What Remains in the Damaged Place - Chapter 36

Lirette’s footsteps were swift yet silent as she navigated the halls.

The library? It’s on the second floor, with a small laurel design on the door, she reminded herself.

The first time she’d come searching for the library, it had taken her much longer, but now she knew the way well. From the second-floor railing, she turned left and continued straight until the junction, where she took the right staircase up.

But why am I suddenly interested in the library?

She wondered if her expression had shown any signs of surprise when Hardy had asked her that exact question.

I told her I love reading and that the library must have rare books I wouldn’t get to see otherwise, she recalled. Hardy had accepted the explanation easily, shifting the topic without suspicion, and Lirette was relieved she hadn’t had to sweat over a more elaborate lie.

Ahead, the wooden door, polished in a dark chestnut color, bore the sleek, silver laurel design she had come to recognize.

The laurel.

In ancient myth, it was the headpiece of the goddess Trovia, the goddess of wisdom. Her statues varied in form and style, but they all featured the laurel as a symbol of her knowledge and intellect. Even now, laurel wreaths were widely used to signify knowledge and learning.

Lirette pressed her hand against the gold handle, pushing the door open slowly. The rich, distinct scent of old books and parchment greeted her as she slipped inside, her footsteps quiet.

Though it was not her first time in this space, the vastness of the library still left her in awe. The sheer size of it was enough to make her feel small, her own family library seeming insignificant in comparison.

The Justitia family’s library felt like something from an empire’s vault—quiet, solemn, and slightly foreboding. It seemed like the kind of place that wouldn’t easily reveal its knowledge to just anyone.

Of course, the vastness of the space itself contributed to that atmosphere. It spanned across three open floors, its architecture making it clear that this was no ordinary library. The height of the ceilings and the length of the supporting columns felt overwhelming, as though designed to humble anyone who entered.

Lirette stood still for a moment, listening for any signs of movement. Luckily, the library appeared empty. The first thing she always did upon entering was check her surroundings. Being caught by anyone here could lead to trouble.

This library, one that even the master of the house rarely visited, contained everything Lirette needed.

Well, almost everything, she corrected herself.

She stepped away from the door and climbed the staircase to the second level, bypassing the medical books she had once scoured. As Valderion’s advisor had said, there was no further information to be gained from them.

Instead, she pulled down the map of the world and a book detailing foreign nations, ones she had been pouring over for days.

The last route won’t work.

Lately, Lirette’s focus had been on finding a new land outside the empire—one where she could escape. She studied the map, tracing routes with her finger and then reading about the corresponding nations.

There was so much to consider.

Would the country be open to outsiders? How different was its climate or geography? What currency was used, and what could be exchanged? And most importantly, how close were they politically to Dalion, the imperial capital? She needed to avoid any nation with strong ties to the empire.

But no, she wasn’t planning on settling in one place.

Her plan assumed she only had five years to live, a timeline too short to plant roots anywhere. She would keep moving, never stopping for too long in one place.

Far, far away…

It was a small dream, one she had nurtured for a long time.

When she was still trapped under Dalion’s oppressive control, Lirette had gazed out the window each night, wishing to be anywhere but there.

Anywhere but Dalion.

Anywhere but the imperial palace.

Was it wanderlust? Or simply the desire to flee? Lirette couldn’t distinguish between the two, but to her, the difference didn’t matter.

But the biggest problem is currency, she thought, rubbing her forehead.

Even if she managed to gather money here, the challenges wouldn’t stop there.

Using an exchange office would leave a record, a risk she couldn’t afford. Converting currency was too dangerous, and she couldn’t prepare for just one country when she didn’t know where she would end up.

Jewels are the only answer.

After days of worrying over the issue, this was the only solution she had come to. Precious items like rings, earrings, and gemstones—those were valuable anywhere.

Fortunately, Lirette had some jewels in her possession. They had come into her hands after the theft incident with Hayley.

No one’s asked for them back…

Valderion hadn’t made any attempt to reclaim them. It was as if, by letting them remain in her possession, he was affirming that they were now hers.

I should hold onto them for now, Lirette decided. She had learned not to question Valderion’s intentions too deeply—after all, in this house, even a slight mistake could be costly.

As Lirette wandered through the halls, her steps quick yet quiet, her mind remained preoccupied with her escape plans.

I wonder if there’s anything else I could smuggle out. Maybe the jewels on the candlesticks…

While pondering how to gather enough resources, her gaze settled on the map in front of her. Her fingers traced the vast expanse labeled as the Alaint Empire before stopping on one key point.

Pellini.

The coastal city on the empire’s eastern shores, home to one of the largest trading ports in the world. Ships from Pellini traveled to nearly every corner of the globe, making it an ideal escape route.

As Lirette committed the name to memory, a breeze swept through the room, drawing her attention.

She looked up, noticing that a window had been left ajar. The gentle wind carried the scent of blooming flowers, and outside, petals danced in the air like fluttering confetti.

Standing at the large window, Lirette took in the sight of spring in full bloom. The soft breeze played with a strand of her silver hair, which she tucked behind her ear absentmindedly.

Summer will be here before I know it.

It felt like just yesterday the snow had melted and spring had arrived. Already, the sun’s warmth was growing stronger. Soon, summer would come in full force, scorching everything in its path before autumn quickly took its place, only to be swallowed by winter once again.

And then, a year would have passed.

When did time start to feel so short?

Had she ever felt the passing of seasons this vividly before? Had the flow of time ever seemed so tangible?

Her eyes grew distant, the emptiness inside her reflected in their dull sheen.

Still, perhaps this was progress.

Back when she had been trapped with Dalion, she hadn’t even noticed the passage of time. At least now, she could feel the changing of the seasons—see it, touch it.

Ha.

A weak laugh escaped her lips, tinged with a sense of self-pity.

Lirette shook herself free of the melancholy, checking the time. She had spent longer in the library than she intended. Quickly, she gathered the scattered books and maps and put them back in their places, ensuring everything was neat before leaving the room.

As she rounded the corner in the hallway, she bumped into Hardy, who was heading toward the stairs.

“Where are you coming from?” Hardy asked, craning her neck to look down the hall Lirette had just walked through. Her eyes widened in realization. “The library?”

Lirette pressed a finger to her lips in a silent plea for discretion and nodded.

“What about your cleaning duties?” Hardy teased with a knowing smile.

“Today’s task was the banquet hall,” Lirette replied, to which Hardy chuckled.

Of course, Hardy was the one who had told her that in large cleaning teams, like those for the banquet hall, no one would notice if one person slipped away.

“You’re getting the hang of things,” Hardy said with a grin. “But what’s all the commotion?”

Lirette noticed the growing bustle around them and asked, her curiosity piqued.

Hardy suddenly remembered and pulled Lirette closer. “The master is returning soon, so everyone’s heading down to greet him.”

Great, Lirette thought. Perfect timing.

As Hardy dragged her toward the stairs, Lirette regretted not staying hidden in the library a little longer.

The master’s return was always greeted with an overly grand reception.

Normally, Lirette tried to avoid these gatherings by either keeping herself busy in some far-off wing of the mansion or anticipating his return early enough to disappear.

She had attended a few such receptions before, and each time, Valderion’s sharp eyes found her among the crowd, making her feel uneasy. She had made it a habit to avoid his gaze by staying away from these ceremonies.

But today, luck was not on her side.

“We’re late,” Hardy said with a bit of worry in her voice as they reached the stairs.

As Hardy had feared, the hall was already packed with people.

Lirette immediately wanted to hide at the back, but since they had arrived late, the only available spots were near the front of the line. She reluctantly took her place among the other servants, feeling exposed and uneasy.

She braced herself for Valderion’s inevitable gaze to find her, knowing there was no escaping it now.