Chapter 103

Chapter 103

Who wouldn’t become suspicious watching him like that?

“Luca.”

“Yes.”

“…What are you hiding?”

“I have nothing to hide.”

“…Lies.”

“Can you please…just think that I’m not hiding anything and act as usual? Please, Leona?”

Why did those words, so close to coercion, sound especially sad today?

“…Luca.”

“This moment…is really precious to me. A moment where there’s only the two of us together. That’s why….”

“I understand.”

I tried to calm his anxiety and moved closer to him.

“You don’t have to say it so depressingly. Let’s just focus on this moment.”

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to know either. I was worried he’d reveal something heartbreaking.

“Leona, I’m sorry.”

“You don’t have to be sorry. Then, shall we start our search?”

Only then did he move forward with a small smile on his face.

He always worked hard to look for books about diseases, but he was especially determined today.

‘He’s anxious.’

As a result, I stayed close to Luca. I could feel his breath and warmth.

However, we had a hard time finding information, as if someone had hidden it on purpose.

“Don’t you think it’s strange, Leona? There are many records of patients’ diseases, but the majority are organized by symptoms. I’m sure we’ve looked through the symptoms subsequently….”

Luca turned the book upside down to indicate that he had finished reading.

That wasn’t all. Luca swept his hand across the bookshelf as if he knew each time.

“It’s strange.”

“What do you mean strange?”

“I remember everything I saw.”

As expected, this man never failed to amaze me. How could one claim that so casually?

“Are you saying…you remember everything?”

“Of course….I know some books have been moved. These two books that were lying down before have now been shelved properly.”

“Ah…”

“It seems to me that someone is touching them.”

“I thought they said no one could enter…”

Luca shook his head immediately.

“I’ve been watching it since the last visit… I know where it was placed before, so I’m certain someone entered this library. Now I’m not sure what they’re up to…however, they may have intended to get in our way.”

I didn’t think that the people in the temple would try to stop us, but I also didn’t think that Luca’s sharp judgment could be wrong.

“I think what Luca said is right.”

“First of all, just to be sure….”

He mixed the books he was reading with those on the shelf above.

“Leona. If the location of this book has changed the next time we come here…that means someone is interfering with us and is pretending not to be in the temple. You can memorize it, right?”

When I nodded, Luca patted my head gently.

“Pretty.”

“Huh, yes?”

“You are pretty, and you listen well.”

“I feel like a child whenever I’m with Luca.”

“I hope your heart will always be as pure as a child’s. I hope that you can always protect that innocence…”

“I’m not that innocent,” I pursed my lips and raised myself on my toes to stroke his hair.

“I also hope that Luca can show me his childlike side. Don’t try to be strong all the time, or perfect all the time…I hope you can put down all your luggage and freely express yourself at least once.”

“Maybe…someday.”

“I’ll look forward to it. I hope to be someone who can make you feel comfortable.”

I smiled lightly and held his hand.

“Yes.”

“Shall we call it a day, then? You said that finding more information was difficult.”

“Leona. You must memorize it, okay? If someone is truly attempting to get in our way, that person would not want us to realize what they are doing. So we might not have another opportunity to check like this.”

Looking at him pleading earnestly, I returned my gaze to the golden books.

If Luca spoke in that manner, he must be very certain. And if what he says is true….

‘It will be easier to catch the culprit. I’ve heard that only a few people are allowed to enter this place.’

I looked at the books in silence and nodded.

“I understand.” Luca wrapped his arm around my shoulders at my clear answer.

“Let’s go back.”

“Okay.”

Luca, who usually kissed me lightly, led me outside without saying anything. I felt strange because he was keeping his distance, and I couldn’t fathom his reason.

As always, Isaac was waiting outside the library, and it was not until I met Isaac that Luca released his hand.

“Are you done for today?”

“Yes.”

“There’s no change in your visit schedule, right?”

“I think so.”

“Alright. Then I’ll wait for you next time.”

As usual, Isaac escorted us to the carriage. I made sure to give a donation before we got into the carriage and left the place.

It should be fine to leave the carriage at the temple since the old butler’s house was nearby. But I didn’t really like the temple.

They were kind and gave me many things, but it was too much for me.

Unconditional kindness.

People don’t treat others kindly for no reason.

Isaac was nice to me because I helped him get promoted to senior priest, which made perfect sense to me.

However, I had trouble understanding the High Priest who was said to be the owner of this temple.

‘You only gave me a coin? How absurd.’

So on top of feeling burdened, I hated him.

“Leona. I think we’re almost there.”

In the meantime, we arrived in front of the old butler’s house.

“Seems like we’ve arrived.”

“Yeah, because it’s very close.”

There wasn’t even a garden as was commonly seen in a mansion, instead, only a small house was in front of me.

In contrast to the simple exterior, the windows of the small two-story house were all covered with wooden boards. As if the owner was concerned about intruders.

“Let’s get out.”

My heart was pounding just by thinking about meeting him. So, as soon as the carriage door opened, I jumped down and ran toward the door before Luca could catch up with me.

I felt like the old butler must be holding the key to this puzzle when I learned about Rere’s mother and the Duke’s true feelings.

My heart was pounding, and I knocked on the door without any delay.

“Excuse me?”

A house without a bell. When I saw it up close, it was so desolate that I doubted any living person could ever live here.

There was no sign of people no matter how much I knocked.

“Excuse me.”

It was the same even when I knocked on the door one more time.

“Excuse me. If you don’t answer, I’ll barge in. I know you’re inside. I saw smoke coming from the chimney as well.”

Even when I urged one last time, there was no single sound coming from within.

“I think he doesn’t want any visitors.”

“Old butler. We are from the Duchy. We really need your help.”

“……”

“Rere needs you.”

I mentioned Rere just in case, but I heard a very small movement from the inside.

“Rere is still sick. I know you were around when Rere was sick. That’s why I need your help.”

To my surprise, the person who pretended to be dead as a mouse no matter how many times I knocked, finally rushed to the door upon hearing the word ‘Rere.’

Still, he did not open the door.

“I’m Rere’s stepmother. And I want to save my child. I need you for that. I need your information….”

At last, the door opened a slight crack.

A man in a black uniform with neatly slicked back hair peered through the door. His hair was white, as if to match the name ‘old butler,’ and he looked very calm.

“N-Nice to meet you, I’m-”

“…Who told you about this place?”

“An acquaintance of mine…?”

“Are you here to kick me out? This old man just wants to see the young lady’s face one more time, and now I’m not allowed to be here?”

I quickly shook my head.

“No way! I was also baffled that she kicked you out. Rather, I’ve come here to help you.”

“I can’t believe you.”

“Please believe me. Rere is sick…and no one knows why. Even with the power of her father, the Duke of this Empire, we haven’t found a cure for her. So I’m doing everything I can to help my child recover from her illness. I even went to the temple to see if there was anything….”

I wanted to tell the situation clearly if I could meet him, but I began to stutter like a fool at this moment. I was afraid that the door would be closed, and I would lose this small hint about Rere’s illness.

After that, the old butler peered at me for a long time.

“…I still can’t believe you. The Duke has been trying to kick me out for a long time…”

“Reg.”

“…..”

“The Duke said he called you that.”

That night, while drunk on wine, the Duke told me numerous stories about the old butler from his youth. That included telling me about the nickname ‘Reg.’

The children who lived their entire life in seclusion only opened their hearts to the old butler. And that said children were the Duke and Rere’s mother, Lalice.

Therefore, for the first time in his life, the old butler introduced his nickname ‘Reg’ to the two children.

“…That nickname…” His eyelids shook.

“He said he regrets it. Everything he did in the past.”

“Regret or not, it’s none of my business! I’ve never had such a nickname!”

“What about Rere? Is she also none of your business?”