[center][h1][b][color=D8BFD8]Alibeth Danrose[/color] & [color=9354FF]Fritz "Ryn" Hendrix[/color][/b][/h1]
[color=9354FF]Location:[/color] Danrose Castle Library
[color=D8BFD8]Time:[/color] Morning
[color=9354FF]Interaction:[/color] Queen Alibeth [@princess][/center]
[hr]
The distinct scent of books, both old and new, hit Ryn as he entered the library. A soothing odor—one that reminded him of his grandmother’s library. Replace the redolent of lilies wafting from the bouquet with honeysuckles and magnolias and he would be right at home.

Despite the morning sunlight pouring through the large window, the library managed to remain dim. Without the assistance of a candle or lamp light, Ryn imagined how difficult it would be to read anything far from the window. On the flip side, the lack of sunlight meant less damage to the books. These architectural choices made Ryn wonder if these types of libraries were designed by people who hated the act of reading books but loved storing them. As if simply keeping books in their possession made them smarter via osmosis. If only it was that easy.

What a dream it could be if people could take a trip to the library, sit there for no longer than a short bath, and then leave the building with all of its knowledge seeped into one’s core like hot water. For those who could not afford the luxury of reading or formal education, it could be a chance to expand their horizons. Ryn gave the fantastical idea serious consideration, going through the logistics of it as he silently ambled deeper into the library. 

Queen Alibeth emerged from the very back of the library not too long after Ryn had entered. She calmly moved out from behind a stack, her hands folded neatly as her eyes gave the man a quick sweep. She smiled at him, the sunlight illuminating her form as she stood before the window, [color=D8BFD8] “Looking for anything in particular?”[/color]

The movement he caught in the fringe of his vision jolted Ryn’s heart. Expecting someone to be in the library helped him feign ignorance, but the fluid grace with which the queen moved still took him by surprise. At first, the count made sure not to face the queen. Just as he passed the wall of books and stepped into the sunlight, he turned his head away from the window. In that brief moment, Ryn prepared himself. Debating what kind of response would gain him more favor. If he was going to play the long game, however, lies closer to the truth tended to be the safest option. So he did what he would have done when the queen spoke. 

[color=9354FF]“Creators!”[/color] Ryn jumped and whipped his head toward the window. [color=9354FF]“Queen Alibeth? Oh, you gave me a fright!”[/color] He placed his hand over his heart, taking a step back as he did so, only to bump into a table with a stack of books at the edge of it. The books toppled over, most crashed to the floor while a lucky few narrowly escaped the same fate thanks to deft hands and the sacrifice of a bouquet. 

The count glanced at the queen, [color=9354FF]“Uhh…”[/color] then placed the volumes back on the table. [color=9354FF]“Well,”[/color] he said, [color=9354FF]“that was only mildly embarrassing.”[/color] Ryn checked the bouquet’s condition before turning to the queen, [color=9354FF]“Can we—”[/color] he cleared his throat, [color=9354FF]“May I try that again, Your Majesty? I promise I’ll be less clumsy next time around.”[/color]

Alibeth slightly raised a brow in reaction, eying him up and down.

Ryn snatched the bouquet from the floor and walked backwards back to the door. He opened and closed the door for effect, but never left the library. A few seconds later, he opened and shut the door again. This time, when he emerged from the corner, he had nothing in his hands. Ryn turned to the queen and, in mock surprise, he raised one hand to his chest. [color=9354FF]“Your Majesty? What a lovely surprise to see you here. How do you do?”[/color] He bowed, sweeping his arm out. 

[color=D8BFD8] “I am well.”[/color] Alibeth responded curtly, a small smile crossing her face.  [color=D8BFD8] “Surprised to find me occupying a space in the castle I reside in?”[/color]

Ryn watched Queen Alibeth’s expression closely, then smiled broadly. [color=9354FF]“No.”[/color] He approached her, his eyes glancing over the area she emerged from. He spotted nothing amiss, just rows of books after books. [color=9354FF]“I am, however, curious as to why Her Majesty is in the library and not enjoying breakfast.” [i]With her family.[/i][/color] He turned his attention to the queen. He leaned forward, [color=9354FF]“Have you rested, Queen Alibeth?”[/color] 

[color=D8BFD8][i]Curiosity killed the cat…Why question me on such things, Count Hendrix? Why the bouquet prior?  [/i][/color]She thought to herself. Alibeth felt no need to explain herself to a random.

[color=D8BFD8] “Are you here for a book in particular?”[/color] Alibeth did not pause, practically interrupting him and earning an amused expression from the man. [color=D8BFD8] “They should be in alphabetical order for the most part. “[/color] She moved forward until she was before him. This time, she did pause before speaking again, [color=D8BFD8]”State your name. “[/color]

Queen Alibeth acted nothing like she did during the party. Gone was the meek trophy wife, replaced by an icy rose with a thousand thorns. A queen who’d send a boy to his death in order to send a message. A woman who, with a high likelihood, did far worse if it meant protecting the status, the reputation, and the illusion of the Danrose name. A person who worked her fingers to the bone for it.

Ruefulness colored the count’s countenance as the queen approached him. The makeup and self-discipline hid her fatigue well, but he did not miss the echoes of her weariness emanating from her person. His eyes swam out of focus, though they never looked away from the queen, staring at something beyond the physical realm. They came back into focus, along with his usual polite smile, only after Queen Alibeth stood before him. [color=9354FF]“Ah… it seems I failed to make an impression last night, then.”[/color] Ryn straightened his back, [color=9354FF]“My name is Fritz Hendrix, Your Majesty. Count of Erwynn.”[/color] He inclined his head once again. [color=9354FF]“I’ve only recently been blessed with the title.”[/color] 

Alibeth had remembered him and his name quite well. However, she liked to keep men’s egos in check when she could. [color=D8BFD8] “Ah yes. We were acquainted at the ball, weren’t we? Blessed indeed.”[/color] She coolly looked down upon him and smiled a little for no apparent reason, [color=D8BFD8]”Perhaps some of the historical books may interest you. Caesonia has a rich and interesting background.”[/color] She gestured toward a nearby bookcase. Something flickered in the count’s eyes, but he made no comment. He just continued to smile.  [color=D8BFD8] “I reckon those flowers were for a maiden you fancy?”[/color]

Ryn raised his empty hands with a mischievous expression, [color=9354FF]“Flowers?”[/color] 

[color=D8BFD8] “Yes you had them previously.  I may be older, but you will find I don’t miss much.“[/color]

Ryn rubbed his chin, staring at the floor for a spell before clapping his hands together as if he remembered something, [color=9354FF]“Oh yes! Those flowers!”[/color] 

[color=9354FF]“Excuse me, Your Majesty.”[/color] He said as he circled around Queen Alibeth. When she turned to face him, nothing but the color orange and the strong scent of lilies greeted her. [color=9354FF]“Do you mean these flowers?”[/color]  Ryn lowered the bouquet. Despite the treatment they received moments ago, the orange lilies and the bouquet wrapping looked in pristine condition. [color=9354FF]“They were meant to be a surprise for someone who looked especially tired and needed at least one nice thing to brighten their morning… Unfortunately, as you are well aware, a certain count made a fool of himself so it’s no longer the surprise he hoped it’d be.”[/color] The count offered the lilies to the queen. [color=9354FF]“For the person who… deserves far more credit than others give her.” [i]History and the like.[/i][/color]

Alibeth took them in her hand. She examined them with her eyes as her gaze slid back to Fritz.  [color=D8BFD8]”How thoughtful. Thank you, Count Hendrix. Your kindness is refreshing.”[/color] She presented him a smile.  [color=D8BFD8]”Always a pleasure to be recognized for one’s efforts.”[/color] There were two types of individuals who made kind gestures such as these: the ones that were genuinely amiable and the ones who had something they wanted to gain. Considering most people she meant fell into the latter category, she remained skeptical of his intentions.

Ryn returned Queen Alibeth’s smile with a sympathetic one, [color=9354FF]“It is. Even if it is a duty you willingly bear, it’s nice to be recognized for it on occasion. I hope…”[/color]  

[i]“I’d be careful with that one, Fritz.”[/i] Udo’s words from the meeting rang in Ryn’s head. [i]“It’s damn obvious who’s holding the reins around here. And if that armor she was wearing wasn’t a costume and her sword wasn’t just for show…” The ocean held Ryn’s gaze with such intensity that he felt water being sucked out of him. He took a sip of the bitter tea he prepared to quench his thirst. “You need to consider the possibility that she’s involved.” The insinuation turned the tea in Ryn’s mouth into bile, but he prevented himself from spiting it out. Instead, he washed it—the taste, the phantom smell of charred flesh and burnt down homes, their wails, the emptiness that followed—down by gulping the rest of the tea. Drowning it all into the recesses of his mind.[/i]

Ryn shook his head, laughing weakly, and changed the subject. [color=9354FF]“I failed to impress you, but I hope my feeble attempts of acting suave will be good for a laugh at the very least.”[/color] 

The orange lilies—the flower of contradicting symbolisms—bid the count farewell. [color=9354FF]“I’ve intruded on your respite long enough. Thank you for tolerating me, Your Majesty. May your day be filled with more happiness, big or small.”[/color] Ryn bowed and turned on his heel. He took a few steps towards the door and then paused. [color=9354FF]“Ah. Since you did make a suggestion. Which history book do you recommend I read first?”[/color] 

[color=D8BFD8]” You’ve made the impression of a thoughtful young man. Thank you for the lovely exchange.”[/color] The queen made her way to the door as well.  She paused in the entryway and told him, [color=D8BFD8] “I recommend ‘The Dark Ages of Caesonia’.”[/color] Then she made her way out. However, before Ryn could leave, he felt a strange magnetizing pull toward the back of the room where Alibeth had first come from.

Ryn held the door open long enough for the queen to exit the library before turning his head and releasing his hold on the handle. The door slowly creaked and shut on its own accord. An eerie silence descended upon the room. He stared at the last row of bookshelves Queen Alibeth emerged from, waiting for something to appear from behind it as she did. Perhaps a hollow-eyed apparition or the shadow of a beast. Something, anything, to explain the pull.

He felt himself being tugged towards the area. Was the past calling him over or was he just imagining it? Unable to resist whatever it was that demanded his attention, Ryn tiptoed his way over.
 
When Ryn reached his destination, he found a bookcase of fictional novels. A small amount of sunlight reached this area from the window as the feeling of being pulled toward a shelf in particular remained.

[hider=The Shelf][img]https://i.imgur.com/8AFKc74.png[/img][/hider]
[i][color=D8BFD8]“They should be in alphabetical order for the most part.”[/color][/i]

Ryn traced his fingers over the spines of the books. [color=9354FF][i]For the most part.[/i][/color] 

He retrieved a pocket watch from his vest. As much as he wanted to thoroughly investigate, he needed to head to the Vikena’s residence soon if he wanted to keep his promise. After a moment of contemplation, Ryn searched the library for a pen and ink and wrote down what he saw in the bookcase onto a piece of paper. While the ink dried, Ryn removed a book from the shelf, confirmed that it was an ordinary novel, then returned it to its original place. He repeated the processes a grand total of 33 times. 

Though he found nothing special about the books themselves, he noted that many of them housed a few bookmarks within them. [color=9354FF][i]Odd. Are multiple people reading the same books?[/i][/color] In the Hendrix household, when more than one person wanted to read a specific book and they were not willing to wait for the current reader to finish it, it was not unusual for them to share the book and utilize multiple forms of marking tools to keep track of who stopped reading where—only when the employees wanted to read the book did the Hendrixes relent and buy additional copies of said book.

Another thing Ryn noticed was that some of the bookmarks had a peculiar hole punched into them. [color=9354FF][i]Aesthetic choice or something else?[/i][/color] He examined one of the bookmarks, flipping it over and rubbing it with his fingers to see if he could feel anything unusual before placing it back in its original spot. 

The bookcase was just as unremarkable as the books themselves. He saw no obvious markings and there were no hidden buttons to be found. For all intents and purposes, it was one of the many bookshelves in a room full of books. That did not mean the library did not have secrets to hide, however.

He glanced over at the neighboring row the queen indicated as the history section. Somewhat reluctantly, Ryn made his way to the section and stared at the volumes of Caesonia’s so-called history. The count smiled wryly at the imaginary librarian, [color=9354FF][i]I wonder if the arrangement is intentional.[/i][/color] He pulled out the book titled [i]The Dark Ages of Caesonia[/i] and flipped it open to the title page. Right below the title was an etching of another, far more famous, artwork; a mural painting that still existed in Sorian. The count’s smile vanished, leaving his features smooth and devoid of emotion.

He snapped the book shut.