20. Finally meeting the heroine
“Can't the noble ladies here drink wine in the taverns? Or would that cause scandal and excitement?”
In fact, they probably don't do it in regular bars like this, but only sip a glass or two of wine at balls or formal dinners.
Despite Carlex's rebuke, I squared my shoulders confidently.
“Where I come from, noble ladies can drink wine freely, and everyone is equal in front of the cup.”
His cobalt blue eyes sparkled at my words.
“You talk like my knights, they also brag and then end up drunk in front of me.”
“The Duke’s knights seem to be skilled in combat but weak in tolerating alcohol. As for me, I have never fallen in front of a glass.”
She sent him a challenging smile.
At the right moment, the bartender expertly filled the glass, and I drank the beer in one go.
Carlex's beautiful, strong fingers gripped the beer glass, and he drank it slowly until he emptied it.
His broad, firm Adam's apple moved, hiding behind the collar of his military uniform.
A drop of wine slid from the tip of his red lips down his strong chin.
Could the sight of a man drinking alcohol be so sensual?
“I wonder why William would devote himself to you.”
"… What?"
“Why did William become your guardian?”
“I'm wondering too. All I can do is thank Mr. Director.”
Thanks to William's care, I was able to settle into this world.
I got work and shelter.
He was always a reliable and affectionate person by my side, like an older brother.
“I now understand William’s decision.”
“What do you mean, Your Highness?”
“A woman who speaks with all her might to higher-ranking nobles, who advances fearlessly into battle, who drinks wine without hesitation. Shouldn’t William become her guardian to curb her unpredictable behavior?”
“That sounds like you're saying I'm a nuisance.”
“I didn't say it outright, but it's good that you're somewhat aware of that.”
He criticizes people in a polite, smiling manner.
If he wasn't the main hero, I would have turned the wine tables, really.
Regardless of the main hero's ability to annoy others, the beer was delicious and all was forgiven and the world seemed beautiful.
I comfortably enjoyed my beer, and smiled like a satiated cat.
The beer foam was as soft as milk foam, and swallowing it was an art in itself.
If there is beer like this, then reincarnation life is acceptable, right? How great is life? يكفي أن تشبعين بالسعادة البسيطة.
Carlex turned suddenly, his broad shoulders shaking.
He seemed to be trying to hold back his laughter out of respect.
Aha? He's laughing? He might have gotten too drunk.
“Your Highness, are you okay?”
“No... it's the mustache, no, the foam on your face...”
I touched under my nose, there was beer foam stuck like a mustache.
Oh, how embarrassing!
I wiped it off immediately.
I was so embarrassed that I couldn't look at his face.
I tried my best to act as if nothing had happened, and stood up naturally.
“The…night has advanced, I should be back now.”
I felt Carlex's piercing gaze watching me.
The sounds of loud drinkers' laughter and cheers became indistinct, and the sounds of cheerful music faded away.
His usual cold, icy gaze gently melted under the warm firelight.
“…It was a fun night.”
I ignored his meaningful words and stood up.
Carlex followed me.
When we left the tavern, the Shadow Knights were waiting, preparing the carriage and Carlex's horse.
When my eyes met Lloyd's, he sent me a manipulative look.
He assumed a pose like a minstrel and sang a verse:
“They share a cup under the moonlight, whispering love ~ Handsome man and woman ~ It's a beautiful night ~”
Liam's captain gave a fake cough and stamped on Lloyd's foot forcefully.
Lloyd let out a silent scream and then straightened himself.
Huh, he shouldn't talk rashly.
Carlex helped me open the carriage door and get in.
“Oh, right, Your Highness, I will return your cloak.”
I extended his cloak to him, but he shook his head.
“It's cold, keep it, Erica.”
Carlex ordered Commander Liam:
“The Shadow Knights must escort Miss Dale safely to the residence.”
Carlix mounted his horse briskly and approached the carriage window.
“You were right, sharing a drink together is a lot of fun.”
Hmm, from my memory, Carlex only drank one drink while I drank a lot?
Maybe next time we play drinking games to increase his stamina.
“Ah, I'm glad you had fun.”
“Well, until we meet again, take good care of yourself, my dear friend.”
Carlex smiled and bid me farewell.
For a brief period, I lost my ability to speak.
This is cheating.
To smile with such joy.
***
The next morning to drink.
I was overwhelmed by the symptoms of a heavy, excruciating headache: nausea, headaches, and heartburn.
I didn't notice at the time, but apparently traditional craft beer was high in alcohol.
I really didn't want to go to work, but I couldn't muster the courage to say to William, “I drank yesterday so I won't go to work today.”
I have my pride too.
"Are you really okay? You're pale. Should I use a healing spell?"
When I met William in the principal's office upon my arrival, his concern seemed sincere.
He was ready to roll up his sleeves and use a healing spell on me right away.
“I'm fine. Maybe my breakfast was heavy.”
I felt guilty about using holy magic just to get rid of the hangover.
I drank the black tea at once to treat my headache, then quickly got up.
“I enjoyed my tea. I will go to work now.”
“Miss Erica, you don’t have to strain yourself at work. I will inform Ms. Marian, so you can rest easy today.”
Tears of gratitude nearly flooded my eyes from William's gentle, caring voice.
A workplace where the boss fears that his employees will be exhausted and asks them not to work. This is a truly divine workplace.
But where does the South Korean worker's persistence go? I have to work at least as much as my salary to be secure.
"Don't worry. I'll work for a bit and then hang out."
“Haha, I understand. This reassures me that I must enter the palace today, so I asked Duke Carlex to accompany you when work is finished.”
“Can’t I go back alone? It seems a waste of the kingdom’s resources for a duke to be accompanied by a library official on his way back.”
“Miss Erica, you are a valuable talent to the kingdom, so you must be protected. And of course, you are precious to me as well.”
William's gentle brown eyes stared at me calmly.
His gaze towards me was always wary as if he was looking at something precious, warm like the warm rays of the sun which made me feel tickled.
“Sh…thank you, I’ll go to work now.”
I left his office in a hurry, as if I was running away.
My face is red, I'm embarrassed.
How could William say such sweet words so easily?
I quickly went down to the first floor, went to the reception desk to greet Rose, and then proceeded directly to arranging the shelves.
I cataloged hundreds of books donated by a nobleman with the staff and recorded them in the library catalogue.
After a painstaking process, we arranged them on the shelves according to categories, and time passed quickly.
“Admin, it seems difficult to display this book because it is damaged.”
An employee handed me a book with a damaged cover while arranging the books.
“I'll take him to the restoration room and come back.”
I got up and shook off my skirt.
In this world, mass printing systems have not developed, so damaged books are reproduced by hand or printed using letterplates to restore them.
In the modern era, we are overflowing with books, and if they get a little damaged, we throw them away and ask for new ones.
It's nice here that each book is treated with care.
She quietly opened the door to the restoration room at the end of the corridor on the third floor.
It's a space where employees work with concentration, so I have to be careful with my movements.
There were several workbenches randomly distributed in the restoration room.
On every table, there were piles of damaged books like mountains.
I saw an employee typing using a makeshift letter pad, placing each letter individually and printing them out with ink.
Another draws according to the illustrations. Another diligently copies the book.
Who would have imagined that behind the tranquility of the library, there is hidden sweat and effort from the employees who diligently manage, repair and preserve the books?
“You have arrived, welcome.”
The boy trainee greeted me respectfully.
It was a blond, curly-haired boy, full of freckles on his nose, Waynes.
“Mr. Waynes, this book has a torn cover.”
“Yes. I checked it. I will return it to you in four days.”
“Isn't Mr. McBurrin here yet?”
When Mr. McBerrin, the cover repairman, examined the table, the table lamps were out.
The table top was clean with no sign of work having begun.
Waynes scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed face.
“He said he was going to take a few days off because he didn't feel well.”
It was clear from Wayne's expression that he was lying.
I was speculating that Mr. McBerrin was absent from work without permission due to his heavy drinking.
Even Lady Marian was observing his unserious work behaviour.
“This is bad. The cover needs to be fixed quickly. It is popular among users.”
Waynes raised his head with a determined expression.
“Librarian, I apologize for interfering. Can I fix the book?”
“How long have you been an apprentice, Mr. Waynes?”
“Just over five years.”
He was a tall, skinny boy in his late teens.
His hands were rough and scarred from his work trimming leather and carving letters with a heat tool.
These monuments were a perfect reflection of his serious and hardworking personality.
She handed the book to Waynes and smiled sweetly at him.
“Okay, I will entrust this to you, Mr. Waynes. Please fix the cover of this book.”
Wayne's face lit up as if he had received a surprise gift.
"Is this real? Can I really fix the book?"
“I certainly trust your seriousness.”
As soon as I finished speaking, the workers gathered as if in agreement.
“Oh, the little boy is amazing!”
“Taking over his first repair already, that's great.”
They were happy for him as if it were their own, and congratulated Waynes.
Waynes nodded to me in thanks with teary eyes.
“Thank you for trusting me and entrusting me with the task. I will do my best.”
After Waynes said goodbye to me and left the restoration room, I unconsciously looked at the stairs leading to the fourth floor.
Past events passed like a panorama.
I fled to the fourth floor of the library to escape a forced marriage, then found the Book Compass in the Magic Book Depository.
When I even remembered the incident of Carlex accusing me of stealing, a bitter smile came out of my mouth without my knowing it.
When I told Director William that I had entered the Magic Book Depository, he didn't believe me.
The repository that stores magical books is meticulously managed by the kingdom.
He was surprised, wondering how I got in since there was a powerful magical energy field installed and one couldn't enter rashly.
I was surprised too.
I opened the door handle and just walked inside.
William said that it seemed that I, being a book reader, was not affected by the magic field.
But the fear and guilt hidden behind his calm and deep gaze… I still don't understand it.
What is he really afraid of, and for whom does he feel guilty?
At that moment, the hem of a dress swayed from behind the stairs on the fourth floor.
At first, I thought I was imagining.
Perhaps a visitor had gone up to the fourth floor by mistake?
I quickly climbed the stairs to warn the visitor.
At the end of the stairs on the fourth floor, there was a woman standing in confusion.
It must seem to her that the white wall is blocked by magic.
But she stood motionless, as if she could see beyond the wall.
Her beautiful platinum hair swayed down her back, and her light yellow dress sparkled faintly in the dark corridor alone.
“Excuse me, you can't come in here. I'm sorry, but you have to come down...”
Before I could finish speaking, the woman turned around.
Our eyes met and...
For a moment, I forgot to breathe.
Did a stray angel descend?
Her light blonde, near-silver hair swayed lightly.
Her big, beautiful violet eyes sparkled like a delicate jewel.
Her face was as bright and white as the first snow, and her nose was straight.
Her pink lips seemed to be colored by a spring rose.
Who was born only to be loved, and who was loved by Carlex with everything he had.
The heroine of this original novel, Freesia.
It was her.
(To be continued…)
Loving translation
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