chapter 11
When she’d come here, enchanted by the lights, Serena hadn’t realized that the library was a separate building from the mansion’s main house.
The path was so complicated she wondered if it had been built that way on purpose.
‘If I’d tried to find my way alone, I might’ve gotten lost.’
She could even imagine herself starving to death in some corridor before ever finding the dining room. Embarrassing as it was, she was glad she’d asked for directions.
Looking around, Serena quickly caught up to Carlos’s side.
She was walking hard, but the difference in their height made his long strides difficult to match. The way he navigated so confidently suggested he’d been here quite a few times.
“Do you come here often?”
Carlos glanced sideways before replying.
“Not often, but sometimes.”
“To see Harpe?”
It had been a long time since she’d bothered to call him “brother.” Even the word oppa felt too generous for that man.
“Yeah, mostly.”
“What do you two do when you meet?”
Having worked nonstop since before she could remember, Serena couldn’t help being curious.
Where did people even make friends? How did they become close? What did they do when they met? Was it really fun to see someone so often?
Her face was full of curiosity as she looked up at him. Carlos blinked slowly, thinking hard.
After a long silence, he finally spoke in a hesitant tone.
“…Read books?”
The unexpected answer made Serena burst into giggles. For someone who always looked so cold, he had a surprisingly funny side.
“What? You teased me earlier for reading when I was bored!”
“…Did I?”
Carlos chuckled lightly, admitting that maybe books weren’t much help after all. Then, as if to make up for lying, he whispered a secret.
“Actually, sometimes I come for a different reason.”
“What kind of reason?”
He pointed to his head, his black hair shifting slightly.
“When I get headaches. But when I come here, it gets better.”
“Huh…?”
Serena tilted her head, confused. Carlos continued.
“Today’s the same. My head hurt, but it’s fine now.”
“Really? Is there a skilled doctor here or something?”
“Maybe.”
That wasn’t a yes or a no—it was just vague.
Serena stared at him with wide red eyes, and Carlos laughed softly.
“I’ll tell you later—if I can.”
“The more you talk, the less I understand. You’re not teasing me, are you?”
“I’m not.”
“Hm?”
He looked like he was teasing her. Serena stepped closer, putting on her best intimidating face, demanding he confess.
But Carlos just smiled faintly, looking down at her without moving an inch.
A staring contest didn’t work either—if anything, his eyes told her he found it amusing. Eventually, Serena gave up and stepped back with a huff.
“Fine. But you have to tell me later.”
Carlos nodded. “Alright.”
“By the way,” Serena said suddenly, “what if this document is fake? What if someone just made it up as a joke?”
The worry hit her all at once. She hadn’t lived long, but nothing in her life had ever gone smoothly.
“Let me see.”
Carlos took the document and began to inspect it carefully.
He held it up toward the chandelier’s light, checking every corner.
After a thorough look, he handed it back.
“It’s real.”
“Really?”
Serena mimicked his actions, holding the paper up toward the light.
Nothing happened. She frowned and squinted, but she couldn’t see anything unusual.
“How do you know? You’re not just saying that to make me feel better, are you? This paper decides my whole future!”
Carlos brushed aside a loose strand of her hair, pointing to a spot on the page.
“Look here—the family seal.”
“Oh, the rose-shaped mark?”
“Yeah. The Roselantis Count family seal is complex—it’s hard to forge.”
“Hard doesn’t mean impossible, right?”
“True. But if you hold it up to the light like this, you’ll see the difference.”
He raised Serena’s hand, lifting the document above their heads. She’d done this earlier but hadn’t seen anything.
“Keep looking closely at the seal,” Carlos said, still gazing at the page. “The color’s a little different.”
“Hm?”
To her, it looked exactly the same. What was he talking about?
Still skeptical, she did as he said—and then, all at once, the seal shimmered in rainbow colors.
“…Huh?”
It lasted only an instant.
She blinked, and it turned black again. She rubbed her eyes and looked harder—there it was, the rainbow glow once more.
“It’s changing colors! I’m not imagining it, am I?!”
“You saw right. The ink’s special—only the Imperial family gives it to a few noble houses. It changes color under light.”
As Carlos explained, Serena stared in fascination. The seal gleamed once more, bright and prismatic.
“Wow…”
It was beautiful. The brief glow made it seem almost magical.
“They don’t use this kind of ink unless it’s for important documents,” Carlos continued. “So no one would ever doubt its authenticity.”
Serena watched it again as it shimmered with another rainbow flash.
She couldn’t look away. So this is what it means to be enchanted by something.
With such a special seal, there was no longer any room for doubt.
“Thanks,” she said sincerely. “That really puts me at ease.”
When she turned back, their eyes met. His red eyes blinked softly in response.
“But how did you even know that? You’re really smart, Carlos.”
To be honest, he looked more like the physical type than a scholar.
Not that he looked dumb—just… strong, tall, sharp-eyed. Someone who’d excel more with a sword than a book.
Carlos thought for a moment before answering seriously.
“Maybe because… I read books when I’m bored?”
…Oh, for heaven’s sake.
The timing was perfect, and Serena couldn’t help but laugh again.
Carlos’s lips curved into a faint smile as he watched her giggle.
While they walked, she suddenly realized her steps had become easier.
Looking down, she saw that Carlos had slowed his pace to match hers. He’d noticed the difference in stride and adjusted for her without saying anything.
How can someone like this even exist?
He was the kindest, most gentle, thoughtful, funny, and intelligent person she’d ever met—handsome, too.
The only flaw was that he was friends with that demon Harpe—but even that just meant he had the capacity to accept someone like him.
When she thought about parting ways soon, she felt reluctant. She almost wanted to ask if he’d be her friend.
But before she could speak, Carlos said first,
“Well, I’ll get going. My path’s this way.”
He pointed to the right, then gestured to the opposite direction.
“The dining room’s that way. It’s not far—just keep straight and you’ll see it soon.”
Following the direction of his long finger, Serena turned her head—and froze.
Someone was walking toward them in the distance.
That couldn’t be… but the figures looked familiar.
As they drew closer, she recognized the faces.
Liana and Caroline.
Her eyes widened in shock.
