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Chapter 42
And so, the two of them—no, Psyche and Pei—came to the library together.
Psyche entered the room, carefully holding Pei in her hand.
“Do you remember any events? I think it might help us find records.”
She spoke in a small whisper.
「Just look on your own. Why are you asking me? I can’t even see.」
So picky. Psyche thought that quietly and began searching through the shelves. Then, suddenly, among the dusty books, she noticed a familiar handwriting.
‘Sir Aster’s handwriting.’
She had seen Aster’s handwriting a few times in passing.
But she had only glanced at it, so she didn’t know it perfectly.
Still, she felt an urge to check it. It looked like a letter written to someone.
If someday you find someone you love, please give this to them.
Because love cannot be seen, it must be delivered in a form that can be seen.
My son, Hephaestus.
After reading to the end, Psyche realized this was not a letter written by Aster, nor one meant for him.
‘Hephaestus.’
That was the name of the former Grand Duke.
Then was this a letter left by Grand Duchess Roxalana for her son?
If it was her letter, there might be clues related to the Siren’s Tear.
As Psyche carefully read the letter again, she suddenly felt a cold presence behind her.
A chill, like ice water poured over her back.
And a sharp, dagger-like gaze.
She gently closed her fist around the pearl and turned around.
“Good morning.”
He smiled softly. It was Aster.
“What are you looking for today? Sometimes it feels like you come here to find treasures.”
“……”
“And this time, what rare item have you found?”
Aster spoke as if welcoming her, without hesitation.
For a moment, his figure overlapped with the Grand Duke’s silhouette.
Their build and hairstyle were similar. Their height too—Aster seemed about that tall.
When Psyche stayed silent, Aster bent slightly to meet her eye level.
“Are you feeling unwell?”
His clear eyes were fixed on her. Psyche could clearly see herself reflected in his pupils.
For some reason, it felt unsettling.
“I found this.”
When Psyche smiled and showed him the letter, his expression twisted awkwardly.
“Is that what you were looking for?”
“Yes. Is there a problem?”
“…A problem.”
He repeated it as if weighing the word.
“There is good news and bad news. Which would you like to hear first?”
At the unexpected question, Psyche hesitated briefly.
“I’ll hear the good news first.”
If you hear the good news first, the sadness that follows feels lighter.
When Psyche answered firmly, Aster slowly began to speak.
“The good news is that you found an item worth preserving.”
“…I see.”
“And the bad news is that the library will be closed, and we will begin searching for more letters that could be preserved as relics.”
Ah. Even good news couldn’t soften the sadness.
She needed materials about Sirens. Thinking that the tiny pearl in her hand had heard everything made her palm damp with sweat.
“So I won’t be able to use the library for a while. That’s unfortunate, but it can’t be helped.”
“I’ll arrange for any books you need to be delivered to you immediately.”
Aster looked down at Psyche and smiled gently.
But something had felt strange for a while now.
Did he really have that kind of authority? He was only a knight. His only special trait was being close to the Grand Duke.
‘Does he really pass everything properly to His Highness?’
The Marchioness Mori, who taught Psyche, had also said she came at the Grand Duke’s request.
Then Aster must be acting as a messenger between Psyche and the Grand Duke.
“Thank you, Sir Aster.”
How could someone be this kind?
Psyche smiled brightly and neatly folded her hands together.
She thought she heard a small cry from the pearl in her palm.
“Sir Aster, could you find books related to Sirens?”
“I will look into it.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll have them delivered to your room before sunset.”
That solved at least one part of the effort for the ‘Siren.’
‘Once Aster brings the books, then I can find a way…’
But there was a librarian. Why was Aster the one finding the books?
“Sir Aster.”
Psyche suddenly froze.
The calm, gentle air from just moments ago began to flow rapidly, like water fighting against a current.
“Behind you.”
A librarian was staring at them with wide, bloodshot eyes.
He looked to be at least eighty years old. Dark circles hung under his eyes, and the whites of his eyes were heavily bloodshot, as if he hadn’t slept.
Psyche reflexively grabbed Aster’s wrist and pulled him toward herself. Her strength was weak, but his solid body came easily.
“…Noisy.”
The librarian’s voice cracked every time he spoke.
“W-we will be careful.”
Making loud noises in the library was against the rules.
Since Psyche and Aster had been talking, he must have come to warn them.
“Leave… this is… a sacred place…”
The librarian waved his right hand strongly through the air.
At that moment, Psyche felt a strong vibration from the palm holding the Siren’s Tear.
If it acted up loudly, Sir Aster might notice.
If he learned that she could communicate with the soul inside such a rare treasure, he might take a disturbing interest.
As if sensing Psyche’s worry, the Siren inside the pearl added,
「Only my owner can hear my voice!」
「By the way, that old man is over five hundred years old!」
‘…That can’t be.’
Psyche looked at the librarian in shock. He looked healthy for his age, but humans usually lived around a hundred years at most.
Could he be non-human?
Psyche tightened her grip on Aster’s arm.
Then, very naturally, Aster slipped out of her grasp and gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
He moved Psyche behind him, shielding her with his back.
He stood in front of her, blocking her view.
“…Live… together… speak…”
She was almost pressed against Aster’s back, and she couldn’t hear his voice clearly.
It came in broken pieces, so she couldn’t even guess what he was saying to the librarian.
After finishing, Aster straightened his posture.
“I apologize, miss.”
And then—
the librarian apologized to Psyche.
“…Ah. It’s alright.”
“Please continue to use the library comfortably.”
Had he threatened him somehow?
Only then did Psyche meet Aster’s gaze again.
He stared straight back at her questioning eyes, then answered only by lifting an eyebrow slightly.
“Miss Psyche, please tell me which books you need. I’ll prepare them. Ah, it seems the librarian’s eyesight is failing, so I’m simply helping. There’s nothing to worry about.”
“The library will be closed for now.”
Once again, he stepped in front of Psyche as he spoke.
Hearing the clear meaning that she should leave, Psyche obediently stepped back.
