Chapter 53: Secret(3)
Chapter 53: Secret(3)
A series of completely unexpected situations had left me in a state of confusion, but I managed to settle things well enough after returning to my quarters. As I threw myself onto the bed and stared blankly at the ceiling, my overheated head finally began to cool down.
Still, my mind remained a tangled mess. Cecile’s behavior toward me today, and the fact that Mari had followed us...
In many ways, it was a day that forced complicated thoughts upon me. I blinked, gazing vacantly at the ceiling, before letting out a deep sigh.
Was I being too naive?
Unlike the Imperial siblings, who had created an atmosphere bordering on an interrogation, Cecile had tried to lead me into revealing the secret myself. It wasn't blackmail; it was an attitude that strictly respected my position.
On top of that, Cecile had declared that she was ready to give everything to the author of Xenon Biography—to me. It wasn't a joke; her words carried a sense of resolve and sincerity. It was her own heartfelt will.
However, the act of forcing my hand to touch her chest and, furthermore, putting my finger in her mouth could be interpreted in many ways. I would have to hear it from Cecile herself to be sure, but to others (especially Mari), it might have looked like she was using her body as bait to seduce me.
At the time, my reason had completely evaporated, making it hard to grasp the meaning behind it. But thinking back on it now, there were parts where I had been far too careless.
Of course, I couldn't be certain if Cecile had intended to seduce me. I planned to meet her separately the next day to confirm.
I really have been living without much thought.
One could say I lacked a sense of reality, or perhaps that my social skills were lacking. In my previous life, I had isolated myself after my parents died in an accident while I was in college, and in this life, I had stayed only at home until I entered the Academy.
Because of this, I tended to just go with the flow of life. It meant I wasn't handling variables properly.
But through Leort, Lina, and now Cecile, I had come to realize one thing clearly.
My value was far greater than I had imagined. I wasn't sure exactly how much, but for the Princess of Helium to say she would offer her own body, it was certain that I had surpassed the level of being merely "extraordinary."
It’s a relief it was the Imperial family and Cecile, but if this keeps up, a real disaster is going to happen later. Even Father might not be able to stop it.
I had the reliable backing of my father, but even that would crumble helplessly before a massive power like a "nation." Therefore, it was only right that I develop the ability to overcome things with my own strength, not my father's.
My father and the rest of my family had said they would help me anytime, but I couldn't lean on them for everything. If that isn't being a spoiled brat, what is?
So, I should handle situations appropriately with my own abilities, and only if I truly can't manage should I borrow my family's strength. My family would likely respect this decision of mine as well.
Going through these thoughts made me wonder if I had been too foolish all this time. Rather than living thoughtlessly, I needed to develop a more calculating side to make my future easier.
And Mari...
As of today, I could be certain. Mari harbored romantic feelings for me that went beyond a mere "fling."
Considering she followed Cecile and me and even knocked on the door herself, even the most oblivious person would realize that much.
And my reaction to that was...
...Should we start by holding hands first?
It began with my face rapidly turning red. I, too, held feelings for Mari that went beyond friendship; I saw her as a woman.
Our first meeting couldn't exactly be called good, but the more time we spent together, the more natural it became to develop such feelings. Her beautiful face was one thing, but I liked her personality most—the way she was so far removed from any sense of entitlement or authority.
Above all, Mari had no idea that I was the author of Xenon Biography. Unlike Cecile, she liked me for who I was as a person.
However, the biggest obstacle was her background. Mari’s family wasn't a mere barony like mine; they were the Rekilis Ducal family, possessing power second only to the Imperial family.
The relationship between the Emperor and the Duke wasn't bad, but it wasn't exactly good either. They maintained the balance of the Minerva Empire through fierce competition and checks. If things slipped even slightly, the Empire could fall into chaos.
Mari probably wouldn't care, though...
Even if Mari found out I was the author of Xenon Biography, she would likely just be surprised and nothing more. Having spent so much time with her, I was sure of this.
But that was just her; it was questionable whether her family would leave me alone. So, even if I were to date Mari, it would be awkward to tell her directly until she noticed on her own.
First, I need to figure out exactly how much I'm worth.
The newspapers said I had changed the paradigm of novels, that I was the savior who fulfilled the long-cherished wish of the Demons, that I had redefined theology, and so on.
Various evaluations were circulating in the world, but these alone were insufficient. As the saying goes, "know yourself and know your enemy"; I needed to understand my value more clearly to prevent a catastrophe from occurring.
Who would have thought things would turn out like this just from writing a story...
I let out a frustrated sigh inwardly and sat up from the bed. As I said before, I lacked a sense of reality. However, after experiencing various incidents, I felt the need to change my mindset.
With that thought, I sat at my desk and opened the second drawer. Upon opening it, I saw a thick stack of manuscript paper piled high.
But these weren't ordinary manuscripts. They were the manuscripts I had painstakingly written until now—the original drafts of Xenon Biography.
Originally, I had left the first drafts with the publisher, but once Xenon Biography became a hit that far exceeded expectations, they returned them. From the publisher's perspective, keeping such things would be dangerous, so they had no choice but to return them for safety's sake.
I wonder just how much value these hold...
To the naked eye, they looked like nothing more than shabby manuscript paper. But I was curious how they would appear in the eyes of the high and mighty.
My own worth was one thing, but the value of the original manuscripts would be no joke either. Especially to the Kingdom of Tayros, known as a cultural powerhouse, they would surely be nothing short of a treasure.
However, as I just said, the priority was knowing my own value first. And the people suitable to ask about this were...
Leort, Lina, and Mari... I suppose?
Since Cecile represented the position of the Demons, I'd pass on her; the most complicated relationships were definitely with the humans. Since the protagonist of Xenon Biography was human, they were the race most enthusiastic about it, and also the race most desperate to find me.
Therefore, the high-ranking people on the human side would know the value of the original manuscripts better than anyone. I pictured the three of them in my mind and furrowed my brow slightly.
Out of them, Mari is definitely the most trustworthy.
I felt uneasy about approaching anyone else with a specific purpose, but especially so with Mari. I wanted to laugh, chat, and enjoy an ordinary life with her, just as we always had.
A sort of sanctuary, I suppose. Since my naivety had led to this situation, it seemed best to at least explain things to her.
Of course, Mari would happily accept me no matter who I was, but that was all the more reason to treat her with care. Now that I knew what kind of feelings she harbored for me, I didn't want to cause her any harm.
For now...
It would be best to write a letter to Father. I should express my new mindset to him before taking action.
With that, I put the original manuscripts back in the drawer and began writing a letter to my father. He would be quite flustered if I suddenly said I would act on my own, so I had to explain the circumstances.
I can't keep thinking that nothing will happen anymore.
Various incidents had already occurred, and time could not be turned back. A secret is only a secret when only one person knows it.
Instead of just trying to avoid it, let's be prepared.
With a serious heart, I began to write the letter to my father, step by step.
*
Inside a room where not a single speck of light entered.
Cecile, the red-eyed Demon, was lying on a plush bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
With her red eyes glowing vividly in the darkness and her black hair scattered across the bed, she looked like a scene from a painting.
She slowly reached her hand toward the ceiling. Her hand, calloused from decades of training, came into view.
"... ..."
Cecile blinked a couple of times while looking at her hand. At the same time, she thought deeply about what had happened today.
It was a day like any other, but today was a bit special. Because she had finally met the author of Xenon Biography and the savior of the Demon race, whom she had wanted to meet so badly.
Of course, evidence would be needed to know for sure if he truly was the author, but Cecile could sense it instinctively. She was certain that the red-haired boy, Isaac, was the author of Xenon Biography she had so desperately wished to meet.
She had gently nudged him until he revealed the secret himself, but when Isaac actually admitted to being the author, she couldn't help but be shocked. After all, most people speculated that the author was an elderly sage.
No one would ever think it was a fresh young... no, a greenhorn like Isaac, who wasn't even twenty yet.
Isaac...
Cecile recalled the persecution the Demons had faced. A hundred years was a considerably long time, even for a Demon.
During that time, the Demons had not received good evaluations from other races. No, beyond that, they were met with eyes of hatred and contempt.
Fortunately, as the Princess of Helium, she hadn't directly received such looks, but it was different for other Demons. Those who ventured into the outside world had all met with unfortunate tragedies.
Because of this, Helium couldn't take a single step forward diplomatically and was forced into a semi-closed position. The fact that Helium had recently begun diplomacy with the Kingdom of Tayros was an unbelievable achievement in itself.
And all of this is...
Thanks to the red-haired boy, Isaac. As his face came to mind, Cecile placed the hand she had reached toward the ceiling onto her chest.
Thump— Thump— Thump—
Her heart was pounding wildly as if it were broken. She must have been quite excited without realizing it.
She tried to calm herself to settle her racing heart, but it wasn't easy. Rather, the moment she became aware of it, her heart pounded even harder.
Was this feeling love, or was it adoration? Since such a feeling was foreign to her since birth, Cecile couldn't easily grasp it.
But one thing was certain.
Isaac...
This feeling was directed toward the author of Xenon Biography, Isaac.
"Haa..."
Cecile let out a heated breath and slowly closed her eyes. Then, she remembered what Mari had said to her today.
Mari had declared that the reason she liked Isaac wasn't because of his secret. She just liked the existence of Isaac himself, and unlike Cecile, she didn't care about some secret.
Those words were enough to deliver a great shock to Cecile. Because of her, Cecile had realized her own mistake much sooner.
That was close.
She had almost committed a grave discourtesy toward the "man she loved" and her "savior." She had acted that way to show she could give him everything, but thinking about it now, there was plenty of room for it to be interpreted differently.
Was it right to act that way toward the "man she loved"? She could firmly say it was absolutely not.
Going through these thoughts, she couldn't help but see Isaac in a different light.
Originally, she had developed feelings for him because she thought of him as an open-minded man. She felt that by his side, she could act like an ordinary person, regardless of being a Demon.
And now, those feelings had amplified as he turned into the savior who fulfilled the long-cherished wish of the Demons. She realized why he was such an open-minded person.
The man she loved and the savior of the Demons. At the time, those two things had merged, causing confusion. She was unsure which one to focus on.
But not anymore. She was nurturing love while looking at only one person: "Isaac."
"Ah..."
What should she call this feeling of being truly grateful and truly enamored?
Reverence? Yes. Perhaps it could be called reverence.
At that thought, Cecile clasped her hands tightly and twisted her body. She wanted to run to him right now and start by offering her sincere thanks, and tell him that she was ready anytime, so he only had to say the word.
If someone else had been the author of Xenon Biography, she wouldn't have been like this. She would have simply treated them as a savior on a national level and repaid them.
But Isaac was the man she had feelings for. Also, the more she chewed over their conversations, the more she couldn't help but fall for him.
There were many people whose views on Demons had changed thanks to Xenon Biography. However, there were almost none who had treated Demons like ordinary people from the beginning.
Even Lina, who had started as a friend, was a case where she was wary at first but gradually opened up. But Isaac was infinitely free from such things.
Because he has such a heart, he was able to depict the Demons that way.
It was destiny. Yes, destiny. No one but Isaac could have written Xenon Biography.
If it had been anyone else, they would have depicted the Demons as no different from time bombs or devils. Only Isaac could write about Demons in such a way.
In the end, she was destined to fall deeply for him. What if the author of Xenon Biography had been someone else instead of Isaac?
Such a hypothesis was meaningless. As she said before, only Isaac, who treated discrimination against Demons as "nothing," could have written Xenon Biography.
The man who said that Demons are more human than humans. What Demon could possibly not be enchanted by him?
I'm glad. I'm glad I'm the first Demon to know his true worth.
By Isaac's side, she could truly live like an ordinary "person." What a fateful encounter this was.
However, since she had already made one mistake, she needed to approach him carefully now. Moreover, since a white-haired girl was firmly positioned by his side, she had to be cautious.
On the outside, she would act as usual... but when they were alone, she would reveal her true feelings.
"Just a little... just wait a little longer, Isaac. I'll... Ah! This isn't the time for this."
Muttering while twisting her body, she suddenly remembered something and sat bolt upright in bed. She headed to her desk, sat in the chair, and pulled out a sheet of paper.
First, a letter... But how do I send it to the male dormitory? Will they look at it strangely?
Cecile began to write while indulging in happy worries.
For now, I'll treat him as a savior and approach him bit by bit. If I approach him as a woman right away, he'll find it burdensome.
She was the Princess of Helium. And Isaac was the son of an ordinary Baron. Naturally, it would be burdensome.
But what if they met as the author of Xenon Biography and a reader of that book? Isaac would likely feel much less pressure.
"Hmm... will this do? Writing a letter to the one I love is hard..."
In the end, she stayed up the entire night.