NOVEL NEXT chapter 70 - Crystal Ball Communication
"Then... may I make another request?" Loraviel asked.
"What request?"
"Since most of the time, I'm either training or in Liana Your Highness's room, and only return to my own room when I’m washing up, could I keep those practice magic stones in Your Highness's room? Don’t worry! I’ll make sure not to disturb you while practicing!"
"Oh—" Liana responded with clear disdain, "What else can you do other than causing trouble for your master?"
"Sorry, Liana Your Highness."
"Did you get it wrong?"
"Alright, I agree. Now you should have no excuses, right? If you fail the knight assessment, I’ll make you regret it!" Liana said.
It seemed that Loraviel wasn’t wrong—if she failed the assessment, would there be a punishment?
But... why did it feel like there was a small part of her that was looking forward to it? Maybe she could intentionally fail?
"I understand," Loraviel nodded. "Then, should I go prepare the midnight snack for Your Highness?"
"Not for now, come with me first." Liana walked toward the library.
"Liana Your Highness... you're here again?" The librarian looked at Liana, somewhat annoyed.
"What? Not welcoming me?"
"How could I? It's just that Liana Your Highness seems to like coming after the library is closed. Whether it’s this time or the last time, you only come after resting here."
"My own library can’t be closed to me, can it?" Liana said, slightly displeased.
"Of course not." The librarian, having dealt with Liana before, had become much more composed and knew that speaking to Liana was mostly a waste of time.
This time, she didn’t ask too many questions, just glanced at Loraviel and opened the door for them.
"If you need anything, Liana Your Highness can come find me anytime," the librarian said.
Liana didn’t answer and went straight inside. Loraviel, on the other hand, bowed to the librarian, "Sorry for disturbing you so late."
Loraviel’s polite manners lifted the librarian's mood, and she looked at Loraviel with some sympathy. "You’re working hard."
"Mm."
Loraviel followed behind Liana.
This time, Liana went to the upper area, where books on magic incantations were kept.
These incantations surely followed some patterns, like human language. Once you mastered them, creating all kinds of strange magic wouldn’t be difficult.
However, right now, Liana was more interested in finding books about gem magic.
But Metahelio seemed to have mentioned that gem magic was the first of its kind in this world…
But these things didn’t matter much anymore. It seemed like she had obtained a term that had never appeared in this world before, [Gem].
And it was the only term she could use.
As long as she integrated this [Gem] into other magics, it should create new magic, and this magic would only have its true power when used by her.
This made Liana feel a hint of excitement.
Although, there was a reason why it had been forcefully banned.
"Liana Your Highness, what are you looking for?" Loraviel asked.
"Do you think I brought you here for no reason?" Liana kicked Loraviel lightly. "It’s because you’re too weak, and that idiot Lifiya in the family won’t teach you any magic, that’s why I brought you here."
Liana had said that if the magic books were to be returned, it would be too strange, so she brought Loraviel with her.
"More like, letting Loraviel learn some new magic, since it seems like we can’t rely on Lifiya to help Loraviel with magic anymore."
"Sorry, Liana Your Highness," Loraviel lowered her head.
"Go find your boring speed magic, I really don’t know what your inherent magic is useful for," Liana grumbled, tossing Loraviel’s magic book into a corner.
Unknowingly, later on, Liana would experience firsthand the terrifying nature of speed magic with her own body.
"I understand, Liana Your Highness," Loraviel nodded.
But this time, the goal wasn’t just speed-type magic. It was toxic magic, and books that recorded about toxins.
She had heard Lady Lifiya talk about how she had almost been sentenced to death at that time, and it was the priestess who urgently treated her.
But that wasn’t enough. Everyone thought she was beyond saving.
Even if she was healed, there would be severe aftereffects.
But she wasn’t like that. Not only was she fine, but she could even replicate a poison and be completely immune to it at the same time.
Her ability, or rather, her constitution, surely had something special about it.
And it seemed like Liana was very aware of this. However, directly asking Liana about this seemed like a dead end.
Now, even if she asked, she might not get a direct answer. Liana would probably give her some answer close to being dismissive, and even the aggressive attitude from before had disappeared.
Should she have not resisted that day? But after resisting, seeing the surprised look on Liana’s face, she finally understood what followed.
So, since Liana didn’t want to admit she knew such things, Loraviel decided to search for the answers herself.
After Loraviel went to find the librarian, Liana browsed the bookshelves alone.
Although gem magic was appearing for the first time, creation-type magic wasn’t.
And creation-type magic was the easiest to understand and translate.
However, after about half an hour, Liana still couldn’t find any records about creation magic on the shelves.
Maybe she should visit her mother’s study. The things in her mother’s study were far better than the library's.
"Liana Your Highness," Loraviel came back holding a few magic books.
"Did you find it?"
"Mm," Loraviel nodded, "Thank you so much, Liana Your Highness."
"Then let’s go back."
The two returned to Liana’s room.
"Liana Your Highness, these magic books..." Loraviel looked at the books in her arms.
"Last time was an exception. This time, you must place the books somewhere I can see them." Liana pointed to an empty space.
"Find a desk bigger than the one in my room. Don’t steal our Venus Estate’s books next time."
After all, the most important books were the ones Liana herself needed to look at. How could she let Loraviel take them to her room like before?
"Thank you, Liana Your Highness."
Now, Loraviel could almost stick to Liana’s side every day, except when she was washing up.
If you are reading this translation anywhere other than .net, it has been stolen.
But, it seemed that even during washing up, she might still be able to stick around.
"Liana Your Highness, are we going to wash up now?" Loraviel asked proactively.
"..." Liana thought about what happened yesterday. Her face flushed slightly.
She felt a little uneasy, "I’m a bit hungry, go prepare some food for me first."
"I understand."
After Loraviel left, Liana quickly ran to the bathroom to bathe.
Wait… why was she afraid of this?
As Liana bathed, she felt something was off, and then she lowered her head to look at her small chest. Perhaps this was the inferiority brought by the numbers.
When Loraviel came back with the dinner, Liana had already changed into a light blue nightgown and was sitting on a chair.
Looking at Liana, who had just finished her bath, Loraviel felt a little lost.
"Too slow!" Liana looked at Loraviel with displeasure.
"Sorry, Liana Your Highness."
"By the way, if you're not affected by poison, then how am I supposed to test it on you?" Liana asked.
"Liana Your Highness, do I look like I’m unaffected that day?" Loraviel responded.
"It doesn't seem like it, but you did tell me that you can still use the poison from that day, which proves that you're immune to it now, right? What would happen if you used that poison against me?"
Loraviel’s hand emitted a magical fluctuation, [Toxin, check].
"There’s no toxic reaction, Liana Your Highness."
Liana relaxed and began eating.
Some of Liana’s behaviors, if unknown, could indeed seem very difficult to understand or even malicious. But now that she knew the truth, Loraviel was sure that Liana’s strange actions were actually the answer.
Her body, or her magic, allowed her to be immune to toxins and even use them for her own benefit.
Loraviel picked up the hairdryer and started drying Liana's hair.
"Liana Your Highness, are you satisfied with the dinner?"
"It’s passable."
As expected of the heroine, not only did she have her Dark Element fully developed, but her talent in feminine aspects was also top-notch.
Just by observing a few of Liana’s actions, Loraviel was able to come up with a series of dishes that suited Liana's taste, and they all tasted great.
"Well, Liana Your Highness, I’ll go take a bath and eat, but I’ll be back soon." After drying Liana’s hair, Loraviel began clearing the dinner plates.
"Mm, go ahead."
Loraviel couldn’t help but wish that Liana would let her bathe in her room, then she could just move in.
After Loraviel left, a crystal ball on Liana’s bedside suddenly began to glow.
According to what Metahelio had said earlier, it seemed like Metahelio was trying to contact her.
But how was she supposed to use it?
Liana tentatively placed her hand on the crystal ball.
Soon, Metahelio’s figure appeared in the crystal ball. "Can you see me, Liana?"
"Mm."
Right now, Metahelio seemed a little nervous.
Liana probably understood why Metahelio was like this. "Are there others around you right now?"
Whew. Metahelio let out a sigh of relief. He certainly didn’t want to expose the secret Liana had been hiding for so long.
"Don’t worry, Liana. If someone’s around, you can still connect. This communication crystal ball only requires the person sending the message to use magic. The other person doesn’t need magic to communicate," Metahelio explained.
"That’s why, when you just placed your hand on it, it connected."
"Mm, understood." Liana looked at the background behind Metahelio. It looked familiar. "Are you in the capital now?"
It seemed to be Metahelio’s residence, a place Liana had visited with her mother when they went to the capital.
"Huh? Liana, you still remember?" Metahelio became interested, "I thought you had forgotten."
"Well, sort of."
Honestly, she had mostly forgotten, but since the room was so luxurious, Liana guessed it must be the same place. After all, Ibekka Magic Academy had many similar exclusive rooms.
To avoid causing unnecessary trouble, the styles were all similar. And as an heir, Metahelio couldn’t look too extravagant, or he would easily attract unwanted attention.
Ah, the troubles of being an heir. Fortunately, Liana wasn’t interested in these matters.
"Is there something you need, Metahelio?" Liana asked.
His straightforward remarks clearly irritated Metahelio.
"Can’t I contact you unless I have something to say? You know how hard it is for me to get away from the Magic Academy and royal duties! I might only see you once a month! Do I have to have a reason to contact you?"
"No, wait, asking for an excuse doesn’t count as having a reason!"
Liana seemed to realize that her words weren’t ideal.
"Of course, Metahelio can always come find me. After all, I’m a free person now, but since I can’t use magic, I’ll have to wait for you to contact me. The reason I asked is because I don’t want to waste your time. Once the important matters are dealt with, we can talk properly, right?"
"…"
Although Metahelio felt like Liana was tricking him—okay, she was tricking him—what could he do? Could he be mad at Liana?
Moreover, hearing Liana call him "Metahelio, sister" made his heart melt.
Liana knew how to handle Metahelio—no, how to fool him.
"I forgive you."
"Thank you, Metahelio, for your understanding."
"However, the reason I contacted you today is that I have something to discuss."
"What is it?"
Liana placed the crystal ball on the bed and laid down, her chest resting on the pillow, lazily lounging.
Because of her position, Metahelio could clearly see her, and he moved a little closer.
"Regarding creation magic, I’ve already spoken to my father... the King, and he was quite shocked by it."
Metahelio’s efficiency was quick, as expected. These matters had to be dealt with fast, or they’d be exposed or discovered by someone else, which would be uncomfortable.
"So, what happened?"
"The King praised me."
"Just that? No reward?" Liana asked.
"Just a verbal compliment from the King of all people? That old King is so stingy!"
"As for a reward, there isn’t one, but in three days, there will be a ceremony in Lisat City, where the royal family will announce this matter to the public, and also mention that I was the one who discovered it," Metahelio said.
Liana nodded. If that’s the case, it made sense. A verbal compliment would have been too dismissive.
Moreover, Liana didn’t believe that, as the King’s precious daughter, who had discovered something like this, Metahelio wouldn’t get a reward.
She probably wouldn’t find out until the ceremony started.
"Congratulations."
"What’s there to congratulate? I only succeeded because of you, Liana." Metahelio still felt a little uncomfortable. Liana had suffered for many years, finally breaking free. After acquiring magic, she even gave him the success.
"You’ve known this for a while. I’m not interested in these things. I really hate being watched by so many people. I feel uncomfortable. The only opinions I care about are from a few people I care about," Liana said honestly.
"No wonder. That’s why you don’t want to change other people's views."
Let others think what they want, who cares. Liana only cared about the people who mattered to her.
"You really are mature, Liana," Metahelio sighed again.
"So, will you have to stay in Lisat City for the time being?"
"Shouldn’t there be no problems with Ibekka Magic Academy?" Liana asked.
"No problem at all. In fact, because of this matter, Ibekka Magic Academy is preparing to suspend classes for a while," Metahelio explained.
"Your creation magic has such an impact that those teachers will probably try to take leave and study magic after hearing about it."
"So to avoid this, since Lisat City is holding a ceremony, it’s convenient to take a short holiday."
"Looks like you’ll be pretty free for the time being." Liana said.
"I guess. However, the King has temporarily restricted us from leaving the city for safety reasons. We can only stay in our rooms and look over some documents."
"After all, Metahelio, besides being a student, also has the identity of an heir."
"Must be tough."
"It’s nothing. I’m used to it. However, after the ceremony in three days, I’d like to invite you to come. What do you think?" Metahelio asked.
"Probably not a good idea. The purpose of the ceremony is for you. If I get an invitation, things might get complicated again."
"That’s true." Metahelio was very clear about this. She had originally planned to give up, but then she heard a voice—another woman’s voice.
Loraviel stood outside the door and knocked, "Liana Your Highness, I’m ready. May I come in?"
"Ready?" Metahelio furrowed his brows.
"Uh, Metahelio, I’ll talk to you later," Liana quickly sat up, clearly flustered.
"Why?"
"If someone finds out we’ve been talking, it’ll be troublesome," Liana explained.
"It’s not troublesome. After all, our relationship has softened, right? So, chatting with each other to strengthen our bond is perfectly normal. Am I wrong?"
Metahelio squinted, grinning.