CHAPTER 444: LIBRARY OF ARCHIVUM SAPIENTIAE

The night drew, the room was quiet and they were both fast asleep on the bed. Cedric’s eyes opened, and the room was dim. The crackling sound of the fireplace continued.

Abrielle’s soft breath filled the room, and he sluggishly turned to the side to watch her sleep. She looked exhausted and tired even in her sleep. He hated the fact that she was suffering because of him

"You don’t hate me. People don’t cry themselves to sleep over the ones they hate." He said. He wanted to touch her face but his hands froze.

Was he being selfish by not accepting the marriage proposal? It was in their best interest, and every reason tells him that’s their best bet. He just can’t because he knows the deal isn’t that simple, it is the same as signing her execution notice or a deal to make her life miserable.

******

By the next morning, Cedric’s condition was stable. He had breakfast in the room before taking some bed rest. The healers sent over some potions to help with the pain but things were not looking promising

"I am going to ask Aurelius about the Seer, Roselia’s father referred to us.", Abrielle mentioned. Cedric was lying on the bed with his eyes closed but she was certain he was still awake.

Cedric didn’t reply to her, she thought maybe he was just exhausted and didn’t want to speak. Her footsteps faded from him and the door closed before he opened his eyes to stare blankly at the ceiling.

Abrielle asked the servants for directions to find Aurelius. She was told he was in the training hall practising magic with mages. The training hall was located on the ground floor close to the garden.

The guards bowed at her from the door before opening it for her. She stepped in, and the first thing that welcomed her was the intense heat of the room

Aurelius was taking on two old mages at the same time with his fire spells. Abrielle was amazed at the intensity of the fight. Aurelius noticed Abrielle from the corners of his eyes and instructed the mages to stop.

He was shirtless wearing just trousers. His hair was sticking to his face, and his entire body was dripping with sweat. A servant rushed towards his side with a towel, which he accepted before approaching Abrielle, who stood patiently at the door.

"Good morning your highness," Abrielle greeted with a slight bow. Aurelius had a soft smile.

"Good morning, Princess Abrielle. I wasn’t expecting you to grace me with your presence. How is Cedric now?"Aurelius replied, his eyes noticing how hollow her eyes looked.

"I don’t even know how he is. Cedric is good at hiding pain. I came to ask you a favour." She requested. Her hands clutched her dress, nervous that he would not agree.

"I am all ears," Aurelius replied. A robe was brought to him. Aurelius wore the robe and Abrielle followed after him. They went through a path in the garden, and Abrielle could not help but admire the beauty of summer in Heliosa.

The Heliosian season was a bit similar to Draconian, but it was warmer there. "I think there is a seer that can help Cedric." She explained what happened in Litoralia to Aurelius, who listened carefully. They stopped on a footbridge, their reflection showing off on the lake.

"You want to search for the one the seer referred you to," Aurelius stated the obvious. His expression was calm but she could sense his hesitation.

"Yes, it is the best chance we have," Abrielle replied, waiting for his verdict.

Aurelius’ eyes drifted to the lake, watching the soft ripples. "I can’t take the risk of letting you leave Abrielle. I will send my men to search for the person instead." He replied. His answer made her wary remembering what Cedric mentioned when they first came here. Aurelius’ true intentions.

"Why? I need to go." She blurted.

"Sorry, I can’t risk you getting into harm’s way. The place you described is outside the capital. Isabel can use it as an opportunity to get to you." Aurelius mentioned. He didn’t have to explain everything in detail, she understood part of it.

Isabel was Aurelius ’ half-sister, who was being proposed to Cedric. She considers Abrielle a threat she has to eliminate. "Okay, I will wait for your men then, but can I ask for another favour?"

"As long as it doesn’t include seeing the emperor or leaving the capital. That is beyond me." Abrielle’s gaze, which was locked on the pond, drifted to Aurelius.

"I need to visit somewhere to gather answers. The library of Archivum sapientiae." Aurelius was surprised by her request. Why did she want to go to the library?

*****

A couple of minutes later, Abrielle was seated in a carriage, and across her was none other than Aurelius himself. He was just sitting there staring at her.

"You didn’t have to follow me out. A guard would have been enough." She mentioned. Aurelius’ face remained unfazed.

"I didn’t have much to do and I also have something to do in the library." He replied. Abrielle didn’t know if he genuinely had something to do in the library or just wanted to keep an eye on her.

They soon arrived in the city on their way to the library. Archivum sapientiae is said to be the largest library in the world and holds knowledge far beyond comprehension. Abrielle felt that if there was somewhere she could get information to help Cedric, it would be there.

Information on what he truly is. If he were something unholy. The carriage slowed down as they arrived at the library which was more enormous than even the silver crescent palace in Draconia.

The door opened and Aurelius stepped out before giving his hand to Abrielle. She accepted. "Thank you," the princess muttered before glancing at the library in front.

There was a small group in front of the library, which drew more attention forming a little crowd. "What is going on?" Abrielle asked Aurelius.

"Nothing of importance, probably another fraudster claiming to be a seer," Aurelius replied and then started to lead her to the library entrance.

"Destruction has come upon the land!!!!" A voice from the middle of the crowd screamed. Abrielle’s brows furrowed, but she shrugged it off, continuing on her way.

"The devil that cursed the land of Draconia has come to curse the land. The child who was never meant to be born. We have to save the land from the demon who pretends to be a prince." The voice screamed out, earning gasps. Abrielle’s feet stopped, and she turned towards the crowd. She had a bad feeling about it.

Aurelius’s eyes went cold.