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There was something ominous about this, but it <span class="mu-i">did</span> belong to her, and her family. Though remaining so ignorant about something so basic as what it even was felt off.
“Sure,” you decided, “If you want it back, and you want it bad, then I’ll hand it over. But, <span class="mu-i">any price, any favor?</span> That’s fascinatingly broad, you know. What if I said I wanted your hand in marriage?”
Edelina was taken aback, but made her upper lip stiff. “I-I am of the Royal Family, Herr Reinhold. I was the Crown Princess, and now am Queen. The matter of my marriage will always have been a question of expediency, especially now. Even if…not so long ago…I had dearly wished it not to be so.”
“Relax,” you said, “I was just saying.” If you really wanted to give her a heart attack you’d ask to feel her up, but that seemed mean to say. “I’ll just keep whatever favor it is in the bank until I need it, if that’s alright. But there’s a few things I want to know, giving this thing back.” Edelina raised an eyebrow, as you spoke your question. “That big book- what is it <span class="mu-i">really</span>? What does it even do? It can’t be just a big wad of old blank paper if you’ll trade whatever you can for it.”
Edelina pursed her lips, and looked to the side. “It is not blank, it only appears so…”
Somehow, Edelina seemed more hesitant to tell you about the Grimoire than she’d be about anything else. You nodded, and whirled a hand to try and tell her to keep going.
“I cannot tell you here,” Edelina said with a firmness you hadn’t heard from her before, “You ask for knowledge that is only shared from one to a singular person. My father from his mother, from her, her father. From me to but one of my children, whenever that day comes. That is how it has been for centuries. If I am to break this law out of necessity, to make up for my own failures, I will at least have no other people have the slightest chance of overhearing.”
You looked around- nobody seemed to be listening, but then, the walls and corridors could hide much. “Fine. Formal parties are too stuffy for me, anyways. I’ll stay long enough to look polite, then we can mosey.”
Edelina let out a relieved breath. “That would be good. My guards should be satisfied, your fame is from protecting my person, after all.”
“Really?” You feigned disappointment, “I thought it would be from my dashing charm and my handsome countenance.”
The Queen frowned, golden eyes staring spotlights into you. “I thought that was kinder than what I have <span class="mu-i">actually</span> heard of your character before I came here…”
“Heh. Maybe. Too bad there’s no dancing going on right now, else we might test what you’ve been told.” Covacs would want to be rid of this place as soon as you would be, but his cheap car only had room for two- and a lady of Edelina’s size wouldn’t be crammed into the little extra space there was. So, he’d be lending you that transport...
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