Through the open door, Rose peered cautiously, sensing the situation with her small facial features.
"Are you well?"
“Sure, I'm fine. Come in, Miss Rose.”
Rose sat next to me with a frown on her face, and held my hand tightly.
“Is the wound on your cheek painful? Be patient. Once Your Highness Director casts the healing spell, it will leave no trace.”
“The wound is not deep enough to leave a scar. Thank you for caring about me.”
I smiled softly, grateful for her care of me.
Rose let out a deep sigh in earnest.
“No. Miss Spearn is very cruel. This was neither the first nor the second time she had done this. She mainly did it for her rivals.”
Wait, what did I just hear?
I doubted my hearing and inquired:
“Throwing the fan is a custom, Miss Spearn?”
Rose nodded with a heavy expression.
“Miss Spearn uses the technique of throwing a fan at those who anger her, cutting their faces to prevent them from appearing in social gatherings. She then spreads rumors against them during their treatment to discredit them and expel them.”
I thought she was just a bad-tempered young lady who threw things when she couldn't contain her anger.
But to try to use such a malicious method on Freesia...
My anger towards Eliade rose again, the anger I had been forcefully suppressing.
“Why is no one protesting? The number of women who have been harmed must not be small.”
“Because anyone who comes forward may suffer retaliation far more severe than a simple cut to the face. Who dares to confront the spoiled daughter of the Duke of Spirn from the royal family?”
Rose whispered, looking around as if she was afraid someone would hear her.
My gut twisted as I thought of Eliade committing her heinous acts based on her petty power.
Did I really have to sprain her wrist?
I hated causing problems in the workplace so I put up with it, and the saying that continuing to put up with it makes one a plaything seems to be true.
“She's really evil, isn't she? I really should have sprained her wrist...”
Rose was surprised to see me muttering seriously, resting my chin on my hand.
“Erica, saying that might bring trouble. The timely arrival of His Highness the Crown Prince and His Eminence the Duke was a blessing from heaven.”
Not true.
If only those two had not come, I would have grabbed Eliade by the hair and taught her a lesson she would never forget.
Rose compassionately wiped the sweat gathering on my brow with her handkerchief.
“You're pretty tired, aren't you? Today's been a hard day, so go home early. Leave the remaining tasks to me.”
Even though Rose spoke confidently, I didn't feel completely reassured.
“But… will you be okay?”
“Haven't you forgotten that I'm the first librarian?”
Rose winked.
I nodded, feeling forced to accept.
“Okay, sorry, but I'll just leave it to you for one day.”
On reflection, I received my librarian training from Lady Marian, I don't remember learning from Rose.
However, I left the workroom remembering her hard work on my behalf.
***
I was about to call a carriage to return to the palace, when I suddenly remembered my hideout, which I had not visited for a while.
Good.
I'm taking a short break after a long absence.
My mood lifted slightly as I imagined relaxing and quietly reading a book in my own private haven.
I started to sing and move briskly toward the inner shelves on the second floor, but that didn't last long.
“Fuck.”
The word came out of my mouth unintentionally.
In my cozy hiding place under the window where the warm rays of the sun settle, the big blue-eyed cheetah is waiting, no, it's waiting for the crown prince.
In contrast to my bleary-eyed look, the Crown Prince waved his hand with a refreshing smile.
“Hello, have you arrived, Librarian Erica?”
“What did you do to the other ladies?”
“The tea reading meeting has unfortunately been cancelled. We have run out of tea leaves.”
The Crown Prince shrugged his shoulders with a face that said, “There is nothing I can do.”
“This is unbelievable. You know how much Lady Marian cares about her tea drinking time, even if the ink runs out, she renews the tea leaves every day.”
“…In fact, the Grand Duke of Spirn came, apologized profusely for the insult, and took his sister with him.”
When Ludwig mentioned Franz, I unwittingly stiffened.
I tried to shift the topic to hide the signs of my disorder.
“Oh, really. But why didn’t you, Your Highness the Crown Prince, go to the palace and stay here?”
Ludving pushed the book cart that was lying next to the shelf.
It has a tea set and luxurious chocolates.
"I prefer to drink tea in the library. It relaxes the soul, too. In that sense, would you do me the honor of having a cup of tea with me, Miss Dale?"
I stared at him in amazement.
“Didn’t you just say there was no more tea?”
“I can never drink tea in an uncomfortable place. I only drink tea with people I have feelings for. Come on, sit down, Erica.”
When I saw the relieved expression on Ludving's face, my anger faded.
I sat leaning near the window.
The Crown Prince began preparing tea with skillful hand.
The elegant sight of him preparing tea under the sunshine was as beautiful as a painting.
"Why did you let the ladies go? You usually enjoy playing with them."
Ludwig looked directly into my eyes as he handed me the cup of tea.
The mask he was wearing, the playboy crown prince who was criticized for being a playboy and a night owl, fell off right in front of me.
“If I drank tea with them, I would make the mistake of throwing the teacups.”
Cold repressed emotions played in his eyes like ripples in a teacup.
Anger, self-blame, and regret are like impurities in tea that haven't been completely filtered out.
Is this because of me? …
I don't want to be a burden on the Crown Prince either.
I stared for a moment, then took a sip of warm black tea.
Well, I don't know.
“At that time, we were playing fan swap with Miss Spearn.”
Ludving opened his eyes slightly and asked with a skeptical look:
“Is that really true?”
Of course it was an argument I made up on the spot.
“Oh, didn't you know? It's a popular game among young ladies. When an opponent throws the fan, you avoid it, and throw it at the opponent. If you hadn't come, my attack would have been successful and I would have won.”
I lied firmly without blinking.
Ludving stared at me in amazement, then suddenly burst into a loud laugh.
“Haha, you're really positive and funny. No wonder I like you.”
“Oh, yes. Thank you very much.”
I answered him coldly and ate a small piece of chocolate in one go.
Certainly, sweets are truth and heavenly grace.
While I was enjoying the heavenly sweetness, Ludving approached me.
His red hair, shining under the sun, was beautiful and sparkling like a ruby.
His blue-green eyes looked at me seriously for the first time.
“I knew about Eliade’s bad behavior, but there was no clear evidence to stop it. Why didn’t you ask for my help then?”
“It is not appropriate for you to interfere in a personal quarrel, Your Highness. In addition, you know very well that the Duke of Spurn’s family is waiting for the opportunity to discredit Carlex.”
It was the political reason I couldn't tell Carlex.
If I had told him, he would have immediately drawn his sword and stormed into the Duke of Spurn's family home.
Amazement and admiration passed through Ludving's gaze.
“I knew you were competent, but I didn’t know that you were even aware of the political problems between noble families.”
“When you are at the information desk in the Royal Library, you hear a lot of information.”
Ludwig looked at me with a more serious and respectful expression.
“I would like to make you a formal offer.”
"What do you mean?"
“Erica, come to the palace and be my personal librarian. As a book reader, you will guide me in the right direction for my future, just as a book compass pointer finds a desired book.”
Ludving's tone was serious and solemn, without any frivolity.
I realized that his words were not just a request, but an order from the Crown Prince.
Why would the Crown Prince suddenly do this too...
Why do so many people want me to be their personal librarian today? Is it my lucky day?
But it is a completely unwelcome popularity.
I slowly sipped my teacup and drank all of it.
After drinking the warm drink, I regained my energy and calmed my mind.
It's enough to even soothe the stinging pain.
“I'm just an ordinary librarian, and I'm not in a position to advise His Highness the Crown Prince, but I can say one thing.”
I stared straight into Ludving's blue-green eyes.
In the depths of his eyes, which dream of a free spirit, longing and fear of the throne ripple.
“From my experience, I've found it's easier to make my own way.”
I stopped for a moment to catch my breath.
Ludving was listening silently.
“I dare say that the path to the throne must be taken alone. Because you are the one who will ascend it. You must think, decide, and determine the direction for yourself. No one can do it for you.”
After I finished, I looked at my empty palm.
There was no compass to show the path of life.
In the end, you have to stumble through the world and get your feelings hurt to know.
Just like the path I'm on now.
***
I focused all my senses on one point of the target.
When I released the tensioned bowstring, the arrow shot out as fast as lightning and hit the target.
voice!
"Wow! Concentrated hit again!"
I jumped up and clapped happily.
All three darts were stuck in the center of the target.
Even though I was the one who threw it, I couldn't believe it.
Do I have talent in archery?
In my previous life, I had poor physical fitness, and breathing was the only exercise I did.
Regular training had an effect!
The effort is finally starting to show after I've practiced archery in the backyard every day since starting work at the library.
It was amazing to see how my strength increased and my shooting skill improved significantly.
Is this an advantage of having a body?
“Miss Librarian, a gift has arrived.”
When I heard a child's soft, supple voice, I turned to see Nella, the little girl working on errands in the Royal Library.
Neela was holding a large flower basket filled with lilies in her hands.
Drops of sweat appeared on her small forehead, perhaps she was tired of carrying the heavy basket of flowers.
I immediately grabbed the flower basket and wiped Nila's sweat with my sleeve.
“Nila, you are tired of carrying her from the main gate.”
“No. I was paid for the assignment. By the way, Miss Rubell sent it back.”
It was another thank you gift from Freesia.
She sent flower baskets, luxurious sweets, and expensive perfumes with letters every day.
Aren't these gift campaigns for the hero?
The title is wrong, heroine.
Did my injury instead leave Freesia with a deep feeling of guilt?
Although the wound on my cheek has completely healed.
“By the way, the restaurant chef said that there are a lot of sandwiches left today. If you go and ask her, she will give them to you.”
Neela's face lit up.
“Really? My grandmother and my little brother will be pleased.”
Nila said she lives with her grandmother and little brother in a back alley in the capital.
Lady Marian felt pity for Nella, the young housewife, so she assigned her some small tasks in the royal library.
Mainly entrusted with the delivery of letters and goods, Nella was intelligent and worked hard using her agility.
I was so proud of Nella that I wanted to help her, so I secretly paid for her meals.
Of course, for fear of hurting the child's pride, I asked the library cook secretly.
“Thank you as always, Madam Librarian Erica.”
Neela bowed reverently and then ran toward the restaurant like a flying squirrel.
I was watching the little girl's back with pleasure, when I heard a pure voice behind me:
“My sister Erica!”
“To be continued in the next chapter”
Loving translation