Chapter 40: Hidden Archives (I).

Chapter 40: Hidden Archives (I).

Elizabeth's POV

The awakening of my magic made my presence at the castle never the same.

While the gossip has stopped about people's questions about being a good ruler if I can't even have magic- now soon a new gossip formed.

"Ngnh…"

Every servant in the hall was growing uneasy about my presence at the table. I held a knife and fork in my hand cutting my steak-

When suddenly ice crept into the tip of my fingers and the metal utensils. I cursed under my breath seeing my meal ruined for the -nth time.

"Darn it… Not again!" I couldn't help but shout over the table of my frustration, I barely touched my meal and now it was frozen.

I threw the frozen spoon back into the table with a huge clank, with this new found ice magic I also found myself having my personality changing. The servants in the area flinched in fear.

"..." I sighed, feeling guilty and shameful that they were seeing this newfound side of me with. "All of you, are dismissed. Leave me alone and prepare my bath."

"Yes, your highness." Everyone looked at me pitifully, who can't even eat a meal without having my knife and fork covered in ice. They all left in a single line, only one of my servants remained and she sighs heavily, placing a hand on her waist.

"Princess Elizabeth... don't throw your spoon like that, I know your magic is a bit unique- but it's nothing to be upset over." (Victoria) gave me a smile that usually leaves me in a good mood but now it doesn't seem to be working.

"After that whole public appraisal show of my magic- everyone became afraid of me. The emperor made everyone panic- telling me that I'm dangerous- now that I'm the crown princess how do you think everyone else would react?" I crossed out my arms and voiced the worries, problems I would most likely be facing.

"That is- indeed true."

Seeing that no one else was around she pulled the chair beside me and sat down. "What we need to do now- isn't clear?"

"No… not really. My mind has been clouded with worries and making sure I don't get angry over the smallest little things- my temper has gone worse ever since I got this magic."

"Mm we'll have to spend more time working on that part, so they can see- that their future ruler is not the one like the gossips and lies being spread around." (Victoria) places her warm hand over mine, I could see her shivering but mustered up the courage to hold me. To treat me like nothing else has changed, "I have talked to Misha and he's recovering a few more books about magic extension- maybe there's a few recorded people that also have what you have."

"We'll figure things out- okay?"

I eyed her hand on mine and I retrieved mine for her safety.

"Your hands are cold… please don't touch me for now when I haven't fully mastered my ice magic. I don't want to give you frostbite…" I tell her as I hide my hands under the table.

On random days I would have dreams, that I froze everyone I cared about and killed them by accident. All because I didn't know how to control this newfound curse slash gift of mine.

Victoria did as I said and let go but her face was still full of worry. Even after a month has passed, the day of my coronation still struck the hearts of the many. I had less invites to other noble balls, and I refused to show up for their safety.

An example of this is as I showered in my bathroom the water became cold as ice. I've gotten immune to the cold that's good but Victoria on the other hand-

She almost froze to death by just standing in a room with me.

I made sure to keep my distance after that. I didn't require her to aid me in washing myself, I decided I had to do it all on my own.

"Since you haven't taken a single bite- I'll be helping you today," (Victoria) pushed the cold steak by the side and instead brought me some warm soup. "Just like old times, isn't it?"

"Mom- I mean- Victoria- Isn't it embarrassing if I get spoon fed at this age?" I complained like a little girl, my face was bright red from embarrassment.

"Oh it is, but I would rather deal with embarrassment than die of starvation. Now don't complain and eat."

I gave up groaning a little and I let Victoria feed me. She feeds me happily and I chewed on the vegetables and meat that was on the soup, when we finished eating I eyed the brownie tray that was placed not too far away from where I was.

I may not have eaten my brownies because of this magic. I sat quietly looking over the brownies as I secretly clutched my heart at the pain.

IT HURTS SEEING YOUR FAVORITE FOOD AND THEN NOT BEING ABLE TO TOUCH IT.

OH, MY DEAREST BROWNIES.

"I love you dearest browny but we can't be together for I might just freeze you..." I muttered without thinking, looking so solemn while I ate this soup- that was also good but it wasn't better.

"P-Pardon, Princess Elizabeth?" (Victoria) must've heard me and I sigh.

"C-Can you also give me the brownies?"

She went silent for a sec but just sighed with a smile.

"Ah. I see. The brownies." (Victoria) shakes her head laughing before getting me the brownies that I wanted.

After eating and having my stomach a bit full than I intended.

I went to the library with a few guards in tow.

"Where are we going, your highness?" (Sir Tobias) had his shift and I told him that we'll be going to the library today to meet Misha.

From what Victoria said he's currently looking for any information about what happened to me. He was one of the people that still wanted to contact me and remained a good friend even after seeing the mess my magic displayed.

'How do you feel?! Did you see anything like a spirit while you were unlocking your ice magic? This is a one in a lifetime opportunity to study what we call an anomaly in the magic academic world! Imagine- the orb appraisal seeing your ice magic as a new powerful main element?!' He couldn't help but hold my hand that one time to study it rambling so many things I couldn't stand with such fast speed without much safety-

'Ohwowthat'scold. Not to worry, your highness, leave me a few weeks or months to check on the library and see if they have anything like this!' (Misha) enthusiastically tells me as I replied alright, I was glad that I wasn't going to do the research seeing that I was stressed and shaken from that experience.

"To the library, we'll be conducting with scholar Misha's report on his research about magic extensions." The moment I mentioned my scholar's name, Sir Tobias' eyes were already gleaming and his lips curved upwards into a smile.

"To the library it is then, your highness."

…

We all walked into the library opening the doors, seeing the current messy and chaotic state of it. There were a few blackboards with very pretty cursive handwriting.

"Oh wow." I was impressed by how he took Victoria's orders so seriously.

Scholar Misha has already made a home of this place, there was a small bedding by the side of his study table- we could see him looking so stressed- blonde hair messy and eyes swollen from lack of sleep.

He was laying his head on the table sleeping.

"Misha…" (Sir Tobias) hurriedly walked by the scholar's side looking worried and held him by the shoulder. "Hey- you! Wake up"

"H-Huh what?" The scholar's attention was gained the moment Sir Tobias began shaking his shoulders.

"Yawn… What is it, Tobi? I've been trying to find a way to help her improve her condition… I've been getting a few theories but no evidence to prove it." He called Tobias by a nickname wiping the stars in his eyes and somehow that was rather sweet to see.

I walked around the current research draft that he did including a few statements of the problem and possible solutions to his research followed by related literature about magic extensions.

"Ah… wait- your highness… that one is still being further researched on. I don't want to present you with a paper and presentation on my study of your case with drafts." He stood up looking nervous as I held the paper in hand reading what he found.

"So these are your findings… they're not really clear." I flipped over the pages looking confused, it was all about magic extensions not being a main element with a little evidence backed up by other researchers that made this.

"Most of them were guesses… yawn… I haven't read a single book where an orb has declared a magic extension to be- an actual main element. After all, they've always just been extensions- if anything the first time I've been hearing of something like your case are from myths." (Scholar Misha) tells me to fix his glasses, continuing his discussion at a high speed.

"We could also try and experiment with your magic to make a better conclusion on the paper, seeing that back in the balcony- your father is also an ice extension user- he couldn't melt the ice which is intriguing."

"I've thought about that as well, the moment the emperor couldn't break or melt my ice- I was afraid that what I possess could be nothing but a miracle." A miracle of a certain god favoring me to be his favorite toy, my gut tells me that I'm right. He gave me something powerful just to see what I'll do with it.

"Other than that I'm sorry- even months of research I couldn't find much because every book here recorded about the same study is almost the same." (Scholar Misha) apologies to me with such tired eyes, that I felt bad.

"No, you did alright all for the sake of helping me. Thank you, you'll need not to work for a while because I'm ordering you to take a few vacation days off." I turned to Tobias who was behind him. "And Sir Tobias will accompany and make sure that you recover quickly."

"N-No need for that, your highness!" (Scholar Misha) tells me shaking his head, "I'm well enough to run- I promise!"

I ignored my scholar's embarrassed face and motioned to Sir Tobias giving a thumbs up agreeing with the orders I passed. Clearly with all the hard work he did he's in need of a deserved rest.

"I follow her highness' orders." He lowers his head into a bow and I nod in response looking back to all the paper draft mess that Scholar Misha did.

Victoria grew silent by the side, I went by her and saw her eyes were tranced in another direction of the library.

"Are you looking for something?" I ask her, keeping my distance and she smiles.

"Yes, it's just- your mother- a memory just came into me when Misha mentioned a myth." (Victoria) walked around, clearly keeping distance and away from the two love birds. "A banned forgotten myth, the former empress had a thing for mysteries and told me she tried searching for a hidden archive."

A hidden archive?

With just the word 'hidden' my curiosity was immediately piqued.

"What's that?"

"A place where many forbidden documents are stored, rumors are even the royal family's shady business over the past centuries of ruling were recorded in there- forgotten- including treacherous acts of several people in the dungeons stored inside." she told me and I began to think of all the items the hidden archive could have.

If my kind of magic wasn't seen for almost a hundred of years- maybe the hidden archive would have it?! The shrouded recorded history should be in here- I mean this is a big castle I haven't even explored every inch of it!

"Do you want to find it, your highness?"

Victoria grab your treasure hunting things because we'll be finding this room no matter what it takes.