Eliade's elegant mask cracked.
It was clear that the veins were prominent on her forehead from the intensity of anger.
"See you next time. I'm looking forward to it. That book."
Deservedly the queen of social circles, she knew how to take time and place into consideration.
Carlex and the Crown Prince were now present.
The corners of her mouth twitched as she smiled, then turned away coldly.
Goodbye again, stereotypical villain, no, hell-fellow.
It seems that next time I will accidentally drop the rule book of the Ruberia Kingdom on your foot.
Crown Prince Ludfeng who was leaving the book section stopped for a moment and turned to look behind him.
A hint of worry and remorse flashed through his calm expression.
But he quickly put his mask back on and went off with the young ladies to the reception hall.
Carlex took one step closer to me.
"Erica, the wound? Show it."
His large palm carefully cupped my cheek.
Only then did I notice that Carlex's hand was shaking slightly.
He gets too angry.
He's not like he used to be: calm and quick to assess the situation.
I was the reason why the hero had reached this state, which left a bitter taste in my mouth.
You've taken over the role of Freesia again. How many times is this?
Even if I'm called a villain and not just a supporting character, I have nothing to say in defense.
“I'm fine. It's a superficial wound resulting from accidental contact.”
Freesia quickly covered my right cheek with her handkerchief.
The white rim of her eyes was swollen and red.
“However, it must be treated quickly, Erica.”
At that moment, Rose appeared with Lady Marian.
She seems to have summoned the lady to ask for help against Eliade's tyranny.
Rose was the arrogant one who usually never ran.
Seeing her running in a hurry, not caring that her dress might get wrinkled for me, made my heart flutter.
"Are you well?"
Lady Marian examined my cheek first.
“Fortunately, the wound is not deep. Let’s go to my office.”
Lady Marian's gaze, who was examining my wound, stopped for a moment at Carlix and Freesia.
Carlex was standing next to me like a stone statue with a serious expression, while Freesia was holding back her tears.
With a look of actual power in the library, the lady quickly realized the heavy atmosphere of the room.
Finally, feeling the need to sort out the situation, she called Rose.
“Librarian Rose, excuse me, but can you escort Miss Rubell to the carriage? Miss Rubel seems to have been startled.”
Freesia shook her head no and stepped forward.
"I'm fine. Is there anything I can do to help? She was hurt because of me."
At Freesia's last words, Carlex's eyebrows furrowed even more.
You heroine.
Please, don't say that.
Now you are adding fuel to the fire.
Lady Marian said firmly:
“We just thank you for your sentiments. Librarian Erica now needs treatment and rest.”
Rose went down to the stairs leading to the first floor, calming down Freesia, who was still hesitating.
The poor heroine would turn around every now and then repeating the words “I’m sorry” in my direction.
I'm the one who should be sorry.
I have inadvertently taken over the role of being injured twice.
“Your Highness the Duke, I apologize, but can you help me support Librarian Erica?”
When Lady Marian politely made the request, Carlex immediately nodded.
"gladly."
He lifted me into his arms lightly all at once.
Wow.
I repeated to myself: This is a sick transfer, in an attempt to calm my heart, which was beating uncontrollably.
***
As soon as we arrived at the office, Ms. Marian treated my cheek.
Fortunately, the wound as I saw it in the mirror was not deep, more like a simple scratch.
She skillfully applied ointment to the wound and placed a clean cloth over it.
“We have finished the first aid, and when the library director comes, you can get treatment with healing magic. At least there will be no scar left, so don’t worry.”
“Thank you, Lady Marian.”
She stared at Carlex for a moment.
He was observing the treatment process with a serious expression.
When Lady Marian coughed softly, he deliberately ignored it and averted his gaze.
Without wasting this opportunity, I grabbed Lady Marianne's sleeve and whispered to her silently:
“Please, stay here with me.”
Seeing Carlex's face holding back his anger made me feel that we shouldn't be alone.
Lady Marian opened her eyes wide, looked alternately between Carlex and me, and then smiled meaningfully.
Why did this feel like a bad omen?
Lady Marian patted the back of my hand, then got up.
She bowed her head slightly toward Carlex, who stood guarding me like a knight-guardian.
“I will bring the tea. I will leave Librarian Erica in your care, Your Highness the Duke.”
Lady Marian leaned her body slightly towards me and whispered softly in my ear:
“It seems that you two have an important conversation. I hope you will resolve the matter with a calm dialogue.”
“What? Wait, there’s a misunderstanding...”
Before I could catch her, Lady Marian closed the office door and went out.
I was left alone with him in the room.
He approached me as if he had been waiting for this moment and asked in a voice that seemed to contain boiling anger:
“Dare you……is she the one who hurt you?”
"It was really just an accident. I'm fine."
I answered him with as much indifference and lightness as possible.
Carlex carefully touched the cloth covering the wound on my cheek, like a delicate flower petal.
His expression was serious as if he was the one who had been mortally wounded.
He quickly whispered in a spiteful tone as he stared:
“An accident? That woman should thank the heavens because this place is a library. If it were a battlefield, she wouldn’t have let her get away.”
Seeing him mutter like he was ready to devour Eliade made me automatically sigh.
Isn't this exaggerated? Wouldn't you let someone get away just because they hit a fan?
Your Highness, why are you so upset?
A moment.
Have you seen this situation somewhere before?
My shallow memory belatedly recalled the events of the original novel.
Yes, the 'The Villain You Meet in the Library' chapter!
The important event was in which I first met the evil young woman Eliade who is jealous of Freesia.
Eliade was cursing Freesia who stole the crown prince's heart, and in the library she deliberately caused a quarrel and threw her fan at Freesia's face, causing him injury.
Freesia, whose beautiful face was injured, collapsed due to shock.
Carlex, who witnessed this, was overcome with anger.
And so he threatened the terrified Eliade:
“Miss Rubel’s wound, must be paid with the blood of the Spirn family.”
When Franz learned about this as well, he did not stand idly by.
He declared all-out war on Carlex, saying: "How dare you threaten my sister? This is an insult to our family."
With this incident involving the propeller, relations between the Reinhardt and Spearn families began to deteriorate greatly.
I...did you change the course of the original novel again?
According to the original, the two families were to start a struggle to the death.
No, wait.
Anyway, isn't it good that they won't fight?
I am a supporter of non-violence and I advocate for peace.
While I was desperately trying to remember the original novel and thinking about how to solve the current situation, a deep voice called out:
“Erica.”
His eyes, like the dawn sky, looked at me.
This man, with just his looks, could isolate my body and deprive it of movement as if it were a given.
In the end, he takes control of my heart, and imprisons even my soul under his feet.
“Come to the Duke’s Palace immediately.”
His voice, trying to contain his emotions, was low and thick.
“Become the librarian for the Duke’s family. I will build you your own library. I will collect all the books on the continent for you. I can never see you treated like this again.”
His face was distorted as if he was the one who had been insulted.
I had an urge to reach out and massage him gently.
What did Carlex say in the original novel?
He swore to Freesia that he would fight the Spirn family to restore their honor.
When he saw the wound on the face of the woman he loved, he suffered and became angry.
Freesia embraced Carlex, who was suffering like a mortally wounded lion, and said:
“It's okay. Thank you for being angry for me. As long as you are by my side, I can bear any insult.”
Words similar to a compassionate saint.
Sure, she was smiling that smile while saying that.
But they are words I can never say.
Lyrics that aren't even mine.
Because I am not “the heroine of the novel, Freesia.”
Anna, Sue E. Ren, and Erica.
Instead of expressing my gratitude to the black-haired knight who gets angry on my behalf, and hugging him warmly,
I had to stubbornly raise my head, look at him sharply, and utter my barbed words:
"Why should I do that? What am I to you, Your Highness, basically?"
Carlex looked at me with a surprised look that I was asking something so obvious.
“You are the savior of our family, and my dear friend.”
“The words Your Highness the Duke said just now are an insult to me.”
The sharp spear I launched with my three-inch tongue flew and stuck into his heart.
Carlex looked at me with a shocked face, staring in amazement.
He seemed to feel no pain.
“If I am truly your savior and friend, then show me proper respect. It is my life. Do not urge me to quit my job just because of a trivial incident like this.”
I took a breath for a moment, then said forcefully:
“I am not a pet bird that will die if it hits a small stone. There is no need to put me in a cage.”
“Erica…I……”
His thick, raspy voice sank into the silence.
His heart, like a flame that burns everything, or like pure white snow, is straight and clean.
The owner of that heart is not me.
I am not cunning enough to usurp someone else's place.
“Then I should get back to work. Thank you for thinking about it.”
“Wait a minute, Erica!”
Carlex grabbed my wrist in a hurry.
His hand was hot like fire, so much so that just touching it felt like I was going to melt.
“I'm going to apologize for what I just said. But I hope you'll just remember this.”
He looked at me, kissing my wrist reverently.
The kiss was as soft as a falling feather, but at the same time, I felt a heat as if it was imprinting a deep fire mark on my wrist.
“You are my savior, and I have not repaid your debt yet. If anyone dares to harm my savior, I will definitely repay them.”
The heat that started from my wrist spread to my entire body.
The normally quiet sound of my heartbeat rings in my ears and clouds my head.
This flame is dangerous.
You'll swallow me in an instant.
I did my best to free my wrist from his grip.
Carlex willingly let go of my hand, but his gaze was worried towards me.
“I will send the private doctor immediately. I will bring you a good famous medicine for your wounds. I will come to see you again soon.”
Lee bowed his head slightly and left the office.
The tension that had frozen my entire body finally relaxed.
I flopped down on the couch and exhaled.
I pressed my hand to my heart, which was still beating violently with harsh words, trying to calm it down.
Why does he do all this to me?
Those sweet looks, those heart-wrenching words, were meant to be said to Freesia.
While I was lying down, I had the idea to change my clothes and relax a little.
“Erica?”
Someone called to me as he opened the door slightly.
“To be continued in the next chapter”
Loving translation