Chapter 10

In the midst of cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of the promise written there.

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With just a few more sleeps until "Of course, I will claim compensation!" on the first day of the second month! щ(゜▽゜щ)

I decided to give the head chef a hand cream as a gift.

I borrowed a book on how to make it, but I gave up.

It might be possible, but the ones made by professionals are definitely better.

I asked my brother to take me to the pharmacy.

There were so many types of hand creams, and it made me quite excited.

There were many scents, and I was allowed to check them out, ranging from strong, perfume-like scents to unscented ones.

For the head chef, I chose the unscented one.

Upon further thought, hand cream might also be a good gift for Sir Shijal.

Paper absorbs the oil from hands.

Therefore, the bookworms' fingers, especially the joints, tend to crack.

Thus, hand cream would be very useful.

I sniffed various scents and found one that seemed to match Sir Shijal's image.

I decided on a refreshing green citrus scent, faint enough that it could only be detected up close.

While scent preferences vary, I don't think it's bad.

After that, I also bought a hand cream with a light scent of violet flowers for myself.

I really liked the subtle scent.

The next day after buying the gifts, when I handed the wrapped hand cream to the head chef, she cried.

I attached a message card saying, "Thank you for always providing delicious lunches," but it was quite smudged with tears.

"I'll treasure it."

"No, please use it."

I had no choice but to write that. When my brother and I left the cafeteria in good spirits, Prince Fal was standing there.

"Ah! Yuwen. And Miss Alteina."

Prince Fal approached us with a smile.

"Prince Fal, is there something you need?"

"Nothing in particular, I just finished my duties for today and thought I'd read a book. Miss Alteina, would you like to join me?"

Prince Fal said this with his beautiful, sparkling blue eyes.

His eyes were as moist and large as those of a puppy.

His cuteness was beyond what any ordinary young lady could handle.

Ah, I don't like it... I don't like dogs.

Because they are creatures that crave attention and can't get enough of it.

Once you throw them a ball, they think you'll keep throwing it forever.

I want to read, but I can't stand the creatures that demand attention with their entire being.

I'm not afraid of them, and I think they are cute, but I just don't like them.

"Is it not possible?"

How many people can say "No, don't come" to a prince?

I forced a smile as I thought about this.

Prince Fal kept talking to me all the way to the library.

He really is like a puppy.

I entered the library with a forced smile.

Prince Fal followed me.

But if I wanted to read, I had to part ways here.

No one can read a book while being talked to.

There's no way to talk when you're reading.

While I was thinking this, Prince Fal asked if I had any recommendations, so I gave him a popular mystery novel.

I thought if he got completely absorbed, he wouldn't talk to me, but I was naive.

While I was reading a romance novel, Prince Fal kept asking me things like, "Who do you think the culprit is?" and "Don't you think the main character's personality is too bad?"

Is he a clingy person? Is this person a clingy person? He's the type I find most difficult to deal with! This barrage of questions to a lady who can't speak is unbearable!

Prince Fal's presence was eroding my mental state.

"Librarian! Welcome back! How was the budget meeting?"

"Well, a bit more than usual... You know, the library's usage has been increasing recently."

"Ah!"

The librarians at the counter were having a lively conversation.

I noticed Sir Shijal, whom I hadn't seen all morning.

Seeing Sir Shijal, I felt relieved.

He has a certain reassuring presence.

"Hey? Miss Alteina? Are you listening?"

Prince Fal, who was beside me, leaned in to look at my face.

I was startled and wanted him to stop.

I took out a notebook and wrote, "I have something to do, please allow me to leave my seat," and handed it to Prince Fal.

Prince Fal smiled.

When I stood up, for some reason, Prince Fal followed me.

He really is like a puppy.

I ignored him and headed towards Sir Shijal.

Sir Shijal immediately noticed my approach.

"Prince Fal and Miss Alteina."

I offered the wrapped hand cream I was carrying to Sir Shijal.

Sir Shijal tilted his head, took it, and checked the contents, then smiled softly.

"You didn't have to go to so much trouble for yourself as well."

I shook my head and wrote, "I always receive your help," and handed the note to him.

Sir Shijal looked at the note, grabbed my hand with the note, and leaned in close.

He smiled and said to my surprised self,

"You smell nice. Is it the hand cream?"

I nodded hurriedly.

"What scent is it? A flower scent... Mr. Enjuri, do you know?"

"Sir Shijal, I don't think it's appropriate to touch women randomly."

"Ah, sorry."

Ms. Enjuri, the female librarian, turned to me and said,

"May I see your hand?"

I held out my hand, and Ms. Enjuri smiled.

"What is it? But the scent really suits you, Miss Alteina!"

"Really! Me too! Me too!"

The librarian next to Ms. Enjuri, whom I had seen before, raised his hand but was stopped by Ms. Enjuri and Sir Shijal.

I couldn't help but smile at their interaction.

At that moment, Prince Fal tugged at my skirt.

I had forgotten about him.

"Are you done with your business?"

I forced a smile and nodded.

"Then, let's continue reading!"

Prince Fal tried to grab my hand innocently.

"Prince Fal! I'm so moved that you're interested in books."

"Huh?"

"I've given a lot of advice to your tutors about books and materials that might interest you, but I'm glad you're interested!"

Sir Shijal grabbed Prince Fal's hand with a smile.

"What kind of books interest you?"

While Prince Fal, who was flustered, stuttered, I wrote the title of the mystery novel I recommended and handed it to Sir Shijal.

"A mystery novel! That's wonderful! This series has twenty-five volumes so far and is still being serialized. Don't worry, I'll gather all the volumes and hand them over to your tutor by tomorrow."

"Wait, Shijal!"

"Prince Fal tends to lose focus quickly, so it might be better to read it in your room."

"No, well..."

"Also, Miss Alteina has already read the book and knows who the culprit is..."

Sir Shijal seemed to be steadily cornering Prince Fal with a smile.

"Moreover, Miss Alteina, who gets absorbed in books, doesn't like being talked to while reading... I'm worried she might be disliked."

"......Ah! I have something to do! See you later!"

Prince Fal said this and ran off.

"You didn't have to be in such a hurry."

Sir Shijal laughed and watched Prince Fal leave.

I didn't know that later, while I was reading my book, Sir Shijal would go to Prince Fal's tutor with the twenty-five-volume set, as my brother would tell me when he came home.

On September 15, 2018, Bees Log Bunko will release "Of course, I will claim compensation!"

Thank you!‼