I got up and opened the door. Fedel and the maids bowed when I appeared behind the door. As always, Fedel guided me to the front and I followed suit. Arriving at my chamber, I took a quick bath.
"Is the food not to your liking?"
"Ah? No. It's not like that. It's just..."
I looked at the meal on my plate. Remained untouched. Sighed. I put my cutlery down.
"...I don't have any appetite."
Rose from my seat, I walked towards the bed and threw myself on it.
"Then would you like some light snacks?"
"No. I'll just sleep."
"I understand."
That was why you shouldn't get your hopes soared up to the sky.
"Your Highness, you still haven't opened Her Majesty's gift."
I was too busy looking for that damn secret passageway. I even forgot about my mother's gift, what an ungrateful child.
"Bring the gift to me."
"I understand."
Fedel came back with a small box in his hand but since I was too lazy to get up, I told him to put the box on my bed. However, right after he put the box down, a flash filled the room and thunder was heard followed by heavy rain and wind. He rolled his feet to the window.
"It's a thunderstorm."
"I see."
'Just look at it, even the sky is mourning for me. Nah, I'm just being pathetic here, don't mind me.'
Fedel closed every window and drew the curtains. He excused himself and then left.
"Goddammit!"
I had never felt this kind of disappointment before. I felt like... I wanted to utter profanity endlessly and cried in the corner of the room. Sighed.
'Let's forget about that damn secret passageway!'
I reached the gift without changing my position and opened the box. It was a bracelet, framed with gold and it had two blue beads. This thing wasn't just an ordinary bracelet.
This bracelet was called Telesphere, a communication device. Not only a communication device, Telesphere also served as magical storage.
Each Telesphere had a code. This code enabled you to make calls or video calls; it had the same concept as a phone number.
I thought the way to use it was no different from using a phone in modern times and you could channel your mana into the other bead if you wanted to access the magical storage.
The Arcanist Tower wasn't named after their building that looked like a tower. But it was named after the Tower that stood in the middle of their estate, at the top of the turret floated a round mana boulder that emitted blue light.
Every Arcanist Tower had this giant pillar, maybe they used them as a transmitter or something, which reminded me of a BTS Tower concept.
And that was the reason why we didn't need to channel our mana to make a call. But that didn't mean it was free, you needed to pay its monthly subscription if you didn't want your Telesphere to end up deactivated.
But even if your Telesphere ended up deactivated, you still could use the magical sphere. It was just that you couldn't make a call like there was no signal.
I pressed one of the beads and a mini translucent screen popped out and showed my contacts list. I was sweat-dropping the moment I saw it.
Right now I only had one contact with a cringe name, 'Beloved Mother'. But in the end, I couldn't help but chuckle.
'Thanks, mom, you really brightened up my mood!'
However, a frown formed on my forehead when I saw the swaying curtain. It didn't actually sway, it was just a slight move. But I couldn't even tell if it was really moving or not. I believed Fedel had closed every window and there was no wind here.
I put my bracelet on and then got up. I decided to watch it up close. As I walked towards it, a soft breeze passed by and the curtain was indeed moved a bit. I drew the curtain and found nothing.
'It's just a wall.'
I channeled my mana to my Wind Elemental. A magic circle formed on the wall and I pressed it with the wind. Like I previously thought, the wind didn't bounce back but instead, it seeped through the wall.
If you looked at the wall with naked eyes nothing seemed wrong. But when you touched the surface of the wall, it had a fine horizontal crack. So, what he said was true. There was indeed a secret passage. I turned and browsed my room intently.
'But, where's the switch?'
.
.
.
"Your Highness, it's time for you to wake up."
I blinked my eyes a few times to adjust the light before opening them. After fully collecting my soul, I got up and washed my face.
Heading towards the table, I ate my breakfast solemnly. Finished my meal, I took a bath and let the maids dress me. But, instead of going to the door, I strode towards my bed and tossed myself there.
"Your Highness?"
"Fedel, can I skip my training today?"
Grandpa was away so there was no one to teach me. I glanced at Fedel.
"Are you perhaps not feeling well today?"
"It seems that way."
"Should I call a doctor, then?"
I abruptly sat.
'No! What are you doing?! My lying would be blown up.'
"N-no! I'm alright. I think I just need to get some rest."
Fedel didn't answer and just stared at me.
"Also, please don't tell my mother about this."
"Your Highness--"
I hurriedly cut him.
"Please."
Of course, I didn't forget to put my pleading expression to make everything more dramatic.
"Her Majesty must be really busy. I don't want to make her worry."
In the end, Fedel could only sigh in defeat, and I laughed wickedly inside.
"Then, I'll be waiting outside. If you need anything please ring the bell."
"Alright."
After making sure he left, I got up and started looking for a hidden switch. I lifted every book, tried to rotate every statue, standing chandelier, chair, couch, table, and many more. Everything I did was nothing less than what I did back in the library, and of course, it ended exactly the same.
I skimmed the room. Just, what did I miss? I rolled my feet and stood in front of the 'wall'. Should I just destroy this wall? But, if I did that then I would be screwed.
Right at this point, I believed that my brain had stopped working. I couldn't think of any other way. I felt so helpless. Only then I spotted a decorative hanging dagger near the 'wall'. I guess I had no choice but to use brute force.
I grabbed the dagger and unsheathed it. However, as I readily channeled my mana to it, I was dumbfounded. The dagger's appearance really caught me off guard. The blade was so thin that it almost matched the paper. I frowned.
'Is this even a dagger? Who's gonna use this dagger? It looks as if the dagger would break from a single swing. Wait--is it perhaps?'
I hurriedly inserted the dagger inside the crack and... nothing happened. I massaged my temple.
'How many times does my hope shatter like this? Alright, whatever. Do as you please. I give up. I'll just wait for Count Andreas.'
I turned around, and before I could make a step, a falling metal was heard. I rolled my eyes boredly and glanced at the sound. Only then, what greeted me was something unexpected. A passage with stairs leading downward had appeared.
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