CH 88

Daniel Fidelo's father was a very strict person.

Unlike the petite Daniel, his voice and physique were large, but his timid nature always made him nervous and caused him to shrink in front of his father.

As a result, he would further scold him, saying, "How can the heir of the Fidelo Earl's family be so timid?"

Gradually, Daniel started hiding in the library that had been his grandfather's favorite place.

Unlike his grandfather who passed away a few years ago, Daniel's father didn't have much interest in books.

He claimed that the wisdom of the predecessors recorded in books was nothing more than theoretical reasoning and didn't see any value in it.

Naturally blessed with a strong physique, Daniel's father had originally wanted to become a knight rather than a bureaucrat, so the library was likely a symbol that obstructed his father's dream.

The Fidelo family possessed a library that was said to be the best in the empire and had served the empire as bureaucrats for generations.

However, Daniel's father, as the eldest son, gave up on becoming a knight and became a bureaucrat.

Perhaps because of that, he made a particular effort to train Daniel, who was timid like his mother, and disciplined him strictly.

When his father's lectures began, they would be long.

Daniel had to stand motionless until his father was satisfied, which was unbearable and painful.

His timid mother would comfort him after his father left, but that was all. There was not a trace of her remonstrating with his father.

Gradually, whenever Daniel saw his father, he started sweating all over his body.

Even on cold days, he would break into waterfall-like cold sweat, so his father called a doctor, realizing that something was wrong.

The doctor diagnosed it as likely being psychological.

As for the details of their conversation, Daniel was unaware.

However, after that, although his father's lectures decreased a little, unfortunately, Daniel's tendency to sweat excessively didn't change.

Sweating in his hands would damage the books.

Daniel was disappointed because he could no longer read his beloved books due to his sweaty hands.

But he soon realized that he could wear gloves and read.

It was a bit challenging to turn the pages, but if it meant he could still read books, he was willing to endure it.

Since his father, who had no interest in books, took over, the collection in the library had not grown much.

Daniel thought it would be a good idea to start collecting books he hadn't gathered before.

Around that time, romance novels began to trend in the empire.

When he tried reading one, he found it quite interesting.

Since his father never set foot in the library anyway, Daniel gradually started collecting romance novels.

The one who was most delighted was his mother.

She would quickly finish reading and then urge him, "Don't you have the next book?"

Before he knew it, one shelf was occupied by romance novels.

"I should start collecting other books soon."

"Oh, there are still plenty of romance novels, aren't there?"

Daniel's mother, who developed a hobby of reading the romance novels he collected, held the latest installment of a serialized romance novel in her hands as she said so.

"With this many, it will take a while for Mother to finish reading. I'm thinking of reading different books soon... Obtaining books from the kingdom sounds good too."

"She'll probably be disappointed."

"Who do you mean?"

"Well, there's a maid named Therese who recently came to our house, remember? She seems to like romance novels and often borrows books. She seems to have finished reading all the books here, so she'll probably be disappointed."

Daniel had no recollection of the maid his mother mentioned.

She probably had just arrived and wasn't allowed to appear before Daniel and the others yet.

In the Fidelo Earl's household, rare books were displayed in locked bookshelves and could not be taken out, but even the servants could borrow books if they applied for it.

If the maid named Therese could read books, she must be from a noble background.

"I'll select a few for you at the upcoming used book market."

"Yes, I'm looking forward to it."

Saying that, his mother went straight to the reading desk placed in the hall of the library.

The light leaking through the sidelight window illuminated his mother's face.

Previously, his mother was always scared and submissive in front of his authoritarian father, but she has become brighter since she started reading books.

Books are truly wonderful.

Daniel grew to love books even more.

"Other maids have come, but it seems they are only interested in rare books."

"Is that so?"

They don't want to see books; they just want to see valuable ones.

There are many maids like that. They only pay attention to the rare books displayed in the locked bookshelves.

Only Daniel, his mother, and Therese are the ones who visit the library.

After hearing her name from his mother, Daniel started to notice Therese's presence, even though they had never crossed paths before.

However, Therese would only bow and greet Daniel when they encountered each other; she never initiated a conversation.

Daniel gradually became drawn to Therese, but he still lacked the courage to speak to her.

He was satisfied just seeing Therese happily clutching the borrowed books in the library.

However, one day, an incident occurred.

Someone had stolen valuable books from the bookshelf that should have been locked and tore them to shreds.

Fortunately, it wasn't the valuable first edition of Jean Rod, but it was still one of the precious old books.

Naturally, the search for the culprit began.

"They could have sold it for a high price, but instead, they ripped the pages to shreds. Who would do such a terrible thing..."

Once a book is torn, it cannot be repaired.

That's why Daniel lamented the fact that his most precious book had ended up in such a state.

And his father was furious that the valuable rare books of the Fidelo Earl's family had been torn to pieces.

"Who did such a thing!"

His father gathered all the servants in the hall and unleashed his anger, causing even Daniel, who wasn't being accused, to shrink in fear.

The chandelier hanging from the ceiling in the hall also trembled and resonated with his father's furious voice.

Among the trembling servants, Daniel searched for Therese's figure.

Her loosely curled black hair was trembling slightly.

While everyone's gaze fell to the floor, one maid shouted.

"I saw it! I saw Therese with that book in her hands!"

Daniel looked at Therese with disbelief. Her pale face was filled with astonishment, and her lips were trembling. As Therese took a step back, the other servants instinctively distanced themselves from her. It was as if a void had opened up, leaving only Therese's figure standing there, like the protagonist in a play.

"The culprit is Therese!" the accusing voice rang out, and Therese's gaze wandered helplessly, silently pleading for help. In that moment, her eyes briefly crossed paths with Daniel's.

"It's you! After all that I have done for you, how could you do such a thing? Take her to the dungeon!" Father's command made the other servants seize Therese's arms.

"No... it's not true! Therese couldn't be the culprit! Someone who loves books would never treat them so recklessly!" Daniel, who had never once opposed his father before, usually remained silent and waited for his father's anger to subside. But this time, he couldn't let Therese be condemned.

Moreover, accusing her without any evidence was too hasty. "Please investigate properly!" Daniel mustered up his courage and spoke out.

His father was surprised by Daniel's unexpected objection. After regaining some composure, he gave orders to conduct a thorough investigation. It was revealed that the servant who raised her voice was the one who tore the book, driven by jealousy. She had tried to interfere when she saw Daniel and Therese leaving the library together, realizing that Daniel always had his eyes on Therese.

The valuable rare book, lost due to jealousy, was highly priced and could not be fully compensated. The servant's family, belonging to a fallen noble lineage, sold their land to provide compensation and renounced their title before dispersing. The guilty servant was also expelled from the Earl's household and disappeared without a trace.

The next day, Daniel visited his father's study.

"What brings you here in such a formal manner?" Father, surprised that his usually timid son had come to see him, listened to Daniel's words.

"Uh, well..." Daniel was nervous, sweating profusely. By the time the handkerchief he held in his hand was soaked, he finally spoke up.

His father, who was not particularly patient, wanted Daniel to get to the point quickly. However, the doctor had advised him not to put too much pressure on his son, so he held back.

His father reflected on his own behavior, realizing that he was the reason behind his son's excessive sweating whenever he felt nervous.

"I want to marry someone."

"Hmm. Who is it?" Father tilted his head, wondering which young lady his introverted son had set his eyes on. Had he seen her at a recent party?

"Th-Therese," Daniel stammered.

The name sounded familiar. Father pondered for a moment, trying to recall where he had heard it before. He suddenly remembered the name of the maid who had almost been falsely accused yesterday.

"Are you out of your mind? She's a maid."

"Even though she is a maid, she is a noblewoman from the Fidelo family. So, there should be no problem."

"Considering her family's financial difficulties, it's unlikely that she can provide a dowry."

"I don't need such a thing!"

Father stared intently at his son. Had he ever heard his cowardly son raise his voice so loudly in front of him?

He had always thought of him as a weak-willed man, but now he reconsidered his opinion. Perhaps he could respect his son's spirit a little.

Giving in to his son's determination, his father decided to listen to him.

"Well, uh, the thing is, whenever I get nervous, I start sweating uncontrollably, which tends to repel women. That's why I haven't been able to find a marriage partner until now," Daniel explained desperately.

"But Therese doesn't show any signs of being repelled by me. She treats me kindly without any hidden motives... Above all, we share the same passion for books. I... I can't consider anyone other than Miss Therese for marriage!"

After Daniel finished his passionate declaration, he was panting heavily, his sweat pouring down like a waterfall.

Due to past experiences that caused him to suffer mentally, he developed a tendency to sweat profusely when nervous. He always kept his gaze lowered, never making eye contact.

And now, he was assertively expressing himself like this, face-to-face.

His father let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding.

"...Since when have you been seeing each other?"

"That is yet to come."

"Yet to come...?"

Father's stern face crumbled in surprise. Thinking he misheard, he asked for clarification.

"That means I plan to ask her out and start a courtship."

Daniel explained while blushing, wanting to make it clear beforehand that he intended to pursue a relationship with marriage in mind.

Confessing and dating only to face opposition and be unable to marry would be insincere. That's why he wanted to obtain his father's permission for marriage before confessing.

It seemed like the proper approach for a serious-minded son, but...

Times had changed since his own days. Political marriages were not as common in the current empire, and love matches were becoming more prevalent.

Although Daniel was the eldest son of the Fidelo Earl's family, he was not particularly handsome and his excessive sweating when nervous made him less popular among women.

Father stared at Daniel intently.

His shy son didn't have many opportunities to actively approach women on his own. If that was the case, perhaps it wouldn't be so bad to give his approval.

...As long as he could confess properly.

From that day on, the latest romance novels lined the shelves of the Fidelo Earl's library. And on the desk dedicated to reading, a single white and pink gradient rose was displayed.

The flower language of the rose is "First Love."