Chapter 6 The Little Prince, Michael

Rose’s icy expression changed in an instant, and she grabbed my hand to hold it.

“Thank you so much for coming! You don’t know how lonely it has been to protect the guide by myself after Miss Jenia got married then quit. Miss Erika is the book leader? A treasure has arrived at the Royal Library. Ho Ho.”

“Yes? Oh, why thank you.”

What… That movement was so big I thought I was going to get hit.

I calmed my startled heart and answered in a bewildered way.

William, who watched the scene quietly, coughed to draw everyone’s attention.

“I have an urgent matter to discuss. Shall we all head to my office ?”

~*~

“The reason we have gathered like this is none other than to discuss the whereabouts of <Introduction to Lion’s Magic>.”

As soon as William sat down, he brought up the subject.

When the title of the magic book that Grand Duke Carlix was persistently searching for came out, both Mrs. Marian and Rose became visibly perplexed.

“Is this about the magic book that Michael has been looking for? After receiving the director’s instructions, I immediately checked the relevant records.”

“However, the borrower information… turned out to be missing. As the person in charge, I have nothing to say, Director.”

At that, I asked in amazement.

“You have no clue where the book may be?”

“I’m really sorry. The staff who took out the magic book hid the exchange history, so we were too late. The loan was made a month ago, and the staff said he could not remember the person who went through the process.”

“It must be an excuse. He was placed in custody for interrogation.”

“Then… After all, the book…”

No way…

I frowned at the ominous foreboding.

” It’ll be fine. Do not worry.”

But he said that he would catch those people, and William looked at me with eyes full of trust.

“Now that the book leader is here, we can find the spellbook. Mrs. Marian, will you please give Miss Erika what you have prepared?”

Mrs. Marian soon handed me a thick book.

“This is a map of the Kingdom of Ruberia. The location of each noble estate and mansion is marked. The users of the Royal Library are nobles, so the book must be in the aristocratic families.”

She then grabbed my hand with a worried and regretful expression.

“Erika, I was assigned an important task as soon as I went to work. I’m really sorry that we passed on the work we didn’t do properly to the new librarian. Please take care of it yourself.”

Then, a small knock was heard. Everyone’s eyes turned to the door.

“Come in.”

William spoke softly and the door opened slightly. Blonde hair fluttered through the cracks of the door.

“Are you here, Miss Erika?”

I looked in surprise at the clear, young voice calling for me.

It was a cute little boy with curly blonde hair, big emerald eyes, and rosy cheeks.

At the age of about 10, the boy in a white frock coat with gold embroidery was like a noble young master who grew up beautifully.

“Oh, Michael, you’re here?”

Rose pretended to be acquainted at first, but she couldn’t hide her troubles. Michael smiled at her and spoke softly.

“Hello, Rose. How are you?”

“Michael, it’s been a while. Come on.”

William welcomed him warmly as he greeted him politely.

“Director, how have you been?”

Mrs. Marian looked at him with sparkles in her eyes because he was so adorable.

“My brother told me to get the book. I heard she was a book leader.”

Rose stepped forward with an excited look on her face.

“Oh? Grand Duke Reinhardt is out there? You can wait in the library.”

This cute little rabbit-like boy is Carlix’s younger brother?

Then I remembered the explanation that he had a younger brother in the novel.

I couldn’t keep quiet any longer so I introduced myself awkwardly.

“I am Erika Diel… The book leader.”

“Really? It’s my first time seeing a book leader . How strange.”

Michael’s eyes twinkled brightly, like a child expecting a present.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing my older sister find the spell book. May I go with you?”

Her jade-colored eyes which gleamed brightly stared at me intently.

My heart instantly melted when his bright and lovely smile.

I’m so glad I’m alive. I’m so glad I was possessed…!

My mission as the librarian was burning from the cute boy’s request.

“Michael, are you here ?”

At that moment, the door to the director’s office opened abruptly.

Carlix Reinhardt stepped in, bathed in the backlight pouring through the wide open door.

Over his broad shoulders, the sunlight spread behind him like wings. It was a gorgeous sight that was truly befitting a male protagonist.

My eyes met with Carlix’s, who was approaching us in strides. His cool eyes softened like snow melting in the spring sun. In an instant, my heart was racing.

Why? Why are you showing me such kind eyes?

Carlix stopped in front of Michael and spoke in a voice soft as silk.

“Let’s go. With the librarian Erika, you should be able to find the spellbook quickly.”

“Brother, you are here. Anyways, I was just saying hello to Miss Erika.”

Carlix gently stroked his brother’s hair, looking at him with an affectionate gaze.

Isn’t this a character breakdown?

“Hey, you’re still brave today.”

Rose let out a sorrowful sigh and looked at Carlix with her ecstatic eyes.

“I am happy to be a librarian. When Michael comes to the library, the Grand Duke also comes. To be able to see the most handsome man in the kingdom up close, it’s good to keep being a librarian for the rest of my life.”

Rose spoke and Carlix glanced at me for a moment, then urged me to take a breather.

“Miss Erika, are you ready? Shall we go? .”

“Ah, yes…”

Oh, I wanted to leave work as soon as I got here.

I promised to find a magic book, but I couldn’t believe I ended up accompanying the male lead. I feel like I’m on a business trip with my psycho boss.

Director William gave a worried look like he could read my expression. He took a step forward as if protecting me.

“Duke, I am worried that only new librarians will be sent. May I accompany you instead?”

“Director William, did you not mention that you’re going to the State Council today?”

When Carlix gave a cold laugh, William looked at him with a serious look.

“Erika is a valuable talent in our library. Please prioritize her safety.”

It was like a tense confrontation between a sharp sword and a hard shield.

Rose and I secretly exchanged looks and watched them with great interest.

Rose was happy, cupping her cheeks with both hands.

“Oh, I can’t believe I’m witnessing such a great scene. The director and the prince have been close since they were young. Now, they’re rivals in love who fight over a woman! Sigh, my heart is pounding.”

“Rose, you’re misunderstanding. I’m just like a compass for finding books.”

Pretending not to hear my stern answer, Rose glowed seriously.

“Erika, which way are you headed?””

“What? What do you mean?”

“Who will you choose between the two?”

“So the question was wrong in the first place. I’m not interested in either of them.”

Rose suddenly pushed me toward the two.

“Anyway, their fight broke out because of Miss Erika, so you have to make up for it. Go on.”

“Why me? Why would you stop me from watching the most interesting fight in the world?”

While scuffling with Rose, Michael caught my eye.

I felt sorry for the child who didn’t know what to do between the two immature adults.

I sighed inwardly and stepped in front of the two men engaged in a useless war of nerves.

I put my hands on my waist and spoke.

“I know you’re worried, but it’s my job, so I shall take responsibility for it.”

“Will it be alright?”

I smiled confidently because I wanted to reassure William.

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure to pick up the unpaid books.”

I was once called the “Unpaid Book Penitentiary”.

In a small library, unpaid books were a serious problem. Every single book was precious because it was a valuable asset purchased with citizens’ taxes. So I visited the house of a long-term unpaid person and got the books back. There were about a hundred books that came back like that.

Since then, my library colleagues have given me that honorable nickname.

“Then it’s decided.”

Suddenly, a big hand wrapped around my shoulder and pulled it firmly . Carlix raised one corner of his mouth and held up my hand.

You said you didn’t want others to touch you, but now you’re touching other people’s hands.

” Please let go of my hand, Grand Duke. I’m not fond of touching others either.”

When I spoke in a cool tone, Carlix flinched. He looks more surprised than me.

He immediately let go of the hand that gently wrapped around my shoulder. When his warmth disappeared, I felt strangely empty.

“You’re wasting time. Let’s get going.”

Then he turned around coldly and left the door.

What’s wrong with him?

I was dumbfounded and stared at his back.

Michael followed in a hurry and turned around and said, ‘thank you’ with a small voice, so my heart melted right away.

I left the Royal Library after seeing off William, Mrs. Marian, and Rose who was envious.

In the front, there was a colorful carriage waiting, and Carlix was waiting with a disapproving face while on a dignified white horse.

Was it my mistake to see an illusion of a gloomy black energy behind his back?

I turned around and entered the carriage, suppressing my instinct to run away to the library.

Michael greeted me with a smile.

” Older sister, welcome. Come and sit inside.”

The mystery of genes was that such a sweet and lovely boy and that selfish cold-blooded duke were brothers.

” Sister, where should we go?””

When I held the bookfinder and said the title of the book, the needle began to spin.

Then, it soon stopped in a direction that seemed to be attracted by a powerful force.

A ray of light from the needle stretched forward.

“Move on toward the southwest, please.”

“Start southwest.”

The horseman urged the horse.

The wagon began to move quickly as the path of light continued endlessly through the window.

I’ve always wanted a compass.

In reality, the compass was gravel and muddy.

Funny enough, it wasn’t until I was possessed that I had a compass.

Please, in the, I hope I can find a way out of this book.

I prayed.

~*~

“Hey, look at the scenery. Isn’t it cool?

“Oh, it’s a green field. It totally looks like a Windows X desktop.”

“What? What’s that?””

“Nothing. I made a slip of tongue.”

“The cows are eating the grass! It’s amazing!”

“It’ll be delicious when you grill beef…”

“What did you say?””

“Grilled grass is delicious, too.””

“Wow, kids are swimming in the river. How fun!”

“…”

Michael was tiring to have as a travel partner.

The boy was constantly amazed by idyllic landscapes such as green fields, wheat fields, and children with sheeps.

At first, I responded enthusiastically, then I managed to squeeze out a soulless reaction, and now I’m silent.

I looked out the window blankly, and the dignified figure of Carlix on a white horse came into view.

He was escorting the wagon while riding the horse side by side at the same speed.

I admired his perfect sculptural beauty. As expected, he’s the perfect main character. Except for his personality.

Carlix’s gaze was directed forward, but he looked at his younger brother in the wagon from time to time. And each time he smiled as if he were seeing the most precious being in the world.

In the original novel, there was a cliche description saying, ‘many women collapsed due to the fever of love at Carlix’s smile’.

That’s understandable. I too became excited when the cold man smiled.

As I slightly moved my face over the wagon window to look, I made eye contact with him.