“You……”

The red gaze settled on me.

I don’t know what those eyes were suggesting.

If I had known what was in his mind, I would have long escaped from worries like ‘what if he marries Anastasia.’

“……”

I waited for Duke Cromwell to finish his sentence.

There are two ways to irritate someone.

The first is to start saying something and then stop, and the second is—

“No, forget it.”

I’m not sure what the second is, but it’s probably that look.

That look suggesting he doesn’t even feel the need to continue the conversation, as if he’s lost interest.

Still, perhaps precise numbers were essential for establishing sincerity, because afterward Duke Cromwell fell silent.

‘Now I can finally breathe.’

If he had continued going on about age, I would have covered my ears and run away, Duke or not.

To think I had to deny my preferences just to escape being treated like a potential criminal.

Duke Cromwell and I finally parted ways at a corridor junction.

“Have a good day today as well!”

One should always end on a good note. I tried to smile.

‘I hope I don’t sound too excited?’

Contrary to my concern, Duke Cromwell just walked away.

“What is your daily routine?”

Once Duke Cromwell disappeared, Michael strode over to me.

His presence was somehow overwhelming, making my shoulders instinctively hunch.

‘I hope I’m not getting another status ailment?’

Thankfully, no such disaster occurred.

“Knowing your movements will help me guard you better!”

Michael said in a booming voice.

“I don’t move around much. The lady is still a newborn, and it’s cold outside……”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, I mainly stay in the lady’s bedroom. We spend mornings in the dining room with His Grace, and occasionally I take the lady to the library to read to her.”

“Wow, can she understand at such a young age?”

Michael’s eyes sparkled.

I let out a small laugh and shook my head.

“She can’t understand yet. But they say it’s good to read books to babies from an early age.”

“As expected of a professional……!”

I’ve only been raising a child for a month, though.

I held back my words.

I might get fired if rumors spread that I’m a novice.

I must defend this position even with a knife at my throat.

Michael and I had reached the bedroom door.

“Could you hold the lady for a moment? I’ll just go get the books I need to return.”

“Ah……! You’re going to the library. Of course!”

Leave it to me! Michael said cheerfully.

Even as I entrusted Anastasia to him, I couldn’t shake off my worry.

I was concerned he might hold her too tightly, like when he shook my hand.

“Upsy-daisy.”

Fortunately, he seemed to know how to handle babies, as Anastasia looked comfortable in his arms.

“You were worried?”

Michael said in an understanding tone.

“You caught me. I was a little worried. Just a little.”

“……I’m truly sorry about earlier. But I do know how to hold babies properly!”

His holding posture was reassuringly stable, justifying his confidence.

✧ʚ .·:¨༺♡༻¨:·. ɞ✧

After quickly retrieving the books, I headed to the library with Michael.

“Miss Keith…… and Sir Cipher.”

Veros was near the library entrance today as well.

Instead of sighing at the sight of me as usual, he was shocked to see Michael beside me.

“Miss Keith, Sir Cipher is banned from entry.”

……How long is this library blacklist?

I looked back and forth between Veros and Michael with eyes that demanded an explanation.

“……I fell asleep while reading once, and Mr. Veros banned me from entering after that.”

Michael answered in a rather aggrieved voice.

“Sir Cipher, please speak truthfully. Didn’t you drool in your sleep and completely ruin the book? Do you know how long the restoration took? A whole week!”

Veros glared at Michael and muttered.

“Hmm, ahem, well. ……I was too sleepy.”

“And you were snoring! The library is not a bedroom.”

Listening to this, from Veros’s perspective, Lorelai and Michael were nothing short of disasters specially created just for him.

I could feel in real time how the trust I’d slowly built was shattering into pieces because of one companion.

“Haha……! I really enjoyed the book you recommended this time, Mr. Veros.”

Fearing another entry ban, I quickly returned the book.

“The lady seems to prefer adventure stories too. Could you recommend another book about adventure or exploration—”

I judged this would work since Veros was a sucker for books regardless of genre.

“Adventure and exploration are synonyms. But why are you two together?”

However, for Veros, the ‘Lorelai and Michael’ bomb was a more serious problem.

It’s so like him to correct grammar errors in the midst of all this.

“Sir Cipher has been assigned as the lady’s guard.”

Instead of insisting blindly, I emphasized his necessity.

“That’s right.”

Michael chimed in.

“……”

Veros was on the verge of fainting at the thought of having to watch two troublemakers simultaneously.

‘I’ve been behaving well……’

It seems my trustworthiness is still lacking.

I hastily added:

“We’ll choose quickly and leave quickly, before Sir Cipher has a chance to fall asleep. If any problems arise, you can ban me from entry again!”

“……Fine. Go ahead.”

Only after I staked my own access privileges did Veros finally open the way.

Trust builds up only to collapse again repeatedly.

‘Well, how much has Veros endured.’

No one is sensitive from the beginning.

He must have suffered enough to take a defensive stance just at the sight of certain faces.

To someone who loves books, those who misuse them are natural enemies.

“……I’m sorry for causing trouble.”

Michael said, seemingly bothered by the delay caused by him.

“It’s okay. I was also banned for a while, so I understand.”

“How did you get the ban lifted?”

“His Grace gave permission. Without that, I’d still be getting scolded today. Before getting permission, I really did get reprimanded……”

“He’s incredibly strict…… I think he’s even scarier than Sir Luke.”

Michael explained that ‘Sir Luke’ was his senior.

“It’s because he loves books so much. How difficult must it be to manage this vast library alone.”

His dedication is remarkable.

The library was always neat whenever I visited.

‘I should minimize my visits until I get the ancient book.’

That would be the happiest path for both sides.

Michael and I arrived at the children’s book section.

“Sullivan’s Magic Box! I read this when I was young.”

Perhaps the section consisted of familiar fairy tales for the people here, as Michael scanned the shelves with delight.

“I didn’t know there were children’s books. If such interesting books were displayed at the front, more people would borrow them.”

“Can the mansion staff use the library too?”

I asked.

Typically, a nobleman’s library gives a strong impression of a private study.

But from what Michael was saying, this place seemed to maintain the form of a true ‘library.’

‘Though there are no users.’

I hadn’t seen anyone else visiting during my time here.

“Of course! It’s a space open to everyone. Mr. Veros used to teach reading too. I already knew how to write, so…… Duke Cromwell paid a lot of attention to the library.”

The welfare is better than I expected.

For this time period, it’s quite something to have a workplace that encourages self-improvement.

“He provided a lot of support, saying people need to read and write to make a living. But…… well, at some point it closed.”

“Ah…… that’s unfortunate.”

“I heard it was because of some maid.”

“……”

That would be me.

—Miss Keith, please recognize that the reason the library is restricted to everyone is because of you.

More precisely, Lorelai Keith.

“It was closed when I returned from battle. I had been banned long before that, so I don’t know much. It was about…… a year ago, I think.”

“……Sir Cipher, could you hold this book for me?”

Fearing he might realize I was the maid from the rumors, I changed the subject.

“Of course! Oh, and you can just call me Michael. Everyone calls me Michael, so that’s more comfortable.”

“Then I’ll ask you, Michael.”

Before, with Anastasia in my arms, I could borrow at most two books, but with Michael here, things were different.

“After choosing all the books I wanted to read…… Should I put some back if they’re too heavy?”

“I could carry a hundred more!”

“……That would be dangerous. You wouldn’t be able to see in front of you.”

I said, looking at the twenty books stacked like a tower.

It seems I’ll have a porter rather than a guard for a while.

✧ʚ .·:¨༺♡༻¨:·. ɞ✧

Michael was diligent in his duties.

He followed me into the bedroom, making the room feel smaller with one more person.

‘I’ll have to get used to this too.’

However, there was a big difference between resolving to ‘get used to it’ and actually becoming accustomed.

“……”

Normally, I would have spent the remaining time reading the borrowed books aloud, but reading in front of someone else was embarrassing.

‘I also have some unpleasant memories……’

Like Duke Cromwell witnessing my reading session yesterday.

Awkwardly facing each other in silence also seemed strange.

‘As the senior, I should lead the conversation.’

Michael didn’t seem to mind the lack of conversation, but I couldn’t bear this silence.

So I decided to ask something I’d been curious about.

“Michael, do you know why Duke Cromwell brought Lady Anastasia here?”