I Was Reincarnated as the Prince in a Villainess Story, so I’ll Use My Cheat Knowledge to Create a Noble Lady Harem and Make Them All Happy - 30

Chapter 30: The Circle of Pages Illuminating the Archive

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The corridor leading to the southern tower stretched under the narrow beams of morning light. The old paintings on the walls stood out faintly, and their footsteps were absorbed by the carpet. Valis and his three companions walked together. Reina kept a steady pace, Milia hummed a soft tune, and Feril checked her palm as if confirming the presence of her key ring.

At the landing of the tower was a small door. It led to a preparation room located before the archive—furnished simply with a desk, chairs, ledgers, quill pens, and dusting brushes neatly arranged. Feril pushed the door open and ushered Valis and the others inside.

“Please wait here. The archive is dim, and neither fire nor light may be used. My staff and I will bring the books one by one. You may work at this desk…”

Feril explained politely, her eyes earnest. Valis gave a small shake of his head.

“Forgive me. I’d like you to guide us directly to the archive.”

“Your Highness… But the archive is kept unlit to protect the books. Both fire and light are strictly forbidden. Even if you go, it’s only dusty and unpleasant.”

“It’s fine. I have an idea.”

When Valis said that, Feril raised her brows slightly. Her questioning gaze touched his face.

“In that case… Understood. I’ll take you there.”

At the back of the preparation room, there was another door. Feril inserted a key into its heavy handle and carefully turned it. The hinges gave a restrained creak.

Inside, the air was cool. The scent of time absorbed by paper and leather drifted quietly. No light from outside reached this place. The tall bookshelves rose like walls, the darkness dense and nearly impenetrable.

“Then, Your Highness. Are you truly sure without a light—”

“No problem.”

Valis stepped into the darkness and opened his palm. After taking a quiet breath, he wove a brief incantation.

“Archive Arts: Vibrio Rumen.”

A soft yellow glow bloomed above his hand. It carried no heat and pulsed as though breathing. The light formed into a sphere that rose gently toward the ceiling and spread evenly between the shelves. The pages were illuminated without turning white, the black ink remained calm, and the light stirred no dust.

“This light won’t harm the books. It’s all right.”

Feril’s lips parted slightly. Light reflected in her blue eyes. Milia let out a small “Wow,” while Reina glanced at Valis’s profile and whispered to Feril beside her.

“The real surprise comes after this.”

Valis nodded and pointed toward a row of shelves.

“All three of you, take five books each from the shelves near the entrance first. Prioritize the older ones. Once you’ve brought them, place them here.”

“Understood, Your Highness.”

“Leave it to me, Valis-kun.”

“Got it.”

The three dispersed lightly, each returning with books held to their chest.

“Thank you. Let’s begin.”

Valis closed his eyes and spoke quietly.

“=Archive Arts: Folio Recta.”

A book floated gently from Reina’s arms, then another from Milia’s, and another from Feril’s. The rest followed, rising one by one to form a circular orbit around Valis’s feet. The lettering on their spines glimmered faintly, and the page edges aligned like scales of the moon.

The pages began to turn on their own, soundlessly. The faint rustle of paper overlapped in thin threads, blending into a whispering wind.

“Archive Arts: Solitarius Script.”

Within that circle, a quiet archive opened. The text being read sank in, indexes wove themselves automatically. Without disturbing his breathing, Valis extracted proper nouns, dates, places, and locations, sorting out the tangled threads.

“Ahh… No matter how many times I see this, it never ceases to amaze me. Right, Prince—no, Valis-kun.”

Milia laughed softly. Reina, moving with practiced ease, returned the books whose levitation had ended and replaced them with new ones.

“Your Highness, the next five volumes.”

“Received.”

Feril simply watched, transfixed. Eventually, her gaze dropped to Valis’s lips. Her murmur came out clearer than she intended.

“…So this is the prince’s cheat ability…”

Not exactly. 

Valis almost laughed under his breath.

No, this is just ordinary ancient magic, the Archive Arts of this world. Honestly, if I did have some reincarnation bonus, things would be easier.

The Archive Arts were rooted in scholarship itself—one’s magical ability could almost be said to depend on how many grimoires one had read. The Folio Recta, used together with the magical device the Solitaria Scripta, was among Valis’s proudest achievements.

The reading accelerated. For a frontier domain, the collection was large, though few volumes were noteworthy. Most were books he had already read in the royal capital, and there were noticeable “gaps” in the records. While the accounts of his service in the Royal Guard were detailed, the period around his transfer to this remote region was conspicuously thin.

“Your Highness, this one.”

Reina presented a book held carefully in both arms. The leather cover bore Laurel’s signature—his own handwriting. Valis steadied his breath and opened the pages.

…Entries listed by date. Income and expenditures, material purchases, meal plans, records of gifts given and received. The tone was dry and consistent, like a property ledger. Nothing particularly notable in content. However..

Relaxing his shoulders slightly, Valis made a decision.

“Feril. This is his own handwriting. When Margrave Everett returns, have him examine it. Arrange for it to be taken out from the archive.”

“Yes, sir—ah!”

The instant Feril reached out and touched the journal, a brilliant white light burst forth. The stack of paper ignited soundlessly, heat striking the air.

“Kyah!”

Her scream pierced toward Valis. His body moved before his thoughts could— or it should have. Yet before he could step forward, Reina had already leapt ahead.

“Feril!”

Reina seized the burning journal barehanded, tearing it from Feril’s grasp. The flame bit into her palm, then vanished in an instant. A foul smell stung their noses. Reina’s face twisted in pain.

“Idiot! What are you doing?!”

Milia’s shout rang out. She took Reina’s hand and immediately began a Divine Arts incantation. Soft light poured into her palm, and the burned skin quickly rewove itself. The stiffness drained from Reina’s shoulders, and her breathing slowly calmed.

“It’s all right now. As long as I’m here, I won’t let a single scar remain.”

Milia’s voice had regained its usual brightness. Valis knelt before Feril and took her hand. Her fingers trembled, but her skin was unhurt.

“Are you all right? Any burns?”

“I—I’m fine… But, Nee-sama…”

Tears welled in Feril’s eyes. Reina shook her head, turned toward Valis, and bowed deeply.

“Your Highness, I apologize for worrying you. My body simply moved on its own.”

“It’s fortunate Milia was here. But you could have handled it with magic. Try not to make us worry too much.”

“Yes.”

Reina replied shortly, then gently took Feril’s wrist.

“Your hand…Does it hurt anywhere?”

“I don’t know why, but it doesn’t hurt at all… If I hadn’t screamed in surprise, I wouldn’t have made you go through that, Nee-sama…”

Feril’s voice quivered. Reina embraced her softly and stroked her back.

“It was due to my own thoughtlessness. I’m sorry for making you worry.”

Valis lowered his gaze. The journal that had caused the incident lay on the floor—but it was no longer ashes. It had transformed into a new-looking book, bound in fine green paper. On its cover shimmered an intricate gilded crest. The air in the archive seemed to tense slightly.

“Best not touch it yet. Archive Arts: Folio Recta.”

Keeping his distance, Valis used magic to open the book. The pages lifted gently, the first flyleaf turning toward them. The text stood out clearly—old, yet distinct. Words that hadn’t been there before. He read. The pages advanced. His heartbeat gave a faint jump. He became aware of the heat rising in his face.

“…No way…”

The words slipped out before he could stop them. All three pairs of eyes turned toward him.

“Margrave Everett’s suspicions were, in a sense, correct. Laurel’s wife was an elf.”

After taking a breath, Valis continued.

“And that’s not all. It says here: ‘The Divine Maiden Princess Sylpharia — the vessel of the World Tree, symbol of the nation, dwelling at the heart of Silva Haruna.’”

What that statement implied was also written, but it was too vast a matter to take lightly. The air stilled, as though even the wind had stopped. Reina’s eyes widened slightly, Milia covered her mouth, and Feril stared speechlessly at Valis.

“…Feril. Summon Margrave Everett back immediately.”

“…Yes, at once.”

“Reina. Once we finish speaking with him, prepare to return to the capital by express courier.”

“Understood.”

“Hey, Valis-kun. What else was written in there…?”

“I’ll explain in detail once Margrave Everett returns. But, this isn’t something that can be dismissed as the scandal of some old noble.”

Valis gazed at the green journal. The contents written within were enough to shake the Kingdom of Alveria itself. This was far beyond something he could decide alone. He would have to report it to his father—the King of Alveria.

The light still shone gently throughout the archive. Yet the time sleeping within those shelves could no longer remain still. Somewhere, a single page turned with a quiet sound.

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