~Chapter 12~
“Do you think I’m stupid?”
“Huh?”
Aveline was surprised by Ares’s answer, but Ares looked confident and calm.
“Did you really think I’d fall for that? Anyway, you just want to read the new novel, right?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll help you.”
Aveline quickly looked up at her brother.
“Really?”
“I was planning to go out anyway, so you can come too. I’ll drop you off at the rental shop.”
“You’re an angel.”
“I know.”
Aveline put on her old robe before they reached the rental shop.
Ares frowned at it.
“Ugh. There’s dust all over. What is that?”
“It’s a disguise.”
“What?”
“I don’t want rumors about me visiting the rental shop. And since our hair color is the same, if anyone sees me, they’ll know it’s me.”
Ares shook his head at Aveline’s serious answer.
“Just don’t get caught, ever.”
“Trust me, little brother.”
While they talked, the carriage arrived at the rental shop.
Ares told her he’d come back later to pick her up and left.
“Welcome.”
A worker inside greeted her in a tired voice.
“Um. I’m looking for a book.”
“Yes, which one?”
The worker didn’t even look at Aveline, sounding bored.
“A novel with a vampire…”
Hearing that, the worker finally looked up and gave her a sly smile.
“There’s one left at the end of the second shelf. It has a black velvet cover, so it’s easy to find.”
“I’ll read it here.”
Aveline handed over her money and the worker nodded.
Aveline found the book, picked a quiet corner, and started reading.
As she read with excitement, her eyes started to shake.
“Gasp.”
Now she understood why the worker looked at her that way. She thought it was just a new romance novel, but it was much bolder than she expected!
Aveline’s heart pounded, and she held onto her robe tightly.
She was sure her face was as pink as her hair.
It was lucky her robe could hide her face.
While Aveline was so lost in the story, a shadow suddenly covered her book.
“Oh.”
It was an important scene!
Thinking it was Ares, Aveline frowned and looked up.
“…!”
“We meet here.”
“Duke? How did you…”
Aveline was surprised to see Theron suddenly appear. She quickly closed the book and hid it behind her back.
“Did you follow me?”
Theron only shrugged.
“You couldn’t have known it was me. I wore my robe low…”
“Like I said before, I can always tell where my jewel is.”
Theron smiled kindly and glanced at the book she tried to hide.
“You were really focused on reading.”
“It’s nothing.”
“You sounded out of breath.”
“No way!”
Aveline’s voice squeaked from embarrassment.
The loud sound made everyone in the shop look at her.
Feeling even more embarrassed, Aveline shoved the book onto a shelf behind her and pushed Theron toward the door.
“L-let’s talk outside.”
Aveline dragged Theron out and into a small alley.
“Anything unusual happen lately?”
Theron asked while Aveline checked if anyone was around.
They had just seen each other yesterday!
“I saw you yesterday too.”
“But not at night.”
Ah, really!
She still couldn’t get used to how direct Theron was.
“If anything is different, even a small thing, please tell me.”
Anything different…
Aveline thought. The biggest change in her life was meeting Theron, the crazy handsome duke.
But besides that…
“…Dreams.”
She’d been having dreams where she entered books for two nights in a row.
“What did you say?”
Aveline hesitated before answering. She remembered how Theron looked at her when Ares talked about her hobby before.
‘It’s okay. He said to tell him even the small things. It’s not like I have to impress him.’
After thinking a moment, Aveline decided to say it.
“Lately, I’ve been having dreams where I go into books…”
Just then, someone else entered the alley, also wearing an old robe.
When she pulled back her hood, Aveline’s eyes widened.
‘…Servel?’
Golden hair, golden eyes, and a striking cat-like face. It was Servel, only daughter of Marquis Miria, and Aveline’s old childhood friend.
They hadn’t spoken for a long time, but Aveline recognized her right away.
Aveline glanced at Theron to see his reaction to Servel.
‘…Why is he looking at me?’
But Theron was looking only at Aveline, not Servel.
“My, being so close together in a small alley… Were you having a secret date?”
Servel couldn’t stand when people didn’t pay attention to her, so she jumped right in.
“My father said he can’t reach you these days, Duke. I guess you’re busy with something important.”
There it was—Servel’s classic, sharp way of talking.
Aveline worried Theron might get angry.
But Theron’s face didn’t change at all.
Then he calmly said,
“You caught us.”
What is he saying?!
Aveline stared at Theron in shock, but he just looked calm.
“…You really were having a secret date?”
Servel didn’t believe it and asked again, but then noise came from the end of the alley.
“Ah! Let go! Do you know who I am?”
“I caught him sneaking around near the carriage.”
Aveline’s face turned pale as she saw who it was.
The pink-haired boy fighting with a stranger was her twin brother, Ares.
‘What did he do now?’
Embarrassed, Aveline pulled her hood down lower.
“Oh, Ares?”
Servel recognized Ares right away.
“So, the rumors were true… Oh my!”
Servel looked between Ares and Theron, then her eyes lit up like she figured something out.
“So, today’s secret meeting is with…?”
It seemed Servel had heard the rumors too.
The rumor that Duke Ribes came to see the Herald’s daughter.
It looked like Theron had really kept his promise to change the rumor.
“Aah, I’ll go now!”
Servel’s face turned as red as a tomato, and she ran off before anyone could explain.
“Hey! Don’t just leave! What’s the rumor? Come back!”
Ares shouted after his old friend, but Servel was already gone.
Ares cared about his reputation, but he shouted for Servel anyway.
The twins knew Servel’s tastes well—she loved BL stories.
That’s why she showed up in a robe, just like Aveline.
After Servel left, Theron told his servant to let Ares go.
“He’s suspicious.”
The servant looked unsure, but he let Ares go.
“You were sneaking around my carriage.”
Theron smiled at Ares, as if asking for an explanation.
It was not a friendly smile.
“I was looking for my sister because she wasn’t in the shop, and I saw your carriage.”
He meant he wanted to make sure Theron hadn’t kidnapped Aveline.
One of Theron’s men looked annoyed.
“Even if he’s strange, Theron isn’t that bad.”
