Chapter 5: Bit

"Huk!" 

"Awake." 

Eru flew beside her. 

What was that dream? Her hands went to her chest. The feeling of a gaping hole still couldn't be dissipated in her mind. It was horrible. Someone just ripped her heart out and pushed it into her mouth before everything in her sight sank into the abyss. Ett's hands trembled. 

"Ett. Good. Morning." 

Cough. Cough. Cough. Cough. 

Cough. 

"Ha. Wh-What a g-good mo-morni--cough!" 

Sheesh. What's so good about the morning? 

Her blood stained her bedsheets again. 

Cough. Cough! 

Control. Control. 

Eru reprimanded herself, gently squeezing her blanket and pulling it to cover her body. 

"Yes…" 

She rang the bell. 

Sooner, someone knocked. "Mistress?" 

"Come…cough-" 

In. 

Ett's voice just went faint. The two maids bowed, waiting for her order. 

"How long have I been asleep." 

"About three weeks, Mistress." 

Amazing. It's true that whenever Ett fainted in the novel, she would rest not three days but three weeks, not one day but one month. 

Would it turn one month a year and a year a decade? How much inspiration from Sleeping Beauty is this? Anyway, in a goodish way, she should be able to know her conversion from now on. 

"The doctor will come soon." 

Like always, whenever she fainted, the doctor would come. Ett wonders if the physician is tired of taking care of her. All he tells her is to pacify her emotions. She had never honestly looked at every one of them in the eye, nor did she care about them. That's how we see mobs, right? Would it change if she did it now? 

As they guided her to her bathing area, Ett was as silent as she could, gazing at nothingness as she thought about what had occurred three weeks ago. Yes, it was the time that she wanted to flee or she'd get killed, like in the novel, but never did Guren tear her heart out and make her eat it. He stabs her heart. That was how it was. 

"Budalla, ergelak, scemu, loll, stupide, blöd, gòrach." Ett wants to bash her head, repeatedly muttering a mantra with the same meaning. 

She should have stuck to her first intention. Why should she do it like what she had read in any other novels and try a trashy escape? 

Useless head, she was too reckless for her own good. If she needs to act like Ett, then she shouldn't be this careless and unprepared, and if Ett wanted to find who'll help her get back into her physical state, then there should be a credible cover to mask that. 

What was she doing escaping when she could be more in danger outside because of her bloodline? 

Her mind turned to dung for a moment.

Yeah, in some way, Guren had helped her. 

"Taking care of your body is of utmost importance, and it is essential for you to not be exhausted." 

"Yes." 

Really, she was impulsive in escaping that way. Never again.

After another 'gentle' advice from the physician, he went away. 

"Bring me to my other chamber." 

Ett usually went to only two chambers: her room and study room. If she's not there, she's at the library. 

A monotonous and predictable existence. 

It's not bad. Ett's life on earth was much more predictable than this. Wait, should she say 'systematic'? What a barf. 

"Understood." 

There were papers neatly organized on top of her table. Books were stacked on each side of the walls, dark crimson curtains, carpet, and even her chair. Honestly, this office room was dull, and the guest had no seat. 

It's too plain to be called a simple minimalist working place. Well, it's not like they would be bold enough to visit and directly report to her. At least when she was in her modern room, she had many more things. 

How good would it be to have her newly gained gaming chair, her PC with a freshly brought monitor, and those RGB lights and new gaming headsets with excellent bass? 

Ah, right, she missed typing on her keyboard, feeling each key whenever her fingers glide, and clicking her mouse whenever she's playing her favourite game, fufu. Come to think of it, they are more expensive than her clothes. The second is her shoes.

"You may leave." 

"Yes." 

Once the door was closed, she took some thick books and placed them on her chair and a stool to step on. She did not forget to put a cloth on top of the book. 

"Gomen, Book-chan." 

"…" 

As she sat on the chair, the edge of the desk could only align on her neck. 

"…" 

Ett added more books to her seat. 

"Ah, much better." 

The woefulness of a small child.

"Howee~." 

Looking at the papers, she smiled. Thankfully, she can read it. 

"Ostenian Duchy." 

Reading through the information, Ett pursed her lips. 

The Imperial Faction is the top of all the aristocratic nobles who are not on the side of the Emperor. They gathered young aristocratic heirs in their gatherings and talked about politics and other means to take advantage of the Adiand Empire. 

They know that Guren is young and still possesses extreme talent; however, he is still as feeble as a lamb in front of adults. He demonstrated his capabilities, surpassing his peers in wisdom. Nevertheless, a child is but a child. Besides, he isn't as much of a tyrant as he was at the novel's beginning. 

Ett was also bewildered and confused about this part. Doesn't it seem like he is more reticent in this timeline…? If she remembered correctly, he still had some 10% interest in his mother's doing. 

To top that, when he was nine, Guren was only seen at the coronation four years ago. They can never speak to the Emperor as the Advisor is the only one allowed to talk to him directly. 

A bridge between all the aristocrats and the Emperor. Officials… hmm. It was vaguely described. The only one who had more chance to talk with the Advisor was Ostenian Duchy. Ett tries to recall the name of that person… 

She had seen him when she came with Butler Xiwen on the first day. However, the way the pillars covered his face was not clear, except for the insignia that was shown and his clothes. That guy always has a mask. 

"Won't this be the first celebration in four years?" 

The day that Ett could see many people from far away and watch them with calculation. After all, watching doves and hawks mingling and clashing together from afar is an excellent way to assess them. 

"Wait." 

Doesn't that mean before the Ett in the novel disappeared? She had this on her table and at the topmost part of it. 

"Then it was delayed." 

And now it has resumed just like scheduled.

Ett rubbed her forehead, feeling the threads tangled once she began acting like the real Ett. 

"You really won't let me re--cough." 

Seriously. 

"Eru, play or sleep?" 

Play is getting back to gathering information or sleep, literally, rest. 

Eru swallowed the whole piece of the green grapes, bobbing on his throat as he opened and closed his mouth. 

"Grapes." 

"Yes, if you can wait, I'll get as much as you like." 

"Play." 

"Alright. You'll go tomorrow to Ostenian Duchy." 

"Northwest." 

He uttered, cocking his head in the window in the northwest direction. 

Ett smiled, "You memorized well." 

"I'm. Smart." 

"Yes, yes. Very smart. Ett is so happy to have you." 

"Me too." 

Ett chuckled. This lyrebird has an ego. 

"Don't die." 

"You. Too." 

Me too? That's cute.

***

Jushen Empire

Arkada, Capital of Jushen Empire

The men ventured into the subterranean tunnel beneath the city's hidden passage, filling the air with an ominous rhythm. Clad in dark capes that billowed behind them, their heavy boots struck the water purposefully. 

Concealed behind an unassuming wall, a hidden door became apparent after the group leader pushed a particular stone on it, granting them passage into the clandestine area. Their figures were cloaked in shadow as the glint of swords nestled at their belts.

"Sire, welcome back," greeted a young man in his early twenties, his demeanour exuding a scholarly elegance as he welcomed them with a respectful nod. "Please, come in," he added, gesturing graciously towards the interior of the chamber.

The man who leads the cloaked men seated on chair the table has many stacked papers organized in different categories. Removing his cloak, his chestnut hair was tied into a simple bun, and a chiselled face with sharp brown eyes and an aquiline nose was revealed. His thin lips made a small smile as he skimmed the papers on his table. 

The man's baritone voice emerged like a gentle breeze, its tones imbued with a warmth different from the room's dimness, "Well done. How many nobles and scholars this time?"

The young man replied, "As we aimed for lower nobles, there are three other barons, two viscounts and somehow an heir to a dukedom. Five nobles and our scholars in Jushen academies are starting to get few. Ten of them are already missing. We've found two of them nearly on the verge of death while one is already dead."

"I see."

"Even so, it did not affect the main plan. As you commanded, the scholars recognized as teachers who had the privilege to attend any noble's balls in their free time made good impressions. Our men marked waterways, caves, and tunnels. Mr. Grandall has been promoted as the academy's librarian."

The man's eyes narrowed, "And the previous librarian?"

The young man sinisterly smiled, "She died from bandits as she was travelling to her hometown."

"That's good to hear."

The man's eyes raised his hand, and one of the men behind him moved forward. He revealed a bottle the liquid was dyed with an indigo hue, its size the height of a man's hand.

"This is called Lily poison. It's odourless and cannot be examined by mere silver spoon or anything else unless there is a poison master, which rarely exists in this empire."

Another person wearing a cloak dragged a wooden crate; as it was opened, velvet red powder was revealed.

"This is a newly made opium called Nan powder. If mixed with salt and sugar, it will be addicting. Surely, the nobles would like this. Be careful and mix it with any food. It would be a different matter if mixed with another powder with explosive properties. Take it."

"Understood, sir; I'll make sure once it's been spread in the empire, it will not cause you any inconveniences. Our chefs will also try the right dosage before selling it to the market."

The man nodded satisfactorily, "If you have questions, you can send the pigeon or ask one of my men. I'll be in and out of this empire as usual."

He patted the young man's shoulder.

"Rest assured, it won't take long, and our Majesty will order us to purge them all."

"Indeed, Sire. I'll see through this to the very end."

The young man swore, bowing lowly.

"I'll entrust you with that matter then."

Taking the essential papers on the desk, the man covered himself with his hood again and turned to leave.

"Let's find the missing scholars."

"Yes, Sire."

The cloaked men behind him uttered in unison.