7. Visit of Viscount Hamilton
Carlex's eyes were sharp, like those of a hawk staring at its prey.
Under his piercing gaze, I felt as if my heart had suddenly drooped.
“This is not the time to be distracted, shouldn’t you be watching the compass pointer?”
"Yes! I'll check it now!"
I adjusted my sitting position and prepared to play the role of a busy professional.
“I didn't know traveling could be this much fun!”
Michael said with a dreamy face.
His round, peach-like cheeks were so cute.
I restrained my sister's urge to pinch them lightly and smiled professionally.
“It seems like this is the first time you have been out in a while, young noble.”
“In fact, my brother prevented me from going out due to my poor health. This is the first time I have traveled far in this carriage.”
“That's a bit harsh. It's okay to go out for a little walk, right?”
Michael looked outside the carriage for a moment to read his brother's facial expressions, then whispered softly in my ear.
It looked like a chirping bird chick, which made it look very attractive.
“My brother is worried that I might get a fever or cough if I go out, or that I might be attacked by thieves or monsters.”
It was not an escape program, it also had to mention the possibility of tripping, falling, and getting injured while walking.
Because of Carlex's overprotectiveness, I felt sorry for the young noble who grew up like a rose in a greenhouse at an age when he was supposed to run and play.
Frustrated Michael was as adorable as a cute puppy with his ears down.
I resisted with all my might the urge to reach out to comb his soft, curly hair.
If I really touch him, I think the Duke will not tolerate my shameless crime.
To lift Michael's spirits, I pulled out a thick geographical map from my bag.
“Noble sir, what should I do? We have to locate the magic book, but I don’t know how to read the map. Can you help me?”
I remembered Rose telling me that Michael was a little genius.
She said that despite his young age, he had read most of the books in the royal library, and was very knowledgeable in the fields of politics, diplomacy, social geography, and the humanities.
“I will help you, Amina! You have memorized the geography of the entire continent.”
Michael said with sparkling eyes.
"Really? Wow, that's amazing. How did you manage to memorize all of that?"
“My brother taught me that the head of the duke’s family must understand the geography of the continent and its political conditions.”
Was Carlex imposing on him an excessive early education?
The child should be out playing, not reading boring geographical maps.
“The compass pointer is currently pointing to the southwest. Is there a noble family in that area?”
“The moment the closest place is...”
Michael opened the map and began to trace the locations with his little finger, then suddenly shouted to the window:
“Brother, stop the car for a moment!”
Carlix responded to his brother's request immediately and ordered the carriage to be stopped.
When the carriage stopped, raising a cloud of dust on the quiet road, Carlex opened the carriage door and stuck his head out.
“Is something wrong?”
“We are determining the location using the map. Brother, the compass pointer is pointing southwest, and if we continue in this direction, I believe we will reach Viscount Hamilton’s estate.”
Michael showed the map to Carlex and told him.
The continent of this world was divided into three countries, and among them, the Kingdom of Ruberia was a great country that occupied half of the continent.
Carlex looked at the map for a moment and then nodded.
“You're right, it will take half a day by car.”
“I hope the Hamilton family is the right destination. If we continue towards the southwest and visit all the noble families in the kingdom, that will be a big problem.”
Michael said, grinning widely.
For a moment, I doubted my hearing.
Did you just hear a scary hint?
I thought the quest to recover the overdue books would take a day, but it looks like it might turn into a tour of the kingdom?
While I was in a cold sweat alone, Carlex looked at Michael with worried eyes.
“You return to the Ducal Palace by carriage. Even half a day’s journey will be difficult for you.”
Michael shook his head firmly.
“Brother, I want to find the book myself. I will feel very ashamed of myself if I can’t even find the book I want.”
I watched the warm dispute between the two brothers with the emotions of a theatrical viewer.
Carlex frowned and fell into deep thought.
His expression was complicated, mixing concern for his brother with pride in him.
“I always looked at you like a little kid. Well, I will respect your wish.”
"Really? Thank you, brother."
Misla's facial expressions sparkled like a blooming flower.
Carlex looked at him with affection and patted him on the head, while Michael looked at him with great respect.
That is indeed a strong brotherhood.
Even most love relationships cannot change their priorities
I felt sorry for the heroine, Freesia.
Maybe I should hint to her later: to win Carlex's heart, she'll have to score a lot of points with Michael first.
After strengthening the bonds of brotherhood, the cart was moving again.
We left the modest brick houses and outskirts of the village and set off along a barren wilderness road for some time.
The carriage ride was unbearably boring, and the shaking was intense, making it the worst experience.
As we passed a stone road and then a mountain road, the carriage swayed like a ship in a violent storm.
I accidentally looked at Michael and found that he was dripping with cold sweat and his face was pale.
He seemed to be struggling to even sit upright, and was leaning into the corner of the cart as if he were falling.
"Mr. Michael, are you okay? Do you feel unwell?"
“Sister… my head hurts… and my stomach hurts too.”
After whispering those weak words, Michael closed his eyes tiredly.
First, I put him on my shoulder, and then I shouted to Carlex outside the carriage:
“Wait! Stop the cart! Young Master’s condition is not good!”
When the carriage stopped, Carlex entered violently and almost smashed the door.
When he saw Michael lying pale with blue lips, Carlex's face constricted with pain.
“Michael is weak in body, and often faints. We must return to the duchy immediately.”
“Wait, going back now will be more difficult because it’s a long way away. We should consult a doctor first.”
“Do you want me to entrust my dear brother to a quack doctor?”
Carlex responded angrily and shouted.
Oh my God, he's a stubborn man. Instead of arguing with him, it was better to take care of Michael first.
“Is there water here?”
When I asked, he hurriedly brought a leather waterskin.
I wet a handkerchief and wiped Michael's forehead and neck.
“What are you doing?”
Carlex grabbed my wrist with an angry look.
She met his gaze with no less intense looks.
“I’m treating Young Master, so please don’t interfere.”
"Being treated? What do you think you can do?"
No matter what Carlex said, my hand slipped out of his grip.
I sat Michael in a comfortable position and placed his head on my lap.
Then I began to press hard on the acupuncture points on his skinny little palm.
This was my grandmother's comprehensive method for treating all diseases.
When I had indigestion or a headache, my grandmother would squeeze my palm tenderly and carefully.
My grandmother's hands were truly magical, amazingly, the pain went away quickly.
After squeezing his hand hard for a while, wiping off his sweat, and cooling his temperature, the color on Michael's face gradually began to return.
Even his tense expression became a little more relaxed.
After about thirty minutes, Michael's long eyelashes twitched and he slowly opened his eyes.
The boy looked at me and Carlex, then muttered sheepishly:
“I fainted again?”
Carlex let out a sigh of relief and carefully hugged Michael as if he were holding a glass doll.
“Brother, I've made you worry again.”
“No, as long as you're okay, it's okay.”
Carlex's gaze turned to me.
He bowed his head in formal greeting.
“Thank you for treating my brother, Miss Dale.”
All I did was squeeze his hand.
Being thanked made me feel uncomfortable.
“I'm glad I could help.”
I said the usual polite phrase, then studied the color of Michael's face.
“Mr. Michael, how are you now? Do you feel better?”
“Yes, it is strange that my head no longer hurts and my stomach is at ease.”
Michael nodded, carefully holding the tissue I had given him.
“It's a folk remedy I learned from my grandmother, young man. Can we continue our journey now?”
Michael sat upright and spoke steadily:
“Yes. I'm fine. We're very close to Viscount Hamilton's territory. I really want to find the magic book.”
***
After setting off again, the carriage drove for a while before finally stopping in front of a huge palace.
Through the well-tended garden, a four-story, stately old mansion emerged.
As we stood in front of the large, luxuriously carved gate, an armed guard ran up to us and greeted us politely.
“Where are you coming from?”
“This is a visit from Duke Reinhardt. We request an audience with the heir, Viscount Hamilton.”
The coachman answered, and the guard ran to the palace to tell his master.
The compass indicator light extended towards the main entrance of Viscount Hamilton's mansion.
Michael glanced at me and whispered to me:
“Sister, it seems that it is indeed the Hamilton family. This is our good fortune! We found the magic book directly!”
“We really almost had to have a forced long business trip.”
I sincerely let out a sigh of relief.
If it was a long business trip, I would throw away the compass and run away without looking back.
Carlex also dismounted from his horse and examined Viscount Hamilton's palace with interest.
“If my memory is correct, I think Viscount Hamilton died a month ago.”
Michael seemed to remember this belatedly and looked surprised.
“Ah, I heard the news. I heard that Viscount Hamilton died by falling from his horse. Since he had no sons, the title passed to his nephew, Lord Melter. It is shameful to ask for the return of a book in such circumstances...”
The young gentleman who spoke clearly and fluently was so likable and impressive that I stared at him for some time.
“Young Master, how do you know all these details?”
I thought that because of his poor health, he did not attend social events and lived in the palace.
Michael smiled slightly.
“Reports on major events in the kingdom arrive at the Duke’s Palace every morning when my brother is busy. I read them on his behalf. I saw them by chance at that time.”
At that moment, a tall, luxuriously dressed man, led by servants, quickly ran towards the main gate.
Clearly confused, he greeted Carlex politely.
“Greetings to Duke Reinhardt, I am Mr. Milter Hamilton, the new head of the Hamilton family.”
The new Viscount Hamilton was a gentleman-looking man in his early thirties.
Carlex nodded briefly with a deadpan expression.
“We are here on an official visit. The former Viscount borrowed a magic book from the royal library in his lifetime. We have come to retrieve it because the term has expired.”
Melter nodded with a serious expression.
“Ah, I see. This is the first time I've heard that my uncle borrowed a magic book, but I will do my best to help and take you directly to his library.”
“We appreciate your kindness.”
We entered the palace accompanied by the Viscount.
***
The library located deep within the huge palace was modest compared to the size of the palace.
There was only a luxurious desk in the middle, and a single bookcase that looked simple and dull.
She stood in front of the bookcase and examined the books carefully.
There is a saying among librarians: If you want to know a person, look at his bookcase.
“If it's not rude, may I know who you are, ma'am?”
Melter asked me with polite caution.
I liked his polite manner.
I bowed to him in greeting.
“I, the Royal Librarian, Erica Dale, have come to retrieve the magic book.”
“Ah…”
Melter admired innocently, then quickly offered a compliment.
“You are a distinguished librarian and you are so beautiful. This is amazing. I should definitely visit the Royal Library.”
Doesn't this man have good taste in evaluating people?
She smiled brightly and replied.
“Yours truly, Sir Viscount. We have many good books in the Royal Library, so visit us whenever you wish.”
Melter and I exchanged polite smiles as we looked at each other.
“Librarian Erica, wouldn’t it be better to check the library instead of chatting?”
Carlex cut me off and said coldly.
I glanced at Carlex, who was acting like a strict creditor, and then went back to examining the bookcase.
There were only about thirty books on the shelf.
There were various accounts of knights' adventures, etiquette books, and maps, but the book “A Magical Introduction to the Lion” was nowhere to be found.
“My lord Viscount, did you come across the book elsewhere in the palace?”
Melter thought for a moment, then shook his head.
“I also came to the palace in a hurry after my uncle died. I arranged his personal belongings, but there was no magic book. The books in the library are all he has.”
Next to me, Michael was diligently examining the bookcase, shaking his head in confusion.
“This is strange. To read a magic book, you must learn the magic language. Therefore, it is usually read with a magic language translation book but there are no magic language translation books in the Viscount’s bookcase.”
“Does this mean that Viscount Hamilton borrowed a magic book that he cannot read?”
[To be continued in the next chapter]
Loving translation
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