Light from the Shadow

Chapter 2

"Have you heard about the new head of our Grand Library?" A maid nudged her peer on the elbow.

"About Mr. Rishi? Of course I have! Hah! I wish I can see those old greedy nobles' faces when Mr. Rishi was appointed as the new master. They had no choice but to acknowledge his outstanding performances." The second maid said proudly as she peeled a potato in her hand.

"Ahh, such achievement at his young age. So good looking too. I wonder if he is seeing anyone." The first maid said dreamily.

"Dream on!" The second maid waved her hand. "I know he is a commoner like us but he is way beyond our league."

"Aria! Can I have some cookies?" Ayna popped her head from the kitchen window.

The two maids were startled. "Your Highness!"

Maria quickly opened the kitchen door for Ayna. "You should have just rung us, Your Highness. I will bring the snacks along with your tea to your room right away. Please wait..."

"I'll just have them here." Ayna cut her. She walked into the kitchen and sat beside Aria who was still peeling potatoes.

"But..."

"Princess!!!" Jyaga's voice echoed in the corridor.

"Yikes! That Jyaga just won't let me go, will he??" Ayna got up hurriedly. "Please put the cookies in my room, okay?" She reminded before leaving the kitchen, running away from the knight's captain.

The twin maids shook their heads as they watched the two childhood friends running in the garden, chasing one another.

"Mr. Rishi already made his name in Remblan history as the youngest librarian to be appointed and here our princess is still struggling to just get a passing mark for graduation..."

***

Qwentine heard the front door opened when he was preparing dinner. "Rishi?" He called.

A young man entered the kitchen. "I'm home, Dad."

"How is your new job? Are you tired? Do you want to take a bath first? Or dinner? But it may take..." Qwentine went on.

Rishi smiled. "I'm good. Let me help you." He walked to the counter and rolled up his sleeves. He washed his hands and took over the chopping board.

"How is your work?" His father asked again.

"Nothing different, really. The previous Head made me do all his work back then anyway." He laughed. "Useless creature." He said as he chopped off the fish head. His eyes were reflected on his glasses. They looked lifeless.

Qwentine gulped. Sometimes he did not really know what his son was thinking. He looked at Rishi who was standing beside him still cleaning out the guts. His son was kind and helpful, a respectable man. Except from a few jealous noble men, no one in the city spoke ill of him. At just 15, he took several odd jobs to help bringing money into the house. At the age of 20, he applied to the Grand Library as an archivist and had since climbed his way to the top.

"It's fish again." Rishi murmured.

"Eh? Oh..." Qwentine scratched his hair. "The fish is cheap today so..."

"Do you want to eat meat, Dad?" Rishi asked without looking at his father.

"Fish is good enough for me." Qwentine smiled sheepishly.

"You always say that." His son laughed. "Now that I'm the head of the library, I get higher pay. I'll bring home some meat tomorrow." He set aside the cleaned fish and washed his hands again. "The palace doesn't pay you well, I guess."

"I'm sorry, Rishi."

"Why? Not that it's your fault." He dried his hand in the sink and tapped his father's shoulder. "I'm going to take a bath. I'll leave you with the cooking." And he disappeared from the kitchen. A few seconds later, Qwentine heard the sound of door being opened and closed. He looked at the fish prepared by Rishi and started cooking quickly before his son came down again.

After dinner, Qwentine went back to his room to work. Rishi passed by his room and decided to pay a visit.

"Busy, Dad?" He knocked as he entered the room.

"Rishi?" Qwentine turned his chair and saw his son coming in. "Oh, this? I'm preparing materials for tomorrow's lesson."

Rishi came to his side and glanced at the paper. He pulled out a sheet and studied it. "Isn't your student the crown princess? Aren't these too basic for her?" Qwentine could feel sweat running down his back.

"I remember she was in the same year as one of our librarians..." Rishi counted the age. "Like 23? I don't think this is the right..." He stopped. He took another sheet. There were a few places marked by his father's handwritings. "What is this?"

"Rishi..."

"How can she..." Rishi's eyes were running from one corner to the other, looking bewilderedly at the test paper. After a while, he finally put down the paper. "Is she an idiot?"

Qwentine covered his face with both his hands.