Chapter 250: The Shifting Mountains
[Lavinia’s POV — Hallway — Continuation]
I left all my doubts and worries behind for a moment and forced a small smile. "Alright... go and take some rest. I have... work to do."
But before I could step away, his hand caught mine, firm and insistent. "But... I don’t want any leave, Lavi. I... I never agreed to it."
I stared at him, my heart tightening even as I willed myself to stay resolute. This distance I was forcing between us—it was necessary, at least for now, until I uncovered the truth.
"Osric... you should take a leave. You’ve been working tirelessly for me," I said gently, trying to sound more persuasive than commanding.
His eyes held mine, unwavering. "I... I’m willing to keep working for you. Unstoppably."
I blinked. Unstoppably.
What kind of human is he?
Even as Reina Suzuki, in my previous life, would have begged for leave—and here he is, standing before me, ready to throw himself into endless service. And now... here I am, as his boss, ordering him to rest, and he... sighs. What am I supposed to do?
I exhaled slowly, weighing my options. If I couldn’t convince him with words, I had to use my trump card.
"Osric... it’s an order," I said, my tone sharp, leaving no room for argument. "Take a leave. For the time being."
He frowned, a mix of frustration and longing crossing his face. "Lavi..."
I straightened, meeting his gaze with absolute authority. "You... cannot say no to an imperial order, Osric. You know the consequences." I let the words hang in the air, slow and deliberate, letting him feel their weight. "It’s equal to... treason."
His jaw tightened, his breath catching as he stared at me, then finally, with a resigned sigh, he muttered, "Alright."
I allowed a victorious smile to tug at my lips. He stepped closer, pulling me into a tight hug. "Take care of yourself," he murmured, his voice low and tinged with something I couldn’t quite name—fear, longing... or maybe both.
I patted his back lightly, smiling softly. "Yes. I will."
Meanwhile, Sir Haldor muttered, his voice dry as dust. "I... feel so single."
Solena, perched on my shoulder, gave a solemn nod, as if she understood the ache.
Marshi, sprawled lazily behind us, let out a dramatic sigh and gazed at the scene with exaggerated awe, as if silently declaring, I miss my mate.
I couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped me, shaking my head. Even amidst tension, the hallway had turned into a miniature battlefield of affection, duty, and unspoken emotions—and somewhere in it, my heart was trying to remember who was really in charge.
"Alright... I shall leave then," Osric said finally, his voice low and reluctant. He leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead. My lips curved into a warm, fleeting smile at the gesture.
He straightened and looked toward Solena, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "And you... are you staying here or coming with me?"
Solena narrowed her eyes and flapped her head away from him, the movement sharp and decisive, almost as if to say, I’m not moving.
I chuckled softly, watching her with amusement. "I guess... she wants to stay," I said, the corners of my lips twitching in a teasing smile.
Osric let out a soft, exasperated sigh, the kind that carried both defeat and adoration. "Alright," he muttered, stepping back.
I lifted my hand and waved as he disappeared down the hallway, leaving only the faint echo of his boots against the stone floor. I lingered for a moment, staring at the empty space he had occupied, feeling the subtle ache of absence in the quiet that followed.
"Alright... let’s go," I murmured to myself, straightening my shoulders before turning toward the library.
Sir Haldor fell into step beside me, his expression calm but curious. "Your Highness... may I ask... why are we going to the library?"
I glanced at him, determination flickering in my eyes. "I need to see a map of the village, Sir Haldor. If there’s something more important than the dam that they were focusing on... maybe we can find a clue there."
He gave a slow, approving nod, his lips pressing into a thin line as he acknowledged my reasoning. "Very well, Your Highness. I shall follow your lead," he said, his tone carrying the usual mix of loyalty and quiet admiration.
With a deep breath, I tightened my grip on the parchments, the weight of the investigation—and the secrets it might uncover—pressing against my resolve.
"Let’s see what the truth has been hiding from us," I whispered under my breath, and together, we walked toward the library, the quiet echo of our footsteps a steady drum of determination.
***
[Imperial Library—Later]
I rolled out the map carefully across the wide table, smoothing the edges with deliberate care, as if the faint rustle of parchment might whisper secrets to me.
"Is... this the correct map, Sir Haldor?" I asked, eyes scanning the lines and symbols, searching for anything that might stand out.
He bent slightly over the map, his gaze steady and precise. "Yes, Your Highness. This is the latest map, created just two years ago—shortly after the dam was built," he said, voice calm but edged with respect.
I nodded, my fingers tracing the contours of the village on the paper. "It’s... very clear," I murmured, almost to myself, noting the neat layout.
As we studied the map together, our eyes wandered over the familiar shapes of the village—simple houses, the glimmering lake, the dam standing like a silent sentinel, small mountains, and a small patch of forest tucked in the corner.
"I don’t see anything... unusual here," I said softly, lifting my gaze to Sir Haldor.
He gave a slow nod, his jaw firm. "I agree, Your Highness. On first glance, it seems... ordinary. Perhaps too ordinary."
A spark of thought flickered in my mind. "Maybe that’s the point," I murmured. "If someone wanted to hide something... the unusual could be carefully masked."
Sir Haldor’s eyes sharpened. "Then perhaps a comparison... of the old map against this new one might reveal what has changed, Your Highness."
I tilted my head thoughtfully, a small smile tugging at my lips. "Yes... that’s a good idea. Bring me the old map, Sir Haldor."
He gave a short, respectful bow before turning toward the shelves, the soft rustle of his cloak following him as he went to retrieve the other map. I pressed my hands together, anticipation coiling in my chest, the faint thrill of discovery dancing at the edges of my thoughts.
Even a simple village map could hold the key to uncovering a web of hidden truths. I just had to find the thread that would unravel it all.
***
[Library—Later]
As Sir Haldor returned with the bundle of old maps, I carefully unrolled them one by one. The table was far too small to hold them all, so we spread the maps across the polished library floor, each parchment overlapping slightly, creating a mosaic of the village’s past and present.
I leaned down, fingers brushing lightly over the intricate lines. Marshi fluttered onto a nearby stack of books, Solena perched delicately on my shoulder, and even they squinted, tilting their heads as though the maps held some secret meant only for their eyes.
"They all... seem the same," I murmured aloud, scanning the maps with a critical eye. "Except the new one has the dam and a few additional houses... everything else looks unchanged."
Sir Haldor gave a slow, thoughtful nod. "At first glance, yes, Your Highness... but there is always detail in the small things."
I frowned slightly, sensing his hesitation. "Detail? What do you mean?"
He raised a finger, motioning for me to follow his gaze. "Look at the mountains, Your Highness. Just here..."
I leaned in, eyes tracing the ridges and peaks of the village’s outskirts. At first, they appeared normal—small, innocuous. But Sir Haldor’s finger lingered over the very first map. "See here? On the earliest map, the mountains are wide... prominent... formidable. In the second and third maps, they remain roughly the same."
My brow furrowed as he pointed at the fifth map, his tone dropping to a near whisper. "But here... the shape has changed. Smaller. Less imposing. And in every subsequent map, this change continues, subtle, almost imperceptible—yet deliberate."
I leaned closer, my eyes narrowing as I compared the maps one by one.
He was right. The mountains shifted, subtly but unmistakably. The shape, the size... someone had altered them. Repeatedly.
A slow smirk curved my lips. "So... the secret... lies in the mountains."
I glanced up at Sir Haldor, my voice low and firm. "We leave for this village at once. Quietly. Do not inform anyone of my arrival... not the nobles, not the guards. This time, we’ll surprise them."
His eyes met mine, sharp and calculating, yet flickers of excitement betrayed the usual stoicism. "Understood, Your Highness. We proceed with caution... and speed."