15. A kiss on the hand is a common greeting
Carlex gently raised my hand and then bowed gently towards it.
His lips descended like a luxurious butterfly.
I tried to reflexively pull my hand away, but his hand held it like a shackle, so I couldn't move.
I tried to calm my troubled heart by saying that a kiss on the hand was just a common greeting given to a lady.
His long eyelashes fluttered lightly.
When I met his cobalt blue eyes, which had opened after they had been closed, a throbbing pain arose in my heart.
“Why did this suddenly…”
Carlex kept staring at me silently without letting go of my hand.
His gaze was so soft and itchy that I didn't have the courage to face him for long.
“Is there still a problem? It’s just a formal greeting. I heard from Michael that it is etiquette in aristocratic society that after you escort a lady, you must definitely kiss her hand.”
“Ah, I see. Well, I guess you don’t have to give that greeting anymore.”
I looked over Carlex's shoulder as I spoke, because I didn't know where to look.
“Why, Erica?”
His gaze returning to me was ice cold.
He looked as if he would stun me with a look if I got a single word wrong.
Cold sweat trickled down my back.
“Because my meeting with His Highness the Duke was an official matter...there is no need to adhere to the etiquette of aristocratic society.”
“Ah, I understand.”
Carlex said indifferently and nodded as if he was convinced.
“Then I'll go now.”
I tried to turn around to leave, but I realized that my wrist was still in his grip.
“Your Highness? Holding someone else’s wrist for too long is also extremely inappropriate.”
“What you just said was a lie.”
“What? I don’t understand what you mean...”
Before my question was finished, he placed his lips again on the back of my hand.
The heat of his soft, warm touch imprinted itself on my cold body like a mark.
“Because your hand was shaking.”
“…!”
“I wanted to stop it.”
Carlex looked at me sternly.
Our eyes remained stuck in the air for a long time.
This was the first time we were standing in front of each other like this.
“I don’t know if it’s because you’re afraid of your responsibilities as a book reader, or something else… but I don’t want you to tremble in front of me.”
My heart was beating like crazy, and I felt dizzy.
Something inside me warned me that I shouldn't be near him anymore.
Honestly, I'm afraid to stand in front of Carlex.
I fear that he will enchant me and cause me to lose the path I should take.
“I wasn't shaking, your vision must be wrong then...”
Before Carlex caught me again, I quickly opened the door of the government headquarters and ran in.
I returned to my room with quick steps, my head bowed, fearing that I would face anyone.
I raised the window curtain slightly to see that the carriage had already set off.
Carlex was riding a horse, and looked at the government headquarters for a moment before following the carriage.
Only then did the tight tension relax, as if it had been cut off.
I sat in front of the dressing table, panting.
In the mirror, Erika's strangely pink cheeks stared back at me.
The feeling of his soft lips on the back of my hand is still vivid.
Why do I feel so anxious and trembling?
***
I spent the lockdown period confined to the government headquarters, thinking anxiously about what was to come.
Originally, I planned to work as a librarian and uncover the rebel forces first.
Because it is an easy and quick way to prevent the end of the execution.
But unexpectedly, Franz, the future Grand Duke and leader of the rebellion, boldly appeared first.
Even Duke Carlex doubts him.
According to the original text, the house of the Duke of Sberne provided a literary family that produced distinguished ministers, and contributed to the development and stability of the Kingdom of Ruberia.
That is, the family enjoyed wealth and glory throughout the generations.
Why do they bother to rebel and cause trouble? If they fail, the entire family will be destroyed.
Franz also, from the outside, doesn't seem like the greedy, ambitious type.
The serious problem is that the white fox Franz knows my true identity.
Maybe I should quit before he visits the Royal Library?
Enjoying a comfortable life in a rural fiefdom is better than being executed for getting into trouble...
No, what if I can't go home forever?
I spent sleepless nights, vacillating dozens of times a day between quitting and going to work.
Finally, on the morning of work, I had to get ready to go out, and I was left with dark circles and dry skin.
When I went down to the dining room, Director William was drinking tea while looking at a pile of papers.
When he sensed my presence, he lifted his eyes from the papers and smiled at me sweetly.
“Miss Erica, did you sleep well? Come and eat.”
On the table was warm soup, fresh bread, and fluffy scrambled eggs.
William and I talked a little while eating.
William was busy with court work as well as library duties, often returning to Government House late at night.
However, he said he wanted to at least have a Passover meal together, and even as busy as he was, he made sure to make time for the meals.
William was a wonderful shepherd, more than I deserved.
Very few people care about me and take care of me like family.
“Unfortunately, we will not be able to go to work together today. I have to come to meet His Majesty. I will go to the library in the afternoon.”
“It seems that his poor health has returned again.”
I heard that William, as a magical healer, is the chief physician of the royal family and treats the king's illness.
I heard that healing magic drains a lot of energy, so I was worried that it might break down first.
Today, he looked paler and more tired than usual.
“Don't strain yourself too much, Director, you look very tired.”
“It's okay. Miss Erica, don't overwork yourself and rest...By the way, do you want me to show you a good place to rest in the library?”
William smiled tenderly and instead showed concern for me.
“This is not what you should say, Mr. Director, places to avoid work are better when the boss does not know about them. I will find them myself.”
“Haha, I’m curious to know where that place will be. I sure hope you find it.”
After finishing the warm breakfast, Director William left for the palace first.
I headed to the Royal Library in a small open carriage.
The capital of the Kingdom of Ruberia, Artemia, was painted in the bright colors of early summer.
Ancient palaces, skyward-spiring towers and beautiful orange-roofed old town buildings sparkled in the sun.
Well-arranged roads extended like a spider's web, and between them large and small stone buildings took their places.
The streets were crowded with people.
Even on the large main roads whose movement was restricted by the capital's guards, luxury carriages would pass by accompanied by accompanying knights and a large number of guard troops.
“It's very beautiful.”
The exclamations came from me unconsciously.
Before I moved into this body, I used to ride the trains of hell where it was difficult to breathe, and now I feel like I'm traveling across Europe every day in a private carriage.
Whenever I think about it, moving to another body isn't so bad.
The carriage stopped in front of the main gate of the Royal Library.
At the gate, the guards were carrying spears and watching sternly.
When they saw me dressed as a librarian, they saluted and let me in.
After the royal library, which was closed due to the theft of magical books, was reopened, the guard was reinforced.
Entry procedures have become so strict that the identity of every visitor is verified.
In the library reception hall, a familiar face greeted me respectfully.
The knight was Lloyd, a shadow knight of Duke Reinhardt's family.
“Librarian, you came to work early.”
Dark blue uniform with an image of the sword and rose, the Reinhardt family crest, on the chest.
In addition, Lloyd, who was wearing a black cloak and a sword, looked more serious than usual.
Even the playful Lloyd had that look.
“Knight Lloyd, indeed… you are a knight that suits you very much.”
“Haha, my lady is also good at joking. I am a knight who is loyal to you to the core.”
Lloyd gave a friendly smile and opened the entry door for me himself.
“Your work is hard today too, Librarian. His Highness the Duke will be visiting the library around noon due to attending the Royal Council meeting.”
“I did not ask about His Highness the Duke’s schedule.”
“I told you because I thought you would be curious, it's just unsolicited advice.”
I entered the library receiving unwanted encouragement from Lloyd.
The library, which I visited for the first time since lockdown, was still beautiful.
On the walls, there are bookshelves filled with rare manuscripts and luxurious marble columns decorated with gold leaf.
That's not the only reason I think the library is beautiful.
The Royal Library owns hundreds of thousands of rare books, ranging from manuscripts hand-copied by monks hundreds of years ago, to all books published in the kingdom, and precious books collected from foreign countries.
Above all, the ancient books, the pride of the Royal Library, were beautiful and meticulous as mind-blowing works of art.
Such as books with ivory covers, or books studded with jewels. There are even books written using gold powder instead of ink.
As a librarian, working in Jamida Library was a joy, but not without complaints.
That the royal library could only be used by nobles.
This is the opposite of the idea of a library that should share the wisdom and knowledge of humanity with everyone, which I don't like.
I must seriously discuss with Director William the problem of opening the library to the public when the opportunity arises.
I went to the arched table in the middle of the first floor and began getting ready for work.
On the table, there was a librarian's chair and a small bookshelf for storing returned books.
To the side, there was a tea table with a luxurious pink pattern and two comfortable velvet chairs.
At first, I wondered why there was a tea table, but I soon learned why.
While I was checking the book index, I heard a bright, energetic voice behind me.
“Oh, Miss Erica, you came early? Were you okay during this time?”
Miss Rose Madison greeted me with a bright smile.
Today she was also wearing a pink frilly dress.
Even her elegant walk as she fluttered the lace fan was now familiar.
“Miss Madison, nice to see you after a while. Have you been okay during the lockdown?”
“It was good to rest well thanks to the lockdown. By the way, I brought sweets from the most famous pastry shop in the capital. They will go well with morning tea time. Are you drinking a cup of tea to celebrate returning to work?”
Rose's maid, who always accompanied her, skillfully spread a bright white tablecloth on the tea table, and arranged a two-tier dessert tray and a complete set of tea utensils perfectly.
“This is a rare black tea that was hard-brought from a distant country. It smells authentic, doesn’t it?”
Rose smiled warmly and offered tea.
I felt the guilt of an employee wondering if this was acceptable in the workplace during work hours.
But with the first bite of the sweet dessert, the petty post-throat guilt disappeared.
Rose took a sip of tea elegantly, then talked about the weather as a normal conversation, and asked directly:
“What happened between you and Duke Carlex during the carriage accident?”
“Usually, they first ask if you were injured during the trolley accident.”
When I met her with a sociable smile, Rose held the fan wide open with her mouth and let out a low laugh.
I got a little chills because of the evil missus atmosphere in the novel.
“Hehe, our family, Madison, runs the largest trading company in the Ruberia Kingdom. Of course, we are aware of all the events and information within the kingdom as well. Although we have verified through witnesses what happened between you two on the day of the carriage accident… I trust more the testimony of the person in question himself.”
Rose folded the fan with a sharp sound.
“So tell me quickly, what is your relationship?”
[To be continued in the next chapter]
Loving translation