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Chapter – 25
Dodododo.
It was when I was busily running towards the library.
Just as I was turning the corner.
“Hueop!”
“Ouch!”
I almost bumped into someone who suddenly jumped out.
Fortunately, I didn’t fall, but my legs gave way and I staggered.
Just before my wriggling buttocks were about to thud heavily onto the floor, someone’s hand grabbed my shoulder.
“Oh dear. Are you alright?”
It was the man I had collided with.
Holding my startled chest, I nodded.
“Th-thank you for c-catching me.”
“Not at all. It was my fault you almost got hurt. I have a bit of a narrow field of vision, you see… Ouch!”
As if to prove his words, the man, stepping back, bumped his head against the wall.
“Aigoo…”
He rubbed the back of his head vigorously and let out a groan.
Then he let out an awkward, sheepish laugh.
Only then could I slowly look the man over.
Moderately tanned skin, unique green eyes.
But what caught my attention the most was the clothes the man was wearing.
‘Those clothes….’
Priest robes! They’re priest robes?!
“Are you… a P-priest, by any chance?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Why is a priest in Panteyeve?
‘Is he related to Lady Siena?’
Given that the former Duke returned today, it was highly likely that Lady Siena had also returned to the ducal residence.
‘Perhaps he accompanied her while he was at it….’
I was rolling my head alone, making deductions, when…
“By the way, My Lady.”
“…Y-yes?”
“By any chance, have we met somewhere before?”
What kind of sudden question is this?
I agonized for a moment, then shook my head side to side.
“N-no. It’s our f-first time.”
Of course, not in this life, and I have no memory of meeting such a person in my previous life either.
Even if I had met him in my previous life, he wouldn’t have been able to remember me anyway.
“I see. So it’s our first meeting.”
“Yes, first time!”
“…Hmm. Then I must have mistaken you for someone else. Well, if it were someone as cute as you, little lady, it would be hard to forget easily!”
Ugh, seriously.
Who does he think will be pleased by such flattery?
‘…Cheek, behave! Stop wriggling upward!’
While scolding my cheek that was moving on its own, I failed to notice.
The fact that the man’s smiling face had stiffened like a doll’s for an instant.
Glance.
The man’s green eyes darted towards a spot behind a pillar and then returned.
“It was a pleasure talking to you! I look forward to seeing you again, My Lady.”
“Ah, y-yes….”
The man, who had smiled broadly, bowed his head and walked away, humming a tune.
I stood there blankly, watching the man’s retreating back.
‘What was that.’
What a storm-like person.
No, more importantly…
‘How did he know I’m the Young Lady?’
It hasn’t been officially announced yet, and my name isn’t even on the Duke’s family register…
At best, only those who’ve heard through the grapevine would know.
“…Did he hear the former Duke’s voice earlier?”
Ah, that could be it.
His voice must have been really booming!
If he was in the same building, it would have been more than enough to hear it…?
If not that, he could have heard it from someone from Bramschua, or from the ducal residence servants…
There are more ways to find out than I thought.
Maybe the rumor has already spread far and wide.
Nod nod.
‘Ah, the library!’
Anyway, this isn’t the important thing right now!
Having reached a conclusion, I busily started moving my halted steps again.
“Kyle!”
“My Lady…!”
As I set foot in the library, Kyle greeted me with a happy face.
We’ve become quite close over the last few days.
Since I liked the books Kyle recommended initially (especially the <Frozen Empire> books featuring Angela), I kept visiting him to ask for more recommendations.
The kind Kyle would pick out books for me as diligently as if it were his own task.
Seeing each other so often, I guess we naturally became close, should I say?
“Welcome. I was hoping you might come, so I saved some cookies…”
“Gasp. C-cookies?”
“Yes. I made them myself, so they might not suit your taste…”
“No! K-Kyle’s c-cookies are delicious! I r-really like them?!”
I had gotten to taste cookies baked by Kyle himself once before.
If the cookies baked by the ducal chef had a sophisticated taste, Kyle’s cookies were… simply and plainly delicious, should I say?
“I’m glad to hear you say that. Hehe…”
Kyle laughed timidly and brought out the cookies.
“It’s a bear!”
“I thought you might like it…”
“I l-love bears. Thank you, K-Kyle.”
I settled in and started munching on the cookies crunchily.
Mmm, delicious.
I felt my lingering regret over the hot chocolate I left behind melting away slightly.
“Oh, did you come to find books again today?”
“Yes. I f-finished the last ones.”
“You really love books, My Lady. As a librarian, that makes me happy. Ah, if th-that was p-presumptuous, I’m sorry…!”
“It’s n-not presumptuous! Besides, K-Kyle and I are f-friends now.”
“…M-My Lady.”
Kyle mumbled in a voice moist with emotion.
“I… I think I’m truly a blessed person. To receive support even in Panteyeve, to get the chance to work as the Duke’s librarian, and on top of that, to meet such a cute, no, such a kind My Lady… I’m really happy.”
He’s happy to have met me?
‘Hearing such words to my face is a bit embarrassing…’
It feels a little touching too.
I let out an awkward laugh and took a big bite of the cookie, crunching.
By the way.
‘So Kyle is receiving support from the Ducal House?’
No wonder. I did think he was very young for a ducal librarian…
‘Now that I think about it, from a certain point, it became a trend for noble families to patronize scholars and artists.’
It wasn’t now, but something that would happen a few years later.
The nobles competed over what achievements the talented young people they sponsored would make.
Newspapers and magazines were constantly filled with stories like, ‘So-and-so, sponsored by such-and-such family, became such a great person-.’
Among them, the one that produced the most outstanding talent was the Temple.
Because the young scholar sponsored by the Temple became the youngest professor at the Academy.
‘Huh. What was that professor’s name again…?’
It feels like I can almost remember, but not quite.
“U-um, My Lady?”
“Huh? Oh, yes?”
As I pulled back my mind, which had briefly wandered off, I saw Kyle pushing up his glasses timidly.
“Are you alright?”
“Me? Why?”
“No, you seemed a little lost in thought…”
“Ah, it’s b-because the cookies are delicious. Hehe.”
“Th-that makes me happy. Ah, and I picked out a few books you might like. If it’s alright with you, may I… recommend them?”
“Gasp, of course. I l-love the books K-Kyle recommends the most!”
“Th-thank you…”
Kyle answered with a shy smile and quickly disappeared behind the bookshelves.
When he returned, he was holding two books.
“I picked ones I thought you’d find entertaining, My Lady. Ah, and there’s also the <The Youngest Princess Who Melts the Frozen Empire> series…”
“<The Youngest Princess of the Frozen Empire>?!”
“Yes. In Volume 2, it seems the Young Lady’s grandfather appears. Should I get this one for you too?”
“Yes! P-please! I w-want to see Angela!”
I can’t resist the <Frozen Empire series>.
Moreover, a grandfather character appears.
Maybe I can get some tips on how to handle the former Duke.
‘As expected. Angela is my hero.’
Kyle stacked the books he recommended neatly.
Just like last time, there were three books in total.
“I heard the <Frozen Empire series> Volume 3 will be out soon. When it’s published, I’ll get it for you first thing.”
Gasp. <Frozen Empire series> Volume 3?
“You h-have to t-tell me when Volume 3 comes out!”
“Of course. But…”
Kyle looked at me and then at the books with a worried expression.
“Will you be able to carry them all? It seems like it might be heavy…”
“Eh, it’s f-fine. I’m s-strong.”
“That’s true. You are strong. But still, it seems heavy…. Perhaps I should temporarily close the library and escort you…”
Sigh. Why bother with such hassle?
“It’s r-really okay. I can d-do it.”
“But… Ugh.”
Kyle let out a pained sound and nodded with a resigned expression.
“Then I’ll see you out to the entrance. Are you really sure it’s okay?”
“Yes. It’s f-fine.”
I thumped my chest as if to say ‘trust me.’
Kyle, who had followed me to the entrance, placed the three books into my arms.
