13. Lunch with the brothers of the Duke family
I met Lloyd's concerned look with a nod.
“I know if I rode on horseback with His Highness the Duke through the bustling streets of the capital...”
“You will become the most famous society lady in the capital, Madam Erica. This will cause a great stir in the royal society.”
“A bounty may be announced on my head. I prefer to live long and well. I do not want to attract the hatred of all the ladies in the capital.”
As Sir Lloyd and I whispered softly to each other, other sparks lit in Carlex's eyes.
“Sir Lloyd, please lend me your horse. I beg you for my life.”
“Do you know how to ride a horse?”
Lloyd made a surprised look.
“I am, after all, a baron's daughter. I think I can ride him. Maybe?”
I answered him in a slightly unsure tone.
Since Erica is from the Baron family, she must have learned horse riding as part of her basic training.
I've never ridden a horse myself, but maybe Erica's body remembers the feeling.
It is easier for me to die by falling from a horse than to expose my life to danger because of a rumor spreading in society about me riding a horse with Carlex.
Sir Lloyd hastened to the palace stable and returned by drawing his horse.
As for Carlex, who was watching the scene, his eyebrows frowned as if something had disturbed him.
“You mean to ride Lloyd's horse now, and not mine?”
"I will ride horses too. I think that my burden with you, Your Highness, will be exhausting for you. I do not want to burden you any further."
With Lord Lloyd's help, I climbed onto the horse's back.
To be honest, I was very scared, as this was the first time I had ever ridden a horse in my life.
The horse's back was high and more uncomfortable than I imagined, and I felt like I was about to fall at any moment.
But, strangely enough, Erica's body seemed accustomed to it, so he sat in the horse's saddle while maintaining balance.
At that moment, Carlex walked up to me and took the horse's bridle.
"We'll switch to my horse. Lloyd's horse is fierce and difficult for a beginner to handle."
"What? But it's good."
He gently grabbed my waist, then lifted me like a princess, and sat me on the saddle of his horse.
"Hey, hey! Wait!"
Before I could resist, I found myself sitting on Carlex's white horse in the blink of an eye.
As for Sir Lloyd, who witnessed the scene, he stood in shock with a face expressing disbelief.
“Oh my God! His Highness the Duke is giving up his favorite horse, which he holds dearer than his life...”
Lloyd's eyes reddened as if he was a father surprised by his son's maturity.
Leaving Lloyd to bid us farewell with great enthusiasm, Carlex and I, accompanied by each other on horseback, headed towards the bustling streets of the capital.
***
It didn't take long for me to deeply regret my decision.
I preferred to walk alone.
Overhearing the glances and whispers of passers-by as we crossed the road paved with arranged stones on horseback was not an easy matter at all.
The mere passing of Duke Carlex on the road was enough to attract looks of expectation and admiration from the young ladies and gentlemen and even the young nobles who passed by.
But the looks that were directed towards me as I rode the horse next to him were hostile.
Especially the looks of envy and hatred from the ladies, which I felt as if they were being stuck in my back like arrows.
Resigned to the idea that they wouldn't just throw stones at me, I focused all my attention on directing the horse.
As for His Highness the reassured Duke, he was moving with a rigid, expressionless face.
Suddenly, he brought his horse closer to me and asked in a low, deep voice:
“Are you upset about that, Librarian Erica?”
“What do you mean, Your Highness?”
“I mean people are noisier today.”
Carlex looked at me with a look of admiration and expectation as if he were looking at an insignificant pebble on the side of the road, and then he fixed his eyes on me.
Um, that's a bit arrogant, isn't it?
I looked at him calmly as he crossed the road.
“It seems that your words are a bit rude.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your Highness the Duke, you are a hero and defender of the Kingdom of Ruberia. Try to accept the feelings of those people who respect you. People gain courage when they see heroes.”
There was a little boy on the other side of the road, staring at Carlex with eyes full of respect.
His innocent eyes resembled Michael's eyes, and I was drawn to them for a long time without realizing it.
Carlex was silent for a moment, then his characteristic crooked smile appeared on his lips.
“This is an illusion. I do not intend to become a hero.”
Carlex stopped breathing for a moment.
For some reason, I felt in his short silence an intense pain that he was trying to suppress.
“I...I don't even deserve this.”
Carlex's cold gaze returned to face the front.
What does the image he sees before his eyes look like?
The streets of the capital were bathed in bright spring colors, and the ornamental trees planted along the road swayed with the wind.
The edges of the ladies' luxurious dresses flow like beautiful blooming roses.
Passers-by move around smiling in the comfort of a spring day.
But was he still on a gray, rubble battlefield?
No emotion could be sensed in his impassive expression.
I hoped from my heart that the heroine of the original story, Freesia, would appear soon.
In the original story, she was the hero's only savior.
If she were next to Carlex now, this road would be as beautiful as a sunny spring day.
***
The place we arrived at was a three-story building located in Saint Park near the library.
An impressive restaurant, decorated in white marble, converted from an urban home.
We were greeted by the manager who was already waiting for us in the reception hall.
When we entered the last room on the second floor, Michael stood up to greet us, sitting at a table for six.
“Sister! Welcome! I missed you so much!”
Michael smiled bright like an angel and rushed towards me, waving his bright blonde hair.
Ah, now I understand.
I moved into this body to see your radiant smile.
“Why do you have that annoying smile?”
Carlex frowned when he saw my satisfied smile.
“Mr. Little Prince, have you been okay during this period? You seem to have become more mature.”
“I'm fine. I didn't have any side effects after the car accident. It's all thanks to you because you protected me. Really thank you.”
Michael held my hands tightly, his eyes sparkling.
“It was thanks to the magic ink pen. Anyway, fortunately, my lord, the little prince, is fine.”
“Sister, come and sit next to me. Let’s eat delicious things together.”
With a beaming face, Michael took my hands and led me to the table.
He did not forget to take out the chair to make it easier for me to sit.
“Oh, Sir Little Prince, thank you. You have become such a polite man.”
Michael smiled sheepishly at my compliment.
“Aunt Emma always taught me that a gentleman should respect a lady.”
Hmm. Although they are brothers, they are very different.
This contrasts with His Highness, who has no morals towards ladies.
As we sat down at the table set with flowers and utensils, maids lined up to help serve the food and carry the dishes.
The table was filled with perfectly grilled beef steaks, sweet-smelling crisp apple pie, soul-soothing chicken and vegetable stew, and assorted fruits and salads.
“Sister Erica, eat with appetite.”
When Michael served the food with a pleasant smile, I did not hesitate and immediately picked up the fork and knife and prepared for battle.
While I was pretending to adhere to table manners, I attacked the dishes with the utmost speed and precision.
Michael seemed surprised by the sight of me eating so greedily, so he stared at me with his eyes wide.
“Sister, you really eat with such appetite that it makes me want to eat with pleasure. Other adults only eat a little.”
They eat little just because of the appearance.
I can't do that.
Giving up the pleasure of eating to maintain prestige is a very big sacrifice for me.
“My mother taught me that I should eat with pleasure. Meat melts in my mouth. It is tastier than beef...”
“What is ‘beef’?”
Oh, it just slipped in unconsciously.
“It means good meat. “It is a language from another country.”
“You know foreign languages too, sister? You must be reading a lot!”
Michael admired innocently.
“Ah, yes. Due to my profession...”
As if he had been waiting for this, Michael began chattering like a bird, talking about books.
From literature and social sciences to history, geography, politics and economics, Michael, despite his young age, had a deep knowledge of science.
He is truly a famous genius in the kingdom.
I listened intently and finished my meal.
While doing so, I did not forget to repeat from time to time words such as “Really?”, “Amazing!”, “I get it.”
Throughout the meal, Michael's bright face and happy smile never left his face.
“Sister, you are a really entertaining person. It is very enjoyable to talk to you.”
But you were the one who led the conversation.
I am also grateful that I have gained information about this world thanks to you.
After I finished the meal, I smiled as I tasted the warm black tea.
“I also enjoy talking to you, Sir Michael.”
After we talked happily for a while longer, Michael left for a moment with his bodyguard.
The plates of food on the table had been empty by then.
I finally realized that Duke Carlex was in front of me.
I thought he was a useless handsome man because he didn't say a word.
Carlex was just staring at his little brother the whole time Michael and I were talking.
The pleasure and joy of observing a dear person was reflected in his eyes.
I sighed inwardly.
This is a really big problem.
Shouldn't the hero of the novel introduce his heroine first?
This brotherhood complex, the obstacle is very big.
Wait, why does the story get sidetracked?
This is not original content.
In the novel Secret Love in the Royal Library, it is only mentioned that Carlex has a younger brother, but he does not appear in person.
And of course, there was no plot about him making a fuss to find a magic book.
I feel some anxiety.
I began to feel that the story of the original novel was gradually changing after I moved into this body.
Can I avoid execution and return home safely? Fear began to creep into me.
“It's been a long time since I've seen Michael speak with such joy.”
While I was agonizing over my thoughts about the original novel, Carlex suddenly turned to me.
I was confused by his sudden words, but I smiled slowly.
“The little prince is clever and clever. He must be popular with his friends and ladies.”
“He spent most of his time in the ducal palace, so he did not go out into society often. He had now reached the age of needing friends.”
Carlex spoke anxiously, like a parent worried about his son's social relationships.
Hmm, would he follow him to every social gathering to monitor him if he was a hero suffering from a sibling complex?
Carlex stands behind Michael's back with a scary face during a friendly tea party...
The picture was so funny that I suppressed my laughter while pretending to drink tea.
Carlex turned his head slightly, gave a short cough, and then spoke to me politely:
“I hope you can be my brother’s conversation partner from time to time.”
“You...are asking me that?”
Carlex looked directly into my eyes for the first time.
Not with a look of challenge, sarcasm, or annoyance, but with a serious look.
The cold, arrogant Duke of the North asks me to be his brother's friend.
It seemed like I saw his human side for the first time.
I was about to agree pleasantly, when a familiar figure entered the doorway.
It was Lord Melter whom I met at the palace of Baron Hamilton, that is, Baron Hamilton.
His face was pale and still stiff with fear in front of Carlex.
The Baron bowed politely towards Carlex in greeting.
“Your Highness, I hope you are well.”
Carlex didn't even look at him and slowly raised his glass.
"Baron Hamilton. Am I not supposed to congratulate you? You have been cleared of charges in the investigation conducted by the Royal Palace investigators."
“Yes. All thanks to the patronage of His Highness Duke Reinhardt.”
“Your hypocrisy skills are amazing. Have you forgotten that I grabbed you by the neck and threw you to the Royal Palace investigators?”
The Baron's facial expression gradually began to change.
The fearful face turned into a confident smile.
His shoulders, which had been shrunken in fear, straightened.
It was a sudden transformation, as if he had become another person.
“Thanks to your quick intervention, Your Highness, I was quickly exonerated from the charge of stealing the magic book. Thank you for protecting our family’s honor. The person… who takes care of our family… would also like to thank you.”
“What's your trick?”
Melter's confident demeanor seemed to upset Carlex, and his forehead contracted violently.
Melter took a step aside in the doorway and bowed politely.
When someone entered by raising the velvet curtain, Carlex's face turned cold.
Melter Baron proudly introduced the man in a voice full of respect.
“He is His Highness Prince Franz Spern, eldest son of the Duke Spern family.”
The moment I saw him, memories of the original novel came rushing in like a storm.
[To be continued in the next chapter]
Loving translation