‘What did you just say? Do you want to look pretty?’
I doubted my ears.
But Lucio still looked at me with his usual expressionless face. It was the same expression as always, but somehow it felt brazen.
I don’t know why he wonders why I have such thoughts about him.
“Are you teasing me?”
One thing was certain, his personality seemed really bad. My mood worsened gradually.
I replied firmly, feeling a sense of rebellion for some reason.
“No.”
“…What?”
“I don’t want to look pretty in the eyes of the master. It’s enough for me to be pretty in the eyes of the lady.”
Lucio, who was arrogantly looking down at me, seemed slightly taken aback.
For a long time, he stared at my face in silence, and it felt like my mouth was getting dry.
I regretted disturbing his mind with my anger. So I added cautiously.
“It’s not that I’m strange, so please don’t feel bad. There must be many people who want to look pretty in the master’s eyes.”
“….”
Even though I had admitted that I was a strange person myself, Lucio didn’t say a word.
Perhaps because of the last time I was mesmerized by his face, my words must have felt like a lie.
“I’m serious.”
As I muttered once again, cracks appeared on his face. He seemed displeased with something.
Finally, his mouth opened. With a thumping sound, someone entered the library.
“Elder sister!”
Without even knocking, Diana rushed in.
Surprised, I stood up and Diana immediately embraced me.
“I missed you, elder sister!”
“Hehe, me too.”
While I was holding the child for a long time, I suddenly tilted my head.
“But, my lady, did you come alone?”
“Yeah! I came alone!”
Diana replied with a decisive tone. However, I frowned slightly.
Usually, after the classes end, it is common for the maid to wait in the hallway and then call me to return to the room together.
However, ever since Diana found out that she could meet me in the library, there were times when she would move around alone without a servant accompanying her.
“Call me next time. Or ask one of the maids or servants in the hallway to take you.”
“But Diana knows the way.”
Diana blinked her big eyes and tilted her head.
Her expression was so cute, as if saying, “But I’m not a baby!” It almost weakened my resolve, but I quickly regained my composure.
“You shouldn’t go alone all the time.”
Diana, with her lively personality, liked to run around here and there.
However, now that the child’s activity area was within the safe confines of the mansion, I could at least be relieved. But if it becomes a habit, she might get lost outside like before.
“To be honest, even now, I’m still worried because the mansion is so big.”
Seeing my concerned expression, Diana gave me a determined look.
“Okay, got it! From now on, I’ll stick with you, elder sister!”
My heart ached as she clenched her small fist and shouted.
“Yes! Let’s go together, no matter what.”
Overwhelmed with emotion, I responded, and Diana hugged me tightly with a teasing smile.
“Hehe, I love you, elder sister.”
“I love you too.”
“The most in the world?”
“Yes, of course. You’re my favorite in the whole world.”
“Then let’s play hide-and-seek!”
I burst into laughter at Diana’s innocent request.
Hide-and-seek was one of Diana’s current favorite games.
“Where should we play today?”
“The courtyard is nice!”
The courtyard had a small flower garden, a fountain, and trees, providing various hiding spots.
However…
“Since it might rain today, how about the central courtyard?”
Diana quickly agreed to my persuasion and eagerly pulled me, as if looking forward to it.
As I was about to step outside without thinking, I stopped in my tracks.
Only then did I realize the presence of Lucio, the owner of this space.
Since Diana entered the library, I had completely forgotten about him.
“Uh, Master Lucio. May I take my leave now?”
I felt extremely embarrassed, but I casually asked, and Lucio nodded.
As I expected, he had emphasized that I prioritize spending time with Diana.
I bowed respectfully, took Diana’s hand, and left the library.
* * *
Thunk.
The library door closed.
“Ha…”
Left alone, Lucio stared at the door with a vacant expression, then burst into a hollow laugh.
“What’s wrong with my mind?”
It was clear that he hadn’t been able to sleep properly. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been engaging in incomprehensible behavior like adjusting his schedule and buying snacks from the academy since dawn, nor would he have said such foolish things a while ago.
‘Do you want to look pretty?’
Even he doubted whether the words that came out of his own mouth were accurate.
In the midst of his confusion, he was momentarily lost for words at the unexpected response.
However…
“Since you put it that way, I feel even more…”
Lucio’s words trailed off, and he felt as if he were possessed by a ghost.
“It was never possible from the beginning. Leaving it to you.”
The main library held a special meaning for him.
That’s why, except for family members, no one was allowed access to this place.
“But it wasn’t that easy…”
His father, Duke Elad, had entrusted the library management to him due to the sponsorship he had mentioned. But that wasn’t the case at all.
From the moment he first saw that child, who evoked strange emotions in him, Lucio had been making an effort not to show any interest.
So, silently walking, when he discovered the identity of the unfamiliar intruder who had entered the library, he was more surprised than Lia.
“Why wasn’t I angry?”
If it had been any other maid, he would never have let someone who entered his space so brazenly off the hook.
Of course, with the child’s reaction, as if she didn’t even know what she had done wrong, Lucio immediately realized the underlying power struggle among the servants.
But even so, it didn’t concern him.
To him, other than family, all humans were classified as either useful or useless.
However, was it because he took care of Diana?
Or because she was an child that the family held in high regard?
Perhaps the guarded gaze that treated him with fear was extremely bothersome to him.
Anyway, even though he entrusted the library management to the child with a decision that was completely irrational and impulsive, he couldn’t understand it himself.
What was even more perplexing was…
“Why do I want to feed her like this?”
Even if it wasn’t because of something I saw in a book, I felt an inexplicable impulse when I looked at the small, skinny child.
I never imagined I would feel this way when seeing someone else.
As if aware of my attention, the child reluctantly forced herself to eat the food, with her mouth half shut, and even then, she reminded me of a squirrel.
However, regardless of the reason, this unnecessary concern was utterly useless.
Lucio shook his head and cleared his mind.
But as if their conversation meant nothing, he couldn’t help but keep thinking about Lia’s appearance as he walked away without looking back.
‘Maybe it’s because I’m experiencing this kind of treatment for the first time.’
A scenario that could have come straight out of a romance novel crossed his mind, and he burst into laughter again.
Dealing with someone who seemed much smaller than himself, what a joke.
Lucio quickly erased his cynicism and stood up, heading for his desk.
And there, he opened a romance novel with a mismatched pink cover.
“75, 121, 199.”
Having found what he wanted in the first, second, and third paragraphs of the page indicated on the note he obtained today, Lucio immediately left for the library.
* * *
Diana and I had a great time playing and enjoyed a satisfying lunch and snacks.
Looking at Diana, who fell asleep after overeating since morning, I smiled.
“Have a good dream until dinner.”
I whispered a greeting to the peacefully sleeping child and headed straight to the library.
I wonder where Lucio went this time. There was no one in the library.
‘Well, it’s none of my business.’
As I was about to start reading a book again, I suddenly realized that this was the perfect opportunity to write a reply to Bianca.
I remembered everything about the book regarding the Principality of Belus, but I wanted to write the reply while looking at the illustrations.
I thought I could describe how beautiful it looked even better.
However, the books in the main library couldn’t be taken outside.
It was also embarrassing to write personal letters in places where Lucio or others might come and go.
‘But now!’
I remembered that there were pretty stationery papers from the Duchess in my room, so I quickly went outside. Unfortunately, there were already spiderwebs due to the cloudy weather.
Moreover, the raindrops were falling little by little.
Next time, I should bring an umbrella, I thought as I hurriedly made my way to the servant’s quarters.
The library had been short-staffed since the incident where the maids were drastically reduced, so the atmosphere in the quarters was gloomy.
The workload remained the same despite fewer people, which led to complaints.
Of course, I didn’t think it was my fault, but since I could sense the atmosphere, I cautiously entered the quarters.
However, I couldn’t help but feel a restless atmosphere.
With each step up the stairs, an inexplicable anxiety arose in my heart.
And, as expected.
People were bustling in front of my room.
“What are you all doing?”
When I faced the maids standing in front of my room, my breath caught in my throat, but I didn’t show any signs of distress and asked.
Then, I slowly walked towards my room.
“…!”
The door was wide open, and there were signs of a mess inside.
“Just in time.”
The intruders spoke as if it was nothing, even after seeing my appearance.
“They said you touched Miss’s belongings.”
—————————————————————
Translator Note:
This chapter was translated by Bree.
If you like my work please support us in Patreon. Next post will be released on October, 14.
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