“Miss Erica, is that you here?”
A small, refreshing voice came from behind the bookshelves.
Ah, freesia.
The heroine of my story who always appears in the most dramatic moments.
I forcefully pushed away the arm that was blocking my path.
“I have some work to finish, so I will go.”
Before he could catch me again, I rushed towards Freesia.
She was the first one to see me, and she greeted me with a bright smile.
In her daffodil-yellow dress and her white brimmed hat, she looked extremely beautiful and fresh.
You are beautiful, funny and lovable as always today too.
Is this what is called “gratification by proxy”? It's inevitable that my good feeling will include me too.
Unconsciously, the sister's satisfied smile appeared on my lips and I greeted her.
“Miss Freesia, what brings you today?”
“I wanted to invite you to eat, Miss Erica. Am I not disturbing you at work?”
“No, on the contrary, I am very happy. I was feeling hungry at the moment.”
We then followed Carlex, who came out after me.
When Freesia saw him, she greeted him first with a shy face.
“Greetings, His Highness Duke Reinhardt. I hope you are well.”
When Freesia asked him kindly how he was, I watched him expectantly.
This is his second meeting with the heroine, shouldn't there be a change in his feelings towards her?
It was as if his heart was pounding in a fateful encounter, or he felt an electric shock running through his entire body.
“Yes, Miss Rubell.”
Carlex shattered my expectations with just two words.
He was succinct to the point of indifference.
Dear hero, what would you do if you put an impenetrable wall in front of the heroine?
This cannot happen.
The romance of the main characters goes downhill, very far from the original text.
When will it reach its happy ending and be concluded?!
If they are not connected together, I will worry about them all my life.
A plan must be made.
We need an event in which the flowers of their love will blossom.
“Lady Frisia, would you mind if His Highness Duke Carlex joins us at the dining table?”
Upon hearing my words, her eyes widened like a frightened rabbit.
Carlex also looked at me as if to ask: “What do you mean?”
“As long as we are going to eat together, it is better for us to be a large group and His Highness the Duke has a connection with the missus as well.”
“For me, it is a great honor... but will His Highness the Duke agree?”
She said this cautiously, as she was so ashamed that she could not meet Carlex's gaze.
I sent him a stern, silent look so he could immediately agree.
Carlex tried with amazement to discover my meaning, but in the end he answered reluctantly.
“If the ladies honor me by inviting me, I consider it a great honor and I sit with you with gratitude.”
Freesia smiled like a flower blooming in the sun.
Seeing the smile of that beautiful woman brightened my soul.
“Then let's go quickly.”
As I was leading the two of them towards the first floor, Crown Prince Ludwig appeared leading the Royal Guard Knights.
He greeted Freesia as if he were inviting her to dance at a ball.
“Miss Rubel, would you do me the honor of dining with you as well?”
How long have you been listening to us?!
Freesia seemed surprised that the Crown Prince appeared in a place she did not expect.
But, as befits a count's daughter, she quickly regained her composure and showed her respect.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince, it is a great honor to meet you here. I wish Ruberia prosperity and peace.”
Wow, this is a polite greeting reserved for members of the royal family that is said to be no longer in use these days.
She is truly the heroine of the story.
Even just greeting her was so elegant.
I wasn't the only one who was impressed by her elegant greeting, as the Crown Prince responded with a cheerful expression.
“Since I came to the Royal Library, you were the first to treat me like a crown prince, and I felt overwhelming joy, while the librarian, Erica, treated me like a street vendor, which caused me some sadness.”
The Crown Prince looked at me with the look of a hurt boy.
Upon hearing this, Freesia turned to me in surprise.
I did my best to show an innocent smile.
Don't misunderstand.
I am not an outlaw criminal who mistreats members of the royal family.
Ludving pleaded with Friesia politely and courteously.
“Anyway, I would like to attend that dinner too, can I?”
“It is a great honor to enlighten our council with your presence, but I fear that my preparation will not be enough to satisfy you.”
Freesia tried to contain her confusion and expressed her opinion cautiously.
Originally, it was just a simple lunch date with me.
But suddenly the number of attendees became large with the addition of Duke Carlix and Crown Prince Ludwig, so she must have felt puzzled.
I stared silently at the insensitive Ludving.
Today is the first important date for the two main heroes.
Please, return to the royal palace quietly and graciously.
But it is impossible for a self-centered member of the royal family to have any feeling for others.
The Crown Prince smiled tolerantly, then placed a hand on his chest and spoke seriously.
“I'm sure I'll eat whatever food you give me, my beautiful one. Even if it's poisoned. So let's go right away.”
“It is an honor for me to receive you at my table, so let us go.”
In the end, because of Freesia's kindness, even the annoying Crown Prince was invited to the dining table.
The Crown Prince and Duke Carlex went down first to the first floor hall, followed by Frisia and me.
I whispered in a low voice with a feeling of regret.
“How did it get so big all of a sudden? Are you really well, Miss Freesia?”
“For me, it is a great honor, but I am worried that I cannot treat Their Highnesses as they deserve. I should have sent an official letter of invitation and hosted them at my county headquarters.”
Freesia let out a light sigh full of worry, like a pure flower swaying in the wind.
Inside, I was chewing a napkin in confusion.
My perfect plan was shattered to pieces.
Originally, I had intended to sneak away under the pretext of an emergency in order to let the two heroes have an intimate meal together.
But since that insensitive Crown Prince will be there with us as well… will we even be able to finish our meal in peace?
I feel indigestion before I even eat.
***
The place we arrived in separate cars was the restaurant where I had once dined with Michael.
Then I came with him without knowing anything, but it was a higher place than I expected, which surprised me later.
It is a reservation-only restaurant for nobles, where you can enjoy exquisite dishes prepared by chefs from a palace background.
In addition to high-end service provided by a manager who comes from a background as a baron’s butler, and a special team of waiters.
It was particularly distinguished by the presence of independent rooms that suited the tastes of the nobles who wanted to dine in a quiet and comfortable atmosphere.
As we entered the restaurant's entrance foyer, Ludwig pressed his peacock feather hat down deeply.
Carlix seemed accustomed to such situations, so he stepped forward to shield Ludving from sight and protect him.
When he caught my curious glance, Ludwig winked at me playfully.
“You see, I'm so famous that sometimes I have to hide my identity.”
I nodded in agreement, but my doubts grew.
If the Crown Prince had to hide his identity to this extent, then the locations of his gambling debts must not be one or two.
Of course, since he was indebted to Carlex and William, it must be so.
Under the director's guidance, we went to the deepest room.
It was a place with a high ceiling and a crystal chandelier hanging over a white round table.
The center table decorations, made of yellow roses and silverware, shone with a harmonious lightness.
Crown Prince Ludwig sat at the head of the table, and Carlex and Friesia sat on either side of him.
I sat next to her.
The manager returned to our table to formally offer his greetings.
When he saw Carlex, he bowed politely with happy eyes.
“Your Highness Duke Reinhardt and Miss You who visited us previously, welcome again.”
“Oh!” Ludving said. Impressed, he looked at me and Carlex with interesting eyes.
“Hmm, Duke Carlex and Miss Librarian are secretly dining in a private place alone...”
Before the Crown Prince's misunderstanding grew too creative, I set out to clarify.
“Little guy Michael was also with us at the table.”
“Really? Michael is a young boy but he is very talented. He is a person who will lead Ruberia in the future.”
When complimented by the Crown Prince, Carlex responded with a short nod, saying: “You are exaggerating the praise.”
His expression did not hide his pride and pride in his brother.
Truly, he loves his brother very much.
In fact, I also feel good that the lovable and intelligent Michael is appreciated.
After the manager left, the employees began moving the food in coordinated movements.
The order was traditional: soup, salad, fish, then meat.
The dishes were served in silver utensils, as if we were at a luxurious banquet.
While I was enjoying the luxurious lunch, I was observing the atmosphere of the relationship between Carlex and Freesia.
Although they were facing each other because of the round shape of the table, their gazes did not cross once.
Carlex was focusing on cutting his meat with a cold face, while Freesia looked nervous but ate elegantly.
The sound of forks and knives colliding with plates was the only sound echoing across the wide table.
Suddenly, when I saw her thin, white arm, I felt pity for her.
Why does the heroine of our story look so thin? It's really unfortunate.
The steak, which was said to be grilled from the best cuts of meat, was small, the size of a child's palm.
How can the heroine of the story be able to do anything by eating that small piece of meat?
I cut up my steak and put it on her plate.
“The meat is very delicious. Please have more, Miss Freesia.”
“No need. You should eat more, Miss Erica. You have a lot of work these days and you are exhausting yourself.”
Freesia apologized and pushed the plate of steak towards me.
"This is correct."
Carlex agreed and then placed his meat on my plate.
I felt a surge of tenderness in a corner of my heart because of the gentle concern in his eyes.
I am not at all impressed that He gave me food.
When Crown Prince Ludving saw this, he smiled meaningfully and then put his entire piece of meat on Karlex's plate.
What is this? Is it a meat sharing chain?
“It will be a big problem if my faithful and brave knight who protects me becomes hungry. Here, take my share.”
"I'm fine."
Carlex apologized quietly, then put the Crown Prince's meat on my plate as well.
At one point, steaks piled up on my plate.
“Librarian Erica is the final winner of the meat.”
Ludving looked at me, smiling as he watched the scene amused.
I learned that “table manners require eating whatever food is served to you,” so I have no reason to apologize.
Why do I work so hard?
So I can buy and eat beef.
“Then, given your goodwill, I will eat it with pleasure.”
I thanked them earnestly and clashed the fork and knife together.
The sound of pure metal echoed.
She repeated my combative but consistent motion of cutting the steak and quickly putting it in my mouth.
In a flash, the steaks that filled my plate were completely gone, leaving only a little sauce.
While I was eating, the three of them were busy staring at me without moving.
As if my eating was impressive, looks of amazement and amazement passed through their eyes.
As I was eating the next dish with all effort and sincerity, I felt Freesia's eyes constantly turning towards me.
She was staring at me with an affectionate smile, putting her fork and knife aside.
Her facial expression suggests that just seeing me eat satisfies her.
When our eyes met directly, Freesia smiled broadly and then opened her soft lips.
“Miss Erica...”
“To be continued in the next chapter”
Loving translation