The night in the Baronial chamber is steeped in an air of quiet tension, the faint scent of aged wood and parchment adding to the room's solemn atmosphere.
The room is brightly lit by the magic lamps Sera arranged throughout the castle. Although she wants to provide the lamps throughout the baronet, she couldn't due to cost and maintenance.
A single flickering candle is placed on the large oak desk. Emma, Sera's trusted assistant, stood before the desk, her eyes fixed on a letter sealed with a distinctive crimson wax stamp, with an intricate insignia.
Emma took a deep breath, steeling herself. She retrieved a small metal spoon from her pocket and held it over the candle's flame, watching as the spoon absorbed the heat.
Once the spoon was sufficiently heated, Emma leaned over the letter. Holding her breath, she gently pressed the warmed spoon against the wax seal, applying just enough heat to soften the wax without leaving any visible traces of tampering.
Once the seal was sufficiently pliable, Emma set aside the spoon and picked up a finely crafted letter opener. The blade slid under the flap of the envelope with ease. She worked meticulously, ensuring the envelope remained intact and undamaged. The letter opener moved with precision, revealing the contents within.
Emma unfolded the letter within, her eyes scanning the words written in elegant, flowing script. Her heart pounded slightly as she absorbed the contents.
Suddenly, a familiar voice broke the silence, coming from the doorway. "It's so convenient to have these magic lamps," Alaric remarked, in a casual tone.
"Argh!" Emma screamed in fright.
Taken aback by her reaction, Alaric quickly asked, "What happened?"
Emma turned to him, her face pale and her eyes wide with shock. "Dammit, don't scare me like that!" she cursed, her voice trembling slightly as tears of relief welled up in her eyes.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to," Alaric apologized, despite not knowing how he was in the wrong.
While Emma took deep breaths to placate herself Alaric approached Emma with concern.
"What happened? Why are you so frightened?"
"It's nothing," Emma replied, shaking her head as she tried to steady her nerves. "It was my mistake. Sorry for yelling at you."
Seeing that she had calmed down, Alaric pressed on. "So?"
Sighing, Emma explained, "Just after Sera's departure, two letters were delivered to the castle addressing the Baroness. One of them is a sealed one"
"I was perusing them," she admitted, her voice carrying a hint of guilt.
"Then why are you frightened?"
"Because I'm not supposed to read the sealed letters," Emma confessed.
"It's very rare for sealed letters to be delivered, they usually come from the Countess or from the nearby neighboring lords. Sera always opens them personally. After reading them, she burns them. Sometimes she reveals the details when I inquire, but other times she keeps the contents to herself. Sometimes she hides some and reveals others."
Pausing for a moment, Emma continued, "Usually, she doesn't reveal the contents of the letters sent from the Countess and Baron Ravenshield. And it's very rare for Sera to be away for a long time. So, you see, I wanted to see its content."
"So, you are reading them without her knowledge."
Emma nodded again, her guilt apparent. "It's my first time doing something like this. I feel like I'm betraying Sera."
YOU ARE READING
The Eclipse Moons Grimoire: Lilith's Soft Whispers
FantasyA boy who wishes to be a girl dies in an accident and reincarnates in a world of gods and demons as the second son of the baroness with hidden past. His mother disguises and raises him as a girl. Note: There will not be any sex scenes between main c...
