CHAPTER 53

AREDHEL'S CLOSET

  After separating from the two, Delimira was anxiously hurrying towards her home. She was worried that her mother had to suffer because of her bad decision but when she reached home, her mother was not there yet but the study she was not allowed in was unlocked.

  Aredhel was stubborn about no one visiting her study, one of the reasons being, there were a lot of dangerous uncompleted magic formulas and her future investment plans but the doors keeping everyone out from those secrets were opened right now.

  Delimira did not spare any thoughts on the dilemma of going in or not. She confidently entered the room and found many investigations and pictures of the ancients and the Elven hierarchy.

  Her mother was secretly investigating higher-ups of the Elven Council and the royal family. Suddenly Walter’s words came to her mind. She kept thinking about what he said and after seeing the relentless investigation on the Elven rulers in front of her, she thought there was more to her mother than she initially thought.

  There was a big reason supporting her suspicion, Aredhel was exiled from Clandor for marrying her non-Elf father. She was the first case in Elven history who was half-blood since Elves being the superior race of Genas, could not bear any children with humans or dwarves. Her father was said to be from the other world and the sole reason for her being hated by Elves.

  Aredhel regained her footing in Clandor as the major investor that moved the economy of Nation but this did not put a stop to the scorn Delimira had to receive from the high nose Elves. They abhorred her existence because she was not pure blood.

  She had to live her childhood in the Royal castle, at her King uncle’s place, as a ward that kept her mother in check. There was a lot of politics involved whenever her mother made a move and since Delimira was now a Concordia people, Aredhel was free from worries and her secret room was clearly showing that she was going to make a move soon against Clandor.

  She came across a thick book which was regularly picked from the shelf. It was the only book which was not covered in dust and as she skimmed through it, she found an old photograph of two men with her mother. one was her father and another was whom he recognised at first glance.

She said to herself,

Damn, so this was the reason.

Suddenly, she got spooked as she heard another voice,

What are you doing here, daughter?

Delimira elegantly closed the book along with the picture and put it in its place. She sighed and was going to reply to her mother but a sudden thought stopped her. Aredhel asked again in a stern voice,

This is off-limits, Deli.

Deli burst into a laugh and said,

Do you think I fall for this kind of cheap trick, mother? You wanted me to see this, you wanted me to be here, am I right?

Aredhel asked,

What gave me away?

Your perfect timing, there is no way you will leave this place open, it is your secret closet after all. And there is no sign of a break-in. You already knew I would be curious about the only clean book on the dirty shelf. You wanted me to look at the photograph of Hans’s father and mine together with you. Right?

Aredhel sighed and said,

You never disappoint, daughter, but I wish you would be a little more like your father.

And how was he?

A bit dumb.

She continued,

So ask away what you should be curious about

That's Hans’s father with you and dad, right?

Yes.

So where is he? Is Hans playing a secret identity game…ah that's why Walter took extreme measures against Gazel.

Yes, you are right but that man died a long time ago.

  Aredhel's voice became shaky remembering Samson while she glanced at the picture of the three of them, neither of those men was with her now. The expressions she kept hidden were clearly showing on her face. Delimira never thought that her mother has this sentimental side too.

She asked again,

So, who was he?

His name is Samson, king of Parv, and that's making Hans the last heir of Parvian royalty.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

Delimira chuckled but stopped after seeing the dead serious face of her mother, she said,

You weren't kidding? That shorty is the spawn of the most hated person in this world.

History is written by the winner, my daughter.

The words erased the confusion from Delimira. Her words meant that history was distorted to hide the real truth. She asked her mother quickly,

So what was your relationship with him,

We were friends, he had his own reasons for doing what he did and after your father was thrown into Deadlands by our own people, I wanted to be in the War, but I was stopped and asked to build my own power in case he failed to eradicate the council. He was a man with a plan but failed in the end.

So you were really allies,

Hmph, yes.

So was he not an evil person?

That's debatable but ….

Delimira interrupted her, she was not interested in the morality of the dead king but in what she should do next. she asked in doubt,

When you asked me to get close to that shorty, you didn't lie about my father, right?

No, I didn't, he will kill your father and that vision hasn't changed yet. We have to change it, so Deli, I want you to keep that kid out of trouble, Walter is bad news, he runs by his interests. I don't want my friend’s child in danger and be used by him.

Delimira looked at her behesting mother and replied,

Apart from his face and being obnoxious, he does not share anything with his father mentioned in the stories.

Aredhel commented,

The only truth that historians told the world about him was his nature, calm and coldhearted, quite the opposite of his kid.

Yeah, he is definitely not calm. but isn't it hilarious, the first mage in the Parvian royal family of knights?

Aredhel ignored her giggling and said,

So can you promise me you will keep him out of trouble and stop others from bothering him?

Like I did with Chris, right?

Yes, he still thinks you were bullying him all along.

Delimira smirked,

I cannot say I was not, mother.

Delimira happily went to her room and as Aredhel was closing the study, a person came out from the shadows and said to her,

Did she believe you?

I know my daughter well, she needs to feel special. Sharing the secret with her will do the trick.

The man was none other than Walter. He nodded and said,

I hope so, for her sake at least. But why I am the bad guy again?

Because you are.

NEXT DAY

  Chris was beaming ear to ear while Hans was uncomfortably staring at him. They have just returned from their morning training. and his roommate was happy because he finally got what he wanted all along.

  Hans was still in a daze about what happened in the training, Delimira followed him like a baby duck. She was not the same as before, as her ego flew away last night. Another thing to notice was, she ignored Chris entirely signalling his liberation from her grasp.

  Throughout the training Delimira stuck with Hans, making others who were aiming to make friends with her, aka the most beautiful girl, jealous. Hans was unnecessarily gaining enemies and hateful gazes. They tried to talk with her but she ignored them like they were insects.

  Most of them were not interested in her appearance but in the power and wealth that supported her from the background and because of their hateful stares, Hans had to retire early with Chris which led to this conversation.

Chris said with happiness,

Thank you, my friend.

Hans annoyingly replied,

What is happening?

Congratulations on officially becoming the new me, she has taken interest in you.

But I don't feel good about that.

Chris burst into laughter and patted his back,

Listen, buddy, accept it as fast as you can, that's what I did, I already told you, the more you get her curious the more troubled you will become.

Hans resolved and said,

Like hell, I am gonna distance myself from her...I am leaving for professor Walter’s office.

  Hans quickly left for Walter’s office in Prophets’ castle to avoid his newly found stalker, ignoring his lively friend. It didn't take him long to reach the Prophets’ castle. It was far more majestic than the foundation castle premises where the first-years currently lived and studied.

  Hans took the staff entrance to avoid the senior students and reached the HouseMaster’s office. He knocked on the door and Walter asked him to enter. He was sitting across from Walter and the conversation he had thought of enduring got started,

You must be curious, ask away.

Hans hesitatingly asked,

What was the big picture you were drawing, you said it to Gazel, that second-year senior.

Walter become startled and responded,

You go for the tough questions right away. Hmm.. let me return the favour, where is the first book Limitless, bookholder Hans.

  Those words felt to him like the rug was swept out from under his feet, it was just the fourth day here and his secret was already out. He became alert and didn't know how to react to the question. Hans was simulating every outcome in his head but none of them was successful to get him out of this predicament, at least not without losing the book currently tied to him on the waist.

  He thought he was really careless about carrying this hot potato with him. Walter got amused by his reaction and opened his drawer. He took out something wrapped around in cloth and put it on the table. Fixing his eyes on Hans and with a stern voice, he declared,

This is the second book, Solar mage.

***