18. Returning the favor must be done with money, not with friendship
“Sh… friend?!”
I was so surprised that my voice unintentionally rose.
What did this man say? Why is he suddenly asking me for friendship?
Carlex looked at me with eyes full of seriousness, but I felt a threatening tone.
An alarm bell went off in my head.
I couldn't shake the feeling that I was involved in something with him.
Calm down, this is an opportunity to get through the crisis wisely.
“Why do you want to become my friend, Your Highness? There are great social differences between you and me... I am just an ordinary librarian.”
“Social rank has no importance in friendship. I believe that true friendship transcends age and gender.”
Hah, true words.
But why me specifically?
An involuntary sigh escaped me.
The master of the novel, who may in the future send me to the scaffold, does me the honor of sharing his friendship.
I feel gratitude that brings tears to my eyes!
For a moment Carlex looked into space with eyes full of memories.
“I felt many things while I was with you recently. You treated my beloved brother Michael very warmly, and even saved his life. I am very grateful for your kindness and the kindness you gave to me and my brother.”
He threw me a smile (full of friendship?).
“I would like to be your true friend, Miss Dale, and return your favor with friendship.”
If you want to return the favor, couldn't you simply pay me money instead of this petty friendship?
At least I'll bring escape money in case the worst case scenario is me being dragged to the guillotine.
Of course, on the surface, I adopted a grateful expression and clasped my hands warmly.
“I have already received my reward. Just Mr. Michael’s bright smile is enough for me. I am afraid that rumors will spread that I took advantage of your friendship for personal gain.”
This is a bit embarrassing, but I think those phrases are enough for the Duke to take the hint and back off, right?
But Carlex shook his head firmly.
Well, of course he wouldn't understand.
“You are a benefactor to Duke Reinhardt’s family, and my dear friend, I intend to return your favor at all times, for many years to come.”
Please, don't make unnecessary plans! Can't you leave me alone? I want to live my life quietly and simply, as a secondary character!
I looked at Carlex, standing still, as if he would not move a single step until I answered him.
Honestly... I'm scared.
In the original novel, Erica and Carlex never exchanged a word.
Erica was merely a prop to the story, a silent bookshelf bearing witness to the sparkling love story between Carlex and Freesia.
Is that Erica friends with Carlex now?
The original novel is changing more and more.
A lot of the information I knew became meaningless.
Since I came into this body.
This feeling as if the ground I'm standing on is shaking and crumbling.
If the ending of the original novel is changed, how can I exit this story?
Can I… leave this world and come back again?
I stared in amazement at the blue sky stretching behind the Duke's broad shoulders.
I'm still trapped in Erica's strange body, reeling through the world, sometimes losing track of reality and becoming lethargic.
The same sky in my original world.
My parents, my home, my friends, my dream, my future.
My real name.
Can I come back?
“Where are you looking at?”
A large hand cautiously grabbed my shoulder.
Cobalt blue eyes staring at me warmly.
The face of a lost child was reflected in those eyes.
“Erica, look at me.”
A tender voice like someone calming a child trembling in fear.
That large hand hesitated for a moment, then began to caress my head slowly and carefully.
This touch… familiar.
Similar to the way Michael strokes his head.
“It's okay, it's going to be okay, Erica, I'm here.”
Apparently, I have a complicated nature.
While the protagonist soothed me so gently, I suddenly regained consciousness.
Thanks to him, I regained my sanity.
I clearly realized what I had to do now.
“I panicked for a moment... I showed my weakness. I'm fine now. Can you please let go of my hand?”
I was finally able to issue my official, neutral voice.
At my calm request, Carlex looked at me for a moment and then backed down submissively.
I extended my hand to him in a formal handshake.
A flash of astonishment crossed his face.
“Your Highness, as friends, I look forward to working with you in the future.”
In an unstable life as an possessor in the body of an honorary librarian (an irregular job), having a powerful friend like the Duke isn't so bad, right?
Who knows, maybe he'll help me out a little as a friend when I'm being dragged to the guillotine.
Yes, there is no need to hesitate.
My survival and return are the most important.
Carlex's gaze follows my gaze, my expressions, one after the other, with constant interest.
I felt like he was constantly asking, “Are you really okay?”
I tried to smile normally to show that I was okay.
As if imitating me, he smiled too.
Those big, deep eyes, always cold and cruel, narrowed like a child's eyes.
My heart trembled for a moment.
“It's me who's looking forward to working with you, Miss Erica Dale. Let's get our 'friendship' off to a good start.”
A strong hand with prominent strings picks up my hand.
His warmth transfers to me, his fingers intertwining with mine as if checking the pulse on my wrist.
Wait, I have a bad feeling about this.
I felt as if I had entered into a contract with the devil to sell my soul.
I tried to withdraw my hand instinctively, but Carlex smiled victoriously and did not let go.
***
Official business at the Royal Library ends at four in the afternoon, but I stayed to read more.
After reviewing tomorrow's assignments and finishing a book, when I left the Royal Library, the sky was burning with the last vestiges of sunset, and a long twilight had descended on the streets.
The lamps hanging on the outer wall of the library were illuminated with bright light.
From afar, I saw the back of a street lantern holder lighting the street lamps with a long rod.
In the night sky, the stars twinkle, and on Earth, faint lights decorate the streets.
Not the bright artificial nights of the modern world until midnight due to the lights of luxury buildings and neon signs, but a comfortable and peaceful night like a dream.
I breathed in the cool, soft evening air of the capital and waited for the carriage.
Originally, I was scheduled to go back with Manager William, but he said he had a lot of late work and asked me to leave first.
At that moment, a quiet sound of hooves rang out on the road.
I turned around for joy, but it was not a carriage, but Duke Carlex on his white horse.
I thought he went to the Ducal Palace after shaking my hand and separating at noon.
Why is this man back here?
He elegantly dismounted from his horse and turned towards me with a face expressing some anger.
“Your work finish time is very late. It seems that William is giving you more work than necessary.”
“No, I was late because I wanted to read a book personally.”
I quickly explained, but Carlex's expression was still dissatisfied.
I quickly changed the topic.
“ما الذي أعادك يا سمو الدوق إلى هنا؟ ظننتُ أنك ذهبت إلى قصر الدوقية.”
“I was on my way to meet the commander of the capital guard, and since there are no knights to guard you, I came instead.”
I noticed that the Shadow Knights who were always guarding the main gate were not there.
I heard that the Royal Palace Knights guard the library 24 hours a day, while the Shadow Knights focus on protecting the book reader, which is basically me.
“Where did the Shadow Knights go?”
“I sent them to the bar to celebrate their return to the capital after a long absence. They fought on the battlefields without real rest.”
Carlex said it indifferently, but I felt the depth of his concern for his subordinates and the corner of my lips rose into an involuntary smile.
“Why are you smiling?”
he asked curiously.
“It's nice to see you taking care of your knights.”
Upon hearing my words, he let out a fleeting smile.
“They are loyal knights who gladly lay down their lives for me. I have shared countless moments of life and death with them.”
“But why are you here, Your Highness?”
"What do you mean?"
Carlex asked in surprise upon hearing my question.
This man is really heavy-handed.
I held my hand tightly and spoke firmly:
“You're comrades-in-arms, right? It's normal for you to drink together and share feelings, isn't that normal?”
Carlex's straight eyebrows suddenly frowned, then he said sternly:
“Not a good place for me.”
“If you are not a minor, anyone can go to the bar, so why… Wait a minute, would you… Your Highness the Duke?”
I paused for a moment, staring straight at him, trying to hold back a laugh that was trying to come out.
“You never went there?”
“It's a common place, not a place for the nobility, Miss Dale.”
Carlex replied with his usual cold and indifferent expression.
So the duke is the rose in the greenhouse!
He devoted his youth to battles and to his family due to the duties and responsibilities of a nobility.
It was really sad that he didn't know simple pleasures like drinking and laughing with good people at a bar.
“So, since I finished work, I’ll go get a drink. If you want to guard me, you’ll have to accompany me there.”
I shouted boldly and turned my face in the direction of the bar.
When I learned the geography of the area around the library, the first thing I checked was the location of the bar.
"Wait, Erica! Are you serious? Nabila goes to a place like this?"
This was the first time I heard Carlex's voice confused.
I shrugged indifferently and said confidently:
“What’s the problem? In front of wine, all people are equal.”
Before Carlex could catch me, I strode towards the bar.
I heard a desperate sigh from Carlex behind my back, but I ignored it.
*
**
The “Angel Wings” pub, a 15-minute walk from the Royal Library, was an old red brick single-storey building.
On the entrance, there is a picture of a winged angel holding a beer mug.
From behind the wide-open door, bright lights stream in, people's loud voices, the clinking of glasses, and the quick melody of a violin.
It's like a bar scene in a college district on a Friday night, so much so that I was thrilled.
The bar scene seems to be the same anywhere in the world.
With a happy heart, I was about to enter the bar, but suddenly something blocked my view.
Thick yet soft and luxurious fabric.
Upon closer inspection, it was a Carlex coat.
“Your Highness, why the coat?”
“In places like this, all kinds of people mix, and it's dangerous. Cover your face, Erica. I hope you remember your situation.”
I finally realized that I am a book reader, and that the enemy may target me at any time.
I had become so accustomed to times of peace that I had completely forgotten about it.
I covered myself from head to toe in a Calix coat so that my library uniform wouldn't show.
Calyx tried to enter the bar entrance first, as if to surround me.
“Your Highness the Duke.”
I called him in a whisper.
He turned to me quietly.
“I was... reckless. I forgot that going to strange places could be dangerous.”
“No, it doesn't seem so bad.”
"What do you mean?"
“I thought it might be a good idea to celebrate our friendship with a cup.”
Carlex gave me a playful smile.
Who would have thought that the cold duke could give such an expression?
He looks like a young boy full of pranks.
“Then let's go, Erica.”
Carlex led me.
To be continued…
Loving translation