30. Finally, I Met You

Larael entered the bookstore under the thorough protection of her new guards. Not even an ant could approach her. Only Sasha and Joanna were assisting her as she browsed through books.

As far as they knew, Larael hadn’t been fond of books back in the Count’s estate. Most of her reading had been forced upon her by her governess or the Countess. The only time she voluntarily read books to avoid the Countess’s nagging was when it came to popular romance novels.

It was only after becoming the Empress Consort that they saw her take an interest in books, unlike her days at the Count’s estate. She now seemed like someone who had always loved books, spending entire days reading whenever she had the time.

The books she read were not the romance novels she once enjoyed, but rather a wide variety of topics that seemed headache-inducing just from their titles. Sasha and Joanna naturally assumed that Larael was building the refinement and culture befitting her position as Empress Consort.

Although the Abella Palace library held countless books, Larael always made a point to visit bookstores during her outings to browse newly released titles herself.

Sasha carried the books Larael had selected and placed them on the counter for payment.  

After completing her purchase, Larael stepped out of the bookstore and was about to board the waiting carriage when a familiar figure caught her eye. She turned her head, and her guess was correct. Ariella was walking toward her with a maid.

Larael stepped down from the carriage. Her heart, which had been calm, began pounding violently.

“Finally, I get to meet you, Ariella.”

She had been waiting. How many times had she visited this bookstore just to meet her? Larael unconsciously clenched the hem of her dress. Ariella was steadily walking toward her. Larael relaxed her grip on her dress and raised her head high.

She didn’t want to reveal her nervousness. Especially not to Ariella.

“Sasha, I just remembered something I forgot. Let’s go back into the bookstore.”

Larael turned around and re-entered the bookstore. Sasha and Joanna hurried after her.

The manager of Kindly Bookstore, the capital’s most renowned bookstore, had just seen the Empress Consort off and was letting out a sigh of relief. He had been leaning against the wall, joking with the staff, when Larael unexpectedly returned. He quickly straightened his posture and ran to her, bowing his head.

“Your Highness, did you forget something?”

“I suddenly remembered something I had forgotten…”

“Yes, please take your time, and let me know if you need anything.”

As Larael nodded and walked toward the shelves, the manager clutched his chest in relief. He had been worried that the Empress Consort had returned to reprimand him or one of the staff for a mistake.

While he was watching her retreating figure, the cheerful sound of the entrance bell rang, and Ariella entered the bookstore with a captivating smile.

“Good day.”

The manager greeted her respectfully. Although Ariella was a mysterious figure, he didn’t know she was the daughter of Duke Nox. However, based on her demeanor, speech, and the way her maid treated her, he assumed she was a noblewoman from a prestigious family.

Ariella stopped in front of the counter, where a pile of newly arrived books awaited sorting.

“It’s been a while, miss.”

“Yes, the reading club hasn’t been held due to the organizer’s circumstances.”

Ariella bent down slightly and began reading the titles of the books on the counter in a soft voice. At that moment, the manager rushed past her, stepping on the hem of her dress in his haste. Ariella’s expression instantly turned cold, and her eyes narrowed. Her maid’s face twisted with anger.

“What is the meaning of this…?”

“Your Highness, is there something you are looking for?”

At the word “Your Highness,” Ariella, who had been glaring coldly, turned her head with an intrigued expression to look at Larael.

The manager had hurriedly run past Ariella without even apologizing, heading straight to the Empress Consort. Watching him bow deeply in front of Larael, Ariella thought she saw the Empress Consort glance at her briefly.

Now that she knew she was in the presence of royalty, Ariella had to act appropriately. Standing stiffly without acknowledging the Empress Consort could be interpreted as an insult to the imperial family. However, Ariella knew that Larael wasn’t the type to make an issue of such things.

Ariella recalled Duke Nox’s furious words, complaining about the audacity of the low-born Empress Consort from a border noble family wanting to meet his daughter.

Ariella had soothed the Duke, saying she didn’t mind meeting the Empress Consort. But the Duke had refused to allow it.

And yet, here they were, meeting by chance. If the Duke found out, he would be furious.

‘Well, I’ve been bored lately, and Herwen isn’t reliable… Perhaps I should take matters into my own hands.’

With that thought, Ariella walked toward Larael. The manager stepped aside to make way for her, but the guards blocked her path. Larael gestured for them to step back, and they moved aside. Ariella looked at Larael, who was gazing at her with curious eyes.

‘Yes. I am Ariella Nox, the person you’ve been so eager to meet.’

Ariella smirked inwardly, imagining how Larael’s expression would change once she realized who she was.

“I have come to greet Your Highness, the Empress Consort. It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Ariella of the Nox family.”

“…”

When Larael said nothing, Ariella, who had bowed gracefully, raised her head to look at her. Thinking Larael hadn’t heard her, Ariella introduced herself again.

“I am Ariella of the Nox family.”

“Ah! The Duke of Nox’s…?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Ariella, who had been momentarily flustered, regained her composure and answered with a serene smile.

“I was quite surprised. I had asked the Duke to allow me to meet you, but I never expected to encounter you here by chance.”

“I heard about it from my father. I’m quite lacking and shy around strangers, so I unintentionally declined.”

For someone who claimed to be shy, she had approached Larael first. Larael couldn’t help but laugh inwardly.

“It’s fine. I had heard rumors that you didn’t engage in social activities, so I wasn’t expecting much. But meeting you like this must be fate.”

Larael laughed out loud. No one noticed the faint trembling of her lips.

“I’m usually shy, but Your Highness feels like someone I’ve known for a long time. If I had known, I would have told my father I wanted to meet you.”

“Is that so? I’d love to talk more with you. May I invite you to my tea party?”

Larael seized the opportunity and asked. Ariella hesitated, rolling her eyes upward.

“Hmm…”

“If not, we could meet outside the palace.”

When Ariella seemed reluctant, Larael quickly added.

“I usually don’t participate in activities outside of the reading club…”

Reading club. Larael almost frowned at the mention of it.

It was said that Herwen and Ariella’s affair had taken place during the reading club. Just hearing that made Larael’s chest tighten with revulsion toward Herwen and Ariella.

“I hope we can meet again next time.”

Larael had lost her composure. She couldn’t stay in Ariella’s presence any longer. A storm raged within her heart, one that couldn’t be calmed. She wanted to leave this place immediately.

With those words, Larael walked past Ariella.

“Your Highness, it would be an honor if you invited me to your tea party.”

Ariella spoke slowly and deliberately, her tone polite yet firm. Larael stopped in her tracks and turned to look at her.

“Yes. I’ll send the invitation to the Duke’s residence.”

Larael replied briefly and left the bookstore.

Ariella watched her leave, her half-closed eyes following her retreating figure.