Chapter 78 - The Birthday Banquet (Part 2)

Episode 73

(The Cursed Book)

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"My Lady. I have prepared your lunch."

"Come in."

Creak~

Anne came in with a tray. Then she placed all the dishes on the table.

"My Lady."

"Hmm?"

"You are holding your book upside down."

Isabella flustered hearing that.

"Ah. I was s-seeing if I could read a book while holding it upside down. Anyways, I am hungry."

"Oh. I see. The food is on the table, My Lady."

"Alright."

Saying that Isabella closed the book she was reading, or perhaps just holding. Then she got up from the couch and sit on the table and started eating her lunch.

And Anne started organising the room. 

"Ah. My Lady?"

"What is it?"

"Where should I keep this book?"

Isabella looked behind to see what book Anne was talking about.

Pfft~

She spits the water she was drinking seeing the book Anne was holding.

"Ah. Put it on the table."

"Huh? Alright."

Anne said, tilting her head.

"Anyways, I am done eating. You can take all these back."

"Alright, My Lady."

Saying that Anne bowed and left the room taking all the dishes back to the tray.

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As soon as Anne left the room...

Kyaa~

It seems like I mistakenly brought this book from the library. It must have dropped with all the other books. And I carried this one here too.

Aghh~

What am I supposed to do?! I can't take it back. What if someone sees me with this…

I am doomed. 

Wait for a second… I can just burn this book.

"Yes! The fireplace."

Saying that I took the book in my hand and went near the fireplace.

Yes. Throw it away, Isabella.

Yes. I will throw it into the fireplace. 

Suddenly-

Knock* Knock*

"Princess, It's me, Kelvin. May I come in?"

I flinched hearing the sudden knock on my door.

Thank Goodness, I haven't thrown the book in the fireplace yet.

"W-Wait a minute."

Saying that I hurriedly ran towards my bed and hid the book under the pillow.

Then I sit on the couch and said,

"Come in."

Creak~

Soon the door opened and Kelvin entered the room.

"Greetings, Princess."

Kelvin bowed and greeted me.

"Hmm. So why did you come?"

Just hurry up and say whatever you want to say and get out!

"I have come to inform you that the Crown Prince told you to join today's dinner."

"Alright. Now go."

Just go.

"Alright. I will inform him that you won-"

'Huh?! She agreed?!'

Wait… Dinner?!

"Wait a minut-"

"Alright, Princess. I will go and inform the Crown Prince."

Kelvin bowed and hurriedly escaped the room before I could say anything else.

Sigh~

Now I have to join their dinner. 

Anyways… I have to burn the book.

I took out the book under my pillow and went near the fireplace to burn it.

"Now burn."

I said while throwing the book.

Clatter*

"W-Wait. Why is it burning like that?!"

At first, the cover burnt, revealing all the scandalous art of the first page.

"Kyaa~ L-Lets not look."

Knock* Knock*

I flinched hearing the knock.

"Oh my goodness!"

I looked at the book. It's burning but revealing all that art… 

Whaaaa~T?! Where is that man putting his mouth?!

"My Lady, May I come in?"

"No!"

Aghh! Hurry up and burn.

Dear lord! What am I supposed to do?! The book is burning so slowly! And those things…

Aghh!

"My Lady?"

"I told you to wait."

Sigh~

Water. Where is the water?

I looked around and found a jug of water on my bedside table.

I hurriedly took the jug and splashed the water on the fireplace. Then I took the book and hid it under my bed.

"C-Come in."

Creak~

"My Lady, I came here to give you the cake."

"Ah. Alright. Put it on the table."

You came here just for that?!

"Yes."

Saying that Anne put the plate of cake on the table.

Anne: "Huh? The fireplace."

I flinched hearing that.

"The fireplace is drenched…"

"I put the fire out as it was too hot."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

I said while fanning myself with one hand.

"I guess that must be it."

"Anyways Anne. You can go now."

"Huh? Alright."

Anne then bowed and left the room.

Phew~

She finally left.

But… How am I supposed to burn the book now?! The firewood is wet.

Aghh!!! Why is such a thing happening to me?!

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In the end, I had to burn the book using candles. 

And in the process… I had to see the entire book…

That cursed book took my innocence. The entire day I couldn't concentrate on anything.

Haaa~

Now it's evening. I am on the balcony enjoying the cold breeze of nature.

The place looks so beautiful from here. 

The maids are lighting up the lamps and the torches outside. They look so tiny from here.

Knock* Knock*

"My Lady, May I come in?"

"Come in."

I said loudly as I was on the balcony.

"Good Evening, My Lady."

Saying that Anne started lighting up the candles and the fireplace of my room. 

"My Lady. You should get inside."

"Later."

"Ah. Okay. Anyways, My Lady. What dress will you wear for today's dinner with the Crown Prince."

"Any dress will do."

"Alright."

Saying that Anne brought out a purple dress and started preparing accessories that will get along with the dress.

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After half an hour…

"My Lady, you have to get prepared for the dinner now."

"Alright."

After that, I went inside my room. Then Anne prepared me for the dinner.

Knock* Knock*

"Princess. It's time for you to join the dinner."

Kelvin announced from outside.

"Alright."

"Enjoy your dinner, My Lady."

"Hmm."

After that, I got out of my room.

"Good evening, Princess. You look marvellous as always."

Kelvin said with a smile.

"..."

I don't want to say thank you.

"A-Anyways, I will escort you to the Dining hall."

"Alright. Lead the way."

"Yes, Princess."

Kelvin bowed then escorted me to the dining hall.

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"Her Highness, the First Princess Isabella Von Hagen Loire is entering the Hall."

It's my first time coming here.

"Isabella? You came?"

William said while getting up from his chair.

Ah. He is already here.

"Should I not have?"

"Ah. No. That's not what I meant. I just thought you wouldn't come."

Well, that would have been the case. If it wasn't for that cursed book…

Aghh~ My face is hot again.

"Isabella? Are you not feeling well?"

"I am just fine. Thanks for your concern, His Highness."

"Ah. Anyways, have a seat."

"Yes."

I sat on the opposite side of where he sat. 

"Rubena won't come. She doesn't really join the dinner unless the Emperor is here."

"I see. So you eat alone."

Ah. I didn't mean to say it out loud.

"Yes."

William said with a sad smile.

Aghh. Now he is making me look like a bad guy.

"Anyways, let's have our dinner, shall we?"

"Yes."

Clap* Clap*

As William clapped his hands, 6 maids entered the Hall and served different dishes.

Whoa~

All of them look delicious.

"Please enjoy your dinner."

"Yes."

After that, we started eating dinner. The food was so delicious. I could eat properly as William didn't utter a word while eating.

Anyways after dinner, the maids served some dessert.

"Oh. I have something to give you."

"Huh?"

I wonder what it is.

"Kelvin."

As William called his name, Kelvin entered the hall. 

"You called, His Highness?"

"Yes. Come here."

Kelvin walked towards William. Then William whispered something to Kelvin.

"Alright."

Kelvin nodded then got out of the room.

Well, whatever. Let's just enjoy my dessert.

After a while, the butler came in and handed over a small red box to William.

"Here."

William forwarded the box to me.

"Huh? What is this?"

"Ahem. Open it."

Aghh. I don't want it. 

I took the box and opened it. 

"This…"

My eyes widened seeing the thing inside the box.

It was the pendant with blue stone, I saw on the market yesterday. 

"I saw you staring at the pendant. Hope you will like it."

My chest feels a little warm. How strange… 

Ah… It must be because it resembles His eyes…

Leonus… I want to see you.

"Thank you. I will keep it well."

"Ah- It was nothing. I am glad that you like it."

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~Chapter Extra~

Phoo~ Phoo~

A knight is walking in the library while whistling. He seems happy for some reason.

"Yes.!"

The knight said excitedly.

'I can read the limited edition of 'THE ART OF MIDNIGHT' today. I waited for so long to read that. I had to wait the entire day as the Prince and the Princess are coming to the library nowadays.'

The knight thought with teary eyes. 

"Let's hurry up~ ♪～(´ε｀ ) I will see those amazing art today."

The knight walked towards the magic Section of the library while singing.

'I hid it here as it's the corner of this huge Library. Hoho~'

"My book. Here I come."

Saying that he went to the corner.

"What?! What?!"

'Why is it not here?!'

The knight thought in a way as if his soul was leaving his body.

'No way! I hid it here so well. M-Maybe it fell somewhere…'

Thinking that the knight desperately started to search the empty place under the bookshelf. He also searched the entire shelf. Looked through thousands of books.

"No~ My dear book~"

The knight collapsed on the ground.

"Where are you?"

On the other hand, the book was burnt by someone…

Mr Art of the Midnight: 'At least I could teach her something.'

Author and the readers: "Rest in peace, "The Art of Midnight.". Thanks for teaching our Girl. And we are deeply sorry for your loss, Sir Knight."

~End Of Chapter Extra~

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