago was hiding far more secrets than she had imagined.
And somehow—
She had a feeling she was one of them.