A Reader's Grimoire In A Novel World

Julius was wearing a simple white outfit: a long-sleeved shirt buttoned to the top, with chains hanging from the pocket, connecting one side to the other. It was typical attire for a prince, but today, it felt more like a costume. He had grown accustomed to the modern clothing he once wore.

As he stood in front of a particular room, Julius mentally prepared what he was going to say. This was a crucial moment, and he needed to get it right.

"Come in," a worried voice called from the other side. Julius entered to see a woman looking at him with concern in her eyes.

She sat at a dressing table, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders, dark purple eyes reflecting the light from the crystals around the room. The illumination made her skin appear smooth, with a faint, almost ethereal glow.

"Mother..." Julius approached the bed with a sad expression.

Margaret said nothing at first, her eyes studying her son as she bit her lip. Finally, she spoke.

"I heard about your accident. I'm relieved you survived. I just returned from the border and hadn't had time to come see you. Are you okay?" she asked, rising from the dressing table and sitting beside him on the bed.

"What's the matter?" she pressed, her tone full of worry as she noticed the troubled look on his face.

Julius hesitated before looking up at her pitifully, then casting his gaze downward again.

"You know I don't have essence, but... it's still possible to awaken. It's just that... it will cost a lot of money," he murmured, his tone uncertain.

Margaret's expression turned confused, just as Julius had predicted.

"That's not possi–" She stopped mid-sentence, her eyes widening as she remembered something.

"Except the... Stone of Rebirth?" she asked. Julius gave a small, sad nod in response.

Seeing the concern in her eyes, Julius hid his satisfaction.

'She'll definitely agree because she loves this son of hers... It's wrong, but I have to do what I must.'

"Your suggestion is intriguing, but that treasure is not easily attainable. They are as rare as you," Margaret said softly.

Julius sighed again, carefully crafting his next words.

'There are only three in the entire world, but I know where one is...' He raised his head, allowing his sadness to show.

"Um... M–Mother, there's an upcoming auction held by the Veloren family. I heard they possess one of these stones." He watched her reaction carefully, inwardly hoping she wouldn't question how he had learned this.

Margaret frowned, her expression a mix of confusion and surprise.

"How would you know that?" she asked, her tone suspicious as her frown deepened.

"Sir Ray told me. He mentioned that the Veloren family in the human kingdom holds auctions with extremely rare artifacts. This could be my only chance, Mum," Julius added, injecting just the right amount of desperation into his voice before dropping to his knees in a plea.

Margaret quickly helped him stand, her concern overriding any doubts.

"Fine, I'll attend. But don't get your hopes up; it might not be available," she conceded. Julius smiled warmly, feeling a wave of relief.

"Thank you, Mum." He moved in for a hug, surprising Margaret with the gesture.

She couldn't help but smile as she embraced her son in return.

As Julius left the room, allowing her to prepare for the auction, his smile faded. Maintaining that facade had been exhausting but necessary.

'She cares about me a lot...' he thought, though the words felt hollow.

He silently made his way back to his room.

Once alone, he stretched, letting the tension leave his body.

"That was... taxing," he muttered under his breath. His thoughts wandered to another woman, one with brown hair and blue eyes—his real mother back on Earth.

'Mum... I'm sorry for leaving you. But your life should be better now that you don't have a disabled son who can't even stand straight to cook...' he thought with a tired sigh.

Back on Earth, his life had been nothing special. Books had been his only escape, aside from the brief time he had learned to play the piano.

But now, he was Prince Julius Veloria Augustine, a prince in this new world. He wouldn't let this life slip away like his last one. He had a new goal, and no one—not even this new mother—would stand in his way.

...

Margaret walked through the castle, her mind clouded with worry. Upon entering her private chambers, she immediately pulled out a drawer from her cabinet. From within, she retrieved a mirror, closing her eyes as she focused on the person she needed to speak to.

The image of a bald man appeared in the mirror, smiling as he saw her.

"Ah, Queen Margaret. It's nice to see you again. What's the special occasion?" the man asked with a chuckle, and Margaret couldn't help but smile at her old friend.

"It's good to see you, Caesar. I want to ask about the upcoming auction, specifically about a certain item." She tried to keep her tone casual, but an undercurrent of urgency betrayed her.

"The Stone of Rebirth. Will it be available?" she asked, and Caesar's eyes widened in shock.

"H–how did you know? Yes, it will be available," he admitted, still taken aback.

Margaret was surprised too. The Stone of Rebirth was so rare that it had been over seventy years since one had last surfaced.

"I want it for my son," she said firmly, and Caesar hesitated, his expression conflicted.

"Hmm... How much are you offering?" he asked, frowning slightly.

"1,000 platinum," she replied, her voice steady, though internally she was already calculating the cost.

Caesar smiled, though the smile didn't reach his eyes. "I was thinking more along the lines of 3,000..."

Margaret gritted her teeth but knew she couldn't back down. "Fine," she agreed, her voice tight.

"Great. However, here's the catch. I still need to auction it openly—emperors are attending, after all. You'll have to bid, even if you don't have the funds," Caesar explained with a sly smile.

Margaret understood what Caesar was implying. The Stone of Rebirth was a legendary artifact, capable of boosting or even doubling one's magical abilities. It was certain that many powerful figures would vie for it, many of them far wealthier than the queen herself.

"This way, you get the stone, I gain new customers and influence, and I can pay off my debt to you," Caesar said, his smile now a bit more genuine.

"How much were you planning to sell it for originally?" Margaret asked, her brows furrowing.

"Perhaps 50,000 platinum at the max..." Caesar replied with a shrug and Margaret was left stunned.