Chapter 54

■ Chapter 53. Secret (3) □ ᓚᘏᗢ

Unexpected situations occurred one after another, causing confusion, but I managed to calm things down once I returned to the dormitory. Lying on the bed and staring blankly at the ceiling, my hot head gradually cooled down.

Still, my mind remained a tangled mess. The way Cecilie acted towards me today, and the fact that Marie followed us, all contributed to this.

It was a day filled with complex thoughts. I blinked and stared at the ceiling, then let out a deep sigh.

‘Was I too complacent…’

Unlike the royal siblings who created an almost interrogative atmosphere, Cecilie gently guided me to reveal my secrets. It was a respectful attitude, not a threat, clearly showing consideration for my position.

Moreover, Cecilie, the author of the Zayon Chronicles, revealed that she was prepared to offer everything to me. It wasn't a joke; it was filled with resolve and sincerity, a genuine expression of her will.

However, the way she forcibly guided my hand to touch her chest and then bit my finger had various interpretations. I would need to hear it directly from Cecilie, but to others (especially Marie), it might seem like she was using her body to seduce me.

At the time, my rationality was completely lost, making it hard to grasp the meaning, but now, upon careful reflection, I realize I was too complacent.

Of course, I can't determine if Cecilie was intentionally seducing me. I plan to meet her the next day to confirm.

‘I’ve really been living a sheltered life.’

I can be said to lack a sense of reality and social skills. In my previous life, I isolated myself after my parents died in an accident during my college years, and now I've been living at home until I entered the academy.

As a result, I tend to drift through life without much direction, meaning I can't handle unexpected variables well.

However, through Leort, Lina, and Cecilie, I've clearly realized that my value is much greater than I thought. I don't know the extent, but if the princess of Helium is willing to offer herself, it must be extraordinary.

‘Fortunately, it’s just the royal family and Cecilie, or I might have caused a major incident. Even my father might not be able to stop it.’

Despite having my father as a solid backing, even that would crumble before the immense power of a ‘nation.’ Therefore, I need to develop the ability to handle situations on my own, not relying on my father's influence.

My family has always said they would help me whenever needed, but I can't rely on them for everything. That would make me a spoiled brat.

So, I should handle situations with my own abilities, and if it really comes to it, I can rely on my family. They will respect my opinion.

Thinking this way, I realize I've been quite foolish. To make my future easier, I need to be more pragmatic.

‘And Marie…’

Today, I became certain. Marie has romantic feelings for me that go beyond just a crush.

The fact that she followed us and knocked on the door is something even someone as clueless as me can understand.

And my reaction to this…

‘…Should I start by holding her hand?’

My face turned red immediately. I have always had a liking for Marie, not just as a person but as a romantic interest.

Our first meeting wasn't great, but the more time I spent with her, the more I naturally developed these feelings. Besides her beauty, I especially like her down-to-earth personality, which is far from any sense of authority.

Most importantly, unlike Cecilie, Marie has no idea I'm the author of the Zayon Chronicles. She likes me as a person.

However, the biggest obstacle is her background. Marie's family, the Requilles Dukes, are not just any baron family but one of the most powerful, second only to the royal family.

The relationship between the emperor and the duke is not bad, but it's not good either. They compete and check each other to maintain the balance of the Minerva Empire. Any misstep could lead to chaos.

‘Marie probably won’t care…’

Marie would be surprised to learn I'm the author of the Zayon Chronicles, but she wouldn't react further. I know this from our time together.

But whether her family would leave me alone is another matter. If I start dating Marie, it might be awkward to tell her before she realizes it.

‘First, I need to understand my own value.’

The newspaper praised me for changing the paradigm of novels, being a benefactor to the demons, and reestablishing theology, among other things.

While these evaluations are floating around, they are insufficient. Knowing oneself is key to preventing disasters.

‘Who would have thought a single book could cause such a stir…’

I sighed inwardly and got up from the bed. As I mentioned, I lack a sense of reality, but after experiencing various events, I feel the need to change my mindset.

Thinking this, I sat at my desk and opened the second drawer. Inside, a stack of thick manuscript paper caught my eye.

But it wasn't ordinary manuscript paper. These were the original drafts I had written with great care, the first edition of the Zayon Chronicles.

Originally, the publisher had the first edition, but after the Zayon Chronicles became a huge hit, they returned it. It was too risky for the publisher to keep it, so they sent it back for safety.

‘Just how much value does this hold…’

To the untrained eye, it looks like ordinary manuscript paper. But how would it be perceived by those in high places?

My value is one thing, but the value of the first edition is significant. Especially to the Teiros Kingdom, known for its cultural strength, it could be a treasure.

However, I need to understand my own value first. The right people to ask would be…

‘Leort, Lina, and Marie… right?’

I'll pass on Cecilie, who represents the demons, and focus on humans, as the protagonist of the Zayon Chronicles is human, and humans are the most enthusiastic and the ones most likely to seek me out.

Thus, the high-ranking humans would know the value of the first edition better than anyone. I thought about the three of them and furrowed my brow.

‘Among them, Marie is the most trustworthy.’

While I can't say the same for the others, I feel uncomfortable with Marie if she has a specific purpose. I want to laugh, chat, and enjoy a normal life with her.

A kind of sanctuary, perhaps. Since my complacency led to this situation, it's best to explain things to her.

Of course, Marie will accept me no matter who I am, but that's why I need to be extra careful. Now that I know her feelings, I don't want to hurt her.

‘For now…’

I should write a letter to my father. It's best to express my new mindset to him before taking action.

If I suddenly decide to act on my own, he might be surprised, so I need to explain the situation.

‘I can't keep thinking nothing will happen.’

Various events have already occurred, and time cannot be reversed. Secrets are only secrets if kept by one person.

‘Instead of avoiding, I need to prepare.’

I put the first edition back in the drawer and started writing a letter to my father. If I suddenly decide to act, he might be taken aback, so I need to explain the situation.

‘I can't keep thinking nothing will happen.’

Various events have already occurred, and time cannot be reversed. Secrets are only secrets if kept by one person.

‘Instead of avoiding, I need to prepare.’

I began writing the letter to my father with a serious heart.

* * *

In a room where not a single ray of light entered, the demon with red eyes, Cecilie, lay on a soft bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

In the darkness, her bright red eyes and the black hair spread across the bed formed a picture-like scene.

She slowly extended her hand towards the ceiling, her calloused hand from years of training coming into view.

“...”

Cecilie blinked a few times, reflecting on the events of the day.

It was an ordinary day, but today was special. She finally met the author of the Zayon Chronicles, the benefactor of the demons.

While proof is needed to confirm he is the author, Cecilie could sense it intuitively. The red-haired boy, Isaac, was definitely the author of the Zayon Chronicles.

She gently guided him to reveal his secret, but when he confirmed he was the author, she was genuinely surprised. Most people assumed the author was an elderly sage, not a young man like Isaac.

‘Isaac…’

Cecilie recalled the oppression the demons had faced. A century is a long time for demons.

During this time, demons were not well-regarded by other races, often met with hatred and contempt.

As the princess of Helium, she was fortunate to avoid such treatment, but other demons were not. Those who ventured into the outside world met tragic fates.

This led to Helium's diplomatic isolation, a forced closure. The recent diplomatic relations with the Teiros Kingdom are a remarkable achievement.

‘All of this…’

Is due to the red-haired boy, Isaac. Cecilie placed her hand on her chest as his face came to mind.

Thump— Thump— Thump—

Her heart pounded wildly, as if it were broken. She must have been very excited without realizing it.

She tried to calm her racing heart but found it difficult. The more she tried, the more it raced.

Was this love, or respect? Such feelings were unfamiliar to her, making it hard to discern.

But one thing was clear.

‘Isaac…’

These feelings were directed towards Isaac, the author of the Zayon Chronicles.

“Haa…”

Cecilie exhaled, slowly closing her eyes. She remembered what Marie had said earlier.

Marie said she liked Isaac not because of the secret but because of who he is, that the secret didn't matter to her.

This was a significant shock to Cecilie, as it helped her realize her own mistake.

‘I almost made a huge mistake.’

She almost committed a grave disrespect to the man she admired and the benefactor. Her actions, meant to show she was willing to give everything, could be interpreted differently upon reflection.

Was it right to act that way towards a man she admired? Definitely not.

This reflection made her see Isaac differently.

Originally, she admired him for his open-mindedness, feeling she could act like a normal person around him.

Then, as the benefactor of the demons, her admiration grew. She realized why he was so open-minded.

Admiration for a man and a benefactor. At the time, these two aspects confused her, making it hard to focus.

But now, she focuses on one person, ‘Isaac,’ and her love grows.

“Aah…”

How can she express this gratitude and love?

Admiration? Yes, perhaps admiration.

Thinking this, Cecilie clasped her hands and curled up. She wanted to run to him, express her gratitude, and tell him she was ready whenever he was.

If the author was someone else, she wouldn't have acted this way. She would have honored and thanked him on a national level