Chapter 8
Not long after Cedric and I returned from Mount Burden, Father called me to his office. It was about a day after I had entrusted the butler with delivering the medicinal herb we had obtained to Father.
“You preserved it excellently and brought it back. Well done.”
Father smiled and praised me.
When I first heard the command—or rather, request—to take Cedric to Mount Burden and gather medicinal herbs, I was honestly bewildered, but hearing praise still made me feel proud.
‘Thanks to that, the atmosphere between Cedy and me has improved a lot too…’
That’s when Father asked in a subtle voice:
“So, did you have many conversations with Cedy?”
For a moment I thought Father was using mind reading or something. When I startled in surprise, Father smiled with a confident face.
“Things that have built up should be resolved through conversation.”
…I see. No wonder he made such an unreasonable request.
It seemed like Father had noticed a rift forming between Cedric and me, and in his own way tried to make us reconcile.
Well, since things worked out well in the end, I suppose I should say I received help.
I smiled awkwardly and nodded my head.
“Yes. You were right, Father.”
At that, Father also gently relaxed his eyebrows.
“I’m glad.”
“Yes.”
“Ahem. Anyway, thanks to you and Cedy, I was able to obtain the underground space usage rights I’d long desired from Count Runier. Thank you. I needed the rights because I want to create an inn equipped with special herbal baths.”
“I see. I hope it goes well.”
“Yes. Ah, by the way, have you decided on a dance partner?”
“Hmm. I’m still thinking about that.”
“Really? That’s unexpected.”
“What is?”
“I thought you would immediately ask Riette.”
At those words, I could only smile wryly.
I couldn’t say anything since telling him “This world is the same as the novel’s content and I’m the sub male lead so I gave up on love” would make him seriously think I was crazy.
“You’ll handle it well on your own. You may go now.”
Father seemed to notice that I was reluctant to discuss dance partners. By telling me to leave, he created an excuse for me to escape from this situation.
I didn’t decline and quickly left the office.
“…Sigh.”
What should I really do?
While I did have conversations with various people I first met at Count Melanica’s young lady’s birthday banquet and got acquainted with them… I still haven’t chosen who I should ask.
If he’s going to tell me this and that, I’d rather he directly introduce me to a decent partner, but Cedric hasn’t opened his mouth once regarding that matter.
‘Miss Viola is…’
〈I’ll wait.〉
…is what she told me.
“……”
My heart feels heavy somehow.
With various worries and concerns, I went up to my room and flopped onto the bed. Then I suddenly remembered something I had forgotten.
‘Ah. Come to think of it.’
I bolted up and opened my desk drawer.
As expected.
There was a book I had borrowed just before my birthday and completely forgotten to return.
‘I should stop by the library too.’
The Imperial Eastern Library in Orden territory, a small crown land sandwiched between Lowell territory and Soliwen territory.
Since it was close to Lowell territory and I quite enjoyed reading books, I would occasionally go to borrow books, but after finding my past life memories following my birthday, I was so busy that the return of this book was greatly delayed.
‘…I should finish reading what I started before that.’
It was a romance novel written by a famous anonymous author, and I remember borrowing it because the bold and open development was interesting.
There were rumors that this author’s identity was a noble, but I wonder what the truth is.
I opened the book and sat down after a long time.
Since I originally liked this type of fantasy novel, I enjoyed my reading time, losing track of time as I read.
* * *
The next day, at the Eastern Library in Orden territory.
I immediately went to find the archive manager and apologized.
“I’m sorry for being late.”
“It’s fine. Please be more careful next time.”
He recorded the returned book by hand and smiled kindly. Fortunately, since it was a general circulating book that allowed external borrowing rather than an important text, it seemed he wouldn’t impose any penalties.
“Phew.”
Having lightened my burden, I looked around the library with slight relief.
Since it was a place only accessible to nobles, there were few people in the library and it was correspondingly quiet.
‘Huh?’
Then I suddenly spotted a familiar figure standing by one of the bookshelves. Soon I saw his face as he turned to the side and was certain.
It was definitely Cedric.
As if he too felt someone’s gaze, he looked this way, discovered me, and quietly widened his eyes in surprise.
“Eddie.”
Who would have thought I’d meet him in a place like this.
“Why are you here?”
I approached close to his side and asked, keeping my voice as low as possible. Cedric’s gaze stuck to me as I approached and didn’t leave for a moment.
“I’m looking for a book. What about you?”
“Ah… I came to return a book I forgot to bring back.”
Suddenly Cedric let out a small laugh, “Pfft.” I elbowed the guy who was laughing at me in the side.
“Don’t laugh.”
“Why are you so scatterbrained?”
“It’s only this once.”
“It is an unusual mistake for you though.”
His reaction of naturally knowing that I rarely break time-bound promises and immediately understanding made me feel embarrassed.
I remembered Cedric expressing his hurt feelings, saying he knew everything about what I liked and disliked, and what I was good and bad at.
Feeling unnecessarily flustered, I decided to subtly change the subject.
Since the awkward atmosphere had lifted, there was something I’d been meaning to ask this guy when I met him.
“So, is there a young lady you could introduce to me as a dance partner?”
I was still concerned about that matter.
But there was no answer from Cedric.
It’s not like he didn’t hear me. Is he ignoring me?
“If not, I’ll go with Miss Viola…”
Before my words could even continue.
As if he had never pretended not to hear, Cedric looked at me with sharp eyes. So I quietly closed the mouth I had opened.
Anyway, I can’t seem to speak.
“Hold these books for me.”
Cedric shoved the books he was holding onto me.
Reflexively, two or three heavy books piled up on my outstretched hands. Having suddenly become the book carrier, I sneakily checked the titles engraved on the spines.
『Covenant of the Crescent Moon』, 『Where Do Human Desires Go』, 『Temples Built Upon Lost Names』… At a glance, they seemed to be academic texts related to ancient temples.
“Did you always read books frequently?”
“What do you think?”
“…You didn’t seem very close with books.”
“Correct.”
Cedric, who had pulled out one more thick book from the shelf, chuckled and moved on. With my vision blocked by the books, I waddled after Cedric.
We entered the reading room prepared inside the library. It was a place equipped with desks and chairs where you could sit comfortably and read books.
As I put the heavy books on the desk and tried to pull up a chair to sit down while catching my breath, Cedric asked:
“Will you stay with me a little longer?”
“Why? Should I go?”
“No, don’t go.”
He firmly shook his head as soon as I asked.
While I wasn’t quite used to being alone with him like this, I tried to act like it wasn’t awkward while flipping through books.
“But why are you suddenly trying to read these books?”
“I just got a little interested.”
Glancing over, what Cedric had last taken out and brought also seemed to be an ancient text related to old temples.
‘Is he interested in this kind of thing?’
Since I wasn’t particularly interested in this field, at first I just skimmed lightly with my eyes and turned pages… but before I knew it, I had become focused and my page-turning speed slowed down.
The academic text I was currently reading listed ancient temples that had been investigated and described the gods proven to exist and their characteristics.
That’s when it happened.
Cedric’s hand, having quietly approached, touched the back of my hand. Tap tap… after tapping the back of my hand, he later touched it teasingly, then tried to flip it so my palm faced up. I relaxed my hand to let him do as he pleased.
Since I was going along with his playfulness, now Cedric, who had been tracing the lines of my palm with his fingertips, gradually interlaced his fingers with mine.
The feeling of a palm with higher body temperature than mine pressing closely against mine eventually broke my concentration. I deliberately squeezed our interlaced hands firmly and shook them slightly.
“What are you doing?”
“Why are your hands so pretty?”
I asked what he was doing, but why is he complimenting my hands?
I was so absurd that I let out a snort of laughter.
“Excuse me. If you came to read books, why don’t you read them?”
“Now that I’m actually trying to read, it’s boring. But having someone to stay with me seems to make it better. I’m glad you’re here beside me.”
“You’re like that. Like a student who piles up books claiming to study and then falls asleep buried under them.”
“Why is your analogy so detailed? You’ve done it, haven’t you?”
“……”
I tried to tease him but got hit by a counterwind.
I subtly changed the subject.
“Honestly, Riette was the best at studying.”
“Yeah.”
“You were above average at pretty much everything.”
“Eddie, you’re good at singing and playing instruments too.”
“Mm, well.”
“And I’m not good at everything. You’re overestimating me too much.”
Cedric rested his head on one arm and lay down comfortably. Looking up at me from the lowered position, his eyes looked bluer than usual with the sunlight from the window shining in them.
“Is there anything you can’t do?”
Those eyes rolled to the side.
“…I can’t sing.”
“Liar.”
With such a good voice?
“It’s true. Please don’t make me feel more miserable.”
Cedric furrowed his brow deeply with a very displeased expression. He didn’t seem to be lying.
So this guy has something he can’t do too.
“You’re right. Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you sing. Try singing once. Then I’ll believe you.”
At that, Cedric’s expression became even more sour. His reaction was somehow amusing, so as I giggled and laughed, I realized that the awkwardness inside me had disappeared without a trace.
And I felt anew:
‘Friend.’
We were gradually… developing into a relationship where that word felt plausible. The barriers in my heart toward him were becoming even thinner.
Perhaps that’s why.
My mood also became inexplicably soft and warm.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
