A year had passed since then. Luke had turned thirteen on the thirteenth of May, and had celebrated with a grand birthday ball. Kiarha had attended, and her gift was actually being nice to Luke.

Yanna and Hara had attended it too, and Yanna had given him a round ruby that fit perfectly in the crescent ruby she gave him a year earlier, and that ruby was just as soft as the first one. Hara had simply given Luke a periwinkle fedora.

Luke was sitting at his bedroom desk, reading a book on vampires by Cano Nessie. She was a legendary author, and she was the Countess of her house.

Just then, there was a knock on his door, followed by Duke Augustine wearing a stern expression.
Luke immediately noticed this and questioned his father.

"Luke, Baroness Mennona has been called to serve as the Queen's personal advisor, which means she will be moving into the capital. Baron Nathan cannot attend to Kiarha, as he is busy directing the construction of new roads through Kalna to allow trading from other lands. Kiarha will be staying with us for at least a week, and at most half a year."

Luke grimaced. The she-devil would be living here for way longer than he was comfortable with. However, Luke knew that he had no choice but to accept it. He forced a polite smile, but underneath, his rage simmered.

I know for a fact she'll attempt to steal books from the library. There are countless subjects about every topic possible, including methods to deceive in such a way that people would have no choice but to elect her as future queen, as well as prevent me from becoming duke.

Luke ordered his servants to lock the library doors, and stationed guards outside it. Just then, the loud stomping of hooves outside signified that Kiarha had arrived.

Kiarha was wearing two butterfly hairpins on her head and had attached a white rose on her right ear, as well as a blue dress that showed off her young figure quite nicely.

Luke waited at the entrance, where the two locked gazes and performed cold gestures of formality.

"Ah, here again. I should really stop expecting to be sent to somewhere nice, because this manor is anything but."

Kiarha shoved past Luke and started unpacking her things in the guest room. Luke shot her a scathing glare before he felt a tap on his shoulder. It was Alderwell Hence, his teacher.

"Master Luke. I apologize I wasn't able to come sooner, I was busy with a personal matter. But now, your classes will be able to recommence. Shall we?"

Luke smiled gratefully and nodded. He hurried off to the parlor and helped Alderwell set down the desk. Just then, Kiarha walked by and saw them. Alderwell must have noticed her too, because he asked her if she would like to take classes with Luke.

Kiarha, seeing this as an opportunity to laugh at Luke if his performance was poor, bowed and responded in return.

"Of course, Master Hence. I will gladly take your classes, as I wish to learn the ways of high society as to not make a fool of myself in the future."

He smiled and patted the area next to Luke, and Kiarha sat down with a smug smirk plastered on her face. Luke tried not to show his hatred, but his eyes must have given him away, because Kiarha looked at him and laughed.

After the class, they were called in for lunch, where the duke announced that there would be a Youth Ball in the capital, where the youth of dukes, earls, barons, and counts could intermingle and make friends.

But Luke knew what this was really about. Connections and networks for the parents.

Kiarha, in spite of knowing this, politely agreed and said that she would attend the ball. It was in two days, and Luke knew why. This was her chance to make friends in high places, and would be a major step in helping her become the queen.

Luke decided to come too, because he had a plan to stop her. He'd become friends with all the people Kiarha would befriend, so that they both had an equal chance of claiming a royal position. But there was also the question of what they would think of both of them. He would have to make a good first impression.

Duchess Emmeline addressed Luke, clearing her throat politely to gain his attention.

"Considering that Lady Yanna and Lady Hara are competing for your love, they will be arriving tomorrow to see if they can make you agree to come with either of them to the ball. Should either one succeed, you will spend the night at their manor, and sleep in the same room as the one you'll be going with."

Luke looked appalled at this idea, but tradition was tradition. Kiarha had a look of anger in her eyes. Or was it jealousy?

Whatever it was, Luke paid it no mind and went back to his room for the rest of the afternoon. However, once he took out his camera monitor, he saw something on the library camera that made his heart jump.

The guards were gone, and the doors were wide open.

Kiarha had gotten into the library!

Luke quickly ran out of his room and to the library. At the entrance, he found Kiarha's hairpins bent and shaped into a key. He gritted his teeth in annoyance.

Of course, no wonder she was wearing those. She had planned this from the very beginning.

Luke stepped inside, entering the massive labyrinth of bookcases. Kiarha could be anywhere, and that was problematic. Luke didn't have time to search all day.

Turning a corner, he saw a flash of light from behind a bookcase of fantasy novels. It was Kiarha, and she was reading a book titled "The Ways Of Men."

That very book had been used by Hara in their past life, and with it she had exploited every single prince she had come across, using a combination of bribery, blackmail and clandestine torture to push them under her thumb.

If Kiarha finished reading it...

Luke snuck up on her, and abruptly addressed her.

"Lady Kiarha."

Kiarha leapt back a little in shock, and her expression shifted to one of annoyance.

"Sir Luke. What, may I ask, are you doing here?"

Luke glanced at the book she was holding.

"What are you reading, Lady Kiarha?"

Kiarha wasn't dumb enough to lie, not when it was clear Luke had already seen the cover of the book.

"The Ways Of Men by Sir Conan Arundel."

Luke's eyebrows furrowed inquisitively.

"May I ask why you are reading such a book? You know about the...methods incorporated into its pages."

Kiarha responded, though the reason was not one Luke had expected.

"It's for the man I admire."

Luke's eyebrows shot up. Kiarha? Having a crush? This was unprecedented. And frankly, dangerous for the person she had a crush on.

"Well, then you can go to the Courtship and Romance section for that, Lady Kiarha."
 
Kiarha rolled her eyes, clearly not caring about Luke's suggestion.

"Whatever."

Luke pressed another question.

"Why did you break into the library and read this book out of all the books you could have chosen?"

Kiarha flushed a little, and Luke smirked. He had caught her.
Nevertheless, Kiarha responded with a calmness that belied her inner nervousness.

"Simple. I was curious about the subject, and I wanted to write a poem for the man I admire. I read this book to hopefully understand his taste and write an appropriate poem."

It sounded like a valid reason, but Luke had a statement ready that would completely invalidate it.

"If you came to the library with pure intentions, you would not have needed to use your hairpins to break in. So, what is your real reason for reading this book?"

Kiarha stared at him. And then she ran.

Luke tried to chase after her, but Kiarha toppled the bookcases as she ran, effectively blocking his path.

By the time Luke got out of the library, Kiarha was long gone. He stomped back inside and began rearranging the books and putting them back inside the bookcases, as well as setting them up right again.

As Luke was rearranging one of the books, it fell out and opened to a page showing a man floating in the sky, and an image of a gem attached to it. He read the description out loud.

The Gem of the Winds is an ancient gem, and one of the four Gems of Fortune. The one who possesses this gem shall have absolute control over the wind and the sky, and the winds of luck shall ever blow in their direction.

Intrigued, Luke decided to write a borrow slip, in which he wrote down the title of the book he borrowed, "Legendary Artifacts of the Ancients."

He attached it to the spot where the book was originally, and tucked the book under his jacket. Moving on to the next row, he finished rearranging it when he noticed that there was a gap. A book was missing. And beneath the very same bookcase, there was a white rose petal.

Kiarha had been wearing a white rose. Which could only mean...

She took that book with her.

-----------------------------------------------------------

KIARHA'S POV

Kiarha was at her guest room, the book tucked safely under her pillow. She took out a piece of parchment and started writing a letter.

"Dear Lady Hara. I have acquired the book. Come get it tomorrow. I'll be expecting my reward as well. Kiarha Vernaise."

She exited the manor and waited for a horse-rider to pass by. When one did, she paid him a few silver coins and stated where she wanted the letter to be delivered.

"The Eunelope Manor, near the river of Flower."

The horse-rider nodded, spurred the horse with his crop, and went on his way. Kiarha smirked.

Oh, dear Luke. You have no idea what we have in store for you.