Chapter 126: Chapter 126
Arriving at the decision, I nodded to the Duke and turned to the room again as I let go of his hands.
I walked towards it and once I was a step away from crossing the big entrance frame... I halted.
Like a magnetic force, the room was sucking me in with burning pressure.
A strong aroma of flowers reached me... Mixed with a suffocating blood essence that spread a greedy warmth through my body as it entered.
It felt incredibly dangerous, yet my body was not scared at all.
The place had something special as I had thought and even though it was giving me a seriously risky vibe...
I feel excited to find out whether we get rejected... Or if there is something else that will happen for us to be allowed to enter.
’Alright.’
I gave the crucial step and the moment my leg crossed the line defining the outside and the room’s inside... Everything stopped.
Without letting me process any of this, a mix of soft and rough voices egoistically irrupted my head with loud echoes, resounding strongly with vibrations and tones I’m sure I’ve never heard before.
— Child... Gorgeous blood to protect..... —
’..... So... Will I die now?.....’ — Hearing one clearly say something spooky, I reflexively asked.
—..... The malicious between us... won’t harm... Fenrir..... Jørgen Sylfinnier’s descendant..... Shall live under his protection....—
’.....
—.... Time is hast..... Izeneya... We will meet again... Foreign Child..... —
"!!"
My foot finally reached the floor, falling heavily as my motion resumed.
As soon as the voices faded the time that seemed to have paused moved naturally and my first step into the room ended successfully.
’... Foreign Child, Izeneya, Fenrir..... And
It was confusing how little happened but still, many eye-catching things were mentioned in that short time.
’..... Were those... This world’s... gods???.... Heh..... No way~’
"As expected, nothing happened. The Lady was successfully recognised by Fenrir, Congratulations honourable Lady." — I heard the servant announce from behind.
’Recognised..... Dude..... So this really went like I had thought it would be?’
Not for nothing I have read thousands of novels.
I had somehow expected a vision-like thing happening here with an external being or something, and it did happen in a way. But...
’Wasn’t that a bit vague?? Usually, they are very talkative... gods I mean...’
"..."
’But hey, they did fulfil the mysterious and authorial tone. No complaints there...’ — Feeling the scrutinising Marianne I said, walking further into the room as I glanced at the solemn decorations.
As the name indicated, the bedroom was of a burgundy colour, filled with exquisite white furniture which had tiny cravings in a grassy green shade.
’... This place is awesome...’
Even though I was stunned at how wonderful the bedroom was, it wasn’t enough for me to forget the last words that echoed in my head.
— Foreign Child —
’Right... I’m a foreigner..... But what’s with "meeting again"??... Such a cliffhanger...’
This isn’t even something I can deduce much from.
The only that comes to mind is that these guys know about me and will visit me again... Oh! And that Jørgen they mentioned... Since they said we are his descendant, that might be...
’No way! Is it the cool knight’s real name!!!!!??’
Oh my God! If so, even his name I cool~~!!!
’I should ask the Duke about it later~’
... Ah, right. The Duke is outside.
Going back to the entrance as I recalled there were probably still some things left to do, I peeked outside to meet Marianne’s Father.
He noticed me immediately since I assume his gaze had been on the entrance all this time waiting for me to pop up, and as usual, he smiled proudly at me the second our eyes met.
"I suppose this means even the bestial Fenrir finds my daughter to his liking. The pride in my offspring only seems to gain strength with these events."
’Fufufu~ You won’t get a no from me to that statement. We are definitely terrific~’
Although I was feeling carefree agreeing with his comment, Marianne felt shy and sent the tingling of our chest in the shape of warm blush to our cheeks as I stood confidently by the entrance.
"... Very well... Marianne, dear, go on and replenish your energy." — The Duke said and turned to the servant immediately changing the feeling coming from his eyes. — "Do show us to our lodgings, young man."
"Yes, Your Grace. Lady Marianne, I shall inform His Majesty of your recognition as the Ninth Calla’s Confidant."
The servant bowed to me as he told me his next procedure, which surprised me since it isn’t something necessary. But then, the servant swiftly placed himself squarely in front of me, only a few steps behind Marianne’s Father and sister.
Silence only lasted for a second, because right after the short pause, the six guards gave a strong stomp to the ground, lifting their Spears in synchronised harmony to place themselves in a row just like the servant did in front of me.
The sounds of their gears were rough but somehow paced, portraying with their movement the discipline these men had craved in their bones to wear a Royal Knight Guard Uniform.
I was amazed to hear and see them adopt proud stances right before me. However, it shocked me to see all of them... All the guards, the servant, the Duke and even Theressa... Kneel before me in unison.
"?!"
"For Fenrir has acknowledged your significance... Lady Marianne Elise Sylfinnier has acquired the admirable Title of "The Ninth" to her name. The Frotschter Empire shall receive this news with delight and celebrate in expecting wait for the meaning Fenrir shall give to your Role."
"..."
"Let Fenrir walk beside you, Lady Marianne Elise Sylfinnier the Ninth!"
"..."
My eyes were looking at everyone trying to make sense of what was happening.
Staying in complete silence, unable to get my head to work normally, I watched them stand from their overly respectful reverence and listened to how the servant politely excused themselves from my presence in a far away voice.
All walked away into the Hallway.
My eyes met the Duke’s as he left and watched him nod affectionately in goodbye.
Then, I met Theressa’s gaze... Burning with rage.
It was all very fast for me since I wasn’t able to understand what all of these events truly meant.
My eyes watched them walk further away until they had completely disappeared empty of thoughts.
Having nothing else to look at I looked downwards at my apparently rooted to-the-floor feet and swallowed a nice amount of spit down my rough throat.
"....."
’... This...’
What is this??? I am completely ignorant of what just happened.
I... I somehow imagined it was quite something to succeed in entering that room...
But this much admiration they showed by resting a knee on the floor... Even the Duke...
The only thing that kept ringing in my head like an echo was that sentence the servant used at some point.
— Title of "The Ninth" —
"..."
’... Ah, d*mn... This seems troublesome...’
*******
Her father had offered his gracious limb to escort her once more as they made their way to their respective accommodations, to which she mildly accepted with unusual silence.
The Youngest child of the Sylfinnier’s Duchy was itching all over with relentless heat emerging from the stabbing rage the previous events had provoked on her greedy and envious soul.
Marianne had amassed a great reputation in a matter of seconds by merely entering an ancient and almost forgotten chamber that she would never get to acquire even after marrying her beloved Crown Prince.
Theressa was furious at how easily her useless sister acquired such admiration.
For the envious girl, Marianne continued to be an eyesore in her life, taking away all the luxuries that should belong to her.
Having to rest a knee on the dirty ground to show respect to the ridiculous sight her Sister was, caused her rotten pride to twist her insides with hatred.
’How can she be one of the few?! This Empire already has 932 years of history!... How... How can she be the ninth?! More than four hundred years have passed since the eighth! This was supposed to be a Forgotten Legend!!!!’
The girl clenched her jaw, gnashing her denture with force, indifferent to the twinge they sent from the strain she placed on them while the absurdity of the recent developments was stated in her clouded head.
Meanwhile, the composed Parent walking by her side, also let his thoughts do some inferences ignoring the young girl’s attitude.
Orland was certainly proud of the outcome his daughter had achieved by venturing into that ancient... and cursed chamber.
However, his fury was as strong as his pride.
Orland knew with detail how the last Guest to receive the chamber as lodging had been rejected.
For the common people, this information was only handed as a simple rejection from Fenrir. Yet, the few permitted to learn what the rejection implicated had pledged to keep the truth only to their heirs.
Over two hundred years ago, the one Guest had done just as Marianne had today only that... The young noble had lost the gamble at his time.
The Duke’s Father had been informed of the price the young noble paid as one of the heirs permitted to keep that truth and when Orland had received his Title, he also was informed of it as tradition said.
"Listen carefully, Orland. Although time has buried the importance of the chosen by Fenrir, The Royal Family is aware of the primacy behind this hidden truth. It is unknown to us what the chosen truly signifies to them, but knowing what that young noble paid is clearly a sign of the value the previous ones had to the Feared Deity Supporting the Royalty."
His father had been strict to transmit the importance of this ordered secrecy before letting its contents be learned by his son.
"Were you invited to that room... Beware of the risk, dear son. The last young man that attempted to enter that praised chamber... Fell on his back without getting to step inside... For his limbs were severed, his eyes slashed by the claw and no tongue was found inside the disturbing ripped throat... Yet... Even in that horrid state... The young man was still left alive as a warning."