Chapter 3. Glass Flowers
The following morning,
I heard from Isabella that my bridal lessons didn’t have a designated teacher yet, so my schedule would be empty for a few days. This led me to decide to go to the imperial palace library immediately. It was to gather information that could help me fulfill the promise I made with Ruth.
“The library is beside the detached palace.”
“Where is the detached palace?”
“It’s to the west! So, when you leave the main palace and walk straight to the left, you will see a smaller ivory-colored palace. That’s the detached palace.”
Isabella handed me a light coat and roughly explained the location of the detached palace.
Left from the main palace straight ahead……
Based on her description, I visualized the route to the detached palace in my head as I put on the coat. I anticipated I would mostly be with Isabella when moving in the future. Still, it seemed good to memorize the way in case of unforeseen circumstances.
After getting ready and leaving the bedroom, I saw maids bustling about.
They were probably cleaning up after the banquet from yesterday.
I easily figured out why the maids were busy. Unlike the maidservants who served the highborns, the maids of common birth were tasked with all the hard work.
And right now, the only dirty work in the imperial palace that would require so many maids was cleaning up after the banquet.
While I was walking with Isabella, ignoring the maidservants who were hard at work, I suddenly heard the quiet buzz of conversation behind me.
“Is that her?”
“Yes.”
“So, did His Majesty really throw that grand banquet yesterday just for her?”
“That’s right. He even carried his fiancée out because she seemed to be unwell.”
“Oh my. His Majesty actually carried a woman? Could it be true that she is His Majesty’s first love as the rumors say…”
“Shh. Others might hear.”
“……”
Initially, I intended to just let the conversation go in one ear and out the other, but no matter how I tried, it seemed like they were talking about me. Before I knew it, I had stopped walking, so engrossed in their conversation that I didn’t even realize it.
“Lady?”
Isabella looked at me strangely when I suddenly stopped.
Barely recovering my senses, I gave her an awkward smile.
“Ah. Sorry, Isabella. It seemed like someone was talking about me.”
“Who would dare to speak about the Lady like that? I’ll find out who it is right away…”
Seeing her get this angry, it seemed like Isabella thought someone had badmouthed me.
“No, it’s not that. We were just talking about something that happened yesterday.”
“Ah, you mean the incident during the reception?”
Her eyes, quickly grasping my explanation, sparkled with mischief and curiosity.
“…”
I had a bad feeling. Whenever Isabella looked at me with those eyes, it usually meant troubling questions were to follow.
As I hesitated with just a twitch of my lips, Isabella opened hers.
“Is it true that the Princess is His Majesty’s first love?”
“…Huh?”
What is she talking about?
I looked at Isabella, lost for words, and she slightly raised the corners of her mouth.
“Do you know what has always been said since His Majesty ascended the throne? ‘Instead of worrying about the empress’s position, better shut that mouth.'”
I couldn’t help but burst into laughter, seeing her imitate Ruth by knitting her brows and lowering her voice drastically.
Isabella, seeing my reaction, continued with a cheerful voice.
“So, until about six months ago, there were a lot of talks. Like, His Majesty has lost his manly function, or he despises women, and stuff like that!”
“Well, what did His Majesty say about such rumors circulating?”
“His Majesty didn’t seem to care much about it. Anyway, the most believed rumor among them was that. His Majesty has not forgotten his first love whom he met when he was young.”
“!”
Suddenly, my pupils shook violently. I clenched my teeth weakly, feeling as if my heart had sunk.
Fortunately, Isabella did not notice the change in my feelings.
“So, for a while, there were rumors about His Majesty’s first love. And yesterday, His Majesty cancelled the engagement party simply because Lady said she was not feeling well.”
The engagement party that every high noble had attended without exception! I felt my whole body stiffen at the words she added at the end.
Yesterday, seeing blood from a wound, I panicked so severely that I wasn’t in my right mind. Looking back now, even if I did it to survive, it must have certainly looked to others, as Ruth put it, ‘reckless behavior’.
Ah… What do I do.
Regret came belatedly, making my shoulders droop powerlessly. I felt downhearted as if I had already fallen out of the social circle before even keeping my promise with Ruth.
“So, overnight, the rumor that Lady was His Majesty’s first love… Uh, Lady, are you alright? You look very upset.”
“Oh, it doesn’t hurt. I just want to go to the library quickly.”
“If that was the case, you should have told me earlier! I unnecessarily said so much……”
It seemed to be a hastily made-up excuse, but perhaps it was the wrong choice.
I quickly shook my head sideways to correct the meaning of the excuse I had blurted out.
“Don’t misunderstand. Your story was quite interesting too.”
“I’m glad I could bring even a little joy to you, my lady! Let’s head to the library then.”
“Alright.”
Isabella’s face brightened up in an instant, resembling a child receiving a long-awaited birthday gift. I loved her innocent and joyful eyes.
As I was about to step forward with a smile, suddenly I recalled a rumor Isabella had just mentioned.
Should I correct it?
“And, about that rumor, well……”
“Hm? What did you say?”
Isabella, who was walking behind me, asked what I had carefully mentioned.
After a moment of contemplation, whether to speak or not, I eventually swallowed a bitter smile.
“No, it’s nothing.”
Rumors, after all, are prone to distortion, whether they work in my favor or become a poison.
I don’t know what will happen afterward, but it wasn’t the latter now. And this meant that there was no need to bother correcting the rumor that it was wrong.
“…….”
After rationalizing, my conscience pricked me, but I moved on calmly, unmindful of the repercussions my momentary decision might bring.
***
The imperial library was as magnificent and beautiful as known. The ivory walls, prone to stains, were spotlessly clean, suggesting well-maintenance despite its outer location.
“Lady? Aren’t you going in?”
Caught off guard and admiring the library, I blushed at Isabella’s voice from behind.
“I was about to go in.”
I hastily composed myself and replied briefly, turning down the corners of my mouth.
However, it was futile. The moment I entered the library, the expression I had been trying to keep broke. I could only stop myself from letting out an audible gasp of amazement.
Indeed, before me was the vast expanse of the imperial library, living up to its reputation of lacking no book. Endless rows of bookshelves, packed with books, stretched before me, and the unique scent of books tickled my nose.
“Wow.”
A quiet exclamation of awe escaped me.
Perhaps because I grew up with books, I preferred them over jewels or dresses. Thus, the sight of the library before me was truly exhilarating.
Let’s go over there…
As I tried to move forward, unable to contain my excitement, I remembered what I had forgotten. The reason I came here was to collect materials needed to fulfill my promise with Ruth.
“…….”
Rationality quickly returned.
When I glanced at Isabella standing behind me, she seemed to be smiling as if she hadn’t seen anything.
“Isabella. I want to read books alone from now on.”
“Then I’ll wait by the entrance! Take your time.”
After noticing Isabella quickly stepping away, I approached the nearest bookshelf.
Then, I browsed through the books and picked up any that seemed to contain useful information.
As I collected book after book, soon, I couldn’t see ahead because the books I was holding formed a mountain. Absorbed in selecting books, I stopped upon realizing I could no longer see ahead.
Should I stop choosing books here and go read them? Just then, my shoulders and hands were sore from the weight of the books.
It seemed like I couldn’t hold them any longer if the weight increased.
I gripped the books tightly with my hands and walked carefully. I wanted to avoid falling over.
Walking slowly, step by step, perhaps because I couldn’t see ahead, my body gradually began to lose its balance.
Then, my foot caught on a book sticking out, and I lurched forward.
“Eek!”
It was the moment I felt frustration over the feared situation and was about to tightly close my eyes. A man, appearing like the wind from somewhere, prevented the books from falling in front of me.
Who is he?
Only the man’s chest was visible, obscured by the books.
Standing on tiptoe, I tried to sneak a peek at his face, but it was futile due to the robe covering it.
Only his dark red hair, slightly sticking out of the robe, caught my eye.
Observing the mysterious man for a few seconds, I raised the corners of my lips slightly.
“Thank you for catching them.”
“……”
The man responded to my thank you with silence. Although not visible due to the robe, I could tell he was looking at me.
Judging by his attire, he didn’t seem to work at the palace. But it was strange for a noble to hide himself so completely in a robe.
With a curious feeling, I slowly scanned the mysterious man up and down.
It was the moment my gaze reached his knees.
“……!”
The man who had restored the balance of the collapsing books stepped back and then disappeared as quickly as he had appeared.
