Kingdom Building Game: Starting Out With A Million Upgrade Points!-Chapter 86: Whispers Between The Shelves

As Herald walked down the dimly lit hallway, his footsteps echoing faintly, Cedric called out from behind him.

"Herald!" Quickening his pace, Cedric caught up, falling into step beside him.

Cedric leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "What’s this deal with Jareth about Arkanos? I thought we planned to deal with him at Baron Malkier’s daughter’s wedding. Assassinating him there would be ideal since we won’t have to confront his holy abilities head-on."

He glanced around before continuing in an even quieter tone. "And don’t forget, those people we’ve been dealing with—they want his body intact. We can’t afford any missteps if we’re to hand it over in the best condition possible."

Herald’s lips curled into a sly smile. "Of course, that’s still the plan."

Cedric’s brows furrowed. "Then what was all that with Jareth?"

Herald chuckled lightly. "Let’s just say, sometimes you have to lie to stay on the good side of those who need to be lied to."

Cedric’s serious expression softened, a grin spreading across his face. "Ah, I see. Clever as always."

He glanced at Herald sideways. "And the artifact?"

Herald gave a small nod. "It will still be yours, my friend. You have my word."

Cedric’s grin widened. "You’re far too kind, Herald."

Herald said nothing, only offering a faint smile as they continued down the hall, the sound of rain outside growing steadier.

...

It was nighttime. The glow of the moon could barely reach the capital city as the cloudy skies poured down rain.

Their rhythmic platter on the windows was gentle and soothing to the soul… while to those outside, it left them soaked in a bone-chilling cold.

In the castle library.

Books were piled up all over the place... again.

The warm, golden-brown glow from the rune lanterns embedded in the walls gave it a calm, inviting ambiance—the kind one would want to come home to after a rough day at work.

Kaela sat on the floor, her back to a bookshelf, a book in hand as she gazed into its pages, seemingly lost… consumed by whatever lay within them.

Some would think her a scholar, dedicating so many hours of her days to these books… but they would be wrong.

For a scholar had a goal, while what she searched for was unknown. She simply found comfort in the silence the library offered, in how the stories and knowledge within these pages helped her take her mind off her... heartache.

What caused the pain? No one really knew. Perhaps a few did, but they were just as secretive about it as this blue-haired maiden who kept it.

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The massive double doors to the library creaked open, and a blonde-haired, green-eyed maid stepped in. She was quite small-chested, with a fairly short and slender frame. She was an elf, going by the name Belluwa.

She stepped in with a small tray of honey lemon tea in hand—Kaela’s favorite. The sweet, bitter taste often made her feel nostalgic, for she treasured her past more than she did her present.

Belluwa was Lady Kaela’s personal attendant. Particularly fiery-spirited, she was nonetheless dependable when it came to Kaela’s emotional burdens.

She prided herself on knowing more about the young concubine than Kaela knew about herself.

Walking past rows of shelves she finally found Kaela, her eyes locked within those pages again.

"Lady Kaela, tea’s ready."

Kaela turned to look at her, a gentle smile graced her lips.

"Belluwa, nice to see you."

"Nice to see you as well my lady." Belluwa said with a radiant smile.

Arriving before her, Belluwa slowly lowered the tray.

Kaela set down the book, reached and lifted up the small plate with her left hand, lifting the cup up to sip with her right.

Taking a few gentle gulps of the warm liquid, she set it down, sighing softly.

Belluwa walked past her to gaze at the book she set aside, her eyes wide with curiosity.

"What are you reading this time my lady?"

Kaela glanced at the book, her expression e bit sober, she was just about to say something before Belluwa spoke again.

"It’s a romance novel, isn’t it?"

Kaela chuckled softly, her voice carrying a faint trace of bittersweet amusement.

"You’ve guessed right again, Belluwa," she said, her lips curving into a faint smile.

She reached for the book, her delicate fingers brushing its worn edges as she picked it up. Her eyes softened as she glanced at the cover.

"Another true love romance," she murmured.

"Where the knight makes good on his word to the princess... Sad, isn’t it? My knight didn’t do the same."

Belluwa let out a sigh, folding her arms as she leaned slightly against the bookshelf. Her expression changed, a touch of exasperation and concern.

"You say all this, my lady…"

"but you’ll also be the one to say you won’t forgive him."

Kaela paused for a moment, her gaze lingering on the book as her smile disappeared.

"Of course," she whispered, as if speaking more to herself than to Belluwa.

"I can’t forgive him."

She glanced around the library, her gaze drifting. She saw moments, memories that had occurred here replaying themselves before her eyes, like figures made of light.

She saw two children—a silver-haired, green-eyed boy supporting a ladder as a young blue-haired, blue-eyed girl climbed it to grab a book.

She pulled it out of the shelf, her face lit up as she looked back down at the young boy and said,

"I’ve got it!"

"Alright! Bring it down, we’ll read it together!" the young boy said with an excited smile.

"OK!" the young girl replied with the same level of enthusiasm.

She was about to step down when she missed her step, causing her and the little boy’s eyes to widen in shock as she fell.

"Wahhh!"

"Don’t worry, I’ll catch you!" the little boy said.

And he made good on his word. He caught her, though the book fell out of her grasp. He almost tripped but was able to balance himself.

Once he did, he gently set her down, looking up with pride as he placed his right hand on his chest and said, "Hmp! What did I say?"

The little girl chuckled as she said, "I understand, Sir Knight. Can we go read the book now?"

"Oh, alright."

They both sat down beside each other, flipping open the pages as they read with excited expressions on their faces. One could tell they anticipated the adventure, but more than that, they had so much fun because they were doing so together.

Kaela, her gaze still distant, spoke softly.

"We used to have something precious."

"But he ruined it. I gave him my heart, and he walked all over it."

Her eyes seemed to follow invisible figures, the light in the library bending as if to replay the story only she could see.

She watched the children grow older in her memories, their smiles brighter as they continued to read books together. But time passed, and the warmth of their bond faded.

The image shifted. The blue-haired young woman sat alone in a corner now, her knees pulled to her chest, tears streaking down her face as she sobbed silently.

Kaela’s voice hardened as the memory played out in her mind.

"Now, all I really want… is to make him feel the pain he made me feel."

She rose from the ground, nearly twice the height of Belluwa, brushing the dust off her garments. Her eyes looked around the library until she reached out to grab another book with a detached look on her face.

Belluwa, who had been watching quietly, finally spoke, her voice was gentle but curious.

"What if your knight forgot? What if that’s why he hurt you?"

Kaela froze for a moment, the question lingering in the air. Then she turned slightly, her tone cold, and her pain could be felt in every word.

"If he could forget,"

"then it meant it didn’t really matter to him."

Belluwa tilted her head slightly. "But what if that’s not the case? What if the knight is truly trying now? Isn’t that worth considering?"

Kaela’s fingers tightened around the book she held. "It doesn’t matter," she said, though her voice trembled.

"He broke his promise… a promise he swore he would make come true. Why should I trust him now? So he can break me again?"

Belluwa stepped closer. "If you were truly afraid of being broken again, my lady, you wouldn’t still be here—holding onto these memories, clutching onto the pieces of a past you won’t let go. Deep down, you know you’re stronger than that."

Kaela’s eyes trembled with pain as she whispered, "Please, stop it."

Belluwa immediately lowered her head. "I’m sorry, Lady Kaela."

She watched as Kaela opened the book and prepared to sit back on the floor, the exhaustion could be seen in her every movement.

"Please don’t read another book," Belluwa said softly. "It’s really late, and you need to sleep."

Kaela hesitated before replying in a small voice, "But I can’t sleep."

Belluwa’s lips curled into a tender smile. "Then I’ll sing for you."