Chapter 14 - : Culprit

I've been staying in the house for a week now. I still feel guilty about my sneaking out before, so I decided to stay at home for the moment. Brother Pascal has already been busy dealing with his duties in the monarch. My mother is getting better now. However, she feels anxious about my father's absence. I don't want the two of them to be worried about me. That's why I decided to stay at home for now.

This week I just read books related to the Royal Competition. I also do training for it. As of now, I still need to train on equestrian and my archery skills more. Rufus volunteered to teach me those. He already taught me Archery, but it is not enough. However, since Rufus is busy with things these days, he hasn't visited me for days. The Duke probably ask him to do something.

I lay the book I am reading aside. It's the book of The Parallel Universe. I thought I could get some clue about the writer through this, but I've got nothing. Unlike the published books in the real world you there is no information on how to contact the writer or the publisher.

This novel world doesn't have advanced technology yet. Even telephones are not existing in here. People's way of communication here is through letters, or if you want to send a message immediately, you should have a messenger bird. Although raising a messenger bird is really pricy and takes a lot of effort to do so.

"Miss, a letter from the Princess of the Aeslaerean Kingdom just came." A maid called out from the outside.

"Slip it through the gap at the bottom of the door. I don't want to see you or anyone. Get out!" My mouth shouted! Of course, how could I forget? Csille is still the villainess of the novel. She is always mean and cruel to the maids.

I stand up and take the letter. Princess Paislee? It's almost a month now since she sends me a reply. Which never happened before. She often replies after three days. I almost forgot about the letters.

'Csille, I apologized for replying late. Something is happening here in our Kingdom. I got too busy helping my mother and father dealing with things here. I write not to respond to your last letter but to actually inform you that the Royal Competition of the Arts will be postponed this year. I could not say the specific reason for now, but our Kingdom will release an official announcement about it. I just want to inform you in advance because I know you're training as best as you can. I could really not talk too much right now. However, I promise you, once everything is okay here, I will send you a reply and a message soon.

P.S. I am really disappointed that I could not meet you at the Royal Competition of the Arts. I hope we could have an opportunity next time. Always take care.

Love,

Paislee'

Something happening in the Aeslaerean Kingdom? I tried recalling if I have ever written something about it. However, I only realized that I didn't really mention a lot of information about the Aeslaerean Kingdom. If I didn't write about that thing, then why is this happening? I thought this world is based on my novel? But what is happening?

I suddenly remember the bad feeling that I've been feeling these days. Is it something related to it? If it is, then what will happen?

_________

"Miss, why do you need the messenger bird?" The butler asks. I am thinking of sending a letter to Rufus. I need an update on the whereabouts of the writer of the book.

"I just want to send Rufus a letter. I need to ask him about something."

The butler adjusted his eyeglasses. "Why don't you just ask someone to send the letter to the Duke's residence?"

I shake my head. "I could not do that." There's a lot of people who are still eyeing the Lauretré family. The letter that Princess Paislee sent was sent through a messenger bird too. I could not risk something this important. I think that writer could answer my questions. "Can you just lend it to me? I just need to send a letter to Rufus and the Princess of Aeslaerean Kingdom."

The butler shakes his head again. "I'm sorry, Miss, but you need the approval of the Count for you to use the messenger bird."

I walk back with a slumped shoulders. It's no use. My father is not here, so there's no way I could use the bird. I don't want to go out since I still feel guilty about the last time. What would I do? I badly need to see the writer.

I was in deep thoughts when Brother Pascal stops me from walking. "Csille, I heard from the butler that you want to use the messenger bird. Who do you plan to send a letter?"

I look back at Brother Pascal. He probably just comes from work. He is still wearing the uniforms of the officials of the monarch. He looks good wearing it, but I still think he looks better in a white coat.

I run towards him and help him takes his coat. "I just want to send a letter to Rufus. I want to ask him about something. Also, the Crown Princess of the Aeslaerean Kingdom sent me a letter. I just want to reply to her."

Brother Pascal taps my head gently. "Okay, if that's the case, I will ask the butler to allow you to used it."

I smiled at him and hugged him from the side. "Brother, is everything okay in the monarch?"

Brother Pascal's smile fades away. "Is your mother in her room?" I nod to him in reply. "I need to talk to her first. Let's talk later, okay?"

I nod at him. Why is his reaction like that? Is something wrong happening? I sneakily follow him behind. He enters mother's room and makes the maids leave the room.

Why did he make the maid leave the room? They must be talking about something important. I look around to see if there are people around. When I see no one, I quietly walk towards my mother's room. I tried putting my head on the door to see if I could hear anything. However, the door in my mother's room is really thick it makes it difficult to pick up sounds from the inside of the room.

What do I do? They probably left me out of the conversation because they still see me as a child. Well, technically, Csille is. However, I am Ysavel, a twenty three years old writer. But of course, how would they know it?

I tried looking for another way to hear their conversations, but I really couldn't think of anything aside from opening the door. But if I do that, they will know that I am listening. I guess I have no choice then. I quietly opened the door and left a small gap in there. Enough for me to hear what they are talking about.

"The King is asking you to go to the palace. He wants to talk to you about the case, Aunt." Brother Pascal said. Good thing they haven't notice me.

"Why do I need to go there? Does the court already knows who is the culprit behind the accident?"

Brother Pascal nodded. "Yes, and he wants to personally talk to you about it. I could accompany you tomorrow if you want."

Mother waves her hands. "No need. Anyways why does he wants me to go there? Is it because of the culprit? Is our assumption right?"

"Yes, Aunt. It's one of the noble families. I could not tell you more about the specifics. For the reason that the King ordered me not to say to. He wants to personally say who the culprit is."

I am still listening when my body moves on her own. It opens the door and barges to the room. My mouth also moves on its own. "Noble family? The one who harms my mother is from a noble family?" My foot walks towards Brother Pascal. "Brother! Who is it? Tell me, who is it?"

Brother Pascal and Mother got startled for a minute and just sat there. Brother holds my arms. "Csille? What are you doing here? Didn't I told you that your mother and I need to talk. How long have you been listening? It is not-" Before Brother Pascal could continue his words, my mother already cuts him off.

"Let her be Pascal." My mother gestured me to sit beside her, and I willingly followed. "Csille, it's not a good thing to listen to people's conversation. Don't do it again, okay?" I nod my head as a response. My mother smiled. "I will let you stay, but you should just let your Brother talk, okay?" I nodded again.

"Pascal, I would go to the Palace tomorrow. You don't need to accompany me. Just stay in here and look out for Csille."

Brother Pascal is supposed to refuse, but my mother dismissed him. The nobles? Who would do that? I know many people are against the Lauretré family, but who would dare to harm the Countess? Harming a noble with a title is a great offense in the Vrawyth Kingdom. So who would dare to do that?

_________

'I still haven't got anything. The report always said that the writer is really residing in that place. Maybe it's better if we check it again. If we still haven't found anything, then I will widen my search.'

It's Rufus' reply to the letter I send to him this morning. I also sent a letter to the Aeslaerean Kingdom. However, since the Aeslaerean Kingdom is enormous, and the Vrawyth is also a big Kingdom. It will take some time before the Princess could receive the letter.

I sit on my chair and look at the paper on the table. If the results always end up in that place, then it could only mean one thing that the writer is really living in there. But how could someone live in a very desolate place? There are only bushes and trees everywhere. Where could that person be hiding?

I look at the paper and start to write.

'Thank you for the information. I know you're also busy with things. However, can you please accompany me tomorrow? I need to find the writer of that book. Thank you.

P.S. Also, I remember you said you know a way to contact the crown prince, right? Can you do me a favor? I want to send a message to him.'

I rolled the paper into a small roll. I give it then to the messenger bird on my window. It's the same messenger bird from Rufus. I pet it for a while before I signaled it to fly. The bird immediately flies to the dark sky.

I've been living here for a long time already. But a lot of things are going out of hand now. The Count's departure to the western region. The Countess' accident. Brother Pascal's existence. The culprit behind the Countess' accident. All of it is not because of my doing. I am the reason why this world exists, but why doesn't it follows my story? Is it because of the time gaps?

________

Early in the morning, my mother goes to the Palace. Brother Pascal takes a leave on the monarch and is staying with me today. And since I am still guilty of my sneaking last time, I decided to ask Brother Pascal permission. Luckily he agreed but on one condition only. He needs to accompany us to that place.

And since Brother Pascal is joining us. We used the Lauretré carriage instead of the carriage of Rufus. Rufus and I are seated together. I am glad Brother Pascal did not ask why we are going to that place.

We arrive in no time. And just like before, the place looks like a desolate field. Brother Pascal also helps us find the person. Although we did not really say who we are looking for.

"Is the is a person or a thing?"

Both Rufus and I stop at what we are doing and look at Brother Pascal. He is asking if the one we are looking for is a person or a thing.

"It's a person. It's the writer of the book The Parallel Universe." I answered.

Brother Pascal got startled by my answer. "You're looking for the writer of The Parallel Universe? Why didn't you say so? I know where we could find him." He smiled.

Rufus and I both look at each other. "You know where? Can you bring us to him or her?"

He just smiles at me. "We are here." Brother Pascal walks towards a very tall tree. He then knocks at it three times, and the tree suddenly moves. The center of it opened. It's a door!

"Wow! I didn't know you could do that!" Rufus whispered from my side.

I agree on silence. I mean, I have already seen tree houses in the real world, but it's the first time I see one that is not obvious. I remember the last time we went here, I even hold to that tree, but I didn't even notice something odd. It's really amazing.

Brother Pascal looks back to both of us. "What are you two doing there? Come on. We need to get inside, or else we could not see him today."

Both Rufus and I immediately run towards the door. When the three of us are inside already, the door suddenly closed on its own. Brother Pascal takes my hand and consoles me. He probably thought I would be afraid of the dark.

We walk for a minute. Afterward, we see a light coming from a direction. "That's where he is. Let's go. We could only be here for an hour. After that, the door will permanently close for today. And we will need to wait for tomorrow for it to be opened."

After hearing Brother Pascal's words, our footsteps become quick. But even before we could open the door. A light engulfs the whole surroundings. The last thing I remembered someone is calling my name, and I lost consciousness.