Chapter 130

Would you like me to tell you more about the sacred relics?

At the question she was suddenly asked, Rosetta looked up.

What?

You seem very curious about them. Am I wrong?

Her silver eyes glinted spherically.

With great interest.

Rosetta stared back at the other woman quietly, then she nodded.

Yes, Im very curious. So, tell me anything you know about them.

The confident answer made Blanca smile.

Soon, the tip of one long fingernail tapped at a teacup.

As though to ring an opening bell.

As you may know, the origin of the sacred relics is rooted in the legend of the Empires founding. As the humans continuously waged wars against each other, G.o.d became angry, and he appointed one man to end the bloodshedthis was the First Emperor of the Kham Empire.

Blanca explained straightforwardly, then continued.

So, as he was ordered, the emperor recruited three men, who were the progenitors of the Empires three ducal households. The efforts of these four men led to the end of all the wars, and with the world now enveloped in peace, G.o.d was satisfied and thus gifted each man a sacred relic.

Youve got a knack for summarizing.

Im pretty good, I admit.

At Rosettas brief praise, Blanca shrugged her shoulders and took a sip of tea to wet her lips.

Clatter.

When she set the teacup back down on the table, the sound it made rang across the room.

So, what are the holy relics?

You seem to be in a hurry. But dont worry, Ill make sure to tell you everything I know before we part ways today.

Rosetta wordlessly urged Blanca to continue.

Firstly, each sacred relic cannot be used until after an individual has reached adulthood. And besides that, the sacred relic of bloodline will respond to only one person in each generation.

Whats the criteria for making the sacred relics respond to you?

I dont have the answer to that. No one knows quite yet. Its just that, I heard

People also dont know whether its a blessed reward or divine punishment.

Hearing the whisper that followed, Rosettas eyebrows were raised.

Unsure whether its a reward or punishment?

Considering the grand connotation thats appended on a sacred relic, wasnt its reception a bit too polar?

Recalling some vague memories, Rosetta spoke up.

The sacred relic of House Carter is a dragon stone, right?

Thats right. Its a stone that can make it possible for one to meet a dragon and gain wisdom from this encounter. Its the perfect gift for a mage as they are in search of wisdom. However

Theres a catch.

Looking at something at the side for a moment, Blanca nodded to herself and soon continued.

Its up to the individual to find the dragon. If they take the dragon stone and traverse towards the western plain, the path to the dragon supposedly opens But this is all thats known. As far as I know, no one in the previous generation had been chosen by the dragon stone.

So, theres also no guarantee that the sacred relics will react to someone in each generation.

Yes, and the sacred relics can only be used by those who have been chosen. Well, allegedly.

One person per generation, but theres no guarantee that it would react

As Rosetta looked back, she recalled that Leo in the original novel could not use the dragon stone.

It seemed like he hadnt been chosen by the dragon stone itself.

At its core, it was a gift bestowed by G.o.d due to his love for humans.

It wouldnt have made sense if someone like him, literal human trash, were to have been chosen.

But in this generation, no matter what happened, there had to be one Carter thats chosen by the dragon stone.

Ca.s.sion Carter.

After he had practically died and come back to life, he would need to be chosen by the dragon stone to cement his stake on the dukes seat.

It was one of the rules that House Carter had established.

For one to be named the households successor, there were certain conditions for them to fulfill.

First, obtain approval from the three households.

Second, take the dragon stone and walk down the path to the dragon.

Third, if there was another candidate for the position of successor, the individual must get their support.

If the third condition couldnt be met, then

Itll be a one-on-one fight to the end.

And, naturally, the thwarted candidate would be disqualified.

Simply speaking, the fate of those two would be switched.

Well, thats not important for now.

Rosetta looked at Blanca, determined to keep the conversation going.

What about House Freesias sacred relic?

House Freesias sacred relic is the mirror of revelations, which gives the chosen person a glimpse into the future.

A mirror that could let someone see into the future.

Each one seems truly grandiose.

With the information thats available to her, she already knew the names.

The dragon stone, the mirror of revelations.

According to Rosettas memories, its to the point that people would shed tears just hearing about them.

Really, every time shed hear them being mentioned, she couldnt help but feel that these relics were so grand.

Because they are gifts from G.o.d.

There arent any additional conditions for House Freesias sacred relic?

No, there arent any. However, none from the previous generation of House Freesia were chosen either. The one before that as well, and the one before that.

The mirror had chosen no one for three whole generations.

What heinous probability these sacred relics had.

At this point, the condition of one person per generation was just absurd.

Have they eschewed other special conditions because the probability of them being chosen has gotten that low?

Thats one possibility. Oh, but I hear that one from this generations Freesia seems a little promising.

The moment Blanca mentioned this, only one name flashed across Rosettas mind.

Is it Daniel Freesia?

Oh my. How did you know?

At Blancas expression of genuine surprise, Rosetta only shook her head with furrowed brows.

Daniel. Again.

He was a side character who rarely ever appeared in the novel. But now, he might just be the next master of House Freesias sacred relic.

No matter how much she thought about it, its just so strange.

Urien

As she recalled Daniels face, she couldnt help but be reminded of Uriens name as well.

Rosettas thoughts were going astray once more. She struggled to be more focused.

This, too, was not a matter for her to think about right now.

Just a guess.

No matter whod hear it, its obvious that she was brus.h.i.+ng the matter aside with that answer.

Blanca didnt say anything for a moment. Her straight lips were tugged up into a slow arc.

Our dear Ducal Lady, too, has a knack for guessing. Is it because you read a lot of books?

House Valentines sacred relic is the book of aspirations, right?

Yet again, Rosetta casually ignored Blancas words and went straight to the point.

And in turn, Blanca answered with a clear answer, though still with a teasing tone.

Thats right. Its a book that allows one person to make a wish.

Besides needing to be of age, what are its other conditions?

In her urgency, her voice grew a little stiff as she asked.

She was nervous for no reason. Perhaps because of the nagging suspicion that this was related to her transmigrations.

It

Blanca trailed off for a moment, which felt like an eternity.

It also has to be found personally, like the path to the dragon.

Hah.

A scoff left her lips by itself.

Nothings easy.

Its not known what the book looks like. Allegedly, its appearance changes once its used, and its said that the chosen individual must be the one to find it. No, maybe theyll be chosen after finding it?

You were so eager to explain, but isnt your explanation just all too vague?

Revealing the path to wisdom is good and all, but by its very nature, the path to a wish will still be a well-kept secret.

Blanca smiled.

Feeling deflated, Rosetta leaned back against her seat.

Right. Just as Blanca said, wishes would naturally be hidden.

A secret thats bound to be concealed to all.

She could understand why the explanation for the book of aspirations to be more ambiguous compared to the dragon stone or the mirror of revelations.

The previous two relics would have been recorded in detail by the previous chosen individuals.

The one who gained wisdom from a dragon.

The one who saw the future through the mirror.

How grandiose, such t.i.tles.

On the other hand.

Anyone who had their greatest wish fulfilled would rather be more reticent.

Saying what kind of wish you made was comparable to allowing others to read your hidden diary.

Perhaps some had left records, while more would have not.

But dont be too sad. One particular thing is certain.

Blanca spoke as though she was soothing a child. Rosetta glared sharply at the woman.

However, after a while.

Whats certain?

The bait that Blanca threw was much too tantalizing to ignore. Rosetta couldnt help but straighten her posture.

Before answering the question, Blanca spun her pipe slightly in a small circle.

After the person who made a wish has pa.s.sed away, the book always returns to House Valentines secret library.

It returns to the secret library?

Oh? It seems like you didnt know. Indeed, House Valentines secret library would be revealed only to its direct descendants after theyve come of age.

It was just as Blanca said. Its her first time hearing this.

It hadnt been mentioned in the original novel, and of course, its not in Rosettas memories since she hadnt come of age yet.

For House Valentine, known for being a household of knights and physical prowess, to have a secret library?

What a terrible combination.

Still, on the contrary, theres no better household to have the book than Valentine.

Its G.o.ds gift to the first duke, so it wouldnt be strange for it to be kept secret.

However, theres one surprising thing.

How do you know that?

Its a trade secret.

Blanca chuckled playfully as she bobbed her foot up and down.

Rosetta was just thinking out loud anyway, and she wasnt really asking out of curiosity, so she didnt care about it anymore.

Soon, Rosettas entire focus was only at the secret library.

To be more precise, at the secret library that was holding the sacred relic.

With the blood of Valentine running through ones veins.

One individual in each generation.

A book that could grant only one wish.

Perhaps clues towards her transmigrations could be found there.

The secret behind this unwanted immortality.

Again, she heard the voice she heard in that dream.

You know All this is what you wanted. Rosetta.

A dreary, solemn voice.

A man and a woman, somewhere.

An ent.i.ty that existed everywhere, and nowhere at all.

Perhaps, it was the very being who bestowed upon the sacred relics.

G.o.d.

As she recalled the book that had come from the body of the dead Rita, and the b.u.t.terfly that soon followed and entered the book.

One after another.

She could not stop the chills running down her spine.

Strange.

The thoughtful silence was interrupted by one word.

Golden eyes, which were staring blankly in the air, turned to look at the owner of the voice.

What is?

Perhaps its because Im someone you might call a witch, but there are times when I can sense something that cant be seen by the naked eye. For example

Blanca trailed off.

Though her hand was immobile, the empty pipe it was holding spun round and round again.

As if it was the hand of a clock that had stopped, but was starting to move again.

Again, the womans voice fell to a hush.

I believe that the book will choose you, Lady Rosetta Well, its just a feeling, of course.

And after those words, a grin found its way on the womans lips.

The stronger the witchs blood, the more vividly silver their eyes would be.

Facing that sharp, intense silver gaze, Rosetta said not a word as she pushed a fingernail against the pad of another finger. A sudden question arose.

If the book chooses me

Would it be really choosing her self?

Or, would it be choosing the original Rosetta?

If its the latter.

If the Rosetta of the original novel had become the master of the sacred relic, then what did she wish for?

It was a futile question, but once it came to mind, it was not easy to dismiss.

Right. Just like Blancas odd hunch.

This, too, was just strange.