Thanks to the Crown Prince, a new line has been added to my black history.
Why is shame and burning my share alone?
“For Ruberia! For His Highness the Crown Prince!”
"War Lady! Protect Ruberia!"
I looked sharply at Ludwig as he received enthusiastic cheers from the people. He was waving his hand, smiling confidently.
This is a face capable of establishing a state with his rhetorical skill.
It teases me, but I almost shed a tear of admiration nonetheless.
Ludving stepped forward and entered through the iron door of the royal library.
I followed, then Carlex, then William.
The iron door was tightly closed, but the people's cheers did not stop easily.
***
As I was crossing the garden leading to the library's reception lobby, I finally exhaled deeply.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince, I will never forget what happened today until I die.”
“No need to thank you. I was just showing you how much I care about you.”
Ludving smiled slyly.
Sir, it seems that you are pouring yourself kimchi broth and enjoying it alone!
“I originally wasn't going to thank you. But wasn't my identity supposed to remain a secret?”
“It seems that the enemy has already known your identity, so what is the use of hiding it?”
Ludwig shrugged his shoulders innocently, as if to say, “What’s the problem?”
I was so stunned that I suffocated and lost the ability to speak.
Carlex, who had been silent until now, let out an exhale that sounded like a groan.
“It seems I have overestimated your highness.”
Carlex's facial expression was boiling like an active volcano about to erupt.
“I didn't expect it to get this big. Have you thought about Erica's personal situation?”
Carlex's voice was low and dark, like the echo of a deep cave.
So much so that it inspired the roar of a monster full of darkness.
Of course, this does not affect the Crown Prince who has a good mind full of roses.
“With you, Grand Knight of Uberia, what's there to worry about?”
“……”
Wait a minute, Your Highness! Don't you see that His Highness the Duke's eyes have turned white?
I'm sure I saw her.
I saw Carlex's hand move towards his sword!
She held his hand tightly.
In this way, we will have a really big problem.
As if he felt the warmth of my hand, Carlex looked at me with a look of surprise.
I sent him a compassionate smile as if I understood everything, and whispered to him softly:
“Calm down, Your Highness. As a friend, please, okay?”
Upon reflection, this is the first time I have used my friendship to force someone to do something.
Even in my previous life, I had never spoken so openly and embarrassingly.
Unexpectedly, the plan worked.
Carlex's hand slowly slid away from his sword.
William stepped forward with a weary smile as if he had given up on the matter.
“The strategy of diverting public opinion by creating a new hero is not bad... but using my dear employee... was reckless.”
Ludving's lips drooped as if he was dissatisfied.
"What's this response? Downright rude. Aren't you my direct assistants? What do you have to do with Erika to act like this?"
“She is my family’s benefactor.”
“I am her guardian.”
Carlex and William answered simultaneously as if they had been waiting for this moment.
The Crown Prince looked at me like a child jealous of his friend's toy.
“I'm jealous. How were you able to win the hearts of my loyal helpers who shared my good and bad times so quickly?”
“I don’t need them, Your Highness can take them now, let’s get inside quickly.”
The commute to work today is very tiring.
I honestly want to resign.
When we opened the heavy door of the foyer and entered, Lady Marian and Secretary Rose were waiting for us at the reception desk
“Ah, it's been a while…”
Before I could finish my greeting, Rose rushed towards us, fluttering the hem of her dress.
Its speed was so frightening that the three men trembled as they avoided it.
She grabbed my shoulders, shook me, and started bombarding me with questions:
“Miss Erica! Is it true? That you were Duke Reinhardt’s lady, and the warlord who saved people during the monster attack?!”
Rose shouted, clutching a copy of an emergency bulletin, very anxious.
“This is all a mistake. I am neither the duke’s lady nor the war lady.”
Rose corrected her firmly.
Rose made a skeptical expression and held out the emergency flyer to me.
“But it is written here!”
“Calm down, Rose.”
Lady Marian stepped forward, perhaps feeling sorry for me in Rose's grasp.
“We will hear the details later. Miss Erica should have a conversation with His Highness the Crown Prince now.”
Lady Marian bowed respectfully to greet the Crown Prince.
“We are honored to have your visit again, Your Highness the Crown Prince. We have prepared a seat in the reception room. Please come in. Secretary Rose, accompany His Highness.”
The Crown Prince, William, and Carlex followed Rose to the reception room upstairs.
Lady Marian turned her gaze to me.
She smiled like a mother looking at her child with pride.
She nodded slightly in greeting to me.
“You have raised the status and honor of the Royal Library. Thank you.”
"No. It was work that had to be done."
Lady Marian adjusted her posture, and immediately assumed a stern expression like one worried about a child.
“But it was a risk. What if you get hurt? Be careful next time. The most important thing is your safety, Miss Erica. And...”
I was afraid the preaching would go on endlessly, so I smiled cheerfully and changed the subject.
“Thank you for your concern. I will keep your words in mind. Okay, I will go up now.”
“Oh, my mind! His Highness is definitely waiting. Go quickly.”
After greeting, I quickly ran up the stairs like someone running away.
***
I knocked on the reception room door and entered.
The three men were sitting comfortably drinking tea.
Their comfortable appearance made me feel a loss of energy, and when I was about to sit in the remaining chair, the Crown Prince put the tea cup aside.
“Miss Erica, come here. Will you accept my gift?”
As if he had prepared it in advance, Ludwig pushed a basket of roses containing luxurious roses forcefully towards my chest.
Carlex seemed to be in a bad mood.
“Roses for the Lady of War. I chose only the most beautiful roses from the garden of the Royal Palace.”
“Ah, yes. I will accept it with thanks.”
The naive crown prince who knows nothing about the world, instead of roses, I would prefer a man, and even money.
William put down the teacup and let out a deep exhale.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince, excuse me for interrupting your speech, but you must attend the State Council meeting immediately. The nobles are waiting.”
"Everyone should develop their patience. Can't they wait a little longer for the Crown Prince who returned from fighting monsters?"
Days have passed, what is this talk?!
And everyone in this room fought monsters.
I pursed my lips inwardly.
Sitting on the comfy chair with one leg crossed over the other, Ludving asked a question as casually as someone inquiring about a dinner menu.
“William’s manager submitted a report on the monster attack incident.”
William adjusted his posture and began speaking.
“First, the reason why monsters appeared in the Equestrian Tournament arena is under investigation. There must be a reason for the disturbance of the dimension barrier. The magicians are currently working to stabilize the barrier with full capacity.”
Ludving nodded, making a bitter taste in his mouth.
“Of course, it will be difficult to find the reason quickly. What about the sub-palace warehouse?”
“Based on examination of the bodies of dead soldiers, it is estimated that the time of the theft of
was close to the time of the monsters’ appearance in the tournament arena.”
The Crown Prince seemed calm, as if he already knew that the magic book had been stolen.
“So, another magic book has been stolen. I thought the royal library would be the target first, but they targeted the sub-palace warehouse, the enemy’s information power is amazing! How did they know the magic book was there? It’s top secret. If they knew to this extent, we can suspect an insider involved.”
Ludving said as he turned his gaze towards Carlex.
Carlex nodded heavily.
“I will be investigating everyone who may be connected to this matter.”
William continued to present his report.
“The Silver Chain, a magical tracking device embedded in
, was found in the Northern Forest. The wizards are checking what kind of magical energy remains on the Silver Chain, but it is expected that it will take a long time for the results to appear.”
After those words, there was an air of seriousness and gravity in the drawing room.
So much so that it was difficult to breathe out loud.
The Crown Prince, as usual, was the first to open his mouth.
“Where there is bad news, there is good news as well. The reason we invited Miss Erica today is to tell her good news.”
Oh, I completely forgot.
There was a reason that forced me to come to the Royal Library today.
It was probably my biggest shock when I saw the excited fans cheering me on as the Warlord.
Ludving smiled brightly and looked at me.
Oh, seeing his smiling face makes my heart feel heavy.
“As of today, I appoint you as Senior Librarian of the Royal Library.”
As I expected, my intuition is scientific.
Not once did my bad intuition go wrong.
William was sincerely happy and explained to me kindly:
“His Highness has agreed because of his high appreciation for Miss Erica’s ability to read books and her heroic performance in the equestrian tournament arena. I sincerely congratulate you.”
I was promoted, but even the fake smile didn't appear.
How do you see me in my fifth year of work?
Emergency promotion, exactly how much do you want to use me for?
Ludving seemed amused by my expression.
“You are the first maid to show dissatisfaction when I promote her.”
“My goal in life is to live quietly, simply and long.”
Ludving's eyes sparkled and he was very happy.
"Oh, just like me! That's my goal too. Unfortunately, it's a dream that won't come true for the rest of my life."
Despite having all the power and wealth, the Crown Prince let out a sigh of remorse.
I shook my head inwardly.
This crown prince is more suited to be an actor, for sure.
When I turned around, I saw Carlex smiling happily.
His smile was so bright that I just stared in amazement and raised my eyelids.
“Erica, I sincerely congratulate you on your appointment as Senior Librarian.”
Then he grabbed my hand naturally and kissed it politely.
“Protect!”
William then deliberately made a loud clearing sound to express his annoyance.
I took advantage of this opportunity and quickly hid my hands behind my back.
“Duke Reinhardt, as Miss Erica’s guardian, I cannot allow her body to be touched excessively.”
The Crown Prince, who had been watching us, snuck into the conversation.
“So, how about I give Miss Erica, the first librarian, a kiss of congratulations?”
“This cannot be allowed at all, Your Highness.”
Carlex stared at Ludving with wide eyes.
He shrugged his shoulders and spoke like a minstrel:
“How did my cruel knight turn into a blind man in love? For the ignorant lover who does not know that love is a source of happiness and misery, I hope that God’s blessing be with you.”
It seems that I am the source of misery.
Instead of exhaling, I drank the cold tea in one go.
I was planning to live quietly as Amina, away from the forces of rebellion, but things are getting worse.
“You said you had good news and bad news for me. Now, tell me the bad news.”
Ludwig clapped his knee as if he remembered it too late.
“Oh, I totally forgot. I was so excited to tell you about your promotion.”
An evil smile appeared on Ludving's face, like a villain hatching a great conspiracy.
“You must come with me to the Royal Palace immediately and attend the State Council meeting, Secretary Erica, First Librarian.”
"…What?"
I couldn't believe it and doubted my ears.
William let out a snort and bowed his head, while Carlex turned his face with a painful expression.
Attending a State Council meeting, that noble school hell? Why me?
“To be continued in the next chapter”
Loving translation