Emilio bowed slightly and glanced sideways at Flavia.
“Marchioness, the Marquis and Miss Priscilla will be waiting for you, so please return to the venue. I apologise, I’m a stranger yet am bothering you.” Those words deepened Flavia’s smile.
“Well, then I shall return. Your Majesty, excuse me. ─Oh, you. I want to go to the restroom. Will you guide me?” Flavia took the man who’d guided Alana out.
All that was left in the room was Alana and the Baron.
♔♔♔
A breeze swept through the windows. Alana’s cloak and platinum hair swayed. The lake, which was viewable from the corridor, was pitch black and appeared to look like a hole with a bottomless pit. The white pillars that rose at equal intervals were thick, engraved with intricate patterns of snakes and grapes entwined around a falcon. It was an Armenian pattern.
They cast dark shadows over her field of vision and hid the light. Alana walked in the direction where there were no people, her footsteps sounded lightly. It was the way to her own room, absent of guards and servants. Perhaps he could not calculate Alana’s true intentions, so the Baron followed her silently. It wasn’t long before she spoke.
“This corridor is dedicated to the royal family. If it is bright, the tower on the island is visible. However, at the moment it cannot be seen. The tower was built by the founder Lorenzo, and named Almodóvar.”
“It was once called the centre of the world.”
“Behind Armenia’s Castle, it became inconspicuous, but at that time, it was considered to be the tallest tower in the world. Some poets described it as the tower leading to heaven.”
“I heard that Almodóvar became the mausoleum of the kings in posterity.”
“Yes. About 600 years ago, there was a great civil war in this country. The kings died one after another, and because of their deaths, Almodóvar became a mausoleum,” Alana paused, “I too, will go to that tower after my death.” she felt his gaze on her back as they walked.
“I hear that the stars seen from here are beautiful, but unfortunately it seems cloudy today.”
“I have poor eyesight. So, I cannot see the stars. I have never seen them from this corridor. I used to see them, but now I can only imagine the stars in my memory. Baron Barcelo, by all means, I would love to show you the stars of this country. I’m sorry.”
“Your Majesty, unfortunately I don’t like the stars, so there’s no need. And if possible, please call me Emilio, not Baron Barcelo.” Alana stopped and looked back. Because she was told something unexpected. He also went one step further and stopped.
His tall shadow stretched. If you tried to see what was in his heart, there was only a beautiful face. Even if he wore a light smile, his face was a mask with no emotion.
“Emilio, then call me Alana. I am younger than you, and not your Master. You do not need to pay special respects. If you have any questions regarding Lorenzo, please do not hesitate to ask.”
“I am humbled, then I will call you Alana. Alana, it is said that the wise Emperor Lorenzo of the Millennium Empire was able to control the languages of the world. Is that true?”
Alana slid her finger along the hollow of a large pillar. “I believe that was the case. In fact, in books allegedly written by Lorenzo, which are kept in this country’s treasure trove, from Linturi in the north to Zondaha in the south, are written with languages all over the world. There is a secret library in the basement of Armenia’s castle, which contains books written in all the languages of the world, and Lorenzo remembered all of them. That is why he is called the ‘Wise Emperor.’”
“How many books exist?”
“It is difficult to grasp the history of his life. For Armenia, according to the words of Lorenzo, all the books in the world are collected and stored. As a result the number of books in the library continues to increase year by year, reaching the seventh basement floor. According to one theory, evil spirits live there, so the sixth and seventh layers, which are said to be dangerous, are sealed.”
“Evil spirits?” Emilio asked with excitement, in truth, he wasn’t interested in the slightest.
“The basement of this castle is the same as Lorenzo’s palace of the Millennial Empire. The foundation of the castle today was built on the ruins about 600 years before the civil war. People feel mysterious about things that are thousands of years old, which to them, appear only in legends. If they hear about evil spirits, they will believe even without proof.” Alana said softly.
“Do you also believe in evil spirits?” Emilio asked.
Alana looked back at him. In the dark, his silver hair looked white, and his violet eyes, grey. “Rather than believing in evil spirits, I believe people are the evil ones. Man can be a demon; he can be an angel. It is man who gives others happiness, but he is also the one who brings about hurt.”
“Meaningful. I also think that man is the demon.” Before Alana spoke, his mouth lifted sharply. “Who can say that saints exist? Men are foolish, weak and ugly creatures. Plagued constantly with thoughts of self-preservation. For that reason, their ambitions are endless, and by oppressing and denying others, they paint themselves as heroes. Alana, I’m sorry to ask you something unscrupulous, but could you tell me your view on life and death?”
At that moment, a strong wind blew and the flame from a candle nearby, extinguished. Remnant smoke from the past light drifted, and the surrounding area became even darker. In the midst of that, she felt his eyes glistening.
“Fate is something that cannot be escaped…I think death should be accepted.”
“Would you say the same thing, if you were to face death here, now? Would you not struggle or resist? There are many people who will help you. Don’t you want to hold on to someone’s hand? Even if it means abandoning the world outside, leaving your reputation in tatters, why don’t you try to escape death?”
Alana placed her hand on her chest and shook her head, as if her heart was void of lies and deceit. “I would say the same words.”
“You have been on the throne for two years, and you have not married yet. You have not even been engaged. At this ball, with the plethora of families of nobles and royals from other countries, you do not even approach any of them. There are many nobles who are concerned about the end of the Millennium Empire. Won’t you get married?”
“Why would you, a noble from Nogueira, be concerned?”
He took a step forward and approached Alana. “That’s right, but I am a researcher of the Millennium Empire. Your fate is of utmost concern to me, because you are the last person with the blood of the wise Emperor Lorenzo.”
“I won’t live long.”
“Why do you say so?”
“I’m weak.”
“I don’t understand.” Emilio responded instantly. “If you were especially weak, you would marry and leave offspring early.”
She tried to reply to Emilio, however, a spell of dizziness overcame her, and she placed her hand on her forehead. Alana had never spun so many words at once in the last few years. She was suffocating.
“You don’t look well. Shall I carry you?” he stopped to hold her. However, Alana held her chest and retreated.