Chapter 61

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I plan to finish the third chapter in three more updates, but in August, I will update on even-numbered days!

Misa stood by the library window with Edwar's aide, while Olivia and the others gathered in the garden directly below the library.

"Alright, let it down."

Following Edwar's instructions, the two aides slowly lowered a small weighted object attached to a rope. When the end of the rope touched the ground, Ritzburg and Colin began measuring, and Olivia, holding a floor plan, looked up at the second-floor library.

The old map in the secret room was related to the selection ceremony, and if the word "Calvoberga" she read was correct, there should be some clue in the library.

However, it was not possible to move the bookshelves blindly, so she wanted to identify roughly where there was a discrepancy.

"Olivia, the room's width is twenty-five meters. Adding the distance from the edge of each window to the wall, it's about twenty-seven or twenty-eight meters."

"It's short, isn't it?"

"Yeah. Ritzburg said the same thing. From the floor plan, the width should be about thirty-five meters."

This means there is an error of more than five meters.

"Can you tell if there's a gap on the right or left when you look up?"

"Let's ask Ritzburg."

When Silas called Ritzburg, he came with a paper full of numbers, apparently notes he had made while calculating the actual size from the floor plan. Ritzburg looked at the floor plan, considered the size of the room next to the library, and said the right wall was probably thicker when looking up.

"The right side, huh."

Olivia looked up at the library again and then tilted her head.

"...There seems to be a room on the right side."

"Olivia, did you find something?"

Olivia pointed to the window next to the library on the right.

"That window seems different from the others."

"Window?"

Silas looked up at where Olivia was pointing.

"Indeed, it's smaller compared to the others. The distance between it and the neighboring window is narrower, and the height is slightly different."

"And there's no curtain hanging on it."

"Ah, I see, that's true."

As Olivia and Silas were talking, Edwar's voice cut in from behind. Looking back, Edwar and Eugenia were gazing up, apparently impressed.

Edwar immediately called for people to be cleared out of the library. Since not many people usually visit the library, it shouldn't take long for everyone to leave.

Edwar then instructed several male servants who were free to gather in the library. They needed to move the bookshelves, so the more people, the better.

When Olivia and the others arrived at the library, the people who had been using it were already outside, and about ten servants were waiting. The wall where they suspected a hidden room was located was entirely covered with bookshelves, filled with books from end to end.

It seemed impossible to move the shelves with the books still in place, so they decided to start by removing the books from the shelves. Olivia and Eugenia took the books within reach, while the men handled the books in places they couldn't reach without a step stool. The removed books were stacked on the tables and chairs in the reading area.

After about an hour of removing all the books, the men began moving the bookshelves. Olivia and Eugenia were moved to a safe distance. As they watched excitedly, a door without a handle appeared on the wall where the central bookshelf had been. It looked like a sliding door.

As Olivia and Eugenia approached, Edwar opened the door. The room behind the door was brighter than the other hidden rooms because it had a window. Inside, there was a small bookshelf, a desk, and a chair, and a painting hung on the wall.

"It seems to be a portrait of Bathiste I."

Apparently, there are several portraits of Bathiste I in the castle's treasure room, and Eugenia and Edwar, who played there as children, could immediately recognize it as the first king's portrait.

"Is there any meaning in having a portrait only here?"

Silas said, and he removed the portrait from the wall. He casually flipped it over and smiled thinly. Olivia peeked at Silas's hand and nodded vigorously.

"I've found where the selection sword is."

"What?"

"Where is it?"

Edwar and Eugenia also looked at the back of the portrait and frowned at the text written there.

"...It's in ancient language."

"Right."

Edwar had said he was not good with ancient language, and it seemed Eugenia was not either. However, when Olivia offered to read it aloud, Edwar shook his head, saying he would read it himself.

"I've relied on you too much for the ceremony. I'll read this much myself."

"Yes, that's right."

Silas handed the portrait to Edwar, and Edwar and Eugenia, leaning in close, began to decipher the text written on the back of the portrait. It wasn't a long text, so it shouldn't take long. After about fifteen minutes, the two of them raised their heads with indescribable expressions.

"The selection sword is in the king's room. The one who will inherit the throne should come and take it—Is this correct?"

"Yes, I read it the same way."

Then, Eugenia bit her nails in frustration.

"I don't know why, but I'm getting really angry."

"After all this running around, it's in Father's hands."

Eugenia, fuming, hung the portrait back on the wall and turned to Edwar.

"Since it says the one who will inherit the throne, Brother, I'll leave it to you."

"Alright, I understand."

"No, I think both of you should go to the king."

When Olivia interjected, Edwar and Eugenia looked at her curiously.

"But, the next king is you, Brother. What can I do by going with you?"

"According to the text on the portrait, that's true... but it's not like that."

Olivia glanced at Silas, waited for his nod, and then spoke.