CH 38

Do You Like Books?

* * * 

It became clear after watching. Nathaniel really didn’t care about anything other than Kyrie.

He didn’t talk to fill the silence, his words always had a purpose and Kyrie was the only one whom he exchanged purposeless jokes.

Realizing that, Kyrie became more cautious and Cesar became more energetic. 

She tried to stop Cesar whenever she had time but it was not enough.

Cesar sold Kyrie’s name by calling him and Nathaniel was quiet whether he knew all about it or not.

Rumors had been circulating that Buchanan may soon be promoted to duke and Kyrie had more frequent contact with Julia.

[You’re going there again?]

Nathaniel, who was reading a book in the Villiers room, glanced at Kyrie, who had finished dressing up.

“It’s Her Imperial Highness. Of course I would go when I’m called.”

[Princess is the one with no dignity.] 

Nathaniel said sarcastically. 

Wearing a white shirt and black pants, he covered his mouth with a book, lying on a gray velvet sofa. 

[Someone would think you’re in love with the princess.]

“Since I’m there, I think I’ll stop and look around.”

Kyrie turned the subject regardless of his sarcasm. Nathaniel didn’t blame it.

[How?]

“Well, what about Lord Nathaniel’s magic?”

[There’s magic in the library to stop unauthorized people.]

Nathaniel stopped talking and added in a drowsy voice.

[Of course, it’s possible if there’s a way to destroy it.]

“Oh my God, I’m still too young to be chased by treason.”

Kyrie moved near the door. MarryAnne, who was walking with a cloak behind her, made eye contact with Nathaniel and bowed her head. Nathaniel also raised his head very finely.

‘What the hell did you two do behind my back?’

It’s better than having a bad relationship, but it’s too different from before. Kyrie shook her head and headed for the palace.

Fortunately, there was no magic effect on Julia.

“As expected, I don’t remember what happened that day. Is it because he’s so handsome? What do you think, Miss Buchanan?”

“I guess so. Nothing happened.”

“I’m going to leave you behind with something extremely handsome. It gives me goosebumps.”

The goosebumps were probably due to magic, but Kyrie pretended not to know. 

“Anyway, I want to keep seeing him. He’s perfect. He’s the best man I’ve ever seen. Ms. Buchanan, can you continue to make room for me?”

“I’m going to ask him to do something…”

“Ha. Even if it’s not a direct request, you can do it indirectly.”

Julia leaned her upper body forward.

“You’re not stupid enough to do that, are you? I’m sure all Arellano people know that the Legend is going to take care of you.”

“….”

Kyrie did not answer but looked at Julia with a smile on her face. Julia, who did not smoke any scents, was again stretching on the sofa and caught Kyrie’s attention. 

She stroked the nearby leopard on the chin and raised her body.

“Yes, princess.”

“You are quick-witted.”

“I’m flattered.”

Kyrie bowed slightly and Julia laughed.

“You’re doing it. Why don’t you know? No, it’s not that you don’t know but that you’re pretending that you don’t know?”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“I heard your deal with my mother but can’t you just believe that and be relieved by it?”

As a habit, Julia reached out to the pipe on the table and bit it again.

“He has both wealth and power, and for the royal family, this is a huge threat. By returning the estate of the Legendary Lord, the tax revenue has been reduced, right?”

“You are saying difficult things.”

“The best solution to this situation is to connect the legend with me. You know?”

“I know.”

Kyrie’s smile was unwavering. Julia, who had been watching her all along, laughed wildly like a leopard.

“Yes, I thought you’d know. Then I’d like you to help me. It’s best for me to go up to your place.”

“I’ll try.”

“Why don’t you just go somewhere? Like Elsus. It’s your hometown, isn’t it?”

“That means…”

“It would be nice if the Legend would stay in Sel. No matter how much he cares about you, he won’t follow you on your journey, no way.”

Julia was a hunter. She was also used to snatching gains. Kyrie calmly replied, recalling Leschaux’s warning.

“That is difficult. I apologize, Your Highness.”

Julia’s gaze became drowsy.

“Why?”

Kyrie fell into a short worry.  

The condition that Kyrie gave to the Emperor was ‘Let’s not be hostile,’ so the Emperor would keep it to that point. 

The royal family still wanted to obey the Legend. The best thing the Emperor might be thinking about was Julia replacing Kyrie’s seat and finding the magic left behind by the founder.

‘But the Patriotic Lord affirmed it. Nathaniel’s choice remains unchanged.’

Nobles were not fools. If Nathaniel cared about Kyrie as time went by, some people would be jealous of her for having too much. Kyrie needed a breakwater to stop it. 

Kyrie, who thought that much, made up her mind.

‘Let’s appease Julia’

Kyrie’s mouth opened.

“The Legend never changes.”

Julia’s green eyes gleamed.

“Miss Buchanan, I want you to help me not to interpret it arbitrarily.”

“That’s what you’re thinking.”

Julia.

“As expected, I’ll have to smoke.”

She said and picked up the pipe.

“Ha, well… It was just incitement that encouraged the nobles to seduce the legends. Is that your intention?”

As expected, she was smart.

“That’s right.”

“If you tell me that, you’re asking me to stop it. If the princess is next to you, they wouldn’t think you lied.

“Exactly.”

“Maybe a secret to my mother… because my mother doesn’t like that.”

“Yes. This is a suggestion from Kyrie Buchanan to Princess Julia Orewinbridge, not to the royal family.”

“Ah! Okay, good. All you want me to do is to keep poking around the legend, blocking the arrows pointing towards you. Yes. Now it’s time to tell me what I can get?”

Kyrie smiled.

“Take advantage of this, Princess. Behind me are the Legendary Lord and the Patriotic Lord.”

“So?”

“For example, if I breathe in a little bit of air, the Legend might say this about the decline. Our old friend seems to have been re-established by the Orewinbridge.”

(P/R: Kyrie is saying that the Legend might say something about the empire if she spoke a little about it.)

“…….” 

“We will appoint only this wise descendant as the next emperor of Trevereum. “

Julia’s eyes got bigger, she fixed her green eyes on Kyrie without blinking.

“How did you know?”

“I did some research and reasoning.”

“But the information is…. no, it’s the next Duke of Old Ciudad.”

Kyrie smiled.

Julia was more clever than Crown Prince Eden but couldn’t become the heir because she was not the firstborn. 

People around her thought Julia accepted it, but other information came only from the Old Ciudad heir who led the intelligence guild at home and abroad.

Information that Julia was aiming for the successor position.

‘It’s a matter of waiting for a friend.’

Julia murmured low, rubbing her hair.

“You thought I was exposing my teeth? That’s really unexpected.”

She was silent for a while. The smoke stretched from the pipe, but it didn’t seem like the magic was mixed as before.

The princess palace, where leopards wandered around and half naked handsome servants wandered around with fruit and wine. 

The princess, who seemed drunk on drugs, alcohol and cigarettes, blinked as she stared at the ceiling.

“But still, uh…”

It was a very small murmur, but it was enough to cool Kyrie’s back. After giggling for a long time, she saw Kyrie with eyes radiant with greed and excitement. 

“Go back for today. I will call you again.”

* * * 

Kyrie went out of the palace, trying to ignore the eerie feeling. As she rubbed her arm, she spoke to a courtman passing by her.

“I want to take a walk because of the smell of cigarettes, but is there a good garden? I’ll take care of returning home myself, so you don’t have to worry.”

The servant of the palace led Kyrie to the garden and returned.

‘I have to check the library while I’m here. I don’t have many occasions to stop by at the palace.’

She walked calmly. There were no people in the pavilion in the direction of the library. But as she turned the corner, she ran into an unexpected person.

“W, why are you here?”

“Miss Rubinia Cassner?”

Rubinia was holding a few books and hastily hid them behind her. Kyrie’s eyes quickly caught the action.

“Good to see you here, Miss Cassner.”

“……Why are you here?”

“I’m on my way out after greeting Princess Julia.”

“That’s quite a distance from Princess Palace!”

“What about Miss Cassner? I know that this area is the royal library, but the book…?”

Embarrassment ran over Rubinia’s face.

“W, wait a second! This……!”

Just in time, there was a sound of footsteps nearby, with unexpected luck, Kyrie secretly smiled.

If you don’t have time to deal with it, you won’t even have time to think about excuses.  

As expected, Rubinia hastily grabbed Kyrie’s arm and dragged her.

“Come here!”

Kyrie was quietly caught by her as they hid behind a pillar. The two waited quietly for the people to pass by.

And as soon as the people disappeared, she opened her mouth at the same time.

“This is, I mean!”

“I know that the royal library cannot be accessed unless it is a certified librarian and officer. What happened?”

Rubinia’s face turned white. Her green eyes, filled with confusion and embarrassment, quickly turned into hatred.  

Rubinia shook Kyrie’s hand with a smack. At that time, Rubinia’s books fell, and Kyrie looked at her quietly.

“MarryAnne, pick it up.”

“Yes, Miss.”

When MarryAnne replied, Rubinia, who had not felt her presence, was surprised.  

MarryAnne picked up her books with her little hands and handed it to Rubinia.  

Rubinia beat it fiercely. The books were again scattered on the floor, and Kyrie sighed.

“MarryAnne, watch the net.”

(P/R: Kyrie is telling her to be on the lookout.)

“Yes, Miss.”

MarryAnne disappeared with a quick step. Kyrie’s gaze followed her back and then looked at Rubinia with cold eyes.

“Miss Cassner, isn’t this a rare book?”

“…..”

“We are sure to meet this way.”

Rubinia glowered at Kyrie that her eyes became bloodshot.

“I have nothing to say to you, so you lose.”

“I know you’re mad at me for the engagement celebration but I’m not going to say sorry. What you’ve done to me is not easy to forget.”

“Ha! Yes, that’s your nature, Kyrie Buchanan.”

“It’s great that you know my nature that I didn’t know about. You must have dated longer than me.”

“What?”

Unlike Rubinia, who blushed with contempt, Kyrie’s attitude remained constant and cynical.

“I don’t usually have a good personality or a good way of speaking, Miss Cassner. The only reason I held it in is because I am an aristocrat. For my own dignity. My name is not the only thing I carry.”

“I’m not interested!”

“You’ll have to be but you keep attacking me for no reason, so I don’t have to be patient anymore.”

Kyrie spoke lowly and powerfully. Just in time, the wind blew, and Kyrie’s hair covered part of her face. 

The purple eyes, which glowed coldly between the light purple hair, showed a keen expression that had never been seen before.

Rubinia faltered without realizing it. She was able to say her next words purely thanks to the discipline of a local aristocrat.

“Do you think I’m scared?! You’ve got the wrong person! I’m Rubinia Cassner!”

“You have to pay for it. What if you don’t?”

“I have no reason to be afraid of you! You lost to me, and you broke up with him! You lost him! You can’t keep a man!”

“Didn’t you read the newspaper, Miss Cassner?”

“That…!”

Rubinia trembled with her mouth open. Kyrie began to point out one by one on purpose.

“I don’t really like this kind of fight, but I’ll try to match Miss Cassner’s way. First, family.”

“……”

“Buchanan and Cassner. Oh, my. I’m sorry to compare. You know that Buchanan is a founding contributor, right? The position is a Count, but the influence hasn’t fallen down.”

“M, my family…..!”

“Here’s one thing I’d like to advise you. The new sheep farming industry that Cassner is trying to touch is not good.”

A doubt emerged on the face of Rubinia, who was about to rush in.

(P/R: Rubinia was getting ready to attack or retort but got confused.)

“Wait, sheep farming? Dad’s working on a new business?”

“Second, influence. Well, why don’t we hold a ball at the same time? Which ball will have more people?”

“Just say what you were saying earlier!”

“Third, the partner you love so much.”

Rubinia’s eyes shook. She would have been close to a direct hit.

“The Prince and the Legendary Lord. I don’t think I have to say anymore. If you have eyes, you know who’s behind me.”

Rubinia could not answer. There wasn’t any need to compare. 

She just glared at her Kirie with her face distorted. Kyrie smiled gently with her fingers.

(P/R: Kyrie’s fingers went up to her mouth as she smiled.)

“So what more do you want to say to a woman who has been ignored?”

Rubinia Cassner quickly became as calm as a person who gave up everything.

‘But she’s not that kind of woman. She just gave up her pride for ambition.’

A soft winter breeze passed by, Rubinia gazed at the forest of old ash trees spreading beyond the pillars with green eyes shaking like water.

“…….I really hate you. What do you want?”

“It’s nice that you speak fast.”

She smiled gently and lowered her hand.

“How did you get in?”

“It’s a trade secret. Do you want to enter the library?”

“You don’t need to know that.”

“What business does the Young Lady of the great Count Buchanan have in the royal library?”

“Do you want to pick on it? Try it. Then I will go to Her Majesty, the Emperor. You know Her Majesty doesn’t welcome your and Eden’s engagement, Miss Cassner? In the meantime, you did something wrong. Between…..”

(P/R: Kyrie is asking if Rubinia wants to try to find fault or nitpick on her.)

In reality, there was a high probability of welcoming. The Emperor must be looking for records of the founder, the word to access the library but Rubinia didn’t know that.

Kyrie and Rubinia’s eyes met. Neither side had a retreat, but when Kyrie smiled leisurely, Rubinia avoided her eyes first.

“…..Even if I tell you, you can’t imitate it.”

“Did you borrow someone else’s hand?”

“I’ve decided to keep it a secret! There’s honor in my name, too! Tell me other demands!”

“What should I do? I don’t want anything else.”

Rubinia looked at Kyrie in bewilderment. Kyrie smiled gracefully at her.

“Roll your head, Miss Rubinia Cassner. What do I want?”

“Haa? Are you insane? Are you crazy? Why should I do that?”

“Oh my God, I suddenly want to know Her Majesty, the Emperor.”

“Ah, ah! Really! Do you really want to do that? Do you want to get in my way?!”

“That’s what I’m saying. When I was still Eden’s fiancé, did you two really have to do that in front of me?”

“In terms of causal retribution, you first ignored me first!”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Again, pretending you do not know!”

“Don’t get away with cursing and tell me right away. In fact, I wanted to ask this question the most.”

“What is it!”

“What the hell do you hate me for doing to you, Miss Cassner?”

Rubinia laughed with her cheeks shaking.

“You want me to say it with my mouth now?  Oh, really, Buchanan’s Young Lady is amazing. Your shamelessness can’t compare to a baron!”

“If I knew that now, it wouldn’t be difficult. Is your brain bad? You would be pretty smart enough to read that book.”

They realized that the story wasn’t moving forward and shut up at the same time.  

It was eighty percent of the conversation when they were talking face-to-face.

(P/R: The story that wasn’t moving forward was 80% of the conversation.)

Basically, both of them weren’t used to sharing their feelings, and they didn’t have a tendency to cling to a relationship that was already out of sync.

Whether Rubinia felt the stark confrontation, she frowned and picked up the books that fell on the floor.  

The dust-stained books were 「Roland Barrc Daejin Design Method Act 3」 and 「Ferrato Weapon Method」.

‘They’re books known to be difficult.’

Kyrie asked.

“Do you like books?”

“Ha. Is there someone who doesn’t like books?”

“Yes, of course.”

“I don’t call them human.”

“That’s heartless.”

“Aren’t you the only one with one? Kyrie Buchanan.”

Rubinia, who gave a cold blow, straightened her back. The books disappeared into her shawl.

“So what should I do?  Are you looking for something? There’s no way you’re suddenly interested in something related to the Legend, and if it is in the royal library…. Is it an old or forbidden record?”

Kyrie laughed.

“I’m starting to like you for the first time.”

“Wow.”

Kyrie shrugged deftly.

“I don’t care if you hate me, Miss Cassner. If you do me a little favor, everything will be fine.”

“If I don’t listen, are you going to tell the Legend and kill me?”

“I’ll overlook your unauthorized access to the Royal Library, so visit Buchanan in a week and let me know what you found.”

“Then are you going to kill me in the Count?”

“I do not know. I wouldn’t just kill someone I don’t like.”

“Do you mean you won’t simply kill me?”

“…… At this moment, I doubt why I have to keep this conversation going.”

Kyrie tapped the marble door twice. Then MarryAnne, who was watching from a distance, came up.

“Do you want me to make sure? I caught your weakness. You’d better follow me.”

“Just make sure you won’t tell Her Majesty, the Emperor.”

Rubinia added hesitantly.

“And that you won’t kill me.”

“Relax. There won’t be a trap for the scaffold to turn off, and there won’t be any poison in the teacup. If you cooperate properly, I’ll pretend I don’t know what I saw today.”

The two felt that they had finally reached a certain level of consensus.The languid smile of Kyrie and the blazing green-eyed Rubinia. 

No one seemed to want to lose.

“Don’t you think I’d rather threaten you with the information I found?”

“Try. Who has more stakes in deciding the outcome of the game? And right now my stakes are higher than anyone else in Treverem.”

Rubinia glared at Kyrie. However, Kyrie’s smile remained unwavering, and Rubinia eventually turned around silently.

“I’m annoyed with you, too. Hate. I hate it. You pretend to be noble, but you know you can do anything you want.”

“Thank you. But I’ll tell you in advance that if you talk down to me one more time, the game will start regardless of your will.”

“Benefits…! All right! I’ll be there in a week! But if you expect me to find something right, stop!”

“You should try.”

Rubinia Cassner kicked her tongue, as if she was tired, and walked toward the hallway.  

Just in time, people were coming from beyond the pavilion. Kyrie tried to go to her carriage, but she stopped and looked back.

“Let me ask you a question. Really, why do you hate me?”

Rubinia’s feet stopped. She didn’t look back for a while. Then, she spoke as if she seemed to vomit hatred in language.

“Do you remember the first ball in Cassner?”

“Of course.”

“And then you asked me that?”

“What?”

Rubinia moved away with a firm back, and Kyrie suddenly thought of something.

‘Baron Cassner’s Ball? Of course I remember. It’s been my first time to have such a ball in my life. It was the worst ball ever! But, fortunately, you were there…’

*****

T/N: I really need someone who could draw pretty fan arts of these characters, my eyes bleed when I see fluffly Nathaniel in the manhwa