Chapter 93: Chapter 93 Bookmark
Chapter 93 Bookmark
Alice rarely showed melancholy and sorrow, but thinking of Emperor Roselle's uncertain fate, Bernadette also fell silent, absorbed in the somber atmosphere.
However, Alice chose this moment to ask an oddly timed question: "New visitors have arrived... Could you help me blend in with them? I haven't finished my tour yet."
The sorrowful mood broken, Bernadette looked at Alice, suddenly curious if she spoke this way in front of the "Fool" as well.
...Perhaps that "Fool" had quite a good temperament after all.
With this thought, Bernadette suggested: "Why don't I give you a tour myself?"
The idea of Emperor Roselle's eldest daughter guiding her through his memorial exhibition struck Alice as rather bizarre. She looked at Bernadette and said very seriously: "Thank you for your kind offer, but I think I'd prefer to remain an ordinary visitor."
Seeing Alice's expression, Bernadette ultimately helped her blend in with the new group of visitors.
She didn't follow Alice into the next exhibition hall, but instead wandered back to the room displaying Roselle's diary, gazing pensively at the open journal in the display case.
Meanwhile, Alice merged with the new group and entered the next hall.
The guide's voice rang out ahead: "Next, you'll see a recreation of Emperor Roselle's study. Of course, this is only a portion of it."
As the guide spoke, Alice and the surrounding visitors entered the hall, and a vast space opened before them.
More than a study, it resembled a library - no, even a library wouldn't be arranged quite like this.
Bookshelves two stories high lined the walls neatly, with staircases below and interconnecting passageways between them. Alice could almost imagine someone moving among them, searching for books.
In the center of the bookshelves stood a desk, chairs, brass lamps, and other furnishings, all enclosed in glass cases, untouchable.
Alice gazed in awe at the study, immediately deciding this would be her ideal study design in the future.
As the guide continued describing the exhibits, Alice looked at the complex array of books and asked: "Are all these books that Emperor Roselle read? The original ones?"
She tried her best to appear like a curious child, and the guide seemed to believe her act, nodding affirmatively: "Yes, these are all items from Emperor Roselle's original study, including but not limited to books, manuscripts, bookmarks, lamps, inkwells... However, many more items were destroyed in several conflicts."
Bookmarks!
Roselle had mentioned in his diary that he would slip that "Blasphemy Card" into a very valuable book, where no one would suspect the most valuable item was actually an inconspicuous bookmark...
Alice approached the central table, carefully examining the books displayed there, trying to identify the valuable ones.
The books on the table covered a wide range of subjects - history, geography, mechanical principles...
However, after scanning them, Alice felt these books fell somewhat short of "very valuable."
Finally, Alice's gaze fixed on Emperor Roselle's manuscripts.
That stack of manuscripts recorded items Roselle wanted to invent but lacked the means to create. A bookmark was inserted among them, depicting Emperor Roselle in his imperial robes.
Given Roselle's personality, placing his own portrait on the "Blasphemy Card" seemed quite plausible...
Alice stared at the bookmark but didn't attempt to use spirit vision or divination.
If it were that easy to find, it wouldn't be on public display... Whether or not that bookmark was the "Blasphemy Card," the Steam Church must have verified it was harmless.
Moreover, given Emperor Roselle's personality, these manuscripts were likely the only items in this study that met his criteria...
Alice struggled to resist describing her predecessor as "flamboyant," having just parted from his daughter.
Of course, there was a simple way to confirm if this bookmark was the "Blasphemy Card"... She could set fire to this recreated study, and whatever remained unburnt would be the "Blasphemy Card."
Alice glanced at the Steam Church members, then thought of her encounter with Bernadette, regretfully abandoning this dangerous idea.
After all, she currently had no pressing reason to obtain the "Blasphemy Card."
Alice set aside these thoughts, deciding to pass the responsibility to Klein when she returned.
She focused on enjoying the rest of the tour. When it ended and free exploration time began, Alice eagerly left the museum and returned to Welch Street in the North Borough.
Before entering her home, Alice checked the mailbox as had become her habit recently... Oh? There was actually a letter?
No, more accurately, it was a very small package... Alice opened it to find a pirate ship model barely larger than her palm.
The model was wooden, its craftsmanship far from exquisite - frankly, it was rather crude. However, it had most of the essential elements, barely qualifying as an acceptable pirate ship model.
Alice opened the letter inside the package.
"Dear Brill:
I heard you're back. How was the scenery at sea? Was it beautiful? I've never been on a ship, but I've heard many stories of ocean adventures from Father.
This is a pirate ship model I carved based on the one in Father's study. It's very rough, but you're not allowed to criticize it, or I'll be angry.
Yours sincerely,
Evelyn"
"It's from Evelyn..." Alice murmured as she returned home. After placing the crude model on her desk, she began praying to Mr. Fool.
Klein, who had been diligently memorizing the museum's layout, no longer wondered who was praying upon hearing a female voice. Instead, he entered the bathroom thinking, "What does Alice need now?"
Above the gray fog, Klein reached out to Alice's deep red star and heard her voice: "I met Emperor Roselle's eldest daughter, Bernadette... I have important information for you."
Suppressing his astonishment, Klein accelerated his memorization of the layout. Upon completing his goal, he quickly returned home.
Unlike Alice's leisurely manner, although Klein concealed his anxiety and haste during his return journey, he called Alice up to the gray fog as soon as he entered the house.
"Zhou Mingrui," Alice said in Chinese, leaning on the table unlike her usual demeanor, before Klein could speak, "We... may not be able to go back."
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