A thin curve in his violet eyes, and a charming smile appeared on his lips, more delicate than those of a woman.
But I'm the only one who knows that Franz's beautiful smile is just a mask.
A shock similar to terror spread throughout my body.
Strangely, I felt Erica's original feelings in clear detail: painful and sad... and heart-wrenching nostalgia.
In the restaurant it was fine.
Why is this happening now?
Yes.
Then Carlex was next to me.
His presence kept me from getting emotionally carried away.
Franz's eyes, asking me to find a book, were cold, in contrast to the raised corners of his mouth.
Should I run away like this?
Should I give up my job as a librarian and hide in a rural estate where no one will find me?
I feel confused because I have feelings for Erica who I only knew from reading the book.
The content of the original story is just a future that has yet to come...
That's why it was even scarier.
In other words, because it has not yet come, it means it might happen.
I feared that giving up the job of librarian to escape the death penalty and flee from the forces of rebellion would be a futile act.
I was afraid I would end up holding Franz's hand.
"What's wrong with you? Your face is pale."
Franz asked gently, extending his hand.
His hand was white as snow, long and thin.
An elegant and upright kid pianist.
A hand that has never been stained with blood.
He never held a sword in his hand.
His followers were his weapons, killing innocent people.
It was the ruler who was sitting elegantly above the pool of his victims' blood, smiling contentedly.
If Carlex steps into the light for the sake of the kingdom and its people, Franz moves in secret within the shadows only to satisfy his own desires and pleasure.
How did Erica fall in love with someone so bad?
I avoided his hand and replied calmly:
“I am fine, Sir Duke. What book are you looking for?”
“I would like to read a book about the continent’s history. Where are the history bookshelves?”
“From this side.”
When you were with Carlex, you used to address me with respect, but now that he's gone, your speech has become brief?
And your behavior is arrogant too.
Are you showing your true self now?
I avoided his gaze as much as possible and walked in front of him.
Even though he was just following me, the weight of his presence made it difficult to breathe and I felt suffocated.
I immediately restrained my desire to run away with effort and stood in front of the history bookshelf.
“You can search here for history books related to the continent starting from the top shelf.”
After I said what I had to say, I tried to quickly withdraw, but he said:
“Wait a minute. I have to look for other books, too.”
It seems that the little duke does not abandon his prey easily.
With no choice, I stood next to the bookshelf like a stone statue.
What is this miserable life?
His silver hair sparkled in the sunlight streaming through the library window.
His violet eyes sparkled under his long eyelashes like jewels.
He was tall, slim, and had elegant body lines, giving him the air of a mysterious, beautiful boy.
Franz frowned, perhaps because the light bothered him.
Why do I now come up with useless information like that he is allergic to sunlight?
I let out a sigh, but I took off my robe and raised it high above my head.
While I was trying hard to block out the sun, Franz turned to me.
He looked at me with a disapproving expression as I stood, shaking, lifting the robe.
"What are you doing now?"
“Well, it looks like the sunlight is bothering you.”
“I will not be able to read the book because of the darkness. Send it down.”
“Ah, yes.”
I quickly put my robe back on.
Honestly, it was very embarrassing.
I wouldn't have done this on my own.
What should I do if my body moves instinctively?
Franz pulled out a book and the dust flew up, white and foggy.
He coughed dryly and shot me a sharp look.
“Do you know what cleaning means? This is terrible.”
“I will make sure of that in the future.”
Franz sat in front of the reading table, holding the book.
When he started reading, I didn't feel there was any need to wait any longer.
“Mr. Duke, I will go now.”
Franz raised his hand without taking his eyes from the book, his face showing no expression.
“No, stay here.”
What human being is this?
My fine patience was lost more than the paper.
“I am not your servant, Sir Duke. I have found the book you asked for, so I will go now.”
After saying what I wanted to say, I immediately turned around.
I definitely refuse to get attached to this person!
“Stop right there.”
Although I heard his arrogant order behind my back, I pretended not to hear.
“Don't you want to know the location of the missing magic book?”
My feet stopped on their own.
To state this explicitly as if I were involved.
Doesn't he even intend to hide it from me?
I had completely forgotten.
Franz's special skill.
He knew well the desires and weaknesses of man.
This becomes a harsh thread that binds and governs a person
Erica in the original story was also one of his manipulated dolls.
I swallowed dryly, fighting the urge to run away from him.
“If the problem is related to the magic book, I think you can discuss it with Director William. It is not my responsibility.”
"Okay. No need to pretend you don't know. You're a book reader, right?"
A cunning, quick-witted fox.
He even knew secret information about me.
After internally cursing him, I smiled professionally.
“Book reader? This is the first time I've heard that. I'm just a librarian. Discuss the details with the principal, please.”
A cold, sarcastic smile hung on the beautiful corner of his mouth.
“Your courage is striking just now, that you dare to respond so consistently in front of a great nobleman.”
You have a great talent for provoking people.
I'm not the obedient 'Erica'.
I will not tremble at your word.
I approached him slowly.
The spirit of challenge rose from deep within me.
In the original story, Erika couldn't even raise her head in front of Franz.
She only loved him with all her heart, and was only brutally rewarded.
You made me sad, that silly girl who sacrificed everything for love.
Sorry, but I will never be like that.
I have to change my plan.
Running away from Franz is not a solution to the problem.
Right now, there are only two paths.
Either cut the puppet's string, or break the puppeteer's arm.
Franz sat cross-legged on the chair and looked at me as I slowly approached.
A deliberate, sarcastic smile appeared on his beautiful white face.
It was the smile of a hunter who was confident that the prey would jump into the trap of its own free will.
I braced my trembling legs and straightened my instinctively shrunken shoulders.
My gaze was fixed as he looked at him from above.
“I, the Royal Librarian, please maintain a minimum of politeness.”
Perhaps because my behavior was unexpected, Franz narrowed his eyebrows.
His violet eyes reflected my image like precious stones.
Then a wild desire surfaced.
“Interesting. You are very different from what was investigated...”
The petty feelings of victory I felt evaporated.
Instinctive fear weighs heavily on my shoulders.
Just standing and not collapsing was all I could do.
I was pierced by his piercing gaze that seemed to see into the depths of man.
Maybe this is his real face.
The feeling of pressure is irrational, and any person should feel rejected.
Moreover, “what has been investigated.”
I'm afraid to find out how much that cunning fox knows about me.
“A, I don’t understand what you mean.”
“It doesn't matter… I can figure it out slowly later.”
Franz's eyes sparkled with a strange sparkle as he held my wrist tightly.
“First, I want that look.”
“...Release my hand, Sir Duke!”
I tried to free my hand but to no avail.
The strong fist tightens more and more.
Where does this strength come from on this slender white wrist?
If he had not been a duke, I would have hit him first with a thick book,
While I was recalling the proverb, “Three times patience avoids murder,” I suddenly felt something touch my hand.
As I looked down in amazement, Franz was kissing the back of my hand.
I looked at him in surprise, and he smiled, showing his regular teeth.
"I get the prey I mark anyway. Even if it's someone else's. I've never lost one yet."
prey?
When my anger reached the limit, I became very calm.
This situation is funny.
She approached him while he was sitting on the chair and squeezed his shoulders tightly.
I brought my face close to his nose without giving him a chance to refuse.
So soon I could feel his ragged breathing at my sudden approach.
Franz's confident smile disappeared at the bold call.
"What do you do?"
“Then, I'll be first.”
I slowly wrapped my hand around his embroidered lace tie around his long, elegant neck, then held it tightly.
“The prey that the Duke failed to obtain. Because I will never be caught.”
Perhaps because my words were unexpected, he opened his eyes wide and did not say a word.
He looked like a beautiful, defenseless boy.
His trembling eyes beneath his beautiful silver hair, and his pink lips parted slightly as if in confusion.
A feeling of euphoria came over me when I felt as if the pure white tie in my hand had become a collar.
I felt like his mistress.
I had an urge to make him kneel in front of me as Erica had done, crying in the mud and begging for her love.
I wanted to make him cry pathetically just begging for love.
My smile now is probably the same type as Franz's.
I'm really like a villain, I smile because I want to control others.
“Librarian Erica, where are you?”
At that moment, I heard a voice calling me anxiously from the doorway of the bookshelf.
It was Rose.
I straightened my stance and smoothed out the wrinkles in Franz's tie again.
Then I bowed politely to him.
As if nothing had happened.
“Excuse the inconvenience, I have work to do, so I'll go now.”
His sticky gaze followed me, but I ignored it.
When she left the bookshelf on the second floor, Rose climbed anxiously, clutching the hem of her dress.
When she saw me, she breathed a sigh of relief, panting.
“Ah, Miss Erica, you were here. I have been looking for you for a long time.”
“Did something happen?”
She looked down uneasily.
“You must come down quickly. There is a difficult problem between the ladies now.”
Ladies again? I think everyone came?
I thought everyone had stopped coming because Crown Prince Ludving hasn't been coming much lately.
“What's the problem?”
“Well… Miss Freesia has a problem.”
As soon as she heard Freesia's name, she ran down the stairs without thinking.
I saw a group of ladies wearing dresses in the deepest part of the bookshelves.
Among the barrier of luxurious dresses, the delicate ivory dress of Freesia stood out.
A young lady stood at the front wearing a strong red dress and jewels studded with sparkling jewels and staring at Freesia.
The lady was attacking her in a sharp tone, while other women sided with her and agreed with her words.
Freesia was trying to smile, but her confusion was evident.
Although I couldn't clearly hear what they were saying, the atmosphere was clearly bad.
What is this?
Do they harm freesia? How dare they...?
I quickly walked towards them.
“To be continued in the next chapter”
Loving translation