Chapter 161 - Development (4)

Alexandra eventually arrived at the library after she left her father's office. As usual, Carlos opened the door for her and she entered. The library, as usual, was shrouded with silence and peace. It feels like even if she just whispered, her voice might be too loud. Aside from that, it held a comfortable and warm atmosphere which is the kind of atmosphere you will love when you are reading. Even though I already went here multiple times, I am still amazed by how big it is. Aside from that, this is our own private library, only my family could freely enter this palace.

Alexandra walked towards the stairs and Carlos followed behind her, she was heading towards their usual spot and she knows that she will find Christian there, reading a book like he always does. Honestly, he was the first person that she knew who loves books so much that he would spend their whole day just reading. I wonder if he even reads at night before he goes to sleep or when he can't sleep because that is what I do sometimes but I have to read at the balcony of my room because Carlos would know that I am still awake if I turn on the lights. He would notice it and he would probably tell Diana that I am still awake and she would scold me, she thought to herself.

Although that never happened to her, she already knows and imagines that it would happen so she is trying to be careful as much as possible when she does that. Not more than 10 minutes, they arrived on their usual spot and there he is, sitting behind the desk holding a book in his hands, his gaze was nailed on the book that he was reading and he didn't notice that Alexandra arrived as well as his personal knight who was just leaning against the wall with his arms crossed and looking down with his eyes closed. Is he dozing off? Wouldn't it be bad if he was caught? What if somebody suddenly invaded the library? What if somebody attacked?

Oh, his eyes opened. He suddenly turned his head towards her direction and Alexandra was startled when their gazes suddenly met. I guess he also has some sharp senses so if somebody tried to invade the library or attack, he would easily notice it. Alexandra's eyes darted at the direction of the couch and her eyes widened when she saw who was there.

Unexpectedly, Gilbert was also there sitting on the couch while his personal knight was standing still behind him. Well, it is better that he is here anyway since I still have to look for him if he wasn't, there are two other locations that I can find. The garden where I first met him and the treehouse where I met him for the second time along with my first meeting with his personal knight, it was quite memorable since something unexpected happened that day.

She recalled the events that happened during that time.

-- "Y-You're his highness' daughter! Prince Gilbert, why are you with a girl like her? I thought I told you to not go near her since she might bring you bad luck or curses you! She's a curse, a witch, a bad omen!" His words sent an arrow to Alexandra's heart and it hurts, just like the feeling of being stabbed multiple times. Alexandra clutched the sides of her dress.

That was downright rude and mean, his choice of words and the way he spoke felt like he despised her very existence. The friendly and bubbly aura which surrounded Carlos turned into a dark and dangerous one, he held the hilt of his sword tightly and he glared at Philip, the ominous aura he emits sent a chill down Philip's spine. "Philip, even if we are comrades, I can't forgive someone who speaks about the Miss in that way," His voice was cold like ice and as seconds passed by, the atmosphere became colder and colder, at the same time, deadly.

Philip was nailed at his position and Alexandra's eyes darted at Carlos, though she can't completely see what expression he is making, she was sure that he was glaring at Philip. Just like the time they met Mark, a creepy and mysterious palace wizard whose gaze made Alexandra scared. "If someone dared to insult the miss, don't hesitate to threaten or hurt that person. If someone decided to hurt the miss, pay that person back, 5 times the pain that she had felt. If someone tried to kill her, chase that person down and kill that person. Even if that someone is royalty, a noble, or someone with high status, do not hesitate. I gave you the permission to do so as her personal knight," They were confused at what Carlos said, even Alexandra doesn't know what he was saying.

Then his next words shocked them. They fell into silence when they heard it and Philip gulped.

"That is what his highness, the emperor told me,"

It has been so long since she went back there.

He was also reading a book that he held on his hands as he slouched on the couch. Since there was nobody around aside from them, he could slouch and do whatever he wants. It was not prince-like and it was bad for him but Alexandra didn't care since that she is always doing when nobody is around. But, that would be painful for your back.

"Brother, if you continue to slouch like that, you will just hurt your back. Aside from that, it would be painful for your neck too since you are slouching while reading. I am worried and I don't want that to happen to you," Alexandra said as she approached him and grabbed his attention but it seems like Christian was way too absorbed by what he is reading because he still didn't lift his gaze away from the book to look at her. He probably didn't hear what I said even though I said it loudly. Not really that loud but loud enough for everyone here to hear. She already experienced that and it would be bad if Gilbert experienced it too. Diana scolded her because of it.

"Ah, a pleasant morning to you, Alexandra. I just find this position comfortable although what you said is true since I already experienced it before but I just can't help it," Gilbert responded in his usual monotonous tone of voice as he fixed his posture. He sat properly but leaned back on the couch. Why did his majesty listen to the young miss even though she just said it one time while I said it multiple times yet he didn't listen to me? His personal knight, Philip thought.

It seems like they successfully took away Christian's attention from the book that he was reading when his eyes darted at her direction and his eyes widened in surprise when he saw Alexandra standing not far away from him. "A-Alexandra, I'm sorry I didn't notice you. What brings you here early this morning?" Christian said and Alexandra turned her head towards her direction, their gazes met and Alexandra smiled at him before she responded in a gentle tone of voice, "A pleasant morning, brother. Actually, I am here to give you something," Alexandra said as she approached him.

"What is it?" Her brother asked in a gentle voice, curiosity lacing his tone as he speaks and Alexandra handed him the bag with cookies inside. Right, I forgot to give one to Gilbert too, she thought to herself and walked back towards Gilbert and handed him a bag of cookies with a smile on her face. "This is also for you, brother," She said as she handed it to him and although he was curious about what was inside, he didn't ask. "Inside those bags are cookies, I asked Diana to bake some. Those are still warm and newly made, it would be much better if I gave it early rather than later. Although I don't know if you like cookies," Alexandra continued.

"What for?" Gilbert asked. "What do you mean what for? I just want to give cookies to you two, is it bad or you don't like cookies?" Alexandra responded. Her brother just shooked his head as a response and he opened the bag of cookies, is he eating it already? Alexandra asked herself as he watched her brother fish out one cookie from the bag and brought it to his lips before he took a bite. He munched on it for a few seconds before he gulped, "It's delicious. I like the taste actually," Gilbert said and Alexandra's eyes sparkled when she heard what he said. "I'm glad that you like it," Alexandra said as she smiled at him, the expression on her face was bright and joy was written all over it.

"Thank you for giving us this, I will eat this while reading this book. I am really happy that you also gave me this," She heard Christian spoke behind her and she looked back, she saw him smiling at her widely. Right, this is the first time that I gave him one of the foods that Diana baked or made, she thought to herself and she smiled back at Christian.

"About the book that you gave me yesterday, I am reading it now and I find it interesting, where did you buy or got it?" Gilbert asked and he closed the book that he was holding. Alexandra turned around and faced his direction. The book that she gave her was written by Lorraine Wester, the title of the book was The Garden of Feelings. That book was her favorite one amongst all the books the author has written or made. The way that she wrote it, the flow of the story, the characters and the developments, the twist, and the ending, it was all satisfying and Alexandra could imagine every detail as she read the paragraphs. It was beautiful.

"I'm glad that you like it. I actually got the book in my library. Although she isn't that famous so it's hard to find her books in the market. You can only find it in some of the bookshops, that's what Diana told me since she also liked the author as well as the books that she has written. If you want, I can let you borrow some of her books since we got it in my palace in my library," Alexandra responded as she smiled at her brother. "Then I'll try to pay a visit whenever I had the time to do so. I have never stepped a foot on your palace," He said.

"You can come whenever you want, it would be better if I was there though," Alexandra replied. Her maids would panic if they saw the prince and she wasn't there. Yeah, she can imagine how they would react in that kind of situation. "Are you giving some cookies to our brothers too, Alexandra?" She heard Christian's voice coming from behind her and she turned her head around to look at him.

"Yes. I already gave one to father earlier at his office before I went here. Although I also don't know if he likes cookies or not but he didn't say anything about it when I gave him," Alexandra responded as she recalled what happened earlier. He just accepted it and asked what it was then right before she left, she said some things about the fountain pen that she gave him. However, he just remained silent even when they left. She was wondering if he was angry or shocked by what he said while she was on her way to the library.

"I see," Was what her brother only said and silence dominated the place. Ah, I need to leave, Alexandra thought to herself as she realized.

"Then if you may excuse me, I still have things to do. I will see you later, Brother Gilbert and Brother Christian," Alexandra said as she bowed before she walked and Carlos followed behind her quietly. Arthur might be in the garden all ready and waiting for her, she doesn't want to be late although she was always late when it comes to her sessions or tutor which is embarrassing enough for her part. It already happened multiple times and she doesn't want it to happen to other people too.

Alexandra left the library with Carlos following behind her quietly. Right after I gave the cookies to Arthur, I should head towards the training grounds since father said that I can find Chandler there training. I wonder if somebody would help him train, maybe Calixander would help him sometimes, she thought to herself as she walked and made her way towards the garden where she and Arthur would usually meet.