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Chapter 17
The books she had once loved so dearly had become something she desperately devoured simply to survive.
While she was reading and learning, at least she could push her fear aside. The hobby she had cherished had transformed into a tool for staying alive.
But even that wasn’t enough to completely erase her fear.
Ironically, the people who eased that fear were not her real family, but the family she had gained in this life.
People who consistently loved Rose and worried about her.
Because she knew the story, she understood one painful truth.
One day, she would have to abandon them.
If she did, her chances of surviving would be much greater.
They would never be able to protect her.
Instead, they would become chains she could never escape—chains that would bind her tightly.
That was simply how the world of nobles worked.
And yet…
She couldn’t bring herself to leave them.
Leaning on them…
Knowing she was alive…
Feeling their love…
It made her happy.
Perhaps that was why she continued acting unlike herself—as childish as she did.
Acting immature.
Throwing little tantrums.
Convincing herself,
“I’m still a child.”
“I don’t have to make those cruel choices yet.”
Maybe she wanted to brainwash herself into believing that.
How ridiculous.
“…I’m such an idiot.”
She knew it herself.
This couldn’t last forever.
She couldn’t keep living like this forever.
“…Even so…”
For now…
Before the story truly began…
She wanted things to stay this way.
She wasn’t particularly attached to life.
But neither did she want to die at such a young age.
More than anything else…
Rose Stacey—
She wanted to be happy.
That was why she desperately sought knowledge.
She never knew when or how it might prove useful.
At the very least, knowing something was infinitely better than knowing nothing at all.
So today as well,
Rose Stacey devoted herself wholeheartedly to learning.
As much as she was loved…
As much as she received affection…
“…Let’s see… Hmm. I’ll read this one first.”
…So that she would have no regrets.
Meanwhile…
After mercilessly prying Herys off as he clung to him in desperation, Enoch headed straight for the library.
There were things he needed to look into.
And there was no better place to organize both his thoughts and his mind than the library.
Right now, he desperately needed somewhere to sort through everything.
As he walked, Enoch recalled Herys pleading with him earlier.
“Enoch, just save me this once. That’s not a workload any human being can handle.”
“It’s your job. Besides, I’m busy too.”
“Compared to tormenting some innocent young lady, this is a far more civilized and noble task!”
“When have you ever seen me care about things like that?”
Herys looked at him as though thinking,
“What a barbaric bastard…”
But Enoch couldn’t have cared less.
He had never been the kind of man concerned with such things.
Then Herys boldly shouted after him.
“Hey! If you’re so worried about all those rumors, then just get married! Problem solved! The rumors will disappear overnight!”
Herys confidently insisted that if Enoch Chester got married, every other rumor surrounding him would immediately vanish.
The moment he heard those words, Enoch frowned instinctively.
This year, Enoch Chester had turned twenty-three.
Naturally, marriage proposals poured in endlessly.
He was the handsome young Duke who had inherited his family at only seventeen.
That fact alone made him one of the Empire’s most desirable bachelors.
On top of that, he had never been involved in any romantic scandals.
How could noblewomen not be interested?
Of course, there was also the rumor that he was a cruel monster…
But that was another matter entirely.
Because of that, countless noble ladies and ambitious noblewomen constantly tried to arrange marriages with him.
He had suffered through so many attempts that merely hearing the word marriage was enough to make him scowl.
Still…
He knew he couldn’t avoid it forever.
He was the sole direct heir of an ancient ducal family.
It was his duty to continue the bloodline.
Even so…
The thought of choosing a wife from among all the women desperately throwing themselves at him was horrifying.
At that moment, Herys spoke more seriously than usual.
