10. Emergency midnight meeting
I returned to my room and soaked my body in the warm bathtub that the maid had prepared.
The throbbing pain throughout my body began to subside a little.
After showering, I put on a white nightgown and checked my wounds in the mirror.
A thin mark two centimeters long remained on the side of my forehead.
Perhaps thanks to the magical treatment, the wound has healed a lot.
I'll be able to hide it with my bangs, and anyway, it doesn't seem like it'll leave a visible scar.
I lay in bed trying to sleep, but my mind remained clear and alert.
The fear of the carriage accident, which I had forgotten for a moment, belatedly crawled back along my spine.
I really almost died.
If the magic ink pen did not exist, the little prince and I would have been crushed like a cart wheel and we would not be among the living today.
Thoughts mixed with anxiety and fear intermingled, and I did not fall asleep.
I tossed and turned on the bed repeatedly before finally giving up and getting up.
I sat on the edge of the bed and calmly reminisced about the events of the car accident.
I clearly remembered what I heard then: the talk of thieves who tried to seize the “book compass.”
They caused the carriage accident from the beginning in order to steal the compass.
If they had dared to commit their crime knowing that Duke Carlix's brother was inside the carriage, no one knew when they might appear again.
As soon as my thoughts reached this point, my limbs shifted.
I realized that a real threat lurked behind my back.
What do they want to try to steal the book's compass?
The task of retrieving overdue books has turned into a dangerous mission that could cost me my life... What the heck?
Director William instructed me to rest fully tonight, but that was impossible from the beginning.
I will no longer pretend to be a delicate, frightened, injured lady.
I will see it with my own eyes, hear it with my ears, and then make my decision.
I put on my slippers and a robe, lit the lamp and started down the stairs.
A light emerges from under the door of the drawing room at the end of the long corridor on the first floor.
The palace servant stood guarding the door with a hard face.
When the servant saw me, he tried to hide his surprise and then bowed.
“Miss Erica, the night is approaching. Do you need anything?”
I raised the lamp, looked directly at him, and announced:
“Please inform the director, I will participate in the meeting.”
The servant tilted his head deeply in confusion.
“Apologies, the master has ordered that no one be allowed in.”
“As someone concerned, I have the right to participate. I will speak to the director myself.”
At that moment, the reception room door opened and William came out.
He looked at me with calm eyes while wearing a comfortable shirt.
“Miss Erica is right, come in.”
The reception room I entered behind William was lit by lamps throughout, giving it a warm, intimate atmosphere.
The fire was burning in the fireplace, and only the occasional crackling of sparks could be heard, enlivening the still silence.
In the middle of this, Carlex was sitting on the couch, reclining and drinking some wine.
On the small table, I saw a bottle of wine and a glass that still contained some syrup.
Most likely William Cup.
Carlex was wearing a new shirt after taking off his coat and laying it on the sofa, looking a bit tired.
Deep shadows cast beneath his long, curved eyelashes.
The white of his shirt collar, open to his chest, contrasts with his tan skin in bright contrast.
He was placing his charming lips on the clear glass of wine, and looked at me with a look filled with interest.
"What's going on? At this late hour, is there something urgent?"
“I thought an emergency meeting was being held, but you two seemed to be relaxing. Did I disturb you?”
'Hmm, during the day they bicker like children, but Carlex and Director William seem to be really close.'
I suppressed a smile that was about to burst from my heart, and looked at Carlex with an indifferent face.
“Carlex, don’t be rude to Miss Erica, she’s confused.”
“I hope you remember that I haven't done anything yet.”
Perhaps because they were not in a formal meeting, William addressed Carlix unreservedly.
Carlex also didn't seem bothered by that.
William guided me to a comfortable chair and then explained again:
“We were discussing the carriage incident. We must submit an official report on the incident to the Royal Palace tomorrow.”
Carlex said with a sarcastic smile:
“It has been decided that you will be the one to write the report. You are talented at writing perfect court reports, full of superfluous words and artificial etiquette.”
“You want me to write the report? You were the one who was at the scene of the accident. In principle, the person responsible and concerned, that is, you, must write it.”
Carlex looked at William with a deep smile:
“I remember which family is the largest benefactor to the Royal Library, right, Director?”
William raised his hands as a tolerant person who understood his stubborn younger brother.
I looked at them both in disbelief.
“Wait, have you been arguing yet about who should write the report?”
“Isn't that normal?”
Carlex answered as if it were self-evident.
'Ah, he's not a kid who just doesn't like doing his homework.'
It was funny, but since I already went down, I should get compensation.
I looked at the bottle of wine on the table.
“Give me a glass too, I think I need a drink to sleep.”
“Won't drinking hurt your wound, Miss Erica?”
This moral advice was typical of William.
She thought for a moment, then showed a tired and frightened expression.
“Actually, I can't sleep because of the shock of the car accident. Maybe a little wine will help me relax.”
My feeling about the drink was honest.
Since I took possession of this body, I have not drunk a single drop, and I do not even remember the taste of the drink.
Honestly, after taking over the body of a minor villain, I wanted to drink an entire bottle of rage.
Good William aroused my feelings and I even felt a little sorry for him.
“I didn’t think about that. Today must have been difficult for you too. Miss Erica, wait a minute.”
William immediately called the palace servant and ordered him to bring a cup.
I was secretly touched as I looked at the wine the server poured into my glass.
“After bloodshed, the drink should be drunk in a knight-like manner.”
Carlex's blue eyes glowed deeper under the light.
A little while ago, he was clearly showing his dissatisfaction and dissatisfaction with my visit to the reception room.
“That's right, let's just consider it this once, as comrades we have overcome the same crisis, Duke.”
His blue eyes stared at me with determination.
'Is he challenging me to a staring contest now?'
I stared at him too without backing down.
William tried to mediate with an embarrassed expression as he sat between us, but Carlex suddenly stood up.
He took his long coat that was hanging on the back of the chair, and came towards me.
Then he carelessly wrapped the coat around me.
I was surprised by the sudden approach of his face, but his gaze was turning away as if he did not want to look at me.
I couldn't bear the curiosity, so I immediately asked him:
“Why did you suddenly give me your coat?”
“If you stay like this, you will die of cold.”
What? Dying from the cold in this weather?
I looked at my clothes for a moment.
I'm in a nightgown and a robe, it's warm clothes.
I looked at him surprised, and our eyes met again.
He was looking at me with a serious expression.
The strangest thing is that his face seemed sincere in his anxiety, like a child's.
William even got up with an expression that said (by the way), added some firewood to the fireplace, and then returned.
'What's up with them tonight?'
She tried to return the military coat to Carlex, but he resolutely refused:
“If you're uncomfortable, I'd appreciate it if you kept wearing it.”
“I don't have a choice, okay.”
I had to cover myself with his military coat like a quilt.
Thanks to the lingering scent and warmth of his body, I felt as if I was in his embrace as I had been when I rode the horse behind him.
I feel my face heat up even before I drink.
“Let's toast to the safe return of you both.”
William raised his glass first with a gentle smile.
The three glasses collided in the air with a clear clang.
After drinking a little wine, I calmed my soul, disturbed by fear and anger.
When I raised my head, the two men were also staring at me with worried eyes while holding their wine glasses.
Only when I saw their genuine, caring looks towards me from the depths of their hearts, did I finally feel reassured.
“I think the thieves in the car accident… were targeting me. They wanted to steal the ‘Book Compass’.”
When I spoke cautiously, Carlex answered in a low voice:
“My squad of knights informed me. They said they caused the carriage accident to steal the book compass, and then attacked the magic shield.”
William said with a serious expression, continuing his words:
“I heard, Miss Erica, that the book compass did not work in Count Hamilton’s house. This is a phenomenon that occurs when someone destroys a magical book’s location tracking device. Only a high-ranking magician with great skill can do this.”
“A high level wizard?”
“Yes. It seems that they prepared very carefully. They knew in advance that the book reader carrying the Book Compass would come to Count Hamilton’s house to retrieve the book, and they deliberately caused the carriage accident to steal it.”
“Why did they do that anyway?”
I couldn't hide the tremor in my voice.
Carlex looked at me with a serious expression.
There was concern in his eyes for me.
“The most important thing is how they knew that you are the book reader who carries the book compass.”
William agreed with Carlex's words with a grim expression.
“You're right, Carlex, knowing that Miss Erica's 'Book Reader' was a top secret known only to a few people involved in the library and we haven't even reached the royal palace yet.”
“This is evidence that the security of the Royal Library is in tatters.”
Carlex laughed coldly, but William did not respond, but let out a deep sigh.
“What about tracking down those people, Carlex?”
“My squad of knights is pursuing them now.”
“Don’t kill them all this time like last time. We must leave one alive to find out who is behind them.”
“Your excessive worry is unnecessary. This time, I will interrogate him myself. Their audacity to attack the next heir of the Duke Reinhardt family makes killing them so easily a very lenient punishment for their crime.”
Carlex smiled dangerously without hiding his anger.
So much so that the drink in his cup looked like blood red for a moment.
I unintentionally gave myself goosebumps.
It was a smile evil enough to befriend the devil.
William's expression grew darker.
He put his hands together like a prayer, thought for a moment, and then stared at me.
“What is certain is that the thieves know Miss Erica’s identity, and they may attack again to steal the book compass.”
“You mean I might get attacked again because I'm a 'book reader'?”
Both Carlex and William stared at me deeply.
“It gets embarrassing when everyone suddenly focuses on me.”
“I don't understand. All the Book Reader does is find magical books using the Book Compass. Why are they doing all this?”
Although it was an innocent matter, William's expression became more serious.
“Without the Book Compass, no one can find the magic book if someone steals it, no one.”
His gaze stopped at Carlex.
Carlex nodded briefly, William nodded as well, and then spoke again:
“This is a state secret, but since you are the ‘Book Reader’, Miss Erica, you must know it. This must never be revealed outside this room. Can you promise that?”
[To be continued in the next chapter]
-Loving translation
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