Chapter 11: Even After Getting Engaged, I Am Not Leaving the Library

Peace is not something you seize.
It is something you defend to the death.

Three days had passed since the engagement announcement.

The royal capital still seemed to be buzzing with the topic.

That the man known as the “Ice Chancellor,” Claude-sama, had chosen a former jilted fiancée.

Such rumors rode the wind and reached even this tower on the northern edge of the palace grounds.

I quietly peeked outside through a gap in the window.

On the small path that normally saw only birds and gardeners, colorful dresses and knightly uniforms were visible today.

“…There are more of them.”

Yesterday there were three gawkers.
Today, there were ten.

They stood at a distance, staring at the tower and whispering among themselves.

I felt like a panda in a zoo.

Not that I had any intention of putting on a show like one.

I snapped the curtain shut.

“Sorry, Mina.
Let’s cancel today’s lunch shopping.
We’ll survive on the emergency hardtack.”

I apologized in my heart to my landlady in the lower town.

If I went outside, I would be surrounded.

I would be bombarded with questions.

And my vague answers to things like “How did you and His Highness the Prince meet?” would be twisted and printed in tomorrow’s papers.

I could easily picture that future.

I sat at my desk and took up my pen.

Then, in neat handwriting, I wrote out a notice.

“This library is now completely reservation-only due to document reorganization.
At present, no reservations are being accepted.
Those with business here are requested to turn around at the door and go home.”

I posted it on the entrance door.

Perfect.

I nodded in satisfaction and set water to boil.

The siege had begun.

Two in the afternoon.

The heavily locked door was knocked on three times, evenly spaced.

The rhythm served as a password.

I unlocked the door.

Slipping inside was not the usual Mr. Bear, but my fiancé, Claude-sama.

Today as well, he wore his slightly disheveled knight’s attire.

“…There was quite a crowd out there.”

He smiled wryly as he handed me a paper bag of supplies.

The scent of freshly baked croissants wafted out.

“Thank you very much.
I appreciate you breaking through the barricade to deliver supplies.”

“I was worried you might starve.
…I saw the notice.
‘Turn around and go home’ feels a bit harsh, doesn’t it?”

“It’s kindness.
Letting them know early that waiting is pointless is better for everyone.”

I poured tea from the pot.

Steam rose.

This scent alone was enough to calm my heart.

Claude-sama sank deeply into his usual sofa and let out a breath.

Even after getting engaged, the way we spent time together had not changed.

He came here to rest between official duties.

I enjoyed tea between management tasks, which mostly meant reading.

The only difference from before was that he now sat beside me and naturally took my hand.

“…Eliana.
Actually, I wanted to discuss something.”

He spoke while idly playing with my fingers.

I had a bad feeling.

That tone was the one he used when bringing troublesome matters.

“I refuse.”

“I haven’t said anything yet.”

“It’s going to be something like ‘attend a ball’ or ‘host a tea party,’ isn’t it?
Have you forgotten the contract?
My working hours end at five.
I do not do overtime.”

I said it firmly.

If I gave in here, my duties would increase little by little.

A lesson I learned at a black company in my previous life.

“One unpaid overtime leads to a hundred more.”

Claude-sama lowered his brows, looking troubled.

“No, it isn’t official business.
…My brother wants to meet you.”

“Your brother… the king?”

“Yes.
He wants to see with his own eyes what kind of woman has become my fiancée.
…Since last night, he has been throwing a tantrum in his office, and I can’t get any work done.”

King Louis Lutetia.

By reputation, a bold, martial man who doted excessively on his younger brother.

“…So this would be an audience?”

“Nothing so stiff.
Just an informal tea gathering.
The three of us chatting a little.”

Chatting a little.

I could not be fooled by those words.

He was the king of a nation.

How much political intent and appraisal would be packed into that “little” conversation.

I could already see the future where stress ate a hole in my stomach.

And above all, the preparation was a hassle.

Putting on a dress, styling my hair, applying makeup, traveling to the main palace.

Just the round trip and preparation would take three hours.

“I refuse.”

I answered while taking a bite of my croissant.

“W-What?
It’s a summons from the king.”

“Clause three of the contract.
‘Exemption from participation in royal rituals.’
I interpret that as including private family gatherings as well.”

“That was about official events.
My brother is family.”

“That is precisely why a sense of distance is important.
…And besides, I am very sad right now.”

“Sad?”

Claude-sama blinked in surprise.

I pointed to the thick book on my desk.

“Yesterday, I finished reading this ‘Chronicles of the Western Continent, Complete Twenty Volumes.’
…The story I traveled through for a month has ended.
Do you understand this sense of loss?”

“…What?”

“There is a hole in my heart.
I need time to grieve the parting from the characters and savor the aftertaste.
…In other words, I am in mourning.”

“In mourning…”

Claude-sama was at a loss for words.

I could tell he was exasperated.

But I was serious.

After finishing a wonderful story, a rehabilitation period is necessary before returning to reality.

Facing the reportedly muscular king during such a delicate time would throw my emotions into chaos.

“So please give His Majesty my regards.
Tell him, ‘I am unable to sort out my feelings right now, so perhaps another time.’”

I smiled sweetly.

Claude-sama looked up at the ceiling for a while, then let out a deep sigh.

“…That is so like you.
Ordinarily, this would be grounds for execution for disrespect.”

“You will protect me, won’t you.
My peace.”

“Yes.
I swore to.
…All right.
I will handle my brother.”

He gently brushed my hair and smiled in resignation.

Seeing that smile, I felt a tiny bit of guilt.

…Just a tiny bit.

However, it seemed the king was not one to give up easily.

The next morning.

A sealed letter arrived.

The sender was the Chief Royal Chamberlain.

Inside was a formal invitation embossed with gold leaf.

“To my dear future sister-in-law, Lady Eliana.
Tomorrow afternoon, a tea gathering will be held at the White Villa.
The finest sweets will be prepared.
If you do not come, I will come to fetch you.”

That last line was practically a threat.

Did “come to fetch you” mean being carried off by guards.

Or did it mean the king himself would storm this library.

Either way, my peace would be disturbed.

I placed the invitation on the desk and crossed my arms.

Should I go.

No.
If I went now, they would think, “She comes if we push.”

I had to demonstrate my firm refusal, or my married life would gradually be consumed by official duties.

I picked up my pen.

On the reply card, I wrote carefully, but without mercy.

“To His Majesty the King.
I am deeply honored by your gracious invitation.
However, the sense of loss from yesterday has yet to heal, and I am spending my days soaking my pillow with tears.
To present myself before Your Majesty with swollen eyelids would be most disrespectful.
Therefore, I regret to inform you that I must decline.
Postscript: If the sweets could be mailed, I will gratefully enjoy them together with my tears.”

Perfect.

I would maintain the ‘mourning due to reading loss’ setting consistently.

Consistency builds trust.

I handed the letter to the attendant who came to the library.

After reading it, the attendant’s face turned pale, but I ignored it.

“…Lady Eliana.
Are you truly certain.
This is a letter to His Majesty—”

“It is the truth.
Would it not be more disrespectful to appear under false pretenses?”

“I-I see…”

The attendant accepted the letter with trembling hands and fled.

I closed the door and locked it.

The click of the lock was soothing.

At least tomorrow would be quiet.

Surely His Majesty never imagined being refused for such a ridiculous reason.

If he got angry, so be it.

In that case, I would simply have Claude-sama kneel and beg to protect me.

I took a new book from the shelf, “Observations of the Eastern Empire,” and sprawled out on the sofa.

“Now then, shall we depart for the next world.”

I turned the page.

The scent of paper.

Lines of print.

This was the peace I had been seeking.

…I had no idea that upon reading my letter, the king would burst into laughter, exclaiming, “Magnificent!
I have never seen a lady with such guts!” and become even more intrigued.

Nor did I know that my premonition of “if I don’t go, he’ll come” would hit in the worst possible way.

The king himself was coming.
To this narrow library.