Aerion's gaze lingers on Alaric, a mixture of surprise and curiosity etched on his face. He leans in closer, his voice barely above a whisper.
Sir, I must say, it's not often that I hear you speak so... enthusiastically about a woman. Especially a servant.? Perhaps the stress of our current predicament is getting to you.(Aerion)
Alaric's cheeks flush slightly at Aerion's teasing, a rare display of embarrassment from the usually composed nobleman.
I assure you, Aerion, my interest is purely academic. The coincidence of her appearance is... unsettling, to say the least.(Alaric)
He takes a sip of his coffee, his eyes never leaving Beatrice's form across the table.
As if sensing their gazes, Beatrice looks up from her newspaper, her eyes locking onto theirs. A faint smile plays on her lips, a hint of amusement dancing in their depths.
Something on your minds,both of you? You both seem... distracted. (Beatrice)
Her tone is casual, but there's a sharpness to her gaze.
Alaric clears his throat, his composure returning.
Not at all, Beatrice. We were merely discussing... the local flora. Yes, the gardens here are quite impressive, wouldn't you agree, Aerion? (Alaric)
He shoots Aerion a warning glance, silently urging him to follow his lead.
Beatrice glances at the clock, her expression turning serious.
We should make our way to the library. The hour grows late, and there's much to discuss.(Beatrice)
...
She leads them through the grand halls of the manor, her heels clicking against the marble floor. As they enter the library, the scent of ancient parchment and leatherbound tomes fills the air. Beatrice gestures for them to take a seat at the large oak table in the center of the room.
Aerion and Alaric exchange a glance, settling into their chairs as Beatrice begins to lay out various books, scrolls, and artifacts on the table.
I've spent the night poring over our texts, and I believe I've uncovered some valuable information regarding the ritual and the chalice's whereabouts.(Beatrice)
The library is a cavernous room, filled with towering bookshelves that stretch from floor to ceiling. The air is thick with the scent of aged parchment and leather, and the only sound is the occasional rustle of pages as Beatrice flips through a tome.
She stands at the head of the table, her fingers tracing the intricate patterns on the cover of an ancient, leatherbound book. Her expression is serious, her brow furrowed in concentration.
I've managed to decipher a portion of the ritual. It appears that the chalice is not merely a vessel, but a key to unlocking the power of the celestial bodies.However, there's a complication. The ritual requires a sacrifice, a blood offering to seal the pact with the celestial beings. Without it, it will be useless.(Beatrice)
A sacrifice? What kind of sacrifice are we talking about here? (Alaric)
Alaric's brow furrows. His voice is low, a mixture of curiosity and unease.
Beatrice's lips press into a thin line, her fingers tightening around the edges of the book.
The text is... vague on the specifics. But it implies that the sacrifice must be of royal blood, someone of noble lineage with a strong connection to the celestial bodies.(Beatrice)
The celestial bodies the sun, moon, stars, and planets are not merely objects in the sky. They are living entities, each with its own consciousness and power. The sun is a being of fire and vitality, the moon a goddess of secrets and intuition, and the stars, well, they are the guardians of fate and destiny.
Alaric nods, his expression grave.
The ritual we're discussing aims to harness the power of these celestial beings. But such power comes at a price, hence the need for a sacrifice of royal blood.(Alaric)
So, that's why the first prince sent us to Lady Beatrice for this case.It confidential information that is under investigation only with Third Knight Orders and help from Sir Alaric and Lady Beatrice family.(Aerion)