63 - Caught
The quiet of the library did not last. Not after everything that had just happened.
Mariana remained seated on the wooden floor for a while longer, her back pressed against the shelf, fingers still lightly curled around the amethyst spider lily resting against her collarbone.
"Get a grip..." she muttered under her breath.
Her heart had finally begun to slow-but only slightly. The echo of his presence still lingered. The warmth of that fleeting forehead kiss refused to fade. And that... irritated her.
"This is bad..." she whispered, pressing her palm flat against her chest. "This is very bad."
Because none of this was supposed to happen. Not according to the novel. Not according to logic. Not according to anything she knew. And yet, it did.
She exhaled sharply and forced herself to stand. "Okay, enough. I'm leaving." She brushed off her maid uniform, straightened slightly, and took one last look at the endless shelves of books. "I'll come back..." she murmured softly.
Just as she turned, the door creaked open. "Oh?" a voice hummed lightly.
Mariana blinked.
The old woman from earlier-Cile-stepped back inside, her wrinkled face carrying that same quiet amusement. Her eyes flickered briefly toward Mariana's neck, lingering for just a second longer than necessary.
"You look like you've had quite the morning," Cile said.
Mariana stiffened. "You could say that."
Cile chuckled. "Young people these days... always so energetic."
Mariana flushed slightly. "It's not like that-"
"I didn't say anything," Cile cut in, smiling knowingly.
"Ri-Right."
Silence settled for a moment. Then, unexpectedly, Cile walked past her and gestured toward the shelves. "Take some."
Mariana blinked. "... what?"
"Books." Cile said simply. "Take whatever you like."
Mariana stared at her. "... I can't do that."
"Why not?"
"They're not mine."
Cile waved a hand dismissively. "They're just books."
Mariana looked at her like she had just said something absurd. "Just books...?" she repeated.
Cile tilted her head slightly. "You look at them like they're treasure."
Mariana hesitated. "They are..." she admitted quietly.
Not in this world, maybe. But in her previous one? Books were luxuries. Things she had to ration. Download. Squint at through a screen. Not like this. Not real.
Cile's gaze softened. "Then take them." she said gently.
Mariana shook her head. "I can't repay you."
Cile smiled. "Someday." A pause. "Repay me someday."
Mariana hesitated. Then slowly nodded. "Okay."
She moved through the shelves more carefully this time. Not rushing. Not skimming. Choosing. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. She hugged them lightly to her chest before pausing. "Thank you..." she said, bowing her head slightly.
Cile only waved her off.
And with a small flicker of mana, the books vanished into Mariana's magical inventory. "I'll repay you." she repeated. Then she left.
---
Luxor welcomed her like a living, breathing festival. The moment she stepped back into the streets, the noise returned-laughter, chatter, music, the clinking of stalls being set up.
"Okay..." Mariana whispered, eyes lighting up again. "Now this is what I came for."
She wandered aimlessly.
Food stalls lined the streets-grilled meats, sweet pastries, colorful drinks she didn't even recognize. Children ran past her, nearly bumping into her before laughing and continuing on. Imperial knights stood stationed at key points, their presence steady and unyielding.
"So many guards..." she murmured.
She didn't know it. But every single one of them had been placed there by him. Eventually, her nose led her somewhere.
"That smells amazing!"
A small stall. Skewers of meat sizzling over open flame.
"Three, please!" she said quickly. Moments later, she held a stick of freshly grilled meat. "This is heaven..." She took a bite. And immediately froze. "Oh my god..." Juicy. Flavorful. Perfect. "... I could cry..."
"Young lady."
Mariana blinked. She turned. An old man stood nearby. Slightly hunched. Simple clothes. Kind eyes. "... yes?"
He smiled faintly. "That smells quite good."
Mariana looked at her skewer. Then at him. "Do you want one...?"
The old man chuckled. "If you're offering."
She didn't hesitate. "Wait here." She bought another. Then another. And handed them to him. "... here."
The old man accepted them with a soft "Thank you." They stood side by side, eating quietly. For some reason... it felt comfortable.
"You're not from around here." the old man said casually.
Mariana blinked. "... is it that obvious?"
"You look at everything like it's new."
"... it kind of is."
He hummed. "And your family?"
Mariana paused slightly. "They're... important..." she said vaguely.
The old man smiled knowingly. "I see."
"What about you?" she asked. "Do you live here?"
"Sometimes."
"That's not an answer."
He chuckled. "I go where I'm needed."
".... that's even more suspicious."
They both laughed lightly. Unseen by Mariana, figures lingered at the edges of the street. Silent. Watchful. The Holy Knights.
"Do you have any worries?" the old man asked suddenly.
Mariana blinked. "... that's a weird question."
"Humor me."
She hesitated. Then, "...a lot." she admitted. The old man nodded. "... people are after me," she continued quietly. "I don't fully understand why yet... but I know it's dangerous."
His gaze softened.
"... and someone..." she hesitated again. "...someone is acting in ways I don't understand."
The old man smiled faintly. "A young man, perhaps?"
Mariana choked slightly. "Wha-?!"
He laughed. "It shows on your face."
Mariana groaned. "This is embarrassing..." A pause. Then, "If you don't have a place to stay..." Mariana said suddenly, "... I could buy you a house."
The old man blinked. Then laughed. "Such a generous child."
"I'm serious!"
"I know."
He looked at her. Really looked this time. And then, his gaze dropped. To her necklace. The amethyst spider lily. Something in his eyes changed. Subtly. Dangerously.
"Ah." he murmured.
Mariana tilted her head. "...what?"
The old man's smile remained. But it no longer reached his eyes. "You've been marked by a wolf."
Silence.
"... what?"
He stepped back slightly. "Be very careful, child."
Mariana frowned. "What do you mea-"
But he was already turning away. "... some wolves do not know how to let go." And then he was gone. Just like that.
Mariana stood there, confused. "... what was that supposed to mean...?"
---
Far from the crowd, the old man walked calmly through a quiet street. The warmth in his expression faded. Something far more ancient replaced it.
"So it's true..." he murmured.
This was no ordinary girl. This was his blood. His great-granddaughter. Pope Aristophane IX smiled faintly.
"She's just like her mother." Kind. Bright. Dangerously gentle. His gaze darkened slightly. "... and already caught."
The image of the necklace lingered in his mind. That was no ordinary gift. That was a claim.
"... that boy..." Zafiel Abaddon von Clematis. The Pope's eyes gleamed. "... far more dangerous than his father." A pause. Then, "And far more possessive." His smile returned. But it was no longer warm. "... I don't like wolves near my family."
Because beyond the prince, there was still the organization. Still the shadows. Still the storm. And now, everything was converging on one girl.
"How troublesome..." he sighed softly.
But his eyes were anything but concerned. They were sharp. Watching. Waiting. Because if anything... anything tried to take her?
"... they will answer to me."
And for the first time in years, the head of the Temple began to move.