Oh, Triplicity Rulerships, please lend me your power…

Odette had this surprised look on her face. Did I say something wrong? 

Odette de Lune. An SR class hero and a mage prodigy. She’s the Head Librarian of the Grand Library of Evermore. She was known for her beauty and magic but also her admiration towards Alasdair since they were children. In the original story, after the war where Alasdair died, she travelled back to her hometown in Southern Valencourt and mourned him until she died of old age. 

“I-I mean, you’re one of the popular mages in the kingdom that I know so… b-but it’s okay if you wouldn’t—“

“I don’t mind it, but why the sudden interest in magic, my lady?”

“What do you mean?”

Odette stood up from her seat and walked towards me. “You know how kids who show interest in magic are honed at a young age by working as a mage’s apprentice or by sending them to the Galicia Magic Academy, right?”

“Yes? What about it?”

“My lady, what I’m trying to say is, that learning magic takes time and years even—to become a skilled magic user. It’s a serious commitment to take, thousands of Evermorean tokens are spent just for education or finding a good mentor. It’s not something that should interest you one day and not the next day.”

“But I—I’m not trying to become an expert or anything, Miss de Lune. I just want to learn at least the basic spells. Money is not going to be a problem either. I simply believe you’re fit to be my mentor so I went to you. Can you help me, please?”

Odette sighed. “My lady, what is the real purpose of this decision?” 

I shrugged my shoulders. “I want to be capable of defending myself, even without the protection of the knights or my brother.” The sight of the Cataclysm flashed through my mind, my fists forming in determination. “I want to save people. So I’m begging you, please…” I bowed with full respect, praying she’ll finally accept. I heard another sigh.

“Alright.”

I gasped. “Thank y—“ I was about to shake her hand when she stopped me. 

“But my lady, since you’re not eighteen yet, you have to send me your guardian’s approval. Let me write a permission letter to the duke—“

“Y-You can’t do that!” Odette stopped walking towards her desk. “I mean, I don’t want him to know about this. He’ll surely refuse. I ask this to be a secret, even until I turn eighteen.” 

Odette looked at me dumbfounded. “Then I’m afraid that I cannot—“

“But I can set you up on a date with Alasdair after my party. How about that?” 

“Pardon?” Crap. I think I got her mad. It’s over. “You’ll do that, my lady?”

It worked, I guess? I looked at Odette. Her honey-brown eyes were shining. How much does she like Alasdair that she mourned him forever and never got married? Alasdair is a stoic gentleman, he doesn’t look like a romantic type of guy, but he eventually reciprocates her feelings. However, I wish their story were written in more detail, about what she saw in him.

I laughed awkwardly. “O-Of course! He’s my brother, it’s nothing but a piece of cake. That is if you agree to keep the magic lessons a secret from my father?”

Her bright smile slowly faded, arms went to her hips. “I didn’t know you were this cunning, my lady.” She avoided my gaze in embarrassment. “But fine, I’ll accept.”

I clasped her hands, eyes twinkling. “Thank you!”

“But don’t ever back down to what you said, okay?” She could not look me in the eye.

“Don’t worry, I wouldn’t. I know how much you like him.”

She finally looked at me. “But how did you know about it? I-I never told anyone!”

Oh no! She eyed me suspiciously. Odette didn’t confess to him until the war. Think of an excuse, Lilivienne!

“B-But it was very obvious, Miss de Lune. The way you look at my brother during gatherings, I-I see the admiration in your eyes.”

Her pale cheeks blushed more. “For real?!” I nodded, trying to convince her. “Oh gosh, that’s embarrassing!” How she went from a serious librarian to a giggling girl because of her crush is very fascinating. She is accurately the game character, Odette de Lune.

“When you finally meet each other at the ball, please tell him how you feel!”

Her face was so red she could pass as a tomato. “No, I can’t! What if I get rejected?”

“Isn’t it better to find that out than live with regret for not trying?”

If they are truly meant for each other, encouraging her to confess earlier than the game timeline wouldn’t bring any harm. I will not let Alasdair die, and Odette won't have to mourn him until her death. The tragic course of their story shall not happen as long as I’m here.