Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 137017 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137017 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
“Of course. She was interested in the circles.”
“Yes. Honestly, it was nothing I haven’t dealt with before, but I felt something very strange when I shook her hand.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Strange, how?”
“I detected power from her.”
“That’s not unusual considering her bloodline.”
“I will rephrase. I detected great suppressed power from her.”
I clenched my jaw. “Explain.”
“Lady Alicia has both mana and divine power within her—strong enough that she’d be able to use both should it awaken.”
“How is that possible?”
Aerwyna shook her head. “I don’t know. Historically speaking, the power of the Lovetts died out well before her mother was born, and women of the Vermillion line are little more than a carrier for their sword aura mana as it only awakens within males.”
I knew that. The Lovetts had sent each generation’s most powerful wielder of divine power to the temple since before the official formation of the empire, resulting in their power inevitably weakening in their bloodline until nobody had been able to use it at all.
It made no sense for Alicia to possess enough divine power that she could utilise it.
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
“If I had one, I’d give it to you.” She met my gaze. “Mana and divine power are opposing forces—historically, those born of similar bloodlines have only been able to use one or the other. It’s incomprehensible that she could wield both without disaster.”
“What do you mean, disaster?” I slammed my hands on the desk and glared down at her. “Aerwyna…”
“I’ve told you everything I know about it. I’ve already checked, and we don’t have records of such a thing in Stein. We would need the cooperation of the Sada Magic Tower—their records are far older than ours, and they will have encountered this before.” She brushed her hair from her face.
“You know as well as I do that’s impossible. Their mages are against the funding you receive, and I can’t ask Duke Trelawney to override them because of the neutrality of the tower, no matter how he supports me.” I sat back down and sank my fingers into my hair. “I could ask the Emperor…”
“No, no!” Aerwyna reached across the desk, clasping her hand to a fist in thin air. “The less people who know about this, the better. Forgive me for saying so, but the Empress must not find out about this. There must be a way to gain the information the tower possesses without incriminating Lady Alicia.”
“Is it really so dangerous?”
“Without more information, I can’t say.” She sighed, dropping her head. “But I’m sure she’s unaware of her own power. Until then, it’s imperative that the balance of mana and divine power within her is maintained. If she falls sick or is injured, priests cannot be called to heal her. She could be harmed if it happens.”
The very thought made my stomach roll.
“Great care should also be taken to ensure the temple doesn’t find out—they may well try to bring her into their fold if they know of it. The Lovetts have always been able to use the purest divine power, and I don’t believe they’d hesitate for a second to try to claim her as belonging to them.”
“They’re welcome to try if they don’t value their lives,” I said in a low voice. “What about the magic stone you just gave me? Will that harm her?”
Aerwyna shook her head. “Even people devoid of mana can use them, which is why they’re so highly regulated. I’m confident no harm will come to her while using the communication stone.”
“Would you stake your life on it?”
“Yes.”
“Good. If not, I’m holding you personally responsible.” I glared at her. “I’ll connect you with Illusion. Find out whatever you can, and no matter what you do, make sure the Imperial Palace doesn’t find out about this. The Empress already has designs on my fiancée—as you said, we need not give her any more reasons to covet her. Aside from that, the last thing we need is a disagreement between the temple and the palace.”
Aerwyna closed her eyes. “As you wish.”
Chapter Twenty – Alicia
The Test
“My lady, please calm yourself!” Annie asked, flapping her hands in a direct contradiction to her words. “You did wonderfully!”
“No! I can’t and I won’t!” I perched on the edge of the chaise longue at the end of my bed. “What if they hated it? What if they don’t agree with my thoughts?”
“Impossible.” Bella grabbed my face. “If I do, I’ll kill them.”
I blinked at her. “Stein has corrupted you. Where has my sweet maid gone?”
“You made her a lady-in-waiting, and she decided to take up arms to protect her lady.” Bella flexed her non-existent arm muscles. “You’ve slaved over this policy, my lady. If they reject it, I will be forced to rebel in your name.”
“Perhaps we should put the rebellion plans on the backburner,” I said soothingly, smoothing my hands over my skirt. “I fully expect there to be some pushback. There are holes in my plan, but I can only hope that the main houses agree to assist me.”