And so, over the next few days, the following scene unfolded in the secluded Archives of Caria Manor:
Horace buried himself in mountains of old documents, concentrating on finding traces of information about the Outer Gods, occasionally stopping to jot down keywords or possible clues.
At another table nearby, Rellana frowned as she struggled to decipher the scrawled handwriting on ancient records, occasionally sneezing from the dust or muttering complaints about the absurdity of some ancient custom. Yet her hands never stopped as she diligently wrote summaries and annotations on fresh papyrus.
Occasionally, she would look up and steal a glance at Horace's intent profile, her gaze lingering on the dark red hair at his temples for a moment before she quickly lowered her head again, pretending to continue working.
They did not talk much, but an atmosphere of quiet companionship gradually took shape.
Horace discovered that although Rellana complained, she worked with considerable care and precision. Her summaries were clearly organized, and she could even point out contradictions or changes between certain ancient statutes and current Carian practices.
This ability made him see her in a somewhat new light.
Rellana, meanwhile, discovered that the materials Horace consulted seemed to cover a broad range of subjects, not just law.
But she did not ask further questions, merely committing to memory some of the strange book titles or terms that drew his particular attention.
A few days later, Horace felt he had made a preliminary selection of ancient texts that might contain information about the Formless Mother.
Although most were incomplete volumes or offered only a few passing words, he still needed to take them back to Lakeside Town for further analysis.
And with Rellana's efficient assistance, most of the legal materials had also been organized.
It was time to leave.
Horace carefully wrapped the ancient manuscripts he had selected and thanked Rellana. "Thank you for all your hard work these past few days, Your Highness. With your help, organizing the legal materials went much faster."
Rellana stood in the doorway of the Archives, watching him pack his belongings.
After several days together, that inexplicable frustration had long since dissipated, replaced by an indescribable reluctance to part.
She looked at the dark red hair at his temples, several times starting to speak before stopping herself.
Seeing him nod to her and prepare to leave with his attendants, heading toward the corridor that led to the Manor's main gate, Rellana finally could not hold back and took a small step after him.
"Horace..."
Horace stopped and turned around.
Rellana opened her mouth, then swallowed the words on the tip of her tongue.
Ask what happened to his hair? Ask why he was looking through those strange books? Ask when he would come again? None of those seemed quite appropriate.
In the end, she merely said, a little awkwardly, "You... be careful on the road. If you run into trouble implementing the new laws in Lakeside Town, you can... you can write to my sister, or... to me."
Horace looked at the complicated expression on her face—concern, hesitation, and a well-hidden trace of anticipation.
He suddenly wondered whether he had been so focused on his own affairs these past few days that he had completely overlooked this princess, who had actually been trying to "help" all along.
He fell silent for two seconds. Then, as though something had just occurred to him-or rather, as though some belated emotional intelligence had finally kicked in just a little-he looked at her and said in a perfectly natural tone:
"What are you standing there for?"
Rellana said, "...Huh?"
"Come on." Horace tilted his head at her, motioning for her to follow.
"Haven't you always been curious about the Academy's Grand Library? I happen to be heading there to look up a few more things. I can show you around while I'm at it. Of course, if you're busy, never mind."
Rellana's eyes lit up instantly.
Delight nearly spilled over, but she immediately forced it down, raised her chin, and tried hard to put on a "resigned" expression.
"Hmph, since you've invited me so sincerely... I suppose I can reluctantly accompany you. As it happens, I also need to inspect the situation at the Academy on my sister's behalf following the takeover."
She strode over to Horace's side and walked beside him, deliberately keeping a little distance, her face still wearing that "I'm doing you a favor" expression.
Only the slight upward curve of her lips and her light steps betrayed her true mood.
Horace glanced at her, said nothing more, and turned to continue forward. His pace merely seemed to slow a little.
After leaving Caria Manor, the atmosphere on the road to the Academy was much more relaxed than it had been on the way there.
Rellana seemed to be in a very good mood, even taking the initiative to make small talk about the climate of the lake region.
As they walked, her gaze once again drifted irresistibly toward the hair at Horace's temples.
The dark red strands actually looked quite nice in the sunlight, adding a touch of the uncanny to his otherwise rugged, tough bearing.
She held back again and again, but curiosity finally overcame her reserve.
"Horace," she began with an air of nonchalance, looking at the road ahead.
"Your hair... its color seems to have changed a little?"
Without breaking stride, Horace likewise kept his eyes ahead and answered in a very casual-sounding tone:
"Yes. I dyed it."
He paused, turned his head, glanced at her, and even raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Does it look good?"
Caught off guard, Rellana's heart skipped a beat. She had not expected him to admit it so directly.
A faint blush quickly spread across her face. She abruptly turned her head away, stared at the grass beside the road, and muttered, "Who-who asked whether it looked good! I just... just thought it was a little strange... That color really is rare in Liurnia."
Despite her words, her ears grew even redder.
Horace turned back, the corners of his mouth seeming to lift ever so slightly before quickly settling again.
"A change of look now and then isn't bad." He casually brought the subject to a close, as though he really had merely dyed his hair.
Rellana stole a sideways glance at him, but doubts crowded her mind.
Dyed it?
She did not believe that at all.
The color was far too natural to look anything like the effect of dye.
Besides, from what she knew of Horace, this man hardly seemed like someone who would care enough about his hair color to go out of his way to dye it.
He must be hiding something.
But seeing how obviously unwilling he was to discuss it further, Rellana knew that pressing him would get her nowhere.
She could only bury her doubts, secretly deciding that once they reached the Academy, she would watch more closely to see exactly what materials he consulted.
Perhaps she could find clues to his hair turning red in the ancient texts that interested him.
As for whether Loretta was actually an Albinauric, I'm not really sure either.
But for reference, the Silver Mirrorshield's description reads: [The shield's shape is said to have been discreetly designed in the image of a drop.
Thus arose the absurd rumor that Loretta was an Albinauric.]
I've still made her human.
Before you continue