CH 22

Count Fidelo's territory was located in the center of the empire.

It was famous for its production of silk fabrics. And the silk produced there was a luxury product called blue silk, which sometimes appears slightly blue when the light reflected on it, and was loved by royalty and nobles.

For generations, the Fidelo household was famous for collecting rare books using the abundant funds from the production of blue silk.

Since the family was quite far from the Berkeleys, Mariabelle wondered by what fate a woman from the Berkeleys had married into Count Fidelo's family, but it seems that the head of the Berkeleys several generations ago was also a book collector, and they met through that relationship.

"You have come a long way, my dear. I am Daniel Fidelo, a count in the Empire. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Count Fidelo, whom Mariabelle and the others met for the first time, was a mild-looking, bearded gentleman, much older than James.

He seemed to tend to sweat, perhaps because it was warmer in the south than in the kingdom, and he had been wiping his sweat with a handkerchief ever since they first met.

"I apologize for the sudden visit. I am James Berkeley. This is my daughter, Mariabelle."

"Welcome, Marquis Berkeley. We may not be able to offer you much hospitality, but please make yourself at home."

Count Fidelo, who was holding James' hand with both hands, was sweating even to his hands.

Seeing this, the countess standing next to him quickly offered him a handkerchief.

James wished she had given him the handkerchief before he shook his hand.

The eldest son of the couple died by the plague ten years ago, so the county is to be succeeded by the second son, who is already married and living in the imperial capital, and he would see them soon enough.

When they were shown around the mansion, Mariabelle found a picture of the count's ancestors in the middle of the corridor.

Count Fidelo stopped in front of one of them.

"This is the one who married into our family from the Berkeleys. She looks a little like Miss Mariabelle, but of course, Miss Mariabelle is more beautiful."

The woman depicted in the painting had blonde hair, green eyes, and a calm atmosphere.

Her hair was tied up, and she was wearing an imperial dress with a wide collar.

"Catherine... No, she is Countess Caterina Fidelo."

In the kingdom, she is called Catherine, but the empire had a different variant of her name: Caterina... Even though the letters are the same.

The name Mariabelle is called the same in both places, but some names varied from country to country.

"Yes, she came to our house with precious books of the kingdom."

"I believe it was the first edition of 'The Lost Kingdom.' If you don't mind, I would like to take a look at it later," James said.

Not only Count Fidelo, but James was also fond of books.

The book titled 'The Lost Kingdom' was the debut novel of a great author who is now well known to everyone, and the first editions of the book are quite scarce.

The book currently in circulation was a revised edition, so James had hoped to read the first edition someday.

James was greatly saddened to learn that the book once existed in the Berkeley family, but the library inventory showed that it had been acquired by Countess Fidelo when she married into the family.

He wasn't very enthusiastic about a trip to the empire for the very reason that he had to go, but he was very excited about one thing: the possibility of seeing the first edition of the book.

"Oh, Marquis Berkeley is also fond of books?"

"No, not as much as count Fidelo."

"Then, why don't you come to the library?"

Count Fidelo's eyes suddenly lit up when he saw that James was a book lover, but Mrs. Fidelo chided him.

"Dear, the Marquis has only just arrived here. Wouldn't it be better if he took some rest?"

"Oh, yes. I'm sorry, I get carried away when it comes to books..."

"No, I know how you feel... Since we're here, let's have a look at it now. What about you, Mariabelle?" James smiled and replied to Count Fidelo, who was sweating and apologizing. Then, he turned and asked Mariabelle.

"I love books, too. And I would love to see Count Fidelo's library, whose name is ringing through the kingdom," Mariabelle agreed.