The Bigshot's Superstar Wife - Chapter 46

Chapter 46: Athena’s Curiosity

A part of Athena couldn’t dismiss the peculiar parallels. There must be something about Mors that’s different.

Her instincts, honed from years of survival, warned her that there might be more truth to this story than she was willing to admit. I need some proof.

Deciding not to dwell on it too much, she activated her optical brain, a small device embedded in her wrist, and scanned the book’s pages. I need to keep a copy, just in case…

The intricate text and symbols were digitally copied, their faint blue light illuminating her face in the dim library. He won’t sue me for this, right?

“If nothing else, this will be an interesting read later.” She tucked the device away and closed the book gently, returning it to its shelf.

The library felt heavier now, the quiet almost oppressive. Athena glanced around, half expecting to see someone lurking in the shadows.

I should be overthinking. No one will dare spy behind me. But it’s better to be sure.

When she was certain she was alone, she stood and began wandering through the labyrinthine rows of books, her thoughts still tangled with the tale she had just read.

As she ascended the spiral staircase to the second floor, Athena couldn’t help but wonder.

What if the royal family’s curse wasn’t a tale? And what if it was standing right beside her all along? Huh? More books are stocked here.

Rows of bookcases, each more ornate than the previous, welcomed Athena as she climbed to the second floor. This must be a fiction series! It can’t be a diary.

The air was thick with the scent of aged parchment and leather bindings, and the soft golden glow of the overhead chandeliers cast long shadows across the room.

Her eyes widened as she scanned the spines of the books. Many bore the same insignia as the one she had read earlier, a royal crest entwined with thorns.

Titles like The Forbidden Heir, Angelus: The Demon Prince, and The Curse of the Bloodline leaped out at her.

Curiosity piqued, Athena pulled out a particularly ornate tome titled The Demon Prince Angelus: A Curse or Protector?

She opened it to a random page, her fingers brushing against the delicate, almost crumbling paper.

[In every millennium, it is said that a prince will be born into the royal bloodline bearing the name Angelus. This prince, marked by fire and shadow, will wield unparalleled power and threaten to bring humanity to its knees. However, legends diverge on whether his purpose is to destroy or to save.]

Athena frowned, her mind racing. Angelus… why does that name sound familiar?

She wracked her memory, trying to recall where she had encountered it. Something about the surname tugged at the edges of her thoughts, but the connection remained elusive.

Determined to learn more, she took the book to a nearby alcove by the tall arched window. I need to do deep research about this… be it fiction or not.

The dim twilight filtered through the stained glass, casting colorful patterns on the floor as she delved deeper into the tale.

Hours passed as she pieced together fragments of history, myth, and speculation. The stories painted Angelus as both a villain and a savior, his actions shrouded in ambiguity.

The recurring themes of darkness, betrayal, and redemption unsettled her, leaving a lingering sense of foreboding.

A gentle knock startled her from her thoughts. She looked up to see the head maid, a kind woman standing in the doorway.

“Young madam, it’s time for dinner,” the maid said softly, her gaze lingering on the pile of books surrounding Athena.

“Ah, of course. Thank you, Dorothy,” Athena replied, reluctantly setting the book aside. She made a mental note of the pages she wanted to revisit later.

The dining room was eerily quiet as she sat alone at the long, elaborately set table. I miss eating with Mors. When will he return?

The clink of her fork against the porcelain plate was the only sound echoing through the cavernous room. Her thoughts, however, were far from quiet.

As she nibbled on her meal, her mind drifted back to the name Angelus and the ominous stories about the demon prince.

Something about the tales, combined with the recent events, sent a chill down her spine.

Could these legends somehow tie into the strange occurrences surrounding Mors? Or was it all a coincidence? No, Mors is a Jericho!

Her appetite dwindled as her imagination ran wild. Athena pushed her plate aside and leaned back in her chair, staring at the flickering candles on the table.

One thing was certain, there were more secrets hidden within the royal family than she had anticipated. And whether she liked it or not, she was now entangled in their web.

I hope those books are all fictional…

–

Sitting back in her chair, Athena stared at the glowing holographic interface of her optical brain.

Her curiosity about the royal family of Sinalta had grown stronger, especially after the unsettling tales she read earlier.

The Angelus royal family… she thought, her fingers hovering over the search bar. The surname itself carried an air of mystery and power, its origins steeped in legend.

She initiated her search, scrolling through the public database.

As expected, the current emperor, Elias Angelus, dominated the entries, with elaborate records detailing his reign, achievements, and numerous political alliances.

His six children, the pride of the royal lineage, were also prominently featured.

The first-born prince, Crown Prince Evander, was a charismatic figure often seen leading diplomatic missions and public ceremonies.

Princess Althea, the third child, was a celebrated philanthropist. The fifth child, Prince Rylan, was a renowned tactician in the Sinaltan military.

But as Athena scrolled further, discrepancies began to emerge. Where are the rest?

The second and fourth princes, as well as the sixth princess, were glaringly absent from public records. Their names were listed but with no attached biographies or official roles.

“Strange,” Athena muttered, leaning closer.

The second prince, identified only as Prince X. Angelus, had no details other than his birth year and the name of his mother, the first empress, Seraphina.

The fourth prince and second princess were similarly shrouded in mystery, with only placeholders where their information should have been.

Who are they? Athena wondered. Why would their lives be hidden when the others are so celebrated?

Her intrigue deepened. She opened a new tab and searched Starnet for any images of the concealed siblings.

Predictably, nothing appeared, no portraits, no candid photographs, no mentions in news articles. It was as if they had been erased from the public eye.

Was it deliberate? she thought, tapping her fingers against the edge of the table. Or was it to protect them from something, or someone?