Chapter 9
“You know the answer? Out with it, then!”
The flustered book shouted angrily.
I took a step forward, looked directly at the book, and answered.
“Chiara Forte, the empire’s greatest beauty. The ruby necklace she received on her 24th birthday.”
“……!”
“Correct?”
The book was speechless. Seizing the momentum, I continued.
“That necklace featured a large ruby set in the center of delicate gold filigree. The ruby had such a deep, rich red hue it was sometimes called the ‘Fragment of the Sun.'”
“…….”
“Have I been incorrect so far?”
The book stiffened for a moment, then bellowed.
“The reason! Tell me why it was the second! Otherwise, I won’t acknowledge you!”
“Actually, Chiara loved that necklace the most.”
“So? Then why was it the second?”
After pausing to catch my breath, I answered.
“But the problem was who gave it to her: Count Alexandro de Renoir. At the time, he had been enjoying a two-year secret affair with Chiara, but in high society, he was known as a devoted family man.”
“……!”
“So, she kept the ruby necklace she received on their second anniversary in a beautiful jewelry box, just looking at it, and requested it be buried with her in her grave when she died.”
Vesti’s face turned pale.
“Then, the item Chiara cherished first was… could it be……”
“Yes, that’s right.”
I shrugged my shoulders and answered.
“The ruby ring she received from Count Renoir on their first anniversary.”
“…….”
“I’m correct, right?”
“Ugh…….”
Everyone held their breath in the silence.
“Ugh, ugh, ugggh…….”
The thoroughly crumpled book chewed on its lips for a while, opened and closed its mouth, and finally screamed.
“Correct! You brat! Now state your lament! I shall provide the solution!”
“Lament? I don’t have one.”
“What?”
“Ah, I just thought of one.”
I took the broom from the librarian who was standing there with his mouth agape.
“My lament is that the ‘Endlessly Lamenting Tome’ won’t come down from the ceiling.”
“…You insolent….”
The book trembled as if infuriated, then suddenly shrieked.
“I won’t acknowledge this! I’ll never be caught!”
“Eek! The book is escaping!”
“Grab it!”
The book attached to the ceiling started moving rapidly.
The librarians quickly tried to catch it, but the book kept knocking over bookshelves in its path, making it hard to catch.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
As the tightly packed shelves began to topple like dominoes, the librarians screamed.
“Ahhh! Please stop! I haven’t been able to go home for a week!”
“Someone help! Even the cat is fine!”
“Meow!”
The library descended into chaos with toppled shelves, the cat Nero, and books piled on the floor.
Amid the commotion, I asked Haber, who was clutching his head.
“Is it okay if I step on the bookshelves a bit?”
“Wh-what are you stepping on?”
“So that’s a yes?”
I fixed my eyes on the book cackling as it flew far away.
Then, I placed one foot on a fallen bookshelf and…
Leaped high into the air.
“Kekeke, in that case, no one will be able to catch m— Huh? Aah! Let me go!”
Nice catch.
I grabbed the book mid-air, spun a few times, and landed perfectly on the floor.
The book struggled with all its might in the meantime, but when I subtly applied pressure with my arm, it surprisingly calmed down.
“Eek, the only human who ever subdued me with brute force was Titan……”
It muttered something unintelligible.
Carrying the book under my arm, I approached Haber.
“Here is the book.”
“Uh, uh… thank you.”
Then, something amazing happened.
The large mouth disappeared, and the book opened up in mid-air, facing me.
A golden light erupted from the book, filling the library.
“Waaah… What is this light!”
“I can’t open my eyes!”
While everyone closed their eyes against the intense light, I clearly read the words inscribed on the open page.
That which you pursue is but the shadow of the sun.
A futile chase, walking through darkness in pursuit of light.
‘What does this mean?’
As soon as I finished reading the sentences, the light vanished.
The book fell to the floor with a thud as if nothing had happened.
“…….”
While everyone was staring in surprise at the now docile book, Vesti was the first to speak.
“Not only answering two quizzes correctly but also subduing the book… Rosie, you’re truly amazing. Although you didn’t solve its lament as I heard you would……”
‘Ah.’
I realized.
‘So, no one else saw those sentences earlier.’
Meanwhile, Viatl, who had been hiding from the falling shelves, emerged and said.
“Ahem, ahem. I merely refrained from answering because I knew it wouldn’t reveal the solution to the lament even if I solved the quiz. In truth, I knew the answer all alo……”
“Ah, yes.”
His words were completely ignored.
Shortly after, the book was thoroughly cleaned and placed back on a shelf. According to the librarian, the book had merely lost consciousness and would likely wake up soon.
It was like a great-great-grandfather overexerting himself.
The librarian smiled at me and said.
“We’ll be in your care again in a hundred years.”
“If I’m still alive, that is.”
Then, Haber, who had been hesitating, approached me.
“You there, Rosie, was it?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you for your help. And I apologize. For saying Nero was better.”
“It’s alright. Calling me a ‘kid’ was worse, though.”
“…You’re subtly vindictive, aren’t you?”
He clicked his tongue and continued.
“Let me ask you one thing. Did you… see something from the book?”
“…….”
I thought for a moment and then shook my head.
Somehow, I felt I shouldn’t tell anyone about the sentences I saw.
“No.”
Haber leaned back, stroking his beard.
“I see. So, the legend remains just a legend after all……. Ah, yes. As a reward, I shall grant you one wish. I am the Head Librarian, after all; I should do at least this much.”
“A wish?”
“Yes. Anything, speak it.”
A wish…
After pondering deeply, I spoke.
Meanwhile, at the Eclipsia Palace.
The late afternoon sunlight streamed into the palace, now much cleaner than before.
Calix, who had been reading a book in an armchair, slowly raised his head and looked around.
“…….”
It was silent.
So silent he couldn’t even hear the sound of insects crawling on the ceiling.
Which meant the maid still hadn’t returned to the palace.
‘Did she quit?’
A feeling of ‘of course’ welled up inside him. But right after, he felt an inexplicable pang in his chest.
Why…?
She was just like all the others, a maid who worked for barely a day and then quit.
‘Was I… hoping?’
Because she stood up for me in front of those who ignored me. Because she cleaned diligently, unlike the others.
Did I get my hopes up over just that?
Thinking that maybe this maid would be different…
Even though I just resolved yesterday to find her weakness and drive her out…
‘No, I’m just disappointed.’
Because I was planning to find her weakness and drive her out, but she left on her own.
That’s why I’m disappointed.
But he couldn’t stop a lonely shadow from seeping into his expression.
As he rose slowly from his seat to return to his room…
As if by magic, the door opened, and Rosie walked into the living room.
“Ah, Your Highness. You’re here.”
“……?”
Along with an enormous pile of books.
Flustered, he instinctively stammered.
“What are all those books?”
“Lord Haber gave them to me.”
“You don’t mean… Lord Haber, the Head Librarian?”
“Yes.”
Calix’s eyes widened into circles. Lord Haber was notorious for being strict; he wouldn’t even allow the Emperor to casually take books out of the library.
And he gave away this many books?
Then, Rosie spoke again.
“I noticed while cleaning.”
“Huh?”
“Haven’t you read these books many times already?”
“…Huh?”
Rosie’s gaze fell upon the book he was holding.
A book worn from multiple readings, its cover tattered and frayed.
It was one of the books abandoned along with the Eclipsia Palace.
Of course, Calix had read even those books over and over…
“…How did you know?”
“I’m your dedicated maid now. How could I not know?”
He stared at her blankly.
In the warm afternoon sunlight, her silver hair shimmered with an orange glow.
Like a sea tinged by the sunset…
“…Thank you.”
He murmured slowly, gazing at that light.
“Truly.”
Then, she smiled.
It was a warm smile that naturally conveyed a sense of warmth
