Chapter 19: Claude’s Jealousy
Peaceful daily life is something that exists on a delicate balance.
Work and rest.
Sugar and salt.
And the proper distance between people.
Right now, that balance around me was on the verge of collapse.
“Master!
I have a question about how this book is classified!”
“Master!
Your tea has gone cold.
Shall I brew you a fresh cup?”
“Master!
Are your shoulders stiff?
Allow me to demonstrate an Imperial massage technique!”
From morning till night.
The red-haired princess, Lady Hilda, was orbiting around me like a satellite.
Ever since the incident at the hunting grounds, her level of attachment seemed to have maxed out.
Under the banner of “learning everything from Master,” she had glued herself to my side like a shadow.
It was convenient.
She carried heavy books, cleaned diligently, and never bored me as a conversational partner.
However, the problem lay elsewhere.
“…Eliana.”
A low, ground-hugging voice came from near the entrance door.
There stood Lord Claude, holding a bundle of documents.
It was his usual break time.
“Ah, Lord Claude.
Welcome.”
“…Yes.”
He tried to walk toward me.
But a red figure blocked his path.
“Is it you, Chancellor.
Master is busy right now.”
Lady Hilda planted herself firmly in his way.
“Master is currently engaged in the advanced mental discipline of designing knitting patterns.
Do not disturb her with vulgar worldly noise.”
“…I am her fiancé.
What is wrong with coming to see her?”
“Fiancé or not, it makes no difference!
Interfering with training will not be tolerated!”
Sparks practically flew as their gazes collided.
Behind Lord Claude, a blizzard-like chill began to swirl.
The infamous ‘Ice Chancellor’ mode.
No — this was worse.
This was ‘a man consumed by jealousy.’
(…This is bad.)
For several days now, I hadn’t been able to speak with Lord Claude properly, let alone be alone with him.
Whenever he came, Lady Hilda either drove him away or turned it into a three-person conversation.
This place was supposed to be his one refuge where he could breathe.
Cut off from oxygen, he might soon spiral out of control.
“…Princess Hilda.”
Lord Claude smiled — a freezing smile.
“Would you mind stepping aside for a moment?
There is something I wish to discuss with her alone.”
“Absolutely not.
If you are alone together in a closed room, you will surely do something to disturb Master’s pure and innocent spirit!”
“…Oh?
Do I need permission from a foreign princess to touch my own fiancée?”
The air grew heavy.
The temperature in the library dropped by at least five degrees.
This was unacceptable.
My peaceful workplace was turning into a diplomatic powder keg.
Just as I was about to step in, it happened.
Grab.
Lord Claude slipped past Lady Hilda and seized my wrist.
“Eh—”
“I’m borrowing her.”
With undeniable force, he pulled me to my feet and briskly headed toward the back corridor.
“Wait, you!
Where are you taking Master!”
“The restricted stacks inspection!
Unauthorized personnel are forbidden!”
Without looking back, Lord Claude shouted as he dragged me along.
He opened the heavy iron door and locked it from the inside.
Click.
The metallic sound sealed off the world.
The restricted stacks.
A lightless place where rare and forbidden books were stored.
Only the dim glow of a magic lamp illuminated the endless shelves.
The smell of dust and old paper.
And silence.
“…Lord Claude?
This inspection you mentioned—”
My words were cut off.
Bang.
A hard sensation against my back.
I had been pressed against a bookshelf.
Lord Claude’s face was right in front of mine.
Only a few centimeters away.
“…There was never any inspection.”
His eyes looked angry, yet on the verge of tears.
His composed face was twisted.
Completely unguarded.
“…I’ve reached my limit.”
“Your limit?”
“Yes.
For three days, I haven’t spoken properly with you.
I haven’t touched you.
My ‘Eliana supply’ is depleted, and I can’t even work.”
He rested his forehead against my shoulder.
He rubbed his head against me like a giant dog seeking comfort.
“That muscle-brained princess…
You’re my fiancée.
My source of peace.
Why do I need permission just to see my own fiancée…?”
His voice was filled with resentment.
It seemed he had been bottling this up badly.
A perfect chancellor in the palace, blocked here by Lady Hilda.
There was nowhere he could remove his mask.
I sighed, then laughed softly.
“…Are you a child?”
“Yes.
I don’t care if I am.
At least in front of you, let me throw a tantrum.”
He lifted his head and looked at me.
His eyes were hot and damp.
“Recharge me, Eliana.”
“…Alright, alright.”
I gave in and wrapped my arms around his back.
He flinched, then hugged me tightly in return.
Squeeze.
So tight my bones creaked.
Yet it didn’t hurt.
I could feel his warmth and heartbeat directly.
“…Mm…”
He buried his face in my neck and inhaled deeply.
It might have looked suspicious, but to him, it was oxygen.
Apparently, my scent calmed him.
I was glad I’d bathed.
“…Do you feel better now?”
When I patted his back, he shook his head.
“Not yet.
It’s three days’ worth.
I need at least three hours.”
“That goes past quitting time.”
“I’ll pay overtime.
…In kisses.”
“I don’t need it.”
I answered immediately.
He chuckled low in his throat.
At last, he seemed like himself again.
He pulled back slightly and looked at my face.
“…And you?”
“What about me?”
“Weren’t you lonely without me?”
An annoying question.
Honestly, my time with Lady Hilda had been fun.
But it was also true that, at quiet moments, I missed this warmth.
I looked away at the book spines and answered.
“…I had too many snacks left over.”
“Only that?”
“…And the seat beside me was cold.”
That was my best attempt at being sweet.
Lord Claude widened his eyes, then broke into a radiant smile.
Bright and innocent, like a flower blooming.
“…I see.
Then I’ll have to warm it up.”
He hugged me again.
This time, gently, protectively.
In the dim stacks, we stayed like that for a while.
No words were needed.
Just confirming each other’s existence.
For me as well, this might have been necessary maintenance.
To reaffirm that he had become part of my daily life.
One hour later.
We fixed our appearances and left the restricted stacks.
Lord Claude’s complexion looked remarkably better.
His “Eliana supply” was full.
He could probably endure several more days of grueling work now.
“…Alright.
Let’s go back.”
He opened the door.
And—
“Hm!
You’re out at last!”
Lady Hilda stood right in front of us, arms crossed.
Behind her, several eavesdroppers lay unconscious on the floor.
“L-Lady Hilda…?”
“Do not worry, Master!
I maintained an ironclad defense so no impure individual could approach!”
She puffed out her chest proudly.
“Improper mixed-gender conduct in a closed room is unacceptable!
But rest assured — I protected Master’s chastity!
…Though I did hear some of the voices inside.”
She grinned, glancing between Lord Claude and me.
“‘Recharge,’ huh?
A rather adorable euphemism, Chancellor.”
Lord Claude’s face instantly turned red.
Mine nearly caught fire as well.
She heard that.
“…P-please forget it.”
Lord Claude muttered.
“Hmph.
Well, since Master doesn’t look displeased, I’ll let it slide this time.”
Lady Hilda shrugged.
Then she winked at me.
“But Master, if you spoil a man too much, he’ll get carried away.
You must keep a firm rein.”
“…I’ll keep that in mind.”
I answered meekly.
Lord Claude cleared his throat and regained his chancellor’s composure.
“…A-anyway.
Sorry for the interruption.
I’ll return to my duties.”
He turned to leave, then whispered so only I could hear.
“…Tonight, the continuation.”
“Rejected.”
I answered instantly.
He looked disappointed, yet walked away lightly.
Watching his back, I exhaled softly.
“…Good grief.”
Lady Hilda nudged my side, grinning.
It was peaceful.
A little embarrassing, but not unpleasant.
Thus, our relationships deepened once more.
However, this was no time to be complacent.
Tomorrow would be the treaty signing ceremony with the Eastern Empire.
And there, a certain “manual” I had created would be dropped like a bomb.
I didn’t know it yet.
That what I had made merely for “organization” would become a turning point in both nations’ history.
Nor that a future where I would once again be hailed as a “Sage” was drawing dangerously close.