LCWD 19

~Chapter 19~

I pretended to listen to Emma’s endless chatter while my eyes scanned the books on the shelves.

Most of the books in the library were novels, poems, and other types of literature.

Honestly, I was really glad there weren’t any math textbooks or legal documents.

After spending so many years buried in study materials, I’d grown sick of anything that tried to “teach” me something. Just looking at a book that resembled a study guide gave me goosebumps.

TOEIC, Korean history, public administration theory—ugh, I was so done with all that.

If anyone dared to tell me to focus on studying again, I might just punch them in the gut. I’d already spent nearly 20 years of my life buried in books.

So yes, I’d been deeply stressed from studying for government exams, and now, I was finally enjoying this luxurious, stress-free fantasy life.

But now Claire wanted to hand over her responsibilities to me…

So much for relaxing. My vacation was over—time to start suffering again. Just the thought of going back to studying made me feel exhausted.

I started putting the books I’d taken out back on the shelf, planning to return to my room quickly.

Just as I was about to place the last book back, one title caught my eye:

[Our Child Is Curious! – About Sex]

Why is this book even here…?

That strange sense of déjà vu hit me again.

Like a fish swimming upstream, my thoughts drifted back to childhood.

Actually, I didn’t have to go that far back. This title reminded me of a very similar book I’d once read as a kid.

Even as kids, curiosity was natural. There was a book with cute illustrations that explained things simply, and it was so well-loved that its cover was worn out.

The book in front of me was the same. Its corners were cracked and the cover faded.

I was about to reach for it when I remembered Emma was still beside me.

Instead, I picked up another book and leaned casually against the bookshelf.

“Emma, is it alright if I stay here a bit and read?”

“Oh, of course! You’re the lady of the house—feel free to use this space however you like.”

“Thanks.”

I gave her my most graceful smile as I flipped open the book.

“I should get going so I don’t disturb your reading. Please call if you need me.”

“Sure. Please call me when it’s time for dinner.”

“Yes, the Grand Duke will be joining as well. I’ll come get you once the food is ready.”

“Okay.”

Emma gave a polite bow and walked out.

Once I confirmed she was gone, I grabbed the book that had caught my attention:

[Our Child Is Curious! – About Sex]

It wasn’t extremely old, but it was well-used.

The edges of the pages were worn, the threads binding it were coming loose, and some pages were even torn. Those pages were probably the most “important” parts.

Apparently, kids in this world were just as sneaky as the ones back in Korea. Tearing up pages to hide the juicy parts, huh?

(Of course, I had been one of those sneaky kids too.)

I smirked and flipped through the book.

As it was meant for children, the font was large, and there were adorable illustrations.

The contents were also very innocent.

It started with puberty, then described physical changes in boys and girls, and explained how babies are born.

The Ignite Empire was more advanced in medicine and engineering than other countries—because they didn’t rely on magic, they had to push the limits of science and technology.

So the book included surprisingly accurate biological information, very similar to what I’d learned in the 21st century.

However, the part about pregnancy and childbirth was very vague.

As expected from a children’s book, it just said something simple like, “The mother’s egg meets the father’s sperm, and after nine months, the baby pops out.”

But curious kids like me weren’t satisfied with that.

“So how exactly do the egg and sperm meet?”

That was the real question.

When I asked my mom, she told me to ask Dad. When I asked Dad, he said to ask Mom.

Frustrated, I had yelled at them.

“If you don’t even know, how did you make me?!”

I must have been around ten years old then.

I still remember their shocked faces, staring at me with their mouths half-open.

Since I couldn’t get any answers from them, I eventually found out how the egg and sperm meet… through a video.

Not in any proper educational setting, of course.

It was during my first school trip. One friend said he’d show us something “interesting,” and we all gathered around.

And that’s how I learned about the… physical process.

…Wait. Wasn’t I just remembering a sweet childhood memory? How did it turn into something this bitter?

I slapped my cheek hard to snap out of it. Now wasn’t the time to be getting lost in weird thoughts.

I already had all the knowledge I needed about this topic—thanks to all those R-rated novels I’d read.

There was only one reason I was reading this kiddie book:

Apollyon Teabridte.

That shy, extremely reserved, and emotionally closed-off man.

Everyone says that education should match the learner’s level, right?

To help him, I needed to understand what kind of education he had received about sex and relationships.

But if this was the kind of book he’d been taught from…

Oh no.

That would be a huge problem.

It meant I’d have to teach him everything—from B to Z.

He might only know A, and I’d be responsible for the rest.

Then again, nobles in this world usually got married early.

By this world’s standards, 18 is considered fully adult. By 20, some people already had kids.

In contrast, 20-year-olds in Korea were basically babies. Just look at first-year university students—peeping and chirping like little chicks.

Old seniors like me used to watch them and think, “Ah… I was like that once, too…” before getting all sentimental.

(Of course, if a professor had seen us, they would’ve just rolled their eyes.)

Anyway, Apollyon was the noblest of nobles.

So it was likely he had received proper education about producing heirs since childhood.

Given the social standards and his responsibility to continue the family line, there was no way he only had this children’s book as his guide.

In the original novel, Apollyon was described as… highly capable in those scenes.

Sure, he was a bit awkward at first, but he quickly became confident and skilled.

That alone showed he wasn’t completely clueless.

I thought back to last night, which had been intense in more ways than one.

He clearly knew what I was trying to do. That’s probably why he tried to run away.

His body responded, and he was embarrassed by it…

Yeah. He’s not ignorant.

Which meant he understood the basics.

‘So where do I start?’

Do I begin by opening up his closed-off mindset?

Trying to talk to him about it was hopeless. I’d already tried pointing to duty and marriage responsibility, but it didn’t work.

I even tried acting pitiful, thinking his kind nature would kick in—but nope.

Instead, he gave me that sad little bunny look, making me feel guilty.

‘Visual temptation seemed to work a little…’

But even that only affected him physically. His mental defenses were still too strong.

When I asked if he disliked me, he said he didn’t. And I believed him.

I knew he was avoiding me not because he hated me, but because he cared.

In the original story, Apollyon hated physical contact.

It started out as a form of respect for others but slowly turned into a habit that isolated him.

Deep down, Apollyon longed for human warmth more than anyone.

His birth mother died young, and after he was cursed, rumors spread that touching him would spread the curse too. Everyone avoided him.

And when his beloved father passed away, Apollyon was completely alone in the world.

The rest of his life followed a predictable path.

He became more withdrawn until even a simple handshake became difficult for him.

Only the female lead in the original story ever held his hand without hesitation.

Though he didn’t show it, he was deeply moved by her bravery and even cried secretly.

He was probably scared.

Scared that I’d be disgusted by him. That I’d wash my hands after touching him.

But I didn’t feel that way at all.

Realizing all of this, I felt a mix of pity and guilt.

I let out a small sigh and closed the book.

No matter how strong his walls were, we had to talk—really talk—before we could even think about anything physical.

Once our words connected, our gazes would too. And eventually, so would our hearts.

And maybe… just maybe… that would be the key to lifting the curse.

I put the book back on the shelf and walked out of the library with determination.

Apollyon was supposed to join tonight’s dinner.

At the very least, I needed to clear up any misunderstandings before they became something worse.