Chapter 31
It’s never a problem if you suddenly get better at something you were bad at.
It’s the same with learning something new.
But what if you were once known to be good at something—yet one day, without any reason, your skill suddenly dropped straight down?
Now that would be a problem.
Before my return, Leonie and I were almost evenly matched in most areas. But there were a few things where I was slightly better.
One of them was foreign languages.
The Cruyden Empire was divided into three regions: Central, North, and West Cruyden. The North was called “Noiden,” and the West “Werden.” Though they were under the name “Cruyden,” in reality, Noiden and Werden were more like vassal states, with their own languages and political systems.
Around this time in my past life, I was fluent in both Noidenese and Werdenese.
When I was sixteen, the Emperor’s 40th birthday celebration was held on a grand scale. Before the banquet, there was a performance concert for foreign guests.
The one who directed this concert was none other than my youngest sister, Eloise—and she was only twelve years old then! No one questioned the decision, which shows just how extraordinary Eloise was.
The problem was that the crown prince of Noiden was attending the event. He was the long-awaited son of the king and queen, who had no children for many years. They cherished him dearly.
The crown prince was only six years old. A two-hour-long concert would be unbearable for a child that young. The Imperial family panicked over what to do.
Their solution?
To have me accompany him as his “playmate.”
There were several reasons: I was Eloise’s older sister, I was close to his age, and since my mother was the First Princess, I could be considered part of the Imperial family. But most importantly—I could speak Noidenese fluently.
So, I sat beside the little crown prince during the entire performance and explained everything to him in his language.
He was shy—maybe more so because he wore a veil covering his face. I later learned that in Noiden tradition, royal children didn’t show their faces to outsiders until their eighth birthday.
Despite being young, the crown prince was sharp and had a keen ear for music.
“That one looks the same as before, but the sound is different.”
“Wow, you can tell the difference? Amazing. The one before was a clarinet, but this one is an oboe. Do you see how this instrument is held a little higher?”
“Ah… I think so.”
“Also, they look slightly different. The clarinet’s opening is shaped like a bird’s beak, while the oboe’s is thinner, like a bird’s tail.”
“Hmm… I don’t really see it from here.”
“Then let’s go backstage later. I’ll show you up close.”
The king and queen were delighted. At the after-party, they even praised me publicly.
“My son usually can’t sit still during concerts—he only likes sword shows. But this time, he stayed the whole time.”
“Yes, and he normally doesn’t speak easily to strangers. Lady Bartoli’s Noidenese is truly impressive. I was listening too. Now, son, go say hello.”
The crown prince hid shyly behind the queen, only poking his head out to greet me. His veil fluttered, and I caught a glimpse of his big round eyes. He was so cute.
Unfortunately, I never saw him again. The next year, both the king and queen died in a mysterious accident.
The seven-year-old prince disappeared… and was later found dead.
The throne passed to his cousin, the youngest king in Noiden’s history—rumored to be behind the deaths of the late royal couple.
At the time, even the Empire debated whether they should send congratulations or not.
Anyway, what matters here is: back then, I was fluent in foreign languages.
But language fades if you don’t use it. After failing to become Empress, I had no reason to use foreign tongues. By the time I died, I had almost forgotten them all.
So right now—Sophia ta Bartoli, age 21—should technically be fluent in Noidenese and Werdenese… but in reality, I can barely babble a few words!
And soon, there will be the Empress’s birthday celebration, where I’ll meet many foreign guests and officials.
What if I suddenly need to speak in their language? Disaster!
So I must regain my foreign language skills quickly.
But I couldn’t hire a tutor—Leonie would definitely find out, and that was unacceptable.
So, my plan was… to cram by myself using books.
Which meant I had to stop by a special place.
“I want to go to Kennith.”
Not the god himself, of course. Kennith was the god of wisdom and knowledge, often called the guardian of scholars.
But in the capital, Kennith was also the name of the largest bookstore in the Empire.
Owen nodded.
“If it’s Kennith, there won’t be a book they don’t have. What kind of books are you looking for?”
I couldn’t hide it forever, so I answered honestly.
“Books in Noidenese and Werdenese. They’re hard to find in the capital.”
“But aren’t you already fluent? You even guided the Noiden crown prince at the concert.”
I shrugged.
“Sure, but if you don’t keep practicing, you forget.”
He listened intently, as if it were the most serious matter.
“You’re diligent. I’ll remember that.”
I was so focused on sounding natural that I didn’t even notice what he implied—that he himself had been at that concert.
Inside Kennith Bookstore
“Master Noidenese from Beginner to Advanced!”
“The Culture and History of Werden!”
“100 Practical Phrases in Werdenese!”
Arne carefully read the titles of the books I picked out, standing in the middle of the huge store.
I clapped happily.
“Arne, you can read such hard words already! You’re so smart!”
“This is nothing.”
He really must have received high-level education wherever he lived before. Most children his age couldn’t read like this.
“What book do you want to read, Arne?”
“Hmm… I want to read a history book. About the Cruyden Empire.”
Unexpected—but I didn’t comment, only added it to the pile I was stacking on Owen’s arm.
“Then, Mom, I’ll go look around by myself.”
And just like that—whoosh—he disappeared between the shelves. I saw the end of his little cloak fluttering behind him.
“Ah… Arne?”
“Don’t worry about me!”
He ran toward the children’s books and foreign picture book section.
For a moment I wondered if it was okay to leave him alone. But then again… maybe he needed his own time too. I couldn’t overprotect him. He wasn’t a baby, and he was quite mature.
I kept his location in sight while browsing.
The Kennith Bookstore
The store was enormous, like a temple of books. At the entrance stood a statue of the god Kennith, engraved with:
[Worship to those who pursue truth.]
Inside, the ceiling rose three stories high, lined with walls of bookshelves filled with tens of thousands of volumes. Ladders rolled back and forth as clerks fetched books for customers. The air was full of the smell of paper and the sound of turning pages.
My chest swelled with excitement. Surely even the god Kennith loved this place.
Owen, cloaked like me to hide his identity, quietly stepped to my side.
“I didn’t know you liked books so much.”
“Of course I do. Well… sometimes I had to read books I didn’t like, but still.”
(That was thanks to Empress training.)
He nodded.
“The ducal estate has a fine library as well. My ancestors collected works since before the Empire’s unification. The scale is impressive.”
“Really?!”
“If you’d like, we can visit once we return. I had even thought of setting a tea table inside.”
Tea… in a library? My heart almost burst.
“Would the table be white?”
“Yes. Round and white.”
“And a carpet on the floor?”
“Of course. A warm, dark-colored one.”
I couldn’t help laughing.
