The Fake Princess's Soul Contract Duke

Chapter 16: The man... Archmage Othima...?

That night after finishing dinner, Alianora returned to her room to think about her meeting tomorrow with Archmage Othima. What he should prepare, if something unexpected will appear tomorrow. At least he should prepare.

In his heart Alianora was a little anxious to meet a completely unknown character.

Usually, when he wants to meet new people, he is never shocked or scared, because he feels it is not necessary.

Although she knows, that in order to preserve Thalia's reputation, and to keep her own identity from being exposed, Alianora must be extra careful when meeting new people, and thanks to Thalia's vivid memories, she must be careful to keep her, Alianora could already guess roughly what kind of people she would meet were her characteristics more or less what, and what they might do to her .

Especially if they are people who are easy to guess the contents of his brain, just say like Michelle and her friends, Alianora does not need to bother thinking about ways to overcome them, he said, just take it the simple way and everything is sorted out.

But this time it's a little different. The person she was going to meet this time was completely foreign to her, even in three lives, Thalia had never dealt with, nor had she simply passed this person on the street. So, Alianora could not imagine what was on her mind at all. For example, Alianora still does not understand what this person, Archmage Othima, is planning by making a meeting with him? What does he want to get from 'Thalia'?

It's really something very random.

From her desk chair, Alianora massaged the base of her nose to relieve a slight headache.

Ah, living as a nobleman with all the drama and rules here and there is really draining his energy.

From her chair, Alianora opened her desk drawer and pulled out an envelope. A maroon red envelope with the calligraphic letter logo 'A' behind it. 'Call Letter'. Alianora's brows were linked as she reread the contents of the letter inside.

According to what is written in this letter, Alianora can deduce two possibilities.

The first possibility, was that this Archmage Othima already knew for sure about his identity, and also about this matter on his body. If this was true, then Alianora did not intend to deny it in front of that person, instead she would attempt to bring that person to her side.

He was sure, Archmage Othima was a smart and calculative person, like the archmage-archmage he knew first. It is impossible for an archmahmge to do anything without any intention, and by planning a personal meeting with Alianora, despite the fact that she knows the true identity of 'Thalia', ' he said', it means there's something he wants from Alianora.

Absolutely, if he wanted to reveal Alianora's identity from the beginning, why would he bother to insert a spell into the envelope of the letter, which made the letter only legible to Alianora? He could have sent a letter directly to Kalisto, or set up a conference with the priests to devise a plan to get rid of Alianora.

Therefore, Alianora intended to find out what the archmage wanted from her, then make a contract, that she would always give what the archmage asked for, on condition, that, the Archmage had to be his ally forever and promised not to betray him. If necessary he will do a blood contract with her.

Alianora knew this was a little risky depending on the request that the archmage would make, but in retrospect, it was likely that the archmage would ask her to do something. Accepting requests, taking revenge, killing, whatever it was could obviously be granted by a goddess like her. After all, even an unreasonable request like, saving this human can still be granted, right?

Then for the second possibility, this might be a possibility that he thought was impossible for an archmage to do, because for Alianora, it was impossible for an archmage to do something this stupid.

But since Alianora couldn't read the future either, she didn't know the possibility of anything that would happen, so there was no harm if she considered this one as well. So, according to him, the actual Archmage Othima was not sure about his identity.

He seemed to know that the soul in Thalia's body was not only Thalia's soul, but he did not know that Alianora's soul was in it either. Perhaps because of this, the archmage deliberately lured Alianora by saying that he knew what Alianora was looking for in fact, but in fact he knew nothing. It was possible, he had accidentally passed by or saw Alianora who was busy in the library at that time, so he could pretend like that. But of course, this is impossible, right?

Yes, this second possibility is unlikely to happen. So forget it, let's focus on the first possibility.

"Okay, problem solved. Just wait for sa-hoaamm tomorrow."

Alianora yawned and stretched her achy body on the chair. His gaze swept over the clock on his desk that had been showing at 10 p.m.

"Huh, it's only 10 but I'm already sleepy. Haa...."

It must have been because he had spent too much time in the library this afternoon. After all, the body he now used was the body of a 10-year-old child.

"It's time for the little ones to sleep. Let's just think about it tomorrow, hm?"

Alianora got out of her chair, and laid her body on her soft bed. When his head touched the pillow, his eyes immediately felt heavy. It felt like in a matter of seconds he would be taken to dreamland.

Ah, now in retrospect, I didn't see the Estelle boy, but I guessed that he would come to ask all sorts of questions.

Estelle's recent behavior has also brought Alianora to mind. The more the day his sister was getting weird, sometimes showing things he could not guess. Just like when he saw the letter. He obviously knew that it was from Aethergarde, but why was he still shocked?

However, Alianora would not think about it tonight. He was too tired to do it.

Ah, when was the last time he felt this kind of mortal? 500 years? 1000 years ago? He could not help but find it funny, and continued to imagine it until he fell asleep.

...*****...

The next morning, Alianora is re-awakened by Mary as usual. Unexpectedly sleeping her night was quite refreshing, so she could wake up early on time, without losing everything she had thought of last night.

It's time for him to get ready for the battlefield, later.

"Miss, what clothes do you want to wear today?"

Alianora looked at the wide-open wardrobe in front of her. The dress-dress inside is not too much, and the color has mostly faded.

"Mary, just this one, yeah."

Mary took the dark blue dress and immediately helped Alianora wear it.

After he finished, Alianora looked at his appearance in the mirror.

Knee-length dark blue dress with long sleeves in white looks match the color of her skin white porcelain. A dark blue and white ribbon tying her collar, beret hat accessories in matching colors adorning her silver hair that she wore, as well as lacy long socks and shoes, although his appearance is simple and the accessories he wears also look worn, but his reflection is reflected still looks like a doll.

Alianora is not a fan of something funny like this, but still she is grateful at least still have a beautiful face.

"Hm, that's enough. Come on Mary, time to go."

The trip to Aethergarde is not during the trip from Sheridan to the capital, Aghrian. This was because, that Aethergarde Academy was in the City of Vale, which was located right between Aghrian City and Sheridan City. It only took an hour and Alianora was able to arrive at the outer gate of Aethergarde. Fortunately before leaving, Kalisto and Annabeth did not slow him down. They just sat down to eat at the table, as usual, ignoring him, at most Kalisto just advised Alianora to take care of her affairs well and not to do anything and become a big problem. Alianora just agreed, and just left with Mary.

While sitting on the carriage, Alianora and Mary did not say much. Alianora mostly focused on thinking about the Archmage Othima she would meet that would ask her anything, later. While Mary, who sat in front of Alianora, just looked at her nona with confusion and a little worry.

"Miss, will you be okay there?"

Alianora turned her gaze towards Mary, then smiled confidently.

"Just calm down, Mary. What can the archmage do to me?"

Mary shook her head softly, her forehead still shrinking, "But, miss, Archmage Othima is a very important figure in Aethergarde. If he's up to give you a special summons, and also-"

"Calm down, Mary. I've prepared everything, and if anything unexpected comes up, then I'm ready."

Rather than being nervous now, Alianora was more impatient to meet that Archmage. He wanted to quickly get the archmage to join together, and if he succeeded then, his goal would be easier for him to achieve. After all, with the famous archmage in his team, Alianora can also be more free to move by utilizing the reputation of the archmage. Pretty, right?

So when, Alianora had already arrived before the gates of Aethergarde, she was already instantly spirited. Soon he headed to the supervisor's department, to show him the letter he received and mention his identity.

The supervisor then directed him to another building next to the main building of the academy. The building was quite large, looking like a luxurious mansion, and was about three stories tall. However, when compared to the main building of the academy, this building was completely meaningless.

Alianora stepped inside, and was immediately greeted by all sorts of strange items that filled the room. Starting from a variety of hanging animal heads, colorful liquids on shelves, human hands placed in glass tubes, a pair of eyeballs, and much more.

Alianora only looked at him with a look of disdain.

What should I say, 'as expected of an archmage's house'?

Fortunately there was a butler on duty in the house, who drove Alianora to the Archmage Othima's study, so she didn't have to linger downstairs.

"We're here, miss. This is Master Othima's workspace. Right now, Master Othima is waiting for you inside. Please wait a minute, miss."

the butler said as he bowed before Alianora, then knocked on the large golden-carved wooden door in front of her.

Tok.Tok-sign.Tok.

"Excuse me, sir, sorry to interrupt. Miss Thalia La Sheridan has arrived here."

And a man's voice from inside was heard.

"Oh, really? Get him in."

"Good, sir. Miss Thalia, you're welcome now. Please, miss."

Alianora watched as the butler opened the door slowly. Vaguely the picture of a simple work room plastered in front of him. Some bookshelves are on the right and left side of the room with wooden floors that are based on red carpets. In front of him there is a pair of sofas placed opposite, and in the middle there is a short glass table.

Alianora found that the room, strangely enough, looked perfectly normal. Like the property of the nobility in general.

Then Alianora's gaze turned toward the figure sitting in the chair behind the table, right in front of her. The figure of a man in his 20s with his pale dark purple hair was neatly combed over a shoulder. His golden bead stared straight at Alianora, from behind her monocle.

Alianora who saw that could only be shocked as she widened her eyes. A memory was immediately shaken in his mind.

This person...wasn't it..who was then...?

But the man, as if satisfied with Alianora's reaction, stood up from his seat, then gave Alianora a faint smile.

"Good morning, Miss Thalia La Sheridan. Thank you for coming on time, fulfilling my call this morning. As I have already stated in the letter, I think we will discuss many things, but before that, let me introduce myself first. My name is Othima Suchenteau, leader of the Aethergarde Academy, although this is not the first time we have met but, greetings."