"Hmm? What's this?"
Riezel's attention was instantly drawn to the scroll that had rolled to his feet.
As he saw it, the material of the scroll seemed unusual and he could feel faint waves of magical energy emanating from it.
Lizbeth also glanced at the scroll and immediately picked it up.
"Umm... this is a piece of animal skin..." Lizbeth said, recalling the animal skin's origin. "Grandma Mia mentioned before that it was originally wrapped around Moslow, so we always carry it with us. Before His Majesty brought me into the palace, Grandma Mia reminded me that I must never lose it, no matter what."
Upon hearing this, Riezel stared at the animal skin in Lizbeth's hand, confirming the faint magical energy emanating from it.
For some strange reason, Riezel felt a strange throb of excitement as he gazed at the animal skin, as if something invisible were pulling him in and causing his gaze to gradually focus on it.
"Can I take a look at it?" Riezel asked, gazing intensely at the animal skin.
Unexpectedly, Lizbeth showed a troubled expression.
Seeing Lizbeth's reaction, Riezel suppressed the throbbing sensation in his heart.
"If it's a problem, forget it then."
"No, it's not that..." Lizbeth quickly shook her head, looking conflicted. "It's not that I don't want to show it to you, Master, but it's just... this thing is somewhat weird."
"Weird? How?" Riezel's interest was piqued.
Lizbeth hesitated for a moment before cautiously explaining.
"When I look at this animal skin, there is always a strange drawing on it, but when I told Grandma Mia or others about it, they all said there was nothing there."
"I once asked Grandma Mia why only I could see the drawing, and she told me it's something only chosen people can see, and that I must never reveal what's on it or lose it..."
"That's why I've always been scared to show it to anyone."
If Riezel weren't Lizbeth's master, perhaps she wouldn't have told him about this at all.
She had once shown the animal skin to her father, but he only thought she was playing around, so after that, she didn't dare show it to anyone else anymore.
"Really?"
After hearing Lizbeth's explanation, Riezel's gaze at the animal skin became more intense.
"Well, can I see it? Don't worry, I won't think you're making stuff up."
"O-Okay..."
Seeing that Riezel was very eager, Lizbeth reluctantly handed the animal skin over to him, albeit cautiously.
Riezel took the scroll-shaped animal skin and unrolled it right on the spot.
"..."
In an instant, the throbbing sensation he felt grew even stronger.
As he spread the scroll, opening the animal skin, his vision blurred for a second, as though he saw something—or maybe saw nothing at all.
When he came back to his senses, the animal skin in front of him had undergone a shocking transformation.
Originally, the animal skin had been completely blank, with nothing on it, but as he stared at it, lines slowly started to form, bit by bit, gradually creating a picture.
In just a few seconds, the picture fully took shape.
However, when the picture finally became clear and complete, Riezel's pupils contracted sharply, and a look of astonishment appeared on his face.
"Master...?"
Lizbeth, who had been watching Riezel's expression, felt quite nervous.
In the past, when she mentioned the animal skin as she had just now, people would initially show curiosity and interest, just like Riezel had.
Eventually, when they found out there was nothing on it, they would start doubting her, thinking she was making it up to gain attention. Even her father would think she was just trying to get his attention by acting mysterious.
Because of this, no one ever believed her words anymore.
Over time, she stopped talking about it, afraid people would think she was a liar and that she was just messing with them.
For this reason, she was incredibly anxious now, worried that her new master would think she was a liar too.
Nevertheless, Riezel just stared intently at the animal skin, gazing at the picture on it for a long, long time before finally raising his head.
"Don't worry."
Seeing Lizbeth's nervous face, Riezel reached out and patted her head gently.
"I can see what's on it. I know you're not lying."
Lizbeth's cheeks turned red from Riezel's casual head pat, but in the next second, she froze, stunned by his words.
"R-Really?" Lizbeth asked, her eyes lighting up.
"Mm, really." Riezel nodded with a smile before asking further. "By the way, do you know where this animal skin came from?"
"Where? I don't know..." Lizbeth gently shook her head. "Grandma Mia told me it was wrapped around Moslow when I was born, placed beside me... Like Moslow, it's something that's been with me ever since the day I was born..."
"Did she ever say anything else?" Riezel asked again. "You two were together for a long time, so she must've mentioned one or two things about this animal skin, right?"
"Mmm…" Lizbeth furrowed her pretty brows, looking troubled.
"No need to rush—just take your time."
Seeing Lizbeth's troubled expression, Riezel knew she was trying to recall something from the past.
It couldn't be helped since it was a long time ago, after all.
Lizbeth had been only seven when she entered the royal palace, and now eight years had passed. Because she had been so young back then, it wasn't easy to suddenly remember things from her childhood.
Moreover, since he also wasn't in a hurry, he comforted Lizbeth, encouraging her to take her time to think.
As a result, Lizbeth relaxed her furrowed brow and, under Riezel's encouraging gaze, began recalling the past carefully.
"Ahh!"
Before long, Lizbeth let out a small gasp.
"I remember now! When I was very little, Grandma Mia once said something to me!" Lizbeth said hurriedly.
"What is it?" Riezel asked immediately.
"Maybe someday, you should consider taking this animal skin to the Hidden Land..." Lizbeth repeated what her grandmother had said to her softly and slowly.
Upon hearing this, Riezel frowned.
"Hidden Land? What kind of place is that?" Riezel asked with a confused expression.
"I'm not sure..." Lizbeth shook her head, also looking confused. "Grandma Mia only mentioned it once when I was very young and never brought it up again... I always felt like she wasn't too keen on me doing that..."
Even though it had been a long time ago, she still had a vivid memory of her grandmother's expression from back then. It was an incredibly complex and melancholic expression, like she was remembering some sorrowful past.
Because of that expression, she had a lasting impression on her young mind, which was why she remembered that moment well.
Now that she remembered it, it suddenly made her wonder.
'Did Grandma not want me to go to this Hidden Land? Is that why she sent me to my father right before she passed away?'
Lizbeth couldn't help but think this.
"Hidden Land, huh..."
Riezel mumbled before asking Lizbeth again.
"Did she say anything else about this animal skin?"
Upon hearing the question, Lizbeth stopped obsessing over unanswered speculations. She quickly wracked her brain again, trying to recall, and after a while, she looked a bit embarrassed.
"I can't remember..."
Clearly, apart from the more memorable moment, the rest of the details were hard for her to recall.
"Alright..." Riezel sighed, seeing her struggle. "By the way... can I keep this animal skin for now?"
"Do you want it, Master?" Lizbeth asked, feeling slightly taken aback. "If you want it, I'll give it to you."
"Really?" Riezel was somewhat surprised. "It's something that's always been with you, right? Are you sure you want to give it to me just like this?"
Upon hearing this, Lizbeth's cheeks turned slightly red again.
"Mm... because it's Master..." Lizbeth murmured very softly.
In her mind, although the animal skin had always been with her, the one who would be by her side from now on was this powerful and handsome master.
Giving away something that had accompanied her before to the one who would accompany her forever felt like a special ceremony to her.
Since her master had not been part of her life before, giving him something from her past meant she was completely entrusting her life to him.
Needless to say, Lizbeth had clearly developed romantic feelings in her heart—truly a girlish heart, full of emotion.
Unfortunately, Riezel's Transparent World could see through the human body but not the human heart, so he naturally didn't know Lizbeth's inner thoughts and feelings.
"Alright, thanks for that."
Riezel patted Lizbeth's head again, causing her to blush and appear both shy and happy.
Seeing the little princess's bashful smile, Riezel admired it for a moment before turning his attention back to the animal skin in his hands.
At this moment, the drawing on the animal skin, invisible to others, was now clearly visible to his eyes.
It depicted a scene straight out of a myth.
Figures, rendered in fine lines, surrounded an altar, kneeling in reverence as if worshiping a god.
At the forefront of these line-drawn figures was a queen, distinguished by her royal crown, royal robe, and gleaming golden sword, with a body full of feminine features.
Under the queen's leadership, these figures worshiped the altar and offered their prayers.
On the altar, there was a floating object.
It was a square, or rather, a cube, which surprisingly resembled his Dimensional Magic Cube.
"…"
Riezel examined the cube on the altar repeatedly, then glanced at the one in his mind, lost in silence and motionless for a long time.