The court magician

Since I got the next day off again to … recover, I decided to borrow a new book from the palace's gigantic library.

Cain had allowed me to borrow books there to my heart's content and even the librarian seemed delighted to have a new bookworm in their ranks. He said that books are there to be read, not to gather dust on a bookshelf.

At first I was a bit hesitant. After all, I really didn't want to cause trouble by borrowing books from the royal library and reading them.

But apart from the librarian and a few scholars, nobody was here anyway.

The royal family hardly ever showed up here, so that shouldn't be a problem.

If a member of the royal family felt the need to read a book, they always had servants bring it to their chambers anyway. They wouldn't bother to walk all the way to the far end of the palace to find a book and then bring it back to their room.

So I basically had my peace in here. When I found that out, I was of course very excited to borrow a book straight away.

I'm a big fan of fantasy novels, so it was pretty obvious what kind of book I'd borrow first. I loved to immerse myself in new worlds and to experience new things second-hand.

Even though I was in a fantasy world right now, I couldn't stop reading more fantasy novels. I was obsessed in this regard.

I had already finished the last novel and really wanted to find a new book to pass the time.

Even though I didn't have that much free time to read because of my work and all the training, I still appreciated ending my workday with a good book. It was my little escape from reality.

The candle maker had already complained to me because my candle consumption during the night seemed to be three times as high as that of the other guards. But without light it was rather difficult to read and there was no electricity here. So the candle maker would suffer some more. Sorry not sorry.

My comrades on the other hand, didn't care too much that I didn't hang out with them in the common room very often and rather read some books in my room till midnight.

To them I was just 'The Prince's victim' anyway and nothing more. On my extra days off, I still got these odd, almost pitying looks from time to time. But I didn't like to expose myself to those looks. So, as always, I retired to the library.

As I pushed open the heavy library door, I was immediately enveloped by the smell of parchment, ink, and leather bindings. I inhaled this wonderful, almost homely smell and fully entered the great hall, which stretched over several floors.

I was immediately greeted by the librarian's small eyes peeking out from behind a pair of thick glasses.

The way he stood there, with his brown suit and plump figure, he reminded me more and more of a mole.

"Ah, nice to see you again, my friend. Are you here to borrow a new book?" The librarian started and seemed genuinely pleased to see me. Somehow it made me happy when he greeted me so warmly. Nobody else did.

"Yes, if it's okay..." I said quietly, afraid I might disturb someone else in here reading.

"But of course it is! Most scholars only read the bare essentials anyway. The fictional novels are completely ignored. Even the prince only reads the necessary books. I wish he were more like you in that regard. A good fantasy book would certainly do him good."

"But the prince is also a very busy man. Unfortunately, I don't think he has much free time to read for fun." I tried to explain.

"Well, he still has plenty of time to practice his lewd-"

"Be careful what you say now, old man." Suddenly a cold voice cut through the air and interrupted the librarian.

I immediately turned around, startled. I hadn't heard anyone come in because I was too engrossed in the conversation.

In front of me stood a tall, mysterious woman in a long, black robe, which even dragged over the floor.

Her hair was dark brown, that seemed almost black as well, and her equally dark eyes were rimmed with khol eyeliner. In stark contrast was her light, almost pale skin, which made her look almost like a living dead. But she was still beautiful, there was no doubt about that.

"Milady!" exclaimed the librarian respectfully and immediately bowed.

I didn't know who this mysterious woman was, but I decided to do the same as the librarian and bowed as well.

"You must be the prince's new guard." The woman assumed and examined me extensively with her black eyes, while she completely ignored the librarian, who even trembled a little with fear.

I got a bad feeling about this.

Should I be afraid too?

"I believe we haven't been introduced yet, my little guard. I am Isaya, the court magician."

"C-court magician?! I thought you were just a myth!" It then burst out of me, so I quickly covered my mouth with my hand. I certainly shouldn't say something so rude at a magician.

But the magician didn't seem upset. On the contrary: she seemed rather amused:

"That's what I let the others believe." She explained as a small chuckle played around her heart shaped lips.

"You can go now, librarian. I'm going to have a little chat with this guard who seems to be more interesting and promising than I first thought." The magician shooed the librarian away, who then immediately left. He seemed visibly happy to just get away with it.

"Well then, boy. Tell me what you know about the prince." The magician asked as we walked down the long aisles of bookshelves.

However, I just gave her a skeptical side glance.

"I-I don't know if I should just tell you something like that, Milady. After all, I hardly know you."

"That's very honorable of you, my boy. Still, I'm probably one of the few people in the palace who is well disposed towards the prince. You can take my word for it or not. That doesn't change the truth." The magician said almost indifferently. She seemed calm.

I didn't answer, just bit my lower lip thoughtfully.

I couldn't believe her that easily. That would be incredibly silly of me. But on the other hand, she could have done something to the prince a long time ago if she wanted to. She looked like a powerful witch who could probably kill someone with a snap of her fingers. It would be rather unnecessary to arise suspicion by first asking me about the prince.

"By the way, I took a deadly oath not to physically harm the royal family. So I can't kill them either. You're a smart boy, aren't you? You've probably already drawn your own conclusions."

"It depends on whether you're lying to me now to gain my trust or whether you're really telling the truth. Still, I don't know what you could gain from learning more about the prince through me." I explained frankly. Nor did I hide my confusion from her.

"You're the one who goes into his bedchamber at night, or have I heard the wrong rumours?" She suddenly asked, making me wince involuntarily.

Then a small, winning smile stole onto her lips again. She already knew anything what she needed to know. That's what her look told me.

"Have you noticed something about the prince? Something … that isn't normal?" The mysterious magician began almost cautiously.

"What are you trying to say?"

"I can't tell you exactly what it's about. Otherwise I would disobey my order and be beheaded tomorrow."

"What do you mean?"

"… Let me put it this way: I was given an order a long time ago... and I wasn't able to go against it without violating my policies and getting killed. However, I deeply regret what I did ."

"What have you done?"

"Aren't you paying attention, idiot? I just told you that no matter how much I want to, I can't tell you."

"Okay, so how am I supposed to figure that out?!" I was running out of patience.

"That's why I'm asking... did you notice anything strange about the prince?"

"You mean besides his mood swings and reckless behavior? No...not really-" I paused.

Yes, there was something.

His eyes. His eye color changed sometimes - almost for no reason.

Did that have something to do with his moods? Why did his eyes change color in the first place? Did the mage have anything to do with that?

"As I see, you seem to have gotten the idea. Then I can continue... I've been looking for someone who was emotionally a little closer to the prince than the others, and that wasn't - by the gods - an easy task. But now I've found you. I've had my crows watching you, and you seem to have some feelings for the prince-"

"Wait, I...I'm not in love with the prince or anything...I..."

"I didn't say that either. Are you even listening? I just said that you are emotionally closer to the prince than the others and that you have certain feelings towards him."

"But-"

"I'm just wondering if you could maybe... get even closer to the prince?" It sounded more like a sincere request than a command. But I wasn't really sure.

"Why should I do that?"

"Deep down... you're also aware that the prince isn't what he seems. That he has a good-natured, warm side that he hardly shows anyone. And you're the one who is rather upset when someone is being treated unfairly or is being tormented by anything. And now...since you even have a vague idea that something might be wrong with him, it won't let go of you."

"But-"

"Oh yes, and if I were you, I would learn more about the foreign affairs and about the current position of the country, instead of burying your nose any further in unnecessary fantasy books. Wake up to reality, little boy." She reprimanded me lightly.

I was about to say something, but the magician had already dissolved in black smoke in front of me.

So I was left dumbfounded. Alone with my thoughts.