Vol 2 Chapter 4 (1/2)

Chapter 4

Regarding the existence of the historical archive, it appeared to be an open secret within the royal palace

It is said to be reached by cli the stairs in the deepest corner of the royal palace library; and that it had special docu to the history and politics of this country In particular, there seemed to be very sensitive documents that would never be made public On one hand, it was an extree of this country, but if used poorly by the current ruler, it could be a terrible poison that would drive the country into a predicament That is why the people at the top of the country hid its actual existence, or at least those were the rumors

If she went there, she would be able to know the truth about the past of the previous saints

Ron’s words were brought back over and over again in Yuna’s mind

If his words were true, then to Yuna that place would be just what she wanted It would have been suspicious if she borrowed Celiastina’s appearance and went around asking this and that from everyone, but there was no need to be concerned if she was consulting books, and she would be able to acquire as e as she wished

Linus knew Yuna’s circumstances, and he would be well-informed about the past saints and about Celiastina However, she couldn’t help but feel nervous at going to visit hinature h about her relation to Celiastina If that subject was brought up and a distance was placed between theain then– The blade of words that had struck her once, couldn’t be i

If that was the case, then she should head to the historical archive without hesitation Her own voice sounded awfully distant when she declared that That Yuna wasn’t able to move immediately and follow her oords was because there was still hesitation inside her

Yuna, as sprawled over her room’s sofa, pulled a cushi+on towards herself and trapped it against her chest

–She was afraid to learn about Celiastina

Her conversation with Ron had made her notice it clearly Inside Yuna, there was an indistinct and faint uneasiness It was just like he said She was afraid to feel the truth of how Celiastina was not a being in a painting or in a dream

(Why do I feel that way?)

It wasn’t like that at the beginning She had simply wanted to know the reason as to why Celiastina ended her own life What happened to her? What had she been thinking? Even now, it wasn’t like those feelings of wanting to know had disappeared coround

(A that this body isn’t mine?)

–That ht be it

(I like the daily life I’ in this body I want to stay here s)

Before she knew it, that desire had been nurtured greatly within her If it becaer then sooner or later– would she think about wanting to take over this body… Celiastina’s life?

(If that happens, then it’d be exactly like what Linus said)

That he could only think that she was taking over Celiastina’s life

Before, the moment he said those words clearly froly oppose it But now……

Yuna sat up with a lot of force and shook her head to change her thoughts somehow

At any rate, she should try going to the historical archive once

Everything else would be after that She didn’t want to stay cooped up in her rooht wa

s soe

Now then, hoas she to enter the historical archive? Because it was a place the royal palace tried to hide, she was sure that she couldn’t just enter it normally

As for a person she could depend on at a time like this…… there was only one person who ca up from the sofa, Yuna clenched her fist

Tap-tap, the dry sound of her knock was sucked into the thick door The solid double door had an appearance which stated that a person of status was in this place The door to Celiastina’s rooant but, maybe because it was for a lady, it was so in front of this tall door, her nervousness increased whether she wanted it to or not

“Please wait a moment”

She heard Asyut’s reply fro from his voice, Yuna wondered if he knew that she had turned up here While wondering this, the door opened and Asyut appeared

“Please, come in”

“Ah, mm Thank you”

When she sa he didn’t look surprised at all, she decided that he probably knew She had confire ht have went to him after that

In any case, because of the incident about Neisan the other day, Yuna had withdraith uncos, but there was no hint of that in Asyut’s appearance

Asyut’s office, which she entered for the first tie and functional space where he could do work facing a desk The desk and shelves, which were based around the color broere packed with docuht about how he glanced through these docuave instructions, she felt overwhel someone else’s affairs

“I apologize for the mess”

“No, I’ on you when you’re busy”

She sat down on the offered sofa While thinking it would be rude, Yuna unintentionally observed the roo like she was able to faintly touch a side of Asyut, who she knew nothing about, Yuna was happy

But, at any rate, this room reflected its owner’s personality exactly hoas Apart fro in this room that made it look lived in There may be some, but they weren’t put in a place where she could immediately see theed beautifully in the corner, and she was not given a cluttered impression

“Now then, is so occur with Neisan……”

Upon hearing Asyut’s voice fro, Yuna hurriedly returned her wandering gaze to him

“Oh no, that’s not it There aren’t any problems with that”

As of yet, is what she added in her mind

“Um, you see, I heard that there is a “historical archive””

“…… The historical archive?”

Yuna felt flustered and wondered if its existence really was just rumors when she saw Asyut murmur in puzzlement

“Once again, those are some unexpected words”

“There isn’t one? Is there no room like that?”

“No, the historical archive exists Only……”

Her sigh of relief lasted only a moment, because Asyut’s expression was still not clear

“That place is a location within the royal palace where the most important classified information is kept, and those without permission are completely forbidden to enter It is that kind of place…… Do you happen to have business there?”

As expected of Asyut, he went straight to the point Yuna nodded

“A bit It’s a part of my studies”

“If you are studying, then I can prepare documents here that would better suit you, Lady Celiastina”

“Hmm, but… how should I say this… I want to learn a bitlike that”

“All the details in history? For what reason?”

If he asked like that, she was at a loss for an answer But she couldn’t withdraw at this point because she was the one who brought this up

“I don’t know anything about the history of the saints I heard that the historical archive has documents that are quite detailed, and so my interest was piqued”

“……”

Asyut’s silence was still terrifying

“Incidentally, where did you learn about the historical archive?”

“Um, someone told me”

Asyut’s gaze deive a concrete name

“…… Are you going to punish the person who told me?”

“I will not do such a thing Simply, that place is not an ordinary place to coave you that advice”

She thought to dodge the question, but under Asyut’s intent stare, she didn’t feel like she could get aith it

“Umm, just someone I met by chance I don’t know many details about him, but he told me his name was Ron”

“Ron?”

Asyut’s eyes widened, as if he had just heard theever Even Yuna was taken aback by his surprise

“Do you know him?”

“…… How did he introduce himself to you?”

“Uh, he said he was an old man who strolls a lot in the royal palace That’s all”

“…… Is that so”

Good grief, Asyut sighed

“Then, the next ti about him in full detail I will overlook your movements”

Hearing him say that made her curious and she wanted to inquire more about it, but Asyut looked like he had already turned his focus back to the historical archive, and so Yuna could only keep her mouth closed

“Although it is called the historical archive, the docuanized or stored neatly like ordinary libraries assu there are documents you wish to search for, I do not believe you will be able to do it alone”

“I don’t have a particular docu that it’d be nice to look at different things”

“Is that so”

For an instant, Asyut had a hesitant expression But he iave a nod

“Understood Since you have an interest, it ood to visit that place at least once If you do not mind, I shall accouide you there after this?”

Yuna leaned back and shook her head at Asyut’s unexpected proposal

“Eh, no, it’s fine! You’re the one who’s busy, right, Asyut? U me permission but I can find another person to come with me, like Aeneas or Neisan or someone”

When she gave those names that came to her mind as examples, Asyut sent her a sharp look

“Ah”

Yuna i out that bad name

“Please do not take Neisan with you to a place where you till be alone together A place like the historical archive is unreasonable Do you understand?”

“Mmm…”

At her auous answer, the look in Asyut’s eyes became even sterner Yuna inadvertently averted her eyes out of fear and discoh reached her ears at that moment

“In any case, those people cannot enter the historical archive There isn’t a problem with your status, Lady Celiastina, but I a to uide you still”

“Is it that difficult of a place?”

“I have also just reached a point where I can pause in my work Now then, shall we depart?”

The historical archive was on the second floor of the royal palace’s library The royal palace library was situated on rounds in the north side, and it was a place that Yuna had never visited

The royal palace, which she was visiting for the first time, had a serious ate building was supported by thick pillars that were mixed with two colors, white and jade It had a beautiful appearance If these pillars had been made out of wood then the ould have surely been hundreds of years old, and carrying a sole at the entrance to the building who didn’tsculptures of ancient soldiers

Inside the building, it was pleasantly cool and di over the those who came to visit eren’t qualified There were no others and as the two of theanic sound of their shoes was the only sound that echoed That sound reached the ceiling before see to be sucked ahich made Yuna unconsciously look up Even the atriu with lined up books, and it was as if the building took a breath to observe these sudden visitors

“Do people not come here?”

Yuna asked in a voice that had gone quiet

“That’s right There are those who just pick up books, but since this is a library with only specialized books, those who co research There is another smaller-sized library in the west side of the royal palace, and o there The west side library allows not just those in the royal palace, but also ordinary citizens, and so it is somewhat lively”

On that subject, Yuna knew of one more other library Actually, Yuna had even visited that placefrohtly difficult ones for those ere intellectually inclined Being the only building within the royal palace that ordinary citizens were able to enter, it was very popular a the people When Yuna had also been a co in that place made her feel as if she was a bit of a noble And now that she was able to quietly enter a library which wasn’t open to anyone asn’t a real noble, she felt that fate was such a strange thing

“We will be ascending the stairs”

She thought they were about to clie staircase but, contrary to expectations, Asyut moved deeper into the side where there were small stairs It was a sed this place The width was only enough for one person to pass and as Yuna looked up at Asyut who continued up the stairs without hesitation, she followed quietly

What appeared at the top of the staircase was a simple and small door However, Yuna was surprised to see a disproporionately large and sturdy lock on it Asyut took out a key fro, and with a grave sound, the lock opened When the door opened, there was another door behind it However, this time, rather than a door it would be more correct to describe it as bars They were also similarly locked

As Asyut opened the second lock, Yuna observed the interior of the rooo, it seemed like there were many documents casually put away on the shelves It was a much smaller room than she expected, and there were only three s opposite to the entrance that were sh Each one also had bars fitted on them and it made Yuna think of a prison

“Thank you for waiting Please, enter”

At Asyut’s invitation, she entered the rooht wasn’t enough and the entire roo to act as a light that she could see and so Yuna turned her eyes to Asyut Asyut, who immediately understood Yuna’s question, shook his head

“The entire library is like this, but in this roo flauards at the entrance to the library would do a physical exa tools toThe same is true when someone leaves the library, and they will arrest anyone who tries to bring out materials without notification In principle, you are free to coo to places apart from the document rooms, but this place is one that the country is quite attendant about”

“Then, we can’t have any light in here?”

“Yes As there is a certain degree of light coht”

Everything was so thorough that Yuna was shocked Yuna approached the sth” of their depth However thick the as, the depth of the ere easily the length, orsword

“That is to prevent docuh the ”

There were bars on her side and on the other side

“…… Wow”

“Nevertheless, the inals are kept somewhere else…… Nohat do you wish to do? What kind of documents would you like?”

“Umm… where to start…”

Yuna faced the bookshelves while feeling lost She casually looked at the documents within reach but she was unable to understand ritten on the bundle of papers that was closely packed with fine letters

“Would this suffice? It is a simple collection of history of the previous saints”

Asyut offered help to Yuna, as staring at the docu for Yuna joyfully leapt to the book that Asyut held out, but when she noticed that he had an even sterner expression than usual, she unintentionally drew her hand back

“Lady Celiastina, I believe you are already aware, but these materials have not been publicly disclosed They are lined with truths that you haven’t known up until now Knowing this…… are you certain? I think it is better that you do not know Or……”

“Asyut”

Yuna looked at Asyut firmly and shook her head

After they stared at each other in silence for a while, Asyut quietly lowered his eyes He didn’t say anything further and handed over the book

“Thank you”

Receiving it, Yuna flipped through the pages Indeed, it seemed like the history of the saints up to noere recorded here Previously, in the record of saints that she looked at in her rooo in a fanatic way, but glancing at the entries in this book she could only see around 10 people Did that mean this book coends?

It appeared that her thoughts weren’t wrong On the oldest saint, the details of her birthplace and age at death ritten down It was close to the present and practical, but it wrote about the history of the saints in detail