Page 8 of Is It Wrong to Escape My Fate? (Dealing With Fate #1)

The first thing I sought out the following day was the library.

Even though school would officially start in a few days, personal knights and bodyguards were already invited to participate in the morning sessions.

While Robin and Reuben were off to their training, I encouraged Mia to explore the school to familiarize herself with the layout, or at least that was the reason I gave her.

She agreed and went off on this mission.

I chose to go to the library to look for anything that might help me with my predicament. Taking advantage of the fact that not all students were here because school hadn’t started yet, it had given me a lot of space all to myself.

The librarian was missing when I went through the massive doors. And if those doors were massive, the library was easily a hundred times bigger. Of course, the library as its own building should have clued me in that it was going to be massive.

I had no idea where to start.

History of magic, maybe? A book about miracles? Something about unexplainable events happening throughout recorded history?

I ended up in the historical section of the library, and scanning through the titles, I still had no clear leads. My brain was also unhelpful. I would’ve really appreciated the help! Ugh.

“I don’t know where to start,” I grumbled to myself, stopping at a book titled “A Study of the Everlasting War”, picking at the spine with my finger.

“What are you looking for?” A disembodied, quiet voice asked, surprising me into a shriek. I didn’t feel anyone else standing here! I glanced around, trying to find the source of the voice, but I couldn’t find anyone.

Was walking by myself already making me hear things? Did I already get so used to having companions whenever I was out?

“Studying for your classes already?” the voice continued, and I was a tiny bit grateful to know I wasn’t hearing things. When I looked around again, I finally found the man in one of the dark corners in between the shelves, holding up a book of his own, judging from his silhouette.

I decided not to lie. “History is part of my curriculum, although I am also interested in it,” I answered, pulling down the book I had stared at. “Basically, knowing about unusual and unexplainable events throughout history.”

He sighed, stepping out from the shadows. “You’re into conspiracy theories?”

“No!” I denied quickly, shaking my head. “I just want to read about mysterious things.”

“Would be better in the fantasy section,” he grumbled, and he was near enough that I could make out his handsome features. Wavy green hair framed his face, and he had the blackest eyes I had ever seen. Something was familiar about him, but I was sure I had never seen him before.

“Are you the librarian?” I asked, ignoring his teasing words.

“One of many.” He glanced at the selection of books beside me. “These might interest you.” He pulled a few books and stacked them on my arms. “And I took the liberty of getting this.” He added the book he was initially holding onto the pile.

That was surprisingly thoughtful. “Thank you,” I smiled, meaning it wholeheartedly. Even if the books might not end up being useful, his immediate assistance in helping me was very, very appreciated.

He stared at me for a beat before turning away. “It’s my job,” he grunted and walked off to a corner, leaving me alone once again.

When the twins and Mia found me at the library, I had skimmed through the books and read the history of the Everlasting War. While I didn’t find anything that told of sudden appearances of people from another world, the books did tell of the Demon Lord.

Like the fact that he just appeared one day. Nobody knew where he came from, but most suspected he was a fallen god shunned from their plane of existence and now terrorizing humans as a form of revenge.

Or maybe he was transported here. Like me?

Why would he summon monsters though? Or how could he have lived for hundreds of years? Was that his method of going back to his home realm?

Did anyone even try to talk to him and ask what his problem was?

I supposed nobody got close enough through the seemingly endless number of monsters he kept around.

There was also no coherent account of what he even was — if he was an entity like a demon, or a lord, or both.

He almost never appeared to anyone, even during the every-ten-year major battle.

Survivors claimed to have seen glimpses of him, but no one knew for sure.

The thought of having a deep conversation with the Demon Lord was appealing. If we were in the same predicament, then maybe we could help each other.

This line of thinking would get me killed sooner rather than later.

Still, it was something to heavily consider.

“My lady, did you have fun reading books?” Robin asked as we made our way to the dining hall for lunch. He was about to reach for my hand when he froze, and then glanced at his brother, who frowned at me. What did I do?

Reuben leaned down, nostrils flaring and eyes searching my face. “Why is it that when we leave you alone for two seconds, you always smell like another man?”

I tried to hide my surprise, but it wasn’t any use to these two, who I suspected had already memorized my every movement.

But if that was true, how come they never realized I wasn’t their Lady Beatrix for a while now? At least, not entirely? So many questions, so little answers.

Robin tutted before he held my hand. “Do we have to lock you up?”

What.

“Chain you to our sides,” Reuben grunted.

There was overprotective, and then there was over-possessive. Admittedly, in some crazy and psychotic part of me, both appealed to me that wild tingles spread throughout my body. I shouldn’t let it affect me though, but oh my god, the lack of a good fuck was getting to me. Again.

I had to address it soon.

Mia, whom I had asked to walk ahead of us, stopped on her path before stepping backwards. “Miss Bea, Lord Grimwald is heading towards us.”

Robin and Reuben both tensed and stood alert, while I racked my brain who Grimwald was.

Marquis Grimwald controlled the territory nearest the front lines of the War.

He had the whole Kingdom at his back, as he was evidently the man leading the charge against the Demon Lord as the Grand General.

One of his sons was Samuel Grimwald, a Captain of the army, and currently marching in our direction.

Why would a Captain be here at the magic academy? I didn’t have time to ponder when he stopped a few feet in front of me, his crimson-red eyes assessing me.

“Lady Beatrix Gadreel Havenglow,” he murmured, holding out a hand. “Pleasure to meet you. My name is Samuel Grimwald.”

I received his hand with my free one. I expected a handshake, when he leaned down and kissed the back of my hand. My bodyguards tensed even as I stood there dumbfounded. Why was this man introducing himself to me?

When I didn’t say anything, Samuel chuckled as he straightened his spine and stood up like how I envisaged a military officer would.

“You must be confused. I’m assigned as a recruiter for the Army.

Well, more of an Inspector, really. And your bodyguards caught my eye during our introductory session earlier. ”

“We told you; we will fulfill our duty to our lady. We have no interest in joining the Army,” Reuben growled, stepping closer to me.

“Unless mandated by the law, which will be in five years when the lady graduates,” Robin smiled, his hold on my hand tightening.

Samuel’s eyes traveled to our linked hands before meeting mine again.

I could see how being an officer suited him; his frame was huge, his muscles on display despite the fit of his clothes, a complete contrast to my knights, who were more lean than bulky.

His black hair was shorn short, and his red eyes stood out in contrast to the darkness of his officer uniform.

His jaw tightened, addressing my bodyguards. “You will be considered free men and receive a salary directly from the Kingdom. You will have autonomy and as much freedom as you will possibly want. The compensation alone will be more than what a barony can afford to pay you.”

Now, it was my turn to tense up. I knew our barony didn’t have many resources, and I couldn’t even pretend to know exactly how the finances were budgeted, but did he have to say it like that?

Tempting my knights with the promise of money.

Honestly, I wouldn’t blame them if they chose a better financial future for themselves.

They had a different idea though when Reuben pulled me behind him and his twin. “Lord Grimwald, you dare insult our lady? I would not hesitate to stab your hand for even touching her, along with your filthy mouth.” Robin laughed, but it wasn’t filled with mirth.

I stared at their backs in shock. In normal circumstances, defying a noble would land you in prison, or even execution. However, the fact we were in the Magic Academy of Aerahelm, where technically all students were considered of equal ranking, regardless of their nobility …

Samuel chuckled, his laughs tinged with disbelief and surprise.

“Such loyalty,” he muttered, glancing down at the insignia on my knights’ armor.

“Aster …” He looked at me again with renewed interest swimming in his eyes, as if he was seeing me for the first time.

“I will be here for the rest of the school year, as is my duty. I will see you around, my lady.”

It was only when he was out of sight that my companions relaxed, while my body was still too coiled up to be calm. What happened to my wish for an uneventful stay while I tried to look for a way to go back to my world ? I didn’t need these people looking in my direction.

Even more annoying was the fact I wasn’t doing anything! I wasn’t trying to get attention. I was minding my own business!

No more events , please, universe?