Of course, it wasn’t just the red-bound book that was there. It just happened to catch my eye more than the others. Because it looked exactly like the book that was causing me so much confusion now.
“Selvia, that book…”
“Ah, I’m sorry. It’s a novel I enjoy reading…”
“Let me see it for a moment.”
“Huh? Milady? But the novel I’m reading… is difficult for others to see… that kind…”
Why is she suddenly stammering like that?
“What? Is it an erotic novel or something?”
“H-How did you know?”
What? It’s that kind of book?
“Let me see it. I want to read it.”
“Huh? No, you mustn’t. Someone as pure and innocent as you shouldn’t be reading a novel covered in such dark desires.”
Selvia blurted out in a rapid stream of words without even pausing. Her tone was completely flat. And yet, I could feel her urgency with my entire body. What was she hiding?
“The more you act like that, the more I want to read it.”
“No! I said no!”
The more she resisted, the more my curiosity grew. I stepped closer to her. “Give it to me, quickly.”
“Miladyyyyy.”
“Why? Does it contain fantasies about my brother?”
“Milady! Are you a fortune teller or something?” Selvia’s eyes grew wide.
“Is it true?”
“Well… that is…”
“Don’t tell me… Kasion is in it too?”
“I’m sorry! But that part is the most popular!”
Popular? Popular, you say? Startled by the sudden revelation, I quickly snatched the book from Selvia’s hands. Could it be the book I had been searching for?
My heart pounded wildly. My breathing became rapid, and my hands trembled. Even turning a single page felt like a tremendous effort.
“Where did you get this book?”
“Well… there’s a group that secretly trades books like this.”
“A group?”
“Yes… a gathering of maids… or something like that…”
I glared at Selvia for a moment. You couldn’t demand absolute loyalty or respect from maids. But when I had subtly mentioned novels before, she had pretended not to know. Feeling betrayed, I stared at Selvia. She started glancing around nervously again.
Ignoring her, I urgently flipped open the cover of the red book, which had no title. “It’s printed in the same font.”
I still remembered that book vividly. How could I forget? Certain letters had dots in the exact same places as the one in that other book.
“Pardon…?”
Selvia’s question didn’t even register in my ears. My entire focus was on the book.
If this was ‘that’ novel, then it was practically a prophecy. Even though I had changed a lot of things, there were still events that wouldn’t have changed. Having such a book in my hands would give me great power. Knowing the rough outline was one thing, but having specific details was something else entirely.
Summoning my courage, I turned a few more pages.
“Uh… Milady, I’m sorry.” Selvia’s apology reached my ears again.
I scowled, my eyes moving rapidly over the pages. The same protagonists, the same setting, and then… I couldn’t read this. With a loud thud, I shut the book.
“I’ve committed an unforgivable crime.” Selvia knelt down in front of me.
“So, you realize your sin?”
“But… so many people were rooting for the Mellitelian couple.”
Yes, this erotic novel was rather unique. It had paired the heirs of the two most prominent families in the empire and even switched Serhen’s gender to female.
“Why something like this…”
“Selling these books makes money.”
“When did we ever pay you so little?”
“It’s not that, but to buy other books…”
Who was supplying these novels?
“Huff… Don’t ever read something like this again.”
“Yes, Milady…”
Selvia’s overly grateful response made me shake my head before I stopped and asked, “So, why did you suddenly bring this?”
“That… I had hidden it in your house for a while… and when I saw Milady coming, I was trying to hide it again…”
So, it’s true that the darkest place is under the lamp.
I narrowed my eyes again at Selvia’s cunning behavior. “Is that so? And?”
“That’s really all there is to it.”
“Then what about the book I saw when Kasion came to the house? It had the same cover but different content. You said you hadn’t seen such a book?”
“I don’t know what Milady is talking about.”
“My brother and Kasion become rivals to get Lireania…”
“I really don’t know…” Selvia’s voice wavered as if she was on the verge of tears. Seeing her sincere tears, I thought there was no way I could be firm with her. I guess I’ll have to check myself.
Holding the book I had taken from Selvia, I returned to my independent house.
* * *
After returning from the imperial palace, Serhen busily dealt with business at the trading company. He was in a good mood after finally receiving an apology from the emperor, thanks to Kasion’s help.
“That guy…”
In his hands was the document that the Emperor and Kasion had signed earlier. It was regarding the punishment of the imperial princess.
“As a friend, he’s the best,” Serhen murmured to himself as he thought of Kasion. It was something he wouldn’t have been able to achieve alone, but Kasion had secured a promise from the emperor.
“Please grant me a decree that you will not touch the people within my fence.”
Though it didn’t sit well with Serhen that Ariel had become part of his fence.
“Serhen Mellin, Lireania Soler, and Ariel Mellin. These three will do.”
It seemed like he included Lireania just to appease Serhen.
“Sigh…”
Should he feel relieved or not?
“Hamilon.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Have you checked all the goods to be delivered to the imperial family tomorrow?”
“Of course. There are no issues this time.”
Serhen nodded gravely. “And about the gift for the imperial family… we need to put in extra effort this time.”
“Did something happen?”
“Yes. Various things are tangled up, and we might end up on their bad side. So, we need to properly curry favor.” Serhen handed a list to Hamilon. “This is the first time we’re giving such a gift to this person. We’ve only sent light gifts before because this person didn’t like being the subject of rumors.”
Hamilon tilted his head slightly as he looked at the list.
“Well, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.”
Serhen had decided after seeing Kasion’s face earlier. The best way to make him give up was through this person alone. Someone more fitting for Ariel.
“Understood.”
Hamilon left the office. Moments later, he returned.
“Master, that person has come.” Hamilon’s expression hardened. Behind his glasses, his violet eyes were filled with disdain.
“Arrogant fools, how dare you block an uncle from meeting his nephew?”
Serhen’s eyes were soon filled with disgust as well. Just hearing that voice made his skin crawl. What nerve did this man have to seek him out when Serhen would gladly put a knife to his throat?
“Hey, Serhen, I’m here.”
The man entered the room brazenly, ignoring the guards at the door. It was Viscount Kainum. He stood before Serhen with an arrogant face.
“I told you never to come here again.”
Serhen’s voice was lower and rougher than ever. But the man stiffened his neck and tried to lecture him.
“Does it make sense that I should hear about my nephew’s wedding from others?”
“Who! Who are you calling your nephew!” Serhen’s rage echoed throughout the room.
Hamilon and the guards outside trembled at Serhen’s uncharacteristic outburst. But the man was undeterred and continued to approach Serhen.
“Come on, Serhen. How long are you going to let an old grudge keep you from treating your family properly?”
“You should be grateful I didn’t kill you because of lack of evidence.”
“I’ve come to make peace with you. It’s time to put misunderstandings behind us.”
“Cut the nonsense! Every time I think about how much danger you put Ariel in, I want to kill you.”
Back then, Serhen was too young to understand. He thought people couldn’t be punished without evidence. He believed that paying for one’s sins could redeem a person. But some trash just never changes.
“Right, Ariel. I came because of that child. You’re about to get married, yet she still hasn’t found a match? Tsk tsk. What have you been doing instead of taking care of your sister?”
How dare he mention Ariel’s name. Serhen felt the urge to open the drawer and take out the hidden dagger inside.
“So I found a good match for her.”
“We don’t need any match you sugge—”
“What about a connection to the imperial family? She could become the future empress. I hear that person took a liking to her.”
This madman. Did he really think Ariel, so pure and precious, could be handed to that crown prince? Even if she became an empress, she would be unhappy as a woman. Because the crown prince was someone who would already be locked up in prison if not for his bloodline.
“Take your interference elsewhere. Hamilon, what are you doing? Get this trash out of here!”
“Yes, Master!”
“It’s not the crown prince. It’s the second prince, Dertis, I’m talking about.”
Serhen’s brow furrowed even more.
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