Tangled By Fate

"Red hair looks good on you," Merlin commented.

"Thank you." Veronica looked around like a child. She was thrilled to enter the Royal Palace.

After showing the pass, the carriage stopped in front of the Imperial Library. She looked at the stone-built library, standing tall and proud.

Two guards were standing beside the door. Merlin bade them, "Good day."

The guards knew Merlin. They replied in a friendly manner, "Good day to you, Wizard Merlin. What brings you here today?"

Merlin always worked in the absence of Arthur. While Ovior took care of Arthur's Magic Tower work, Merlin took care of outside works.

He was the third powerful magician in the Magic Tower. His position was right after Ovior.

Despite being a powerful magician, he wasn't a mass murderer like Arthur or gloomy like Ovior. He was popular for being humble and polite. That's why he was more approachable than the other two.

Guards in the Imperial Library were also fond of him. He was one of the very few who greeted anyone with a lower position than him.

Merlin replied truthfully, "For research."

He came here for research purposes since he was an apprentice wizard. Thus, the guards weren't wary of him.

Their eyes went behind Merlin.

"Who is the girl with you?" one of them asked.

"My apprentice," Merlin replied. 

"Hello," Veronica, who was wearing a magician's apprentice uniform, greeted them. She tugged her red locks behind her ears and gave them a small nod.

The guards felt that someone tugged at the string of their hearts. They couldn't take their eyes off her.

Veronica's white dress with red stripes danced in the wind. With her pale skin, red hair, and green hair, she looked so charming that everyone who passed by turned to steal a glance at her.

"D-do you have a pass?" the guard stammered.

"Yes," Veronica showed her pass.

Afterward, the guards had no reason to stop her from going inside.

Only nerds went to the library. But even those nerds who thought nothing more than books and knowledge stared at her, feeling dumbstruck.

Veronica, who didn't like to have attention, uncomfortably hid her hair and face under the hood. She quietly said, "I think my red hair is attracting more attention."

"The section we are going to, there won't be many people. Come with me," Merlin urged her.

They climbed the stairs and went to the top floor. There was a huge door blocking them from going inside.

Merlin used his pass to open the door. It seemed to be sealed with magic.

There were no stone walls. The sunlight came through glass walls. The ceiling was lower than other floors.

This room didn't have tall bookshelves like other floors. This place only had books and a carpet.

Merlin told her, "Leave your shoes here. We can't walk wearing shoes on the carpet."

"Okay," Veronica agreed. She put the shoes close to the door and walked on the carpet barefooted.

The carpet was soft. Her legs sank on the carpet. She took off her shoes.

"You will start from the right corner. I will start from the left corner. We will try to find anything that mentions basilisks. Since the books aren't arranged, it will be hard to find any information. These books are rare and expensive. Please be gentle with them."

With Merlin's instruction, they started working.

They went to the canteen to have lunch before coming back and starting their work.

While looking through the pages, Veronica mentioned, "I wish Felix was here with us. He would be a great helping hand."

Merlin inquired, "Did you not know about Felix?"

Veronica glanced at him. "What? Did something happen to him?"

"He successfully killed Lord Alexander and avenged his lover," Merlin disclosed. "Since you had a fever last night, Arthur didn't tell you the details. All the search and investigation for the blessed child has ceased. If you stay quiet for a while, everyone will forget about the blessed child's existence."

"So, it really happened. I'll be free."

Veronica didn't know what she was feeling. Her heart suddenly felt light.

Merlin commented, "You were always free. It's just, you will be in less danger. That's why we need to find those men with basilisk rings as soon as possible. Arthur wants to get rid of anyone who threatens your life. That's why let's hurry and find information about them."

Veronica looked at the book she was holding and told herself, 'Arthur is doing so much for me. I have to help him find those men. I will never forget the dream I had last night. I must do something for those children and innocent people.'

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Havana Desert –

Felix was looking at the desert. His eyes were settled. He liked the yellow sands. It made him feel he was in his home.

"You did a good job in Utahill," a voice spoke from behind.

Felix didn't move. "I didn't expect you to visit here," he said.

"I had to come." Arthur stood beside him and asked, "How are you feeling?"

"Empty. Although I killed him, it won't bring back Joana and my children." Felix looked down and sighed.

Arthur grabbed his shoulder. He said nothing. Two of them stayed like this for a long time.

Felix broke the silence first. "How's your married life? Why didn't you go on your honeymoon?"

Arthur answered, "I had too much work to finish. And now we are going after a clan. The clan that tried to abduct Nica from the barge. Now they know the blessed child is alive."

Felix remembered. "The man whose presence you didn't notice. He is giving you a hard time."

Arthur shook his head. "It's not him. This time, it was another of his clan. We think it's a clan because he didn't work alone. He had an entire group of assassins. He was also wearing a silver ring with a basilisk creature engraved on it."

Felix frowned, "A basilisk creature… very uncommon. I think… I heard about it somewhere."

"Where? Where did you hear about it?"