Mina had dignified bearings and had a serious expression, wholly engrossed in the book she was reading.
Even though Damien came walking from the front, she was too focused to even notice him.
"Boo!"
"Ah!" Mina jerked back in her seat with a startled expression. Her pretty eyes became even rounder upon noticing it was Tristen.
"W-Why are you here?" Mina asked in an apprehensive tone and subconsciously had her hands in a protective stance.
Damien could only sigh as he saw in his memories that Tristen would take "teasing" with her to another level, making her scared of him.
'What's wrong with this guy…' Damien knew because of Tristen's ways; he can't change his way of talking and actions too drastically since people might find it fishy.
That's why when a criminal suddenly turns into a reformed man, most people would definitely be suspicious about it or be still on their guard whenever they are around that person.
It doesn't matter if the criminal turned into a good man for real or not, since the treatment he would receive probably won't change.
The initial impressions people make would stick to them like glue for a long while, even if they change themselves.
Damien placed his hands over her chair and leaned closer to her with a sly smirk, "Why? Are you not happy to see your brother?"
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})Mina furrowed her brows and said in a timid voice, "I-It's not that. I am just surprised since you never enter places like this."
Mina was not lying since she knew Tristen hates things like books or spending his time learning something.
Other than reading books, the reason Mina loved to sit in the imperial library was that she knew Tristen wouldn't waste his energy coming to the library just to "tease" her.
She had no idea when his teasing would get out of hand and so could only run and avoid him whenever she could.
She also didn't want to tell about his teasing to anyone else since it would be shameful for her. Nobody would do anything about it since Tristen had a higher status than her. At the same time, she was not anything special but one of the many princesses.
That's why she never competed against other princes and princesses' for anything and only minded her own business to avoid trouble the best she could.
She was the kind of person who wanted to avoid all sorts of conflict and keep to herself at all times.
Damien smirked as he pinched her chin, "Hmph, are you looking down on me just because I don't read these boring books?"
Mina's lips started to tremble, and her eyes were beginning to water, "N-No...look you can't create trouble here…"
'This girl is too cute…' Damien inwardly thought in amusement and felt that this was the reason Tristen couldn't resist.
He also couldn't help but think how she would react once she learns that Tristen was sleeping with her mother.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})Damien let go of her chin and harrumphed, "What do you take me for to think that I always cause trouble whenever I look for you?"
Mina felt a bit relieved seeing that he at least backed down a bit. She wondered if it was because they were in the imperial library now.
Hearing his words, she bravely met his eyes and asked in a meek voice, "No...But then why...why did you come here now?"
Damien took a seat near her and said as he patted the set of books kept near her, "I want your help."
Mina's eyes became as round as saucers, wondering if she heard it right or if her mind was playing tricks.
She nevertheless asked in curiosity and surprise, "What help do you need?"
She also had some crazy thoughts about what he might be asking and bitterly hoped those were not the case. She still couldn't believe a lecherous and arrogant person like him would ever need help from someone like her.
Damien twirled his fingers over the books as he said in a semi-serious tone, "I have taken a great interest in the art of formations and heard that you are the best person to help me with stuff related to it."
"The art of formations?" Mina asked with bulging eyes.
"Can you not get surprised at everything?" Damien asked with an exasperated expression.
"Sorry…" Mina said as she shrank her body.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})"Forget it...anyway, are you as good as people say?" Damien asked casually.
Mina cleared her throat and said, "I-I am not really that kind of expert and—-?
"Stop being so modest and just tell me a simple yes or no," Damien asked as he waved his hand in an irked manner.
"Yes," Mina replied and was looking at Tristen with a new light wondering if he hit his head somewhere to take an interest in such a profound subject.
However, she still felt relieved, seeing that he was being serious about it and was not trying to mess with her. If he wanted to, he wouldn't waste his time by going about it in such a roundabout manner.
"Good. Now tell me if you have heard about the Pandemonium Needles?" Damien asked expectantly.
Mina's eyes lit up, "The Pandemonium Needles? Of course, I have heard about it. Each one is a Saint Grade artifact of its own right and has the power to cause changes on a large scale. It's evident from its history as—-"
"Yea,yea, I know about its history, so you don't have to repeat everything," Damien said impatiently.
"You know about it?" Mina was getting more and more surprises from Tristen and felt that she had never been so surprised in her life. But she quickly suppressed her reactions to not irritate Tristen anymore with her reactions.
"Are you going to keep looking down on me? Look here, smartypants, I ask the questions, and you answer it, got it?" Damien said in a stern tone.
"Smartypants? Ah...sorry, I won't ask anything," Mina said with her head down.
Damien felt sorry for her, but he still had to keep up with his character and said, "Look at me when I am talking. Now, tell me, do you know where to find these Pandemonium Needles? I desperately need them for my studies."
"For studies? There are only four in this world, and our Gale Empire has only two out of them. From this, you know how something like this would never be given away for studies, no matter who asks," Mina was taken aback, seeing how he was looking for the Pandemonium Needles for his studies.
No one would dare to think of using them for such a simple purpose.
Damien sighed, "I know. But as I said, I am desperate. I am sure you have heard about the recent rumors relating to me. I need to prove myself to my father. Otherwise, I am a goner."
Damien quickly changed his tone and continued, "Please, you have to help me. If you don't, I will be thrown away, and I am sure a kind girl like you wouldn't be able to bear watching your brother get destroyed, isn't it? I will be forever in your debt if you help me out this time. Pretty please?"
Mina's mouth almost fell open seeing this side of him. She never took him as a guy who could be so dedicated to one thing that he didn't shy away from pleading for help from someone like her despite his arrogance.
Her cheeks flushed in red, feeling embarrassed being pleaded to like this. She already heard of the rumors about how Tristen was slowly losing the light of a prodigy and how the emperor was angry at him.
She finally felt sorry and pity for him and decided to try her best, seeing how sincere he was about this. She hoped that this might change him for the better and decided to take up the mission to reform him.
She smiled, "Don't worry, I am sure royal father would understand if you talk to him. But regarding the Pandemonium Needle's current whereabouts, there are many speculations. Some say it's in the imperial treasury while others say the emperor had hidden it away for safekeeping in someplace else."
"Damn it," Damien banged the table in frustration, making Mina startle. He continued, "Royal father would never accept any of my requests. He would just think that I am wasting his time. Just when I want to finally study, everything seems to be against me...sigh."
Mina bit her lips and said, "I can try asking my teacher. She has a very high status and might be knowledgeable about these things."
Damien's eyes sparkled, "Who is your teacher?"
"The newly-wedded wife of the first brother. As you know, she has quite a high status since she is the daughter of the strongest supreme elder who stood by royal father the longest."
"Oho…" Damien felt like maybe things were not that hopeless.
