6.The Little Prince, Michael
Rose's smug, icy expression changed in the blink of an eye, and she held my hand in a gesture that suggested she was about to hug me.
“Thank you so much for coming! I have been feeling very lonely ever since Lady Xenia left me alone at the reception desk after her marriage and resignation. I heard that you are a book reader, right? What a treasure that has entered our royal library hehehe.”
“Hmm? Ah, thank you. I hope we get along well.”
What...what's happening? Her movement was so sudden that I thought she was going to slap me.
I answered her in confusion while trying to calm my heart, which was still beating from fear.
As William was watching this scene silently, he coughed lightly to attract the attention of those present.
“Just a moment, I have an urgent matter to discuss. Could everyone proceed to my office, please?”
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“The reason we are meeting here is to locate (the introduction to Lion Magic).”
As soon as William sat down, he brought up the crux of the matter.
When the title of the magic book that Duke Carlix was so stubbornly searching for was mentioned, Lady Marian and Rose's facial expressions changed to confusion.
“Isn’t this the magic book that Mr. Michael has been constantly searching for? Under your guidance, Director, we immediately reviewed the relevant records.”
“But the borrower information… was missing. I have no excuse to give you, Director.”
I was surprised by these words and immediately asked:
“Are you saying you don't know where that book is?”
“I sincerely apologize. The employee who brought out the magic book hid the truth, which made us delay in determining the situation. The loan operation took place a month ago, and the employee who conducted the procedures says he does not remember.”
“It is clearly a lame excuse. We have arrested him for investigation.”
“So… in the end, where is the book?”
It is not possible…
I frowned because of the bad feeling that came over me.
“It's okay, don't worry.”
But as the saying goes: odds can kill, William looked at me with eyes full of confidence.
“With the Book Reader here, we can now find Lady Marian’s magic book. Can you give Miss Erica what you have prepared?”
Lady Marian handed me a thick book.
“It is a map of the Kingdom of Ruberia showing the locations of the properties and palaces of the nobles. Since the patrons of the Royal Library are nobles, the book must be in the possession of one of the noble families.”
Lady Marian took my hand with a facial expression of mixed concern and regret.
“Secretary Erica, we have assigned you a very important task as soon as you begin your work. I am truly sorry that we are burdening you.
“A mission we couldn’t get right. Please take good care of yourself during your trip.”
At that moment, we heard a soft knock on the door.
Everyone's eyes turned to the door.
“Come in.”
When William said that gently, the door opened slightly.
Shining golden tresses waved through the gap.
“Is Miss Erica here, please?”
I looked in amazement at the source of the clear, childish voice that was searching for me.
He was a handsome little boy with large emerald eyes, rosy cheeks, and curly, wavy golden hair.
He seemed to be about ten years old, and he was wearing a short white coat embroidered with gold threads, and at first glance looked like a soft-touched gentleman.
“Oh, is Mr. Michael here?”
Rose greeted him warmly as if she knew him, but she did not hide the expression of embarrassment on her face.
Michael smiled kindly and spoke cordially.
“Welcome, Sister Rose, how are you?”
“Hello, boy Michael. I haven’t seen you for a while. Please come in.”
When Director William welcomed him warmly, he politely greeted the little prince.
“How are you, Director? It’s been a while since I last saw you.”
Lady Marian looked at the little prince with eyes full of love and tenderness.
“My brother told me to bring with me Sister Al-Aminah. I heard she is a book reader.”
Rose came forward with an excited face:
“Oh, they say Duke Reinhardt is outside! He could have waited inside the library.”
Was this beautiful, soft, bunny-like boy Carlex's brother?
Now I remembered a description in the novel that mentioned that he had a younger brother.
I could no longer remain silent, so I moved forward awkwardly.
“I'm Erica Diehl first...I'm a book reader.”
"Really? This is the first time I've seen a female book reader. This is so amazing."
Michael lit up his eyes bright like a child waiting for a gift.
“I'm so excited that sister will find the magic book. Can I go with you?”
He stared at me passionately with his sparkling emerald eyes.
When I saw the gentle and bright smile of the handsome boy like the morning sun, my heart suddenly sank.
Life was worth living.
I was lucky to have moved into this body...!
As a librarian, no, as an older sister, a sense of duty burned within me that I would find that insignificant magical book even if I had to search the ends of the earth.
“Michael, are you here?”
At that moment, the door to the principal's office opened without hesitation.
Duke Karlex Einhardt entered, surrounded by a bright light streaming through the wide open door.
The sun's rays spread out from behind his broad shoulders like wings of light.
It was, in every sense of the word, a dazzling appearance worthy of the protagonist.
My eyes met Carlex's as he approached with long strides.
His cold gaze became soft like melting snow under the spring sun. I suddenly felt my heart pounding.
What is happening? Why does he look at me with kind eyes?
Carlex stopped in front of Michael and spoke in a silky smooth voice:
“Let’s go. Since Secretary Erica is with us, we can find the magic book soon.”
“You came, brother. I was just talking to Sister Erica.”
Carlex looked at his brother with affectionate eyes and patted his head gently.
Isn't this a personality breakdown?
Is he the man who is cold to his kingdom but warm to his brother, or something like that?
“Huh, today our Duke looks as strong and majestic as ever.”
Rose let out a sad sigh as she looked at Carlex with charming eyes.
“I feel happy to be a curator. When Sir Michael comes to the library, the Duke also comes. To be able to see the First Handsome of the Kingdom from such a close distance makes me ready to stay at the reception desk for the rest of my life.”
Carlex glanced at me quickly, then hurried on without giving me time to catch a breath:
“Secretary Erica, have you finished the preparations? Let’s go quickly.”
“Ah, yes...”
Oh, I want to leave as soon as I start work.
You promised to find the book of magic, but traveling with the hero?
I feel as if I'm traveling on business with a dysfunctional boss.
Isn't the difficulty level too high from the first day of work?
Director William seemed to read my facial expression, so he gave me a worried look.
He took a step forward as if to protect me.
“Your Highness, I’m a bit worried about sending the new secretary alone. Can I accompany her as well?”
“Director William, didn’t you say that you were attending a ministerial meeting today? As a director who is busy with state affairs, work will not move by itself. The shortage of workers is serious.”
When Carlex let out a cold and sarcastic laugh, William stared at him with a serious expression.
“Miss Erica is a valuable talent in our library. Please make her safety a top priority.”
The confrontation between them was tense, like a sharp sword and a strong shield.
Rose and I exchanged furtive glances and watched the exciting scene with interest.
But Rose was happily cupping her cheeks with her hands.
“Ah, to see such a wonderful scene. It is said that the Director and the Duke are childhood friends and now they are rivals in love fighting for one woman! Haha, this is really exciting.”
“Rose, this is a misunderstanding. I am just a compass to find books.”
Rose ignored my firm response and stared seriously with sparkling eyes.
“Miss Erica, which one do you prefer?”
"What? What do you mean?"
“Oh my God, which one will you choose?”
“The question itself is fundamentally wrong. I'm not interested in either.”
Rose suddenly pushed me from my back to the front.
“Anyway, there was a quarrel because of you, you should solve it quickly.”
"Why me? Why stop the most interesting brawl in the world."
While I was arguing with Rose trying not to move forward, I saw Michael.
I felt pity for the child torn between two immature adults.
I sighed inwardly and stepped in front of the two men who exchanged glances unnecessarily.
I put my hand on my waist and said confidently:
“Director, I appreciate your concern, but this is my job and I will bear responsibility for it.”
“Are you going to be okay with that?”
William looked like a father who was overly in love with his daughter as he saw his daughter about to travel.
To reassure him, I smiled confidently.
“Don’t worry, I will definitely find the late books in the return.”
I was once called a “late book chaser.”
In the small library, late returned books were a serious problem.
Because they were valuable assets purchased with taxpayer money, even a single book was precious.
So for a long time I personally visited the homes of late borrowers to retrieve books.
In this way, I recovered more than a hundred books.
After that, my library colleagues gave me the honorific nickname “Late Book Chaser.”
“So, is it settled?”
Suddenly, a large hand grabbed my shoulders and pulled me forcefully.
Carlex raised the corner of his mouth and took my hand.
Wait, didn't he say he hates having his body touched, and then here he is touching other people's hands however he wants?
“Can you release my hand, Your Highness? I also don’t like to touch others.”
When I spoke in a cold tone, Carlex was terrified.
His expression seemed to be more surprised than mine.
He immediately released his hand that was gently touching my shoulder.
When the warmth of his touch disappeared for a moment, I felt a strange feeling of emptiness.
“We are wasting time unnecessarily to get going.”
Then he turned coldly and walked out the door.
Why is he acting like this again?
She stared at his back, amazed.
Michael quickly followed, then turned around and said to me with his small lips, “Thank you, sister,” and my heart melted.
However, the anxious looks of William and Lady Marian, and Rose's envious look, accompanied me, and I left the Royal Library.
A luxurious carriage was waiting in the main hall, and Carlex was waiting, riding a powerful white horse, with a dissatisfied face.
هل كان ذلك خيالي أن أرى طاقة سوداء كئيبة خلف ظهره؟
I suppressed my instinct to turn and run back to the library, and climbed into the carriage.
Michael greeted me with a smile.
“Sister, come quickly and sit here inside.”
For a boy so sweet and beautiful to be the brother of this selfish, cold-blooded duke, it was truly a genetic mystery.
“Faithful sister, where do we go?”
When I picked up the Book Compass and said the name of the book, the needle began to turn.
Then she suddenly stopped in one direction, as if she was being pulled by a great force.
A line of light extended from the needle, heading somewhere.
“Please move towards the southwest.”
“Go southwest.”
With a short command, the driver urged the horses.
The cart started to speed up.
Outside the window, the path of light stretched endlessly.
I have always dreamed of having a compass.
A compass that does not make me wander with difficulty, but only searches for me a flourishing path.
But the reality was a stony and swampy road.
The strange thing is that I only got a compass after I moved into this body.
I prayed in my heart: Please, at the end of this road, let me find a way out of this book as well.
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“Sister, look at this scene, isn’t it wonderful?”
“Oh, it's green pastures, just like your Windows XP wallpaper.”
"What? What is Windows XP?"
“Nothing, I just babbled.”
“Look, there's a cow grazing on the grass! That's amazing!”
“She looks plump. If we grill the beef, it will be delicious...”
“Sister, what did you say?”
“The grass is also delicious when grilled.”
“Wow, there are kids swimming in the river, it looks like fun!”
“……”
Little Prince Michael, the greenhouse flower of the Duke's household, was a tired sort of traveling companion.
The boy was constantly marveling and filled with amazement at pastoral scenes such as green pastures, people cultivating wheat fields, or children herding sheep.
At first, I shared his enthusiasm, but later, I could barely show any soulless reactions, and now I am in a state of silence.
As I stared out the window in amazement, the majestic figure of Duke Carlex astride his white horse entered my field of vision.
He was riding alongside us at the same speed, protecting the carriage.
I once again admired the beauty of his perfectly sculpted face.
He's really the hero of the story, except for his personality.
Carlex's gaze was directed straight ahead, but every now and then he glanced at his brother in the carriage.
He smiles as if he is looking at the most precious object in the world.
In the original novel, there was a hackneyed description:
This is reasonable.
Even I feel my heart flutter when the cold and cruel Duke smiles.
As I tried to lean my face slightly out the carriage window to watch him, my eyes met directly with his.
[To be continued in the next chapter]
Loving translation
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