Ever since I took possession of the body of the heroine in the original novel, A Love Affair in the Royal Library, one thing has been on my mind:
How would I feel if I saw the heroine in person?
Freesia Rubel, like an angel in its tenderness, and like a rose in its beauty.
Mademoiselle Count is a noble woman, loved by all.
This was my impression when seeing the heroine who I knew only from the pages of the book:
Oh my God! I will fall in love with her.
The world seems to revolve around Freesia, and all the characters exist for her.
Even I, as a secondary character, was affected by this extent... So what if the hero Carlex had seen her?!
There is no doubt that he will fall in love with her at first sight.
“Excuse me, are you the librarian?”
Her voice was sweet and gentle, like the chirping of a bird at the beginning of the morning.
Just as the moon attracts the earth, I was instinctively drawn to its sounds.
“Do you need any help?”
Freesia let out a sigh of relief.
“I'm embarrassed, but I got here while looking for a book. Can you help me find it?”
She came to the fourth floor while looking for a book? The guards must have stopped her.
Or maybe you went to the bathroom?
“Which book are you looking for?”
“It's a romance novel...”
As if she was ashamed to mention the title, she handed me a patch in a shy voice.
The most borrowed book during this period, and the best-seller among noble ladies and gentlemen.
It tells a stereotypical Cinderella story: a poor noblewoman rescues the crown prince who has been injured on a hunting trip, and falls in love with him.
Although popular stereotypes inherently attract a lot of love, this book is even more loved for having gorgeous artist-inspired illustrations on every key scene.
Especially since the Crown Prince's attractive and powerful appearance was so great that the theft of the illustrated pages was common.
As a result, the restoration staff re-drew the illustrations every day while crying.
I also saw a drawing of the hero, and surprisingly, he looked very similar to “Carlex”!
So much so that I wondered if the painter had copied from his picture.
Wait, I smell money here!
What if I collaborated with a restoration department employee to produce a catalog of Carlex photographs and sell it exclusively to noble ladies?
When everyone takes over a character, they make huge amounts of money from soap projects, cosmetics, or mining projects.
But the “Hero Products Project” never occurred to anyone, right? Haha, I feel the breeze of overwhelming success.
“The librarian?”
A pure, gentle voice echoed near my ear.
I woke up from dreams of commercial success and my malicious smile.
Freesia was staring at me with the eyes of a baby deer.
My conscience pricked me painfully in my heart.
Sorry, my lady heroine.
I almost sold the hero as a means of earning money.
“Well, fortunately there is one copy of that book left. Follow me.”
I walked towards the bookshelves on the second floor.
Behind me, her soft steps touched the ground with the fringes of her dress.
I now realize the reality of the situation.
Truly, I have met the real heroine.
My palms were sweaty, probably due to stress.
I better find the book quickly and stay out of any tangles, right?
In the original novel, Erika only infiltrated the royal library to gather information for the rebel forces, and did not meet Freesia.
My desire to get out of this situation unconsciously made my steps quicken.
“Librarian, can you slow down a little?”
Perhaps she found it difficult to follow me, so Freesia began to breathe heavily from behind.
“Sorry, I was walking too fast, wasn't I?”
"No. You're busy, and yet you're helping me look for the book personally. I'm causing a nuisance."
Freesia answered politely, then looked around the shelves for a moment.
Her violet eyes shone like a curious girl.
“Every time I come here my heart flutters. I always expect: What amazing and exciting book will I encounter today?”
She patted the books as if she were touching a beautiful flower.
Even the dust flying around Freesia seemed bright and luminous.
If there was a woman who managed knowledge, wisdom, and beauty together, she would look just like her.
“I envy you, librarian.”
The heroine makes me happy, am I just a secondary character?
I thought she was joking, but her look was serious.
“I wanted to be an honorary librarian. I also wanted to read without limits here.”
Freesia's look at me was full of admiration.
I ignored her look and continued speaking in a formal tone:
“You can apply for the position of honorary librarian.”
“My father is strict and did not allow me to do this.”
A lonely expression appeared on her face for a moment, then a gentle smile quickly appeared on her lips.
"But he allowed me to visit the Royal Library once a week. So, the library is a very interesting and dear place for me."
In the original novel, Count Rubel was an eccentric introvert who did not like to socialize with others.
Except for official matters, he did not enter the royal palace or appear at social events, so he was nicknamed the “reclusive count.”
Perhaps this is why the Count meticulously managed the outdoor activities of his only daughter, Frisia, who limited her outings to attending small tea parties and visiting the royal library.
Even her introduction to society was later than her peers, and this shows the whole picture.
Seeing Freesia with her naivety enjoying the simplest things made me feel sorry for her.
Even in the original novel, I pitied her like a beautiful bird in a cage.
Now seeing her in person, I want to hold her hand, pat her, comfort her, and help her with everything.
I let out a fake cough to control my facial expression, then pointed to the bookshelf:
“The book you are looking for is on the right bookshelf.”
In fact, the Royal Library is not supposed to contain romance novels.
But owing to strong and almost compulsory demand from noble ladies and misses, it ended up being introduced.
Rose led the purchase of romance novels, and used the Madison family's information capabilities to purchase books from all over the continent.
“Oh, it's up there on the bookshelf.”
She seemed very perceptive, and Freesia discovered the book
with one glance.
The bookshelf was huge and high, touching the ceiling, and the book was placed in the highest section.
Freesia reached out on her tiptoes, and when she didn't reach, she jumped, trying to grab the book.
I was afraid she would get hurt, so I quickly stopped her.
“This is dangerous. I will get the ladder.”
“Oh, if I extended my hand a little longer, it would have arrived, but I want to read it quickly.”
I saw her looking at the bookshelf with an excited face, so I asked without thinking:
“Why do you like romance novels?”
Her eyes changed at that question, like a shy girl in love.
“They are love stories. True, fatalistic love. This is very romantic.”
Love... A pent-up question jumped out on its own:
“Is love really everything for a woman, and marriage is the only happy ending?”
"What?"
لم تفهم كلامي مباشرةً، فأمالت رأسها قليلاً.
Even this movement was as endearing as a gazelle.
You are a lucky heroine, receiving true love without a doubt, and are destined for a blessed marriage.
You will share a happy future with Carlex, and no one else.
But suddenly I'm curious.
What is your true self that was not shown in the original novel.
Was love really everything to you?
The more romance novels I read, the more I wonder:
How can the heroines bet everything on love, believe in it, and devote themselves to it?
“Aren’t you tired of the saying that love is everything for a woman?”
For the first time, Freesia's facial expression, which was smiling like a doll, hardened.
In this world, marriage is the only means available to women to advance socially, so there is no escape from that.
This also applies to maintaining social class.
So, maybe we need to spice up love for fantasy.
In moments like these, I long to return to reality.
Earning money may be difficult, but even without love, I can live and eat well on my own.
“Sorry, I said something inappropriate. It's nothing. I'll get the book for you.”
I hurried and got the nearby ladder.
As I was putting the ladder on the bookshelf and climbing up, Freesia interjected:
“I will do it.”
Before I could stop her, Freesia grabbed the ladder.
She tightened the fringes of her dress, and with firm steps she ascended one step after another.
I quickly reached the end of the stairs.
She extended her thin arm, and finally grabbed the book she wanted.
“Found it!”
Freesia looked at me from above, happily holding the book and hugging it.
At that moment, her slender body lost its balance and swayed.
"Oh! What?!"
She tried desperately to grab the bookshelf, but her fingertips only touched books.
The books fell in a wave, and Freesia fell down the stairs.
Like a blossoming flower falling.
“Freesia!”
I moved my body reflexively.
I extended my arms and caught her as she fell.
As soon as I picked up her body, stiff from shock, I wrapped my whole body around her and fell to the ground.
Heavy, thick books fell on my back in an instant.
I felt like I was being beaten violently.
My back and head hurt, and my arms hurt from hitting the edge of the book.
“Are...are you okay, Librarian?”
Freesia, curled up in my arms, was trembling pitifully, terrified.
I got up with difficulty.
Oh, my body! My back seems to hurt and will bruise.
When the white dust settled, the place around the bookshelf was a mess, with books scattered everywhere.
“Are you okay, miss?”
Her beautiful hair is disheveled and her dress is dusty, but she appears to be outwardly unharmed.
She quickly combed Freesia's hair and straightened the wrinkled folds of her clothes.
She stood silent like a beautiful doll, as if she had been greatly astonished.
I turned around first and searched among the books scattered on the floor.
After a while, I was finally able to find
.
“Next time, ask me to find the book for you. It could have been a disaster.”
I handed her the book, but Freesia didn't care and held my hand tightly.
“You… saved me.”
Tears gathered in her big eyes and she trembled.
Her cheeks were filled with pink as if she was overwhelmed with emotions.
“Thank you so much. How can I return this favor?”
Her look was so touching that even I felt embarrassed.
My heart sank.
I'm a girl!
But I can't resist such a beautiful girl looking at me with loving eyes!
Sure, this is a heroine.
Her attractiveness is truly shocking.
“No, never mind. It was my duty as a librarian.”
I gently pulled my hand back.
Her gaze was blind, like a newborn duck looking at its mother.
Wait, this boring, stereotypical heroine rescue twist, where have I seen it before?
How was the first meeting between the hero and heroine in
?
Carlex saved Freesia who was almost crushed under a collapsing bookshelf... Through that incident, Freesia fell in love with Carlex at first sight.
A moment.
Doesn't this mean that I stole Carlex's role?!
I had decided not to get distracted with the main characters! A real disaster was committed.
What do I do now?
“To be continued in the next chapter”
Loving translation