The First King

Teacher Ormand is indeed a very strict teacher, after knowing how far her reading ability is, he gave Elvira light books to read. Elvira looked at the 'light' books stacked on her desk. All books are around one inch thick, she shivers at the thought of how thick the books he consider as intermediate or difficult.

She liked reading, it is one of her favorite past times in her previous life, but what she reads are interesting novels, from Romance to crime thriller to even horror. Right now is true horror though, the books are titled with 'Andeolan History', 'The Founding of Andeolus', 'The Age of Past Kings', 'The Great Andeolus'... Reading all these is one thing, memorizing them is another level.

Teacher Ormand, tested her knowledge that was basically minimal and some are only based on the stories Seraphis told her which is inaccurate according to Teacher Ormand. He sighed and ended their first day early, only leaving a stack of 'basic' books she needs to read saying he will test her about one book per week.

Roza brought her some refreshments and saw her bowing down on a book dejectedly. "Miss what's wrong?"

Elvira raised her head and shook it. "Nothing, just tired." She keeps wondering, what the use of all this learning. She does not see how it would be relevant on her life that sooner or later will end because she does not belong here in the first place.

Roza smiled. "Take a rest Miss. You always read books, you should take a break."

Elvira lowered her gaze at the Andeolan History book and murmured "I've been reading children's books all this time and now I'm holding an encyclopedia..."

Roza looked puzzled. "Ensai... Miss what's that?"

Elvira blinked her eyes. "Encyclopedia... A thick book with summaries of different topics. I was just comparing this book to it because of the thickness."

Roza giggled. "You have named a book by yourself Miss. Our Miss is very imaginative."

Elvira is confused, 'Does it mean they don't have an encyclopedia in this world? I understand not having internet and computers but no Encyclopedia... Really?!'

Elvira looked down again and started reading the Andeolan History.

Andeolan History started at the founding of the Kingdom of Andeolus after the 'Black War'. The Great Mage Knight, Ivo Adeodatus, is the one who established Andeolus and became its first King. After his coronation, he decreed that Andeolus will never invade or wage baseless war against another country and will maintain peace and neutrality. Not much is known about the first King because despite being Andeolus first and founding King, his reign is short-lived. He died 5 years after his coronation, there was no successor to take his place and so the crown was passed to his most trusted friend and advisor.

The second King of Andeolus who was crowned after the death of King Adeodatus is King Claudius Endymion and in commemoration of the First King, he decreed for the name Adeodatus be the official last name of the Royal Family. He became King Claudius Endymion Adeodatus. He reigned for 20 yrs before he passed away due to sickness and his only son succeeded the throne.

Until today, the Royal bloodline still belongs to the Second King's line, and as he had decreed, the Royal surname remains Adeodatus, Endymion Adeodatus...

Each generation of Kings have lots of achievements, and true to the will of the First King, they never waged a war against other Kingdoms and maintained peace. Records stopped at the life and achievements of the sixth King. Based on this Elvira could surmise that the current King is the Seventh King of Andeolus.

"Miss, take a break, you have been reading for quite a while. You ignored the refreshments again." Roza interrupted her reading.

"Oh, right, I am feeling a bit hungry." Elvira suddenly heard her stomach growl in a hungry protest. She reached out to pick up a biscuit but Roza took the biscuits away. She looked up confused at Roza's actions and it was Erna who spoke.

"Miss, you were too engrossed that you did not notice us come and go. Dinner is ready to be served and the Head Housekeeper Sonya insisted that you go down to the dining room to eat so she can be reassured that you are really eating properly." Erna started tidying up her desk while Roza took her hand and guided her out of the library and into the dining hall to eat.

After dinner, Sonya did not allow her to return to the library, she did not insist since she only spent time at the library for more information and also because she had nothing much to do. There is no internet here after all, and she likes to keep her mind occupied so she could stop thinking about 'Li Ran'.

Since she has nothing to do, she decided to sleep early, but she soon realizes it was not a good idea since she woke up in the middle of the night and can't go back to sleep anymore. She surmised that it must be around 3 am, with no clock in the room, she could only guess.

She felt a bit thirsty and hungry after waking up, she looked at the bedside and there was no water. She did not wake Roza and Erna, she decided to go down to the kitchen herself.

On the way to the kitchen, she suddenly heard sounds, and as if an unknown force is guiding her she followed the sound and saw a passageway opposite the hallway going to the kitchen. It was supposed to be a dead-end after the storage room but a stairway can clearly be seen, she did not see it before when she got lost the first time she went to the kitchen at night.

She went down and came into a room and saw a man murmuring to himself as he huddled in the ground.

"Hello?" Elvira spoke and the man is startled. He jumped up and turned her head towards her. His eyes widened in disbelief. "You... Can see me?" the man asked as if he can't believe it at all.

"Should I not see you? Are you a thief?" Elvira asked with no trace of fear.

"No, I'm not a thief! I have been wandering the halls for years but no one could see me at all. Nobody has ever seen the stairway before so no one has visited me, you are the first. The people here have always treated the stairs as if it is a wall. Nobody can hear me... It's really lonely.."

His teary eyes did not match his physical appearance. He has short silver-white hair and a handsome appearance that could rival Seraphis as a model but his physique is much manlier than Seraphis that it looked odd if he acts pitiful.

"What are you doing here?" Elvira asked.

"I don't know, I don't remember anything... But I seem to cannot leave the mansion premises, that's all I know." The man replied.

"So, you don't remember your name too?" Elvira continued to ask but she is preparing to leave the small room and not really expecting an answer.

"I remember! That is one thing I know and I always spoke it so I won't forget." The man brightened up that even his hair shined brightly, proud at himself for remembering his name.

"I see, good for you... I'm going then.." Elvira said, feeling it was troublesome to get involved in what seems to be a spirit so she walked to leave.

"Wait, little one! My name, it's been a long time and no one other than myself has called me by name, It's Ivo... Ivo Adeodatus... Please call me Ivo!" The man shouted, in fear that she won't hear him.

Elvira froze. 'Isn't that the name of the First King? Isn't he dead? Did she stumble into a hidden background of the game?'