TVWRL 08

Chapter : 08

Broken Book Finder

Upon hearing my words, Milton (the new Hamilton head) gave an awkward, bitter smile.

“My uncle preferred interacting with people over scholarly pursuits. Even I’m curious why he would borrow a magic book he couldn’t even read.”

Calix silently stared at the empty bookshelf for a moment before speaking in a flat voice.

“I’m thirsty from the long carriage ride. Viscount Hamilton, could I have some tea?”

“I apologize. I’ve neglected my duties as a host to such important guests. I will escort you to the reception room immediately.”

The moment Milton left the study to call for servants, Calix immediately turned to me.

“Lady Erika, is the Book Finder working?”

“Ah? Let me check.”

I took out the Book Finder and stood in front of the bookshelf. Calix stepped up closely behind me.

I could feel his calm breathing, the warmth of his solid body, the distinctly masculine scent of him.

Huh—but… isn’t he getting closer?

Before I realized it, I was practically sandwiched between the bookshelf and Calix.

“Your Grace, could you step back a little? It’s distracting me.”

“Are you misunderstanding something, Lady Erika?”

Calix gave a faint smirk.

“I’m making sure no one sees the Book Finder in operation.”

“Why?”

“The existence of Book Readers and Book Finders is strictly confidential. Only library personnel are supposed to know. Didn’t William explain the basic rules?”

“Then what about Lady Rose and Lord Mikael?”

I lowered my voice.

Rose clearly knew, and Mikael too. I hadn’t thought it was classified.

“Lady Medicine is a specially selected magic book loan officer after examination. Mikael, as my brother, has clearance. You still have a long way to go.”

“I was still in the middle of onboarding, but a certain impatient superior kept rushing me, so I didn’t get to learn all this.”

Before Calix’s gaze could sharpen further, I quickly focused on the Book Finder.

“<The Lion’s Magic Theory Primer>.”

The needle glowed, spun once…

Then suddenly—flicker—the light went out and it stopped trembling.

“Huh? What? Is it broken?”

I shook it and repeated the title, but the needle didn’t move at all.

Calix stared at it with a serious expression. Mikael’s eyes widened as if realizing something.

“Brother… if the Book Finder stopped working, does that mean someone erased the tracking magic?”

“That seems likely.”

What on earth is happening?

I looked between the two of them, completely confused.

“So they noticed the tracking reaction between the Book Finder and the book… and erased it afterward?”

Calix narrowed his eyes coldly.

“Then the book wasn’t borrowed.”

“It was stolen.”

At that moment, Milton returned with a polite smile.

“The tea is ready in the reception room. Please—”

Before he could finish speaking, a flash of light cut through the air.

In an instant, Calix’s sword was at Milton’s throat without a sound.

“B-Brother!”

“Your Grace!”

Mikael and I shouted at the same time.

“H-how… why… Your Grace…?”

Milton froze, trembling, unable to even breathe properly.

Calix’s cold, furious gaze flickered along the blade.

“Since the former Viscount is dead, the responsibility now falls to you as his successor. You know what punishment awaits those who steal magic books under the law. Where did you move the book that should be here?”

“I—I know nothing! I didn’t even know my uncle borrowed a magic book! I’m innocent! Please believe me!”

Milton was paralyzed with fear, unable to even breathe properly.

Without blinking, Calix slowly pressed the sword closer to his neck.

A bead of blood ran down the blade and fell.

Milton couldn’t even scream.

Then I remembered—Northern Duke Calix Reinhardt was called a blood-hungry lion of the battlefield.

A ruthless, infamous man whose very name made people tremble in fear.

In the original story, I thought “cold-hearted duke” sounded cool… but in reality, isn’t he just a terrifying psychopath?!

No matter how important the book is, threatening someone with a sword right away is too much!

I stepped forward calmly and placed my hand on the flat of his blade.

The steel was freezing cold—sharp enough that even a slight mistake would slice me apart.

Blue anger flickered in Calix’s eyes.

“Interfering with a knight’s sword… how rude, Lady Erika.”

“I think you’re the one being excessive, Your Grace.”

I met his gaze steadily.

“You can conduct interrogations through proper procedure. You could send soldiers to search the estate. More importantly…”

I turned to Mikael, who looked even more frightened than Milton.

“Mikael is watching.”

Calix’s harsh expression softened instantly.

Mikael looked terrified—this was clearly the first time he had ever seen his brother draw a sword at someone.

Calix slowly lowered his blade.

Milton collapsed to the ground in relief.

“I will send soldiers to search the estate. If you attempt to flee, you will be pursued and punished under the law. Do you object?”

“I will fully cooperate to preserve the honor of House Hamilton. Please believe in our innocence.”

Milton answered firmly despite his pale face.

Calix turned coldly away.

“Everyone claims innocence.”

He stepped out of the study.

I followed him, taking Mikael with me.

Outside, Calix immediately ordered the coachman:

“Return to the Royal Library. Now!”

The carriage set off at high speed.

I held Mikael tightly so he wouldn’t fall.

“Mikael, are you okay? You looked really shocked earlier.”

“I’m fine, sister… my brother works for the kingdom. I understand.”

“That was too much earlier. He didn’t even listen to their explanation before drawing his sword.”

“My brother says sometimes you must use the sword to maintain order. He is the sword that protects Ruberia.”

Mikael spoke quietly, defending him.

Calix likely lives a life of constant destruction—his sword is his law, his justice.

Maybe that justice is correct. History is always written by those who hold power.

But I didn’t want to agree with that kind of justice.

I looked at Mikael’s pure eyes.

“Still… I believe people like you, who have kind hearts, are the ones who make the world better.”

Mikael only smiled softly.

To lighten the mood, I changed the subject.

“In the end, we still didn’t recover the book. Where did it go?”

“I found it strange too. The Book Finder reacts to tracking magic. But the needle stopped just now.”

“Could it be broken?”

Mikael shook his head firmly.

“The Book Finder is an artifact made by a high-ranking mage. It doesn’t break easily. If it stopped working, someone must have destroyed the tracking magic on the book.”

“They even removed tracking magic just to hide it… was the book really that important?”

Mikael sighed.

“That’s the strange part. The Lion’s Magic Theory Primer contains no mana at all.”

“No mana?”

“Exactly. It’s useless for theft. It doesn’t even contain magic.”

I frowned.

“So why steal it at all?”

Mikael looked even more puzzled.

“Magic books normally contain mana and are needed for high-level spells. That’s why they’re restricted to the library. That book was an exception—it could be loaned out because it had no mana. Still, it’s valuable as a reference.”

So that’s why the Royal Library controls magic books so strictly.

“Then where do we find it now? The Book Finder is dead.”

Mikael smiled reassuringly.

“If we report it to Director William, he’ll know what to do. He’s the greatest mage in Ruberia.”

We were back to square one.

The Viscount who borrowed the book was dead, and the book was gone.

Who took it?

As a librarian, the thought of an unreturned book always triggered my professional instincts.

I took out the fountain pen William had given me and began writing notes.

Mikael stared at it curiously.

“Sister, is that fountain pen from Director William?”

“How do you know?”

“I’ve seen him use it often. I heard it’s a magical artifact.”

Mikael looked at it like a child wanting a toy.

“It’s valuable, right? It might be worth as much as a manor.”

“…Really?”

Cold sweat ran down my back.

I had been casually carrying something worth an entire estate in my bag.

Director William, I’m sorry. I’ll treat it like a sacred object from now on.

A sharp bird call echoed in the distance.

Mikael looked up at the sky excitedly.

“It’s my brother’s messenger hawk. The Shadow Knights must be nearby.”

A large hawk circled above.

Mikael asked Calix, who was riding alongside the carriage.

“Brother, should we stop?”

“No. Keep going. I’ll check the message and catch up.”

The hawk descended gracefully onto Calix’s arm as if bowing to its master.

The sight of the black-haired knight and the majestic bird was almost divine.

“…He really is amazing.”

I muttered without realizing.

Mikael grinned.

“Right? My brother looks best with his hawk.”

Before I could respond—

BOOM!

A loud explosion shattered the moment.

One of the carriage wheels broke apart violently.

The carriage lurched and tilted.

“What… is happening?!”

The carriage skidded wildly, losing balance.

The coachman screamed and jumped off. Horses panicked and neighed in terror.

The carriage was tipping over, seconds away from collapsing.

No way… am I going to die like this?

Not by guillotine… but in a carriage crash?

Mikael was trembling in fear beside me.

Instinctively, I pulled him into my arms with all my strength.

No.

I don’t want to die like this!