Chapter 178

After a while, we arrived at the library.

When I opened the door to the library, a fairly large space was revealed.

“Jake!”

“Oh, Mir?”

Jake was sitting at the table in the middle.

Apparently Jake had been concentrating on a book for a while, he didn’t even know I was coming in, but only then did he realize when I called his name.

“I also came to read a book.”

“Really? Then sit down next to me.”

“Yes, I will.”

Having reserved a seat in advance, I went to the bookshelf.

The number of books neatly arranged like a small library seemed to be thousands of more.

‘By the way, how do I find the topic I want out of all these books?’

In front of that vastness, I stopped a little dazed.

At that moment, Maya approached me as I stood still.

“Is there a book you are looking for? I will help you.”

“Ah, that…… Actually, I’m curious about this duchy.”

Maya frowned at my words and pointed to one side.

“Really? You’re welcome to be curious about this place. You’ll find a book about the duchy in the lower left corner of the third bookshelf over there. Of course not that many.”

“Ah, thank you.”

I headed straight to the place Maya had pointed me to.

‘Well, all the titles don’t seem to have anything to do with my purpose.’

There were only a few books related to traditional cuisine or festivals.

Not only in the kingdom language, but also a translation written in the imperial language was included.

I pondered for a moment, but I decided to read it.

‘…… Well, there is very little history written about it before becoming a duchy.’

However, I finished the book without much result.

I guess I should read a book about the curse this time.

In fact, when I was in the Empire a while ago, there was a time when I found and read a few books about witchcraft in the library of our Marquisate.

But it was just not really helpful.

It wasn’t about real magic, it was just a collection of stories floating around in folklore.

‘Well, there’s no way there are books about curses or magic in places like this. And not many people would be interested in that.’

I thought the study here would be similar, but I decided to look it up just in case I didn’t know.

After walking around the library for a while, I stopped in front of a bookshelf in a corner.

‘Um, maybe here?’

I learned the Kingdom language in kindergarten, but it was a little difficult to find it because I only knew how to speak at the basic level of everyday conversation.

However, it seemed that the books in the far corner of this place were also related to witchcraft.

Just when I was about to reach out and pull out a book.

“Witchcraft, curse…… Are you interested in a book like this?”

“Oh, oh what a surprise!”

I yelped in surprise at the sudden voice from behind.

Looking back, Maya was standing there with an awkward expression.

“Sorry, I didn’t expect you to be surprised. I thought you heard my footsteps.”

“…… I was so focused I couldn’t hear it.”

At the same time, I breathed a sigh.

I thought my heart was going to fall.

At that time, Maya, who was taking turns looking at the books in front of me, asked a question.

“Because I said last time that the Duchy may be a cursed land…… Are you curious about the curse?”

“…… !”

Maya’s question saw right through my heart.

Well, it might have been a little embarrassing to go out and search for a book like this.

I affirmed.

“…… Yes, I’m just curious.”

Fortunately, Maya nodded his head as if he understood me.

“As expected. And I’m sorry, but you won’t find any books on curses here.”

“…… Why?”

Maya explained.

Since the cold started a year ago, the Duke and other people have been trying to find a solution by collecting books and information about the curse.

Of course, it all turned out to be a failure.

“All those books are in the little study next to my father’s office.”

“Ah…….”

“But fortunately, I have one of the keys to my father’s study. If you are curious, shall we go together?”

Saying that, Maya held out his hand to me.

I grabbed his hand as if possessed.

“Okay, let’s go!”

* * *

After a while, the two of us quietly left the library and headed through the hallway to a small study near the office.

‘This place is small and cozy.’

Rather than a study, it was just about the size of a small parlor room.

There were a lot of difficult looking books.

Maya rummaged through the bookshelf and called me.

“Looks like the books are over here.”