"Lady Helena, I'm coming in."
Helena opened her eyes when Violet knocked on the door. She was lying in bed in an unconventional sleeping position. Helena was not sure whether she had fallen asleep or fainted. Her mind was still dazed from last night. She could not believe that her regression would involve her butler, who was actually a demon.
Helena sat down on the bed and touched her aching head. "Violet, where is Karl?"
The maid was confused. "Pardon me, but I've never heard anyone with that name. Perhaps you are not fully awake, My Lady."
"Never mind..."
Helena got dressed as quickly as possible. She went around the house asking the servants about Karl. He always helped the chef prepare ingredients, saved the maids when they made mistakes, and assisted the gardener in trimming the hedge.
The chef frowned at her question. "Karl? I don't know anyone working here with that name."
The maid stared at her friend. "Do we even have a butler called Karl?"
The other maid shook her head. "I don't think so."
The gardener was confused. "There's something familiar about that name, but nothing rings a bell. Hmm… how do I shape this hedge again?"
No one remembered him. It was as if he had never existed. Helena stopped asking about Karl before anyone questioned her sanity.
She returned to her room and took the secret notes down from the hidden shelf. Helena sketched a poor scribble depicting Karl and jotted down new sentences in the corner.
Karl is a demon. He regressed my time on someone's behalf.
Helena closed the book and leaned on the chair. This had never happened in her previous life. Helena knew that something new was bound to happen. However, she never expected the issue to be so complicated. She had no information regarding her regression. Her only clue was Karl's word.
"Find information about Paradise Star."
Frustration piled up inside her mind. Both of her hands held her head.
"I can't believe I'm about to take advice from a demon."
Helena began her investigation in Blackmoore's private library. It was more of an archive than a library and was full of files related to her father's work. When she found nothing there, she went to the public library. Even after rummaging through hundreds of books, she had no luck. Three weeks passed with no progress.
The situation left her feeling rather distressed. She had no appetite for lunch. Melvin Blackmoore noticed this and asked his daughter about it. "Helena, you barely touched your meal. Is there something on your mind?"
"Father, do you know anything about Paradise Star?
"What's that?"
She sighed. "I don't know. I can't find it in the library."
"Is this why you haven't been to any saloons this month?" Her mother joined in the conversation. Helena nodded in response.
This topic intrigued Melvin Blackmoore. "It must be something rather rare. Would you like to check for it in the Royal Library?"
Helena was stunned. "Wait, I can go there?"
"Well, yes! You're a noble. You only need to present identification to prove that you are a Blackmoore."
Helena was speechless. She never expected her status to be helpful.
The Royal Library was once reserved only for royalty. However, the knowledge within it was wasted because so few royals visit it. The king decided to give people access to them instead of letting the books gather dust. Now, nobles, scholars, employees, and even commoners with a special pass could access the library.
Helena went to the place the next morning. Since she lived in the capital, the trip to the palace was short. Her heart beat fast as she handed over the identification letter bearing Blackmoore's seal. The officer on duty read the letter and then smiled at her.
"Lady Helena from the Blackmoore family? You may enter the palace."
Her face lit up. "Thank you!"
Helena got back into the carriage while humming. The sense of power trip was great. No wonder she loved being a villainess.
Helena had never been to the palace before. In her second life, she tried to gain an invitation to the Royal Ball, but was rejected. Her terrible reputation preceded her. It sank so low that they refused to extend an invitation to her. Neither her influence, bribery, nor threats worked.
What on earth was Helena thinking? Recalling her past made Helena feel stupid. She could walk in through the front door by legal means.
Helena finally entered the palace after passing through a big and imposing gate. She had to take a carriage to reach the palace from the inspection gate. Helena looked out of the carriage window and was mesmerised by the view. She could describe the Eluvuris Palace in one word: magnificent. Throughout her ride, Helena passed through a small forest. The forest was home to towering trees and an array of plants. From a distance, Helena could hear the sounds of cicadas, chirping birds, and flowing water. Beyond the edge of the forest, she saw a pond surrounded by geese, birds, and even deer.
"How big is this place?"
After crossing a bridge, she reached her destination. Helena stepped down from the carriage and studied the enormous building. She did not realise how big it was until she got closer. Fortunately, the office and library were part of the front palace. The living quarters of the royal family and the ballroom were in separate buildings. She did not need to walk any further to reach the library.
Helena strode in and swept her gaze around the space. She had no idea where the library was. Helena asked a man carrying a stack of papers for directions.
"Excuse me, do you know where—"
"Sorry, busy!"
The man ignored her and rushed into his office. Helena paid no mind and asked a woman holding a file instead.
"Pardon me, do you—"
"ARGH, THE DEADLINE IS IN AN HOUR!"
Everyone passed her by because they were too busy. Helena sighed and set off to find the library by herself. She slapped her forehead when she discovered a lovely rose garden instead of books. Her terrible sense of direction struck again.
"Excuse me? What are you doing in here?"
Helena turned her head. A gentle wind swept away fallen rose petals as a knight appeared behind her. Two pairs of ocean-blue eyes met hers. Half of his short, honey-blonde hair was slicked back, and the rest fell across his forehead. He had a mature face and a small birthmark near his right eye. His muscular body was hidden beneath the uniform.
Helena raised an eyebrow at the sight of this man. He was ridiculously handsome, charming, and overqualified as a knight.
"Pardon me. I was on my way to the library, but I got lost."
"Ah, first time visiting the palace, Lady…."
"Blackmoore. My name is Helena Blackmoore."
"You can call me Yale. Please follow me. I'll show you the way to the library."
"Won't it be a bother?"
He chuckled. "It's fine. The knight training finished a while ago. I'm on my way to the front building."
Helena walked beside him and stole a glance. He was different from Blackmoore's knights. Although he was young, Yale had a distinct aura surrounding him. Helena had never met anyone like him in her life before.
"Is there something wrong with my face?"
Helena realised that she had been staring at him for too long. "Sorry! This is the first time I've seen that uniform. Are you a royal knight?"
"Yes, I work for the First Prince."
The Eluvuris Kingdom had three princes. The first was the Crown Prince, the second was the son of the current queen, and the third was the son of a concubine. The first queen died when the Crown Prince was three years old. The king later married her lady-in-waiting and had a second son. The third prince was born to a maid who had been promoted to concubine.
Despite reigning for a long time, the king grew weak because of old age. He appointed the First Prince as the Crown Prince and handed over his duties to him. Unfortunately, the Second Prince also wanted to sit on the throne. Thus, a cold war erupted within the family. The First Prince had the support of several factions, while the Second Prince had the backing of the nobles. The Third Prince remained on the sidelines, knowing he could not win the royal brawl without allies.
Helena was grateful that the Blackmoores were neutral. She did not want to be involved in the political battle.
Yale stopped walking. Helena almost crashed into him because she was lost in thought.
"We arrive! Just go straight ahead and then turn left. You will find the library after that."
Helena curtsied to him. "Thank you for helping me."
"You're welcome! Not many noble ladies visit the Royal Library. I hope you find your book."
They parted ways. The knight smiled and waved as she left. Helena followed his directions and arrived at the location.
"I hope this is the right place…"
The smell of ink filled the air when she opened the door. Helena was captivated by the sight of the library. Thousands of books sat on rows of tall shelves. Its height was thrice her size. The shelf was so tall that the library provided ladders to reach the top.
Although she was not an avid reader, Helena admitted that the library made a great impression. Nevertheless, she had no time to admire the scene. She must find a book about Paradise Star. Yet, there were too many books on different subjects and topics. Helena decided to seek out the librarian for help. Helena spotted her conversing with a young man of about Helena's own age.
"Excuse me."
The librarian turned towards Helena and adjusted her glasses. "Can I help you, Young lady?"
"I'm looking for information about Paradise Star. Is there a book about it?"
The librarian frowned upon hearing this. "There is no book about such a thing."
Helena was surprised. "Are you sure?"
"Please wait a moment. Perhaps my friends know something."
The librarian left Helena and spoke to her colleagues. She returned a minute later. "I'm sorry. There is no book covering this subject."
Helena was speechless. She had come to the royal library to no avail.
The young man next to the librarian recognized her. "Wait a minute, are you Lady Helena Blackmoore?"
Helena was perplexed because she had never met him before. That man was only a few inches taller than her and had the air of an innocent doe. His almond crème hair shone under the light, and his two amber eyes stared at her. His sweet smile charmed her for a moment.
"Do you know me?"
"Of course! You're Helena Blackmoore, a famous lady among commoners! I heard your name everywhere in Angles Street. They're really grateful for your contributions and charity."
She was embarrassed by the praise. "Thank you, but I'm just doing my duty as a noble. If it's not rude, may I know your name?"
"You can call me Heli."
He used his first name instead of his family name. There must be something preventing him from presenting his full name. It would be impolite to pursue the matter further. "Nice to meet you, Heli."
"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Blackmoore. Are you looking for a book?"
"Yes, but you heard the librarian. There's no book about Paradise Star. I'll have a look around this place instead, since it's too early to go home."
"Allow me to escort you."
"Does this interfere with your work?"
Heli laughed at her words. "It's fine. I can visit the library anytime, but I won't have another opportunity to meet you."
Helena chuckled and accepted his offer. They strolled around the garden near the building. It was not as beautiful as the rose garden, but it was still pretty. During their short stroll, Helena wondered about Heli's status in the palace.
"His clothes were too expensive for him to be a servant. Perhaps he was the son of an aristocrat who attended the library?"
Helena and Heli had many similar interests and outlooks. They discussed ways to improve the lives of commoners. Both of them had fun talking until Helena saw a man with short, bright red hair, who had two knights following him.
Helena was frozen in place.
"No.... NO, NO, NO. Why do I meet him in here?"
Her first instinct was to run away before he noticed her. However, it was too late. The man spotted her and walked towards her. Helena's body tensed as she was flooded with memories of the guillotine.
She had no choice but to play along. Without hesitation, Helena curtsied to the red-haired man.
"Greetings to Your Highness, the Second Prince."