Chapter 6 A Sudden Meeting In The Library

• Sleep easily claimed Diana that night, and surprisingly enough, she was blessed by a long and peaceful rest. So when Diana roused from her slumber, still very much in the same room she woke up in yesterday, she felt well-rested and energized, which was something she hadn’t gotten to experience for what seemed like ages.
• And Alistair was nowhere in sight. He wasn’t also present during breakfast in the dining hall, so Diana was left to enjoy her meal of eggs, bacon, and salad of fruits in her own company.
• “Thank you, Florence,” Diana said, turning her head as she addressed the butler who stood just a meter away from her seat. “The meal was delightful.”
• “That is great to hear, Luna.”
• An amiable smile graced Diana’s face, and it pulled out a tender expression on Florence, his features softening into a look that could only be described as fatherly.
• It filled Diana with a warmth that was absolutely foreign to her. After all, there hadn’t been someone in her life to look at her with such paternal affection before. It was a first. Thinking about it created a lump in Diana’s throat, which she tried to swallow down.
• “Uhm, Florence?”
• “Yes, Luna?” Florence responded immediately, and it almost sounded instinctual. “Is there anything I can help you with?”
• “Actually… I just…” Diana hesitated, her tongue darting out to wet her lower lip. “I was wondering if you could accompany me on a walk to the library.”
• Surprise dawned on Florence’s expression. “You wish to have my company?”
• ‘Oh my god…’ Diana internally panicked, her thoughts racing just as fast as her heartbeat. ‘Was the real Diana Claremont-Blackwell not close enough to Florence to request his company? Am I acting too out of character by asking him to walk with me? Pretending to be the real Diana is so hard when I do not have any info on how she behaves. Soon enough, Florence and the other staff will catch on to how I’m an impostor in their Luna’s body. Should I just act as if I’ve changed my mind? But I do not have any info on the Manor’s layout. I have no idea where the library is!’
• “B-but,” Diana stammered. “But if you’re busy with your duties, you don’t have to, Florence. I was just… I was just wondering. But like I said, if you have a lot on your plate, I could go to the library myself. It’s okay.”
• She sighed heavily, the huff of breath sounding a tad bit defeated.
• “What are you saying, Luna? It would be my pleasure to accompany you.”
• “Oh!” Diana perked up instantly with relief coursing through her veins. “That’s great. Thank you, Florence.”
• “Of course, Luna. All you ever had to do is ask.” Florence smiled kindly. “Shall we?”
• Diana nodded, getting up from her seat. “Let’s go.”
• She began to walk, heading for the door with the expectation that Florence would fall into step beside her. But he didn’t, even when they had exited the dining hall. Florence dutifully remained a few steps behind Diana, keeping the perfect distance that was due and fitting, given the disparity in their social standing. Diana was the Luna of the pack, and he was simply a family butler.
• But such observance of etiquette defeated the purpose of having him walk with her. All she wanted was for him to unwittingly lead her to where the library was, but with how he was only trailing after her, they would simply end up lost in the enormous Moonfyre Manor.
• “Florence,” Diana called out, putting a halt on her strides and turning around to look at the elderly butler. “I would appreciate it if you walked beside me.”
• “Luna, I couldn’t possibly… You are the lady of the illustrious House of Blackwell, and you are a descendant of the Alpha King Maximus Locke from two hundred years ago.”
• Diana chuckled. “You said so yourself. Maximus Locke was the Alpha King two hundred years ago. Besides, I am not a direct descendant. I am pretty sure I am on a very, very, very, far branch on the family tree. I am a Claremont, not a Locke, remember?”
• ‘Because if I was a Locke,” she thought wryly, “people wouldn’t be so brazen and so stupid to try and kill me. That would be like challenging the Alpha King himself.’
• Florence seemed aghast at her breezy perspective about her connection to the Alpha King, but before he could have a chance to launch a tirade regarding her bloodline, Diana went on to say, “The point is, Florence, I want you to accompany me like a good old gentleman. Really, I will appreciate it if you offer me your arm and walk with me.”
• Florence’s eyes fluttered close, looking utterly torn.
• “Come on, Florence,” Diana egged on. “Didn’t you say all I ever had to do is ask?”
• Florence’s eyes opened, and there was a mix of resignation and fondness in how he gazed at Diana. “That is right, Luna. I was being foolish. I hope you forgive my impudence for not acting on your wishes immediately.”
• His prim and posh way of speaking, as well as his stubbornness about decorum, made Diana laugh a little. “All is forgiven, Florence. So shall we?”
• “Yes, Luna.”
• Florence stepped forward and offered her his arm. She took it in an instant, sliding her hand in the crook of his elbow.
• They strolled the manor halls side by side, their paces unhurried. That worked well in Diana’s favor, since it gave her another opportunity to take in the Manor’s layout.
• When they eventually reached their destination, Diana’s legs felt quite sore from the long walk. A huge part of her longed to sit for a little while before exploring the shelves upon shelves of books the Moonfyre Manor’s library probably had to offer. But taking the time to rest would mean staying in the library longer than necessary, and that wouldn’t really be good. Alistair might suddenly pop out behind her and see the books she wished to take back to her room.
• Having Florence aid her in her book search was also not ideal. So as subtly as possible, she tried to dismiss his presence.
• “Thank you for escorting me all the way to the library, Florence. I appreciate it”
• “It was a pleasure to be in your company, Luna.”
• “Yes, and I know you have other things to tend to, Florence. Rest assured I can manage it from here. Thank you.”
• “Right. I shall take my leave then.”
• Florence bowed slightly at her before walking away and leaving her all alone in front of the library. Then without further ado, she went inside, closing the door quietly behind her.
• The library was huge. The entire walls, sans two areas that had built in fireplaces, were book-filled shelves, and the light that bathed the entire wide room was from the sun, shining through the glass dome ceiling that looked like a giant spider web at a glance. The floor was covered in a gray carpet, and deep green leather armchairs stood sparsely at the center of the room, along with a round Jacobean center table.
• The place was quiet and empty, which was what Diana wanted.
• Immediately, she commenced her quest of finding books that could provide her any useful information about other ways to break her bond with Alistair without needing his cooperation. Surely there was an alternative method. But with the number of books the library had, Diana wasn’t entirely sure she knew where to start her search. The arrangement didn’t even follow a certain system like the library she worked at in her other life.
• But she refused to give up. If there was one thing that wouldn’t fail Diana, it would be books. Not only were they meant to stave off boredom and feed imagination, but they also provided knowledge. And knowledge was power.
• She skimmed through the spines of the books, pouring over titles after titles, rows after rows, and time quickly trickled down.
• She huffed to herself, holding on to the wooden panel to pull herself and the rolling ladder towards another section of the shelf. It was a good thing that she had forgone the dresses and opted for a baby blue poet shirt and a pair of fitted pants; an outfit that was clearly reminiscent of Alistair’s the night before. It provided her the comfort and mobility she needed for her book search.
• “History of Moonfyre. Makara: The Moon Goddess. A Guide to Potions. Oh, wait. That’s pretty useful.” Diana took the book from its place on the shelf and placed it on the step on the ladder, just above her head. “Comprehensive History of the Continent of Gaea. Annals of Werewolves: History, Beliefs and Customs…”
• An excited gasp erupted from Diana, and then she let out a celebratory cheer.
• “Finally found a book worthy of your time, Luna?”
• An unfamiliar voice asked from down below, and the suddenness of it surprised Diana, jolting her on her perch on the ladder.
• “Be careful, Luna!”
• But Diana was already precariously wobbling on the ladder. Luckily enough, she regained her balance. Her grip on the ladder had tightened to a great degree, and her heart nearly on her throat.
• When she had gathered a bit of her composure, she looked down at the intruder, giving him the fiercest glare she could muster.
• “You startled me!”
• But her ire fizzled into thin air when she recognized who was standing near the bottom of the ladder.
• Orion Daez, he was Alistair’s best friend and one of Moonfyre’s greatest Warriors.