“One moment, please.”
Rose stopped me, then lowered her voice to explain the situation.
“You should understand the situation first. It seems that Miss Rubel is the target.”
“Why?”
I asked her, suppressing the anger rising inside me.
“It is said that a tea party was held in the capital recently, as part of a communication between the children of the nobles. Miss Rubel attended, and the young nobles took a liking to her at first sight and showed interest in her alone. The miss in front was the one who organized that party. Miss Eliade is of the family of the Duke of Spern.”
Eliade is from the family of the Duke of Spern.
She was Duke Franz's only sister.
In the original story, she had a reputation as a bad girl.
She was a queen in social circles, relying on her family's wealth and influence.
She was even the first candidate to be the wife of the Crown Prince.
The problem is that, just like her brother, she was hiding her true intentions behind a flashy façade.
She pretended to be noble and delicate on the surface, but her core was greedy and cruel.
Especially in the original story, when she was jealous of Freesia, this nature was clearly shown.
Eliade was swallowing her anger as she watched from behind the crown prince loving Freesia.
She then blamed Freesia for all her anger and hatred, and began to persecute her until she finally hatched a plot to poison her.
But Carlex stopped her evil deeds, and after Franz's rebel forces were captured, she too was executed.
Wait? So Eliade was Erica's companion on the scaffold?
They were two companions on their way to hell.
What a naughty piece that brings tears to the eyes!
Eliade turned her eyes up and down on Freesia with a hateful look.
A sarcastic, bitter smile appeared on her red lips.
“After such a shameful incident… doesn’t it seem ridiculous that you are now showing your smile in front of His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness Duke Reinhardt? Isn’t this a trivial act for a girl who belongs to the Count’s family?”
The other girls took advantage, whistling and taunting Freesia.
“What a scandal, as if it sells laughs everywhere.”
“It seems she has forgotten her honor as a noble girl.”
“She has even captivated His Highness the Crown Prince and the Duke. What talent she has? Is it… something we can’t say? Haha.”
Freesia's face turned pitifully pale.
Even when she was humiliated, she maintained her dignity, like a lotus flower in the middle of the mud.
“I swear that I have not committed anything inappropriate. There is only some acquaintance between me and His Highness the Crown Prince and the Duke.”
“How can I believe what you say?”
Eliade spoke in a sharp, sharp tone.
“What do I have to do to make you believe me?”
Freesia pleaded for good faith, but this method would not work with that cowardly, vile crowd.
Eliade spoke arrogantly as if she were a queen:
"I don't believe people who just talk. You must show me with actions. You have defiled your honor as a noble girl, so you must not attend the palace ball."
“I'm not interested in parties. You don't have to worry about that.”
Freesia replied calmly and composedly, with sweetness and dignity.
As if she was not impressed, Eliade folded her fan and knocked it on her palm.
"Miss Rubel, you don't seem to understand at all. Much stupider than I expected. I don't believe people who just talk. So, I'll make it impossible for you to come, of course."
Her eyes suddenly sparkled harshly.
I lunged forward on instinct.
A startled Rose tried to catch me, but it was too late.
When I regained consciousness, I was already standing, with my arms out in plain view, to block her from Eliade.
I checked Freesia's face first to make sure she was okay.
Perhaps my sudden appearance surprised her, and her eyes widened.
The tears she was holding down began to shine in their eyes.
Suddenly I encountered a face like that of a child searching for its mother, and my heart sank into my shoes.
“Erica...”
"Who are you? Judging by your uniform, you look like a librarian. Why are you interfering?"
Eliade's hand trembled as she held the fan.
My interruption seemed to make her angry, as she furrowed her eyebrows violently.
I smiled broadly, my usual professional smile, and said:
“Please be quiet in the library, Miss Spearn.”
Eliade's face, white as flour, frowned.
“You dare...”
She stared at me as if she were going to devour me, then raised her hand.
She gets angry easily and resorts to violence.
It's the stereotypical bad girl behavior pattern in fantasy romance novels.
So, it was easy to guess.
I took a quick step and caught Eliade's wrist as he turned towards my face.
بدَت منذهلةً، كأنها لم تتوقَّع أن أتمكن من إيقافها.
I see the benefit of continuous shooting training.
“You seem to be reacting very slowly.”
I showed a big smile, no one would spit in a smiling face, but it seemed to make her even angrier.
Eliade stared at me sharply, gritted her teeth, and then threw her fan at me.
The metal-adorned handle of the fan passed my cheek and flew away.
I turned quickly to avoid her, but my right cheek radiated pain.
“Erica, it's a wound!”
Freesia screamed, choking back tears.
I tried to reassure her that it was okay, but for a moment my body stiffened.
How long have they been standing here?
Crown Prince Ludwig and Duke Carlex were standing at the entrance of the bookshelves with deadpan expressions.
Carlex seemed to understand the situation immediately, his handsome forehead furrowed.
A cold spark of anger glowed in his blue eyes.
This is dangerous.
Looking at this man's look, if things get worse today, I might pay a heavy price.
Eliade didn't seem to notice their appearance yet, as she was staring at me with an arrogant look.
As if she thought my inaction was due to my fear.
I quickly picked up the fan and handed it to her.
“There you have dropped your fan. Please speak calmly in the library in the future, Miss Spearn.”
“What nonsense is this...”
I interrupted her, lowering my voice threateningly:
“Your Highness the Crown Prince and Duke Reinhardt are here now. Don’t you think it would be inappropriate to display such shameful behavior?”
Eliade suddenly froze.
Her confusion transferred to me.
But soon soft lines appeared on her hardened lips.
“Oh my God, I accidentally dropped my fan. Are you okay?”
A voice came out full of remorse and warmth.
However, her eyes kept staring at me with the same look.
Eliade helped me, took me by the arm, then grabbed the hem of her dress and turned around.
At the same time, the prickly look with which she was looking at me completely disappeared.
“Oh!”
She pretended to have just discovered the Crown Prince's presence, then bowed gently.
Certainly, it was a move worthy of the queen of social circles.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince, it is an honor to have you visit the library. I hope you are in good health.”
Then she tried to say hello to Carlex as well, but was met with a cold look like a frown, and her face turned pale.
Carlex seemed to see through her acting at a glance, as he continued to stare at Eliade.
I was afraid he would discover me, so I quickly covered the injured cheek with my hand.
There was an atmosphere of tense tension on the bookshelves that preceded the explosion.
Carlex's anger spread through the air like ripples.
“How dare you, what you did?”
His voice as he pronounced each word was filled with pent-up anger, terrifying in itself.
Eliade seemed to have lost even the will to act.
She just stood there, overwhelmed by the anger pouring out of her, like someone about to suffocate.
Her hands trembled as she hid the fan behind her back.
I instinctively realized: In front of this man called the “Lion of the Bloody Battlefield,” no arguments and lies would be of any use.
“Well, Your Highness... this is...”
The other girls also gathered like a terrified herd in the corner of the bookshelves, lowering their heads.
I realized why Carlex doesn't socialize.
Girls admire him, and at the same time fear him.
His reputation as a war demon will always be a terror to girls who are like hothouse flowers.
Oh, by the way.
These girls look more like poisonous weeds than flowers.
“Is there a woman who can explain this situation to me now?”
Even Ludving, who was always smiling, looked at the girls with a cold look.
It was as if he took off his mask and returned to his original expression.
I've long suspected that the image of the jovial, mad-loving crown prince was a political mask.
Looking at that expression made me certain.
Given the current atmosphere, it seems that the Crown Prince and Carlex will undoubtedly side with me.
This will complicate matters and make them stressful.
If the Crown Prince interfered in a petty quarrel between girls, he might be said to be a reckless person.
Nobles are like hyenas, always lurking for an opportunity to pounce on the Crown Prince.
Most importantly, Eliade belongs to the family of the Duke of Spirn.
If Carlix blamed Eliade, Duke Franz would certainly not stand idly by.
I have had the benefit of reading many fantasy romance novels, learning about the struggles of politics in aristocratic society and the quarrels of girls.
In such situations, the matter must be resolved through peaceful negotiation between the parties involved.
“His Highness the Crown Prince, His Highness the Duke. We are pleased to visit you after a while.”
I deliberately lit up a bright face and raised my voice cheerfully.
Freesia, who was holding back tears next to me, widened her eyes in surprise.
“Fortunately, you both arrived at the right time. The ladies would like to speak with Your Highness the Crown Prince about books. Shall I come to the reception room?”
Although it seemed strange to place my hand on my cheek, I remained calm as a librarian.
Carlex's gaze swayed like waves.
But soon he realized my theory of “please don’t aggravate the matter, stay calm,” and he returned to his usual cold stillness.
Ludwig was also quick to act, as might be expected of someone who had survived court conflicts and wielded influence.
His intense gaze towards the girls immediately changed to affectionate gaze.
“I am very happy that you want to discuss books with me. I would ask for nothing more than to hear love poems in your beautiful voices.”
When the Crown Prince spoke politely while extending his hand, Eliade's face flushed with embarrassment.
I believed she was the heroine of the novel.
I clapped in my heart.
“Since His Highness the Crown Prince invites me, of course I must respond. I don’t know how to react out of joy.”
Eliade held Ludwig's hand in a condescending position, as if she had already become the wife of the Crown Prince.
She cast a gentle sideways glance at the girls who stood aside.
“Ladies, His Highness the Crown Prince has invited us to a reading meeting. Let’s go together.”
The girls seemed relieved to have survived the ordeal of being found out about their harassment of Freesia.
They followed Eliad in a hurry.
"Yes!"
Eliade pretended to remember something belatedly, then tilted her head slightly towards Freesia in greeting.
“Miss Rubel, I would have liked to spend more time with you, but this is sad. Let’s meet again next time.”
Her voice was affectionate, as if she was speaking to a close friend.
If I didn't know what it really was, I would have been completely fooled by it.
Eliade held my hand very tenderly, as if she did not know what to do out of sheer regret.
“Secretary, please treat the wound well. I will send precious medicine for the wound to the library. Then, bye.”
When I saw the victorious smile on her lips, my stomach hurt.
Certainly, aristocrat battles based on intrigue and using words as weapons are not for me.
I prefer to fight physically, as it is more comfortable for the heart.
But the Royal Library is my workplace, and dealing with troublesome customers is my duty as librarian.
I answered her with a nice smile:
“Please visit us again. I will prepare a book for you (Basic Etiquette and Gentle Manners for Ladies), which you will definitely need.”
I can't just say goodbye to you like this, can I?
I won't be a pure victim next time we meet, my companion in hell.
“Hmm.”
She laughed as if she was amused, then squeezed my hand.
“Really? So…”
“To be continued in the next chapter”
Loving translation