Lenore suddenly opened her eyes, startled by the feeling that she had slept too long. Blink, blink. Fortunately, seeing that it was still bright, the sun hadn’t set yet.
I didn’t sleep for too long.
As she tried to get up with relief, she discovered a blanket covering her body. It was something she didn’t remember putting on herself.
But there was nothing strange about it. The maid would often check on the lady who shut herself in the library, and each time, she thoughtfully covered her with a blanket.
Of course, since it happened while she was sleeping, she had never witnessed it directly. However, during the past three months, the only person she had encountered in the library was the maid, so it was unlikely to be anyone else.
Just then, she sensed movement in the library.
“Thank you. I accidentally fell asleep…”
As she turned her head to express her gratitude, Lenore stopped mid-sentence, startled. The source of the movement wasn’t the maid quietly cleaning so as not to wake the lady, but Daniel, who was sitting on the opposite sofa reading a book.
“Why…?”
A short question escaped her lips as her eyes met directly with his blue ones.
“Are you asking why I’m here?”
Daniel asked, holding the book in his hand. Though he guessed it correctly, Lenore couldn’t admit it outright. She denied it first. There couldn’t be a more foolish question than asking why he was in his own house, his own library.
“No, that’s not what I meant… Why didn’t you wake me up?”
“You seemed to be sleeping so peacefully.”
Lenore’s face flushed hot. She felt utterly embarrassed thinking about how she might have looked while sleeping peacefully.
Surely I wasn’t snoring or grinding my teeth?
Though no one had ever told her that she snored while sleeping, it was still something she couldn’t be certain about. After all, she couldn’t check for herself. Plus, there were still cookie crumbs on her chest.
Goodness, how sloppy must I have looked?
“Would you have preferred that I wake you?”
Daniel asked, closing the book and placing it on his knee.
“Next time I find my wife taking a nap, I’ll make sure to wake her.”
“Why do you think I’ll fall asleep again? I’m not usually like this. Today… today I just accidentally dozed off because I was too tired.”
Lenore clutched the blanket tightly as she made her excuses. Unable to meet his eyes, knowing full well it was a blatant lie that pricked her conscience.
A suffocating silence fell between them. It felt just like during their meal a few hours ago.
Why is he suddenly visiting the library he never came to before? It’s making things uncomfortable.
Lenore glanced at Daniel. Fortunately, he wasn’t looking at her fidgeting but at the book on his knee. It was the white book she had been reading before falling asleep.
“This book shows signs of being frequently read.”
Lenore felt caught off guard. She didn’t expect to be discovered this way.
“It’s an interesting book. I kept reading because I couldn’t find a good place to stop.”
If he had shown any sign of criticism or mockery, she would have put up walls, but Daniel showed an unexpected reaction.
“H-how far have you read?”
Lenore’s lips twitched. This was the problem with being a fan. You can’t stay still when someone shows interest in something you really like.
Moreover, he said it was interesting, interesting enough that he couldn’t put it down. Her sisters always told her to stop getting lost in fantasies and find a real boyfriend instead!
“I just got to the part where Count Tivonne’s true identity is revealed. Now the really important developments will begin, so after a short break…”
“I know that feeling of preparing yourself for what’s about to unfold! I felt the same way!”
Lenore couldn’t help but exclaim.
“I guarantee you won’t be able to take your eyes off until the last page. Count Tivonne uses magic to– oh, I’m sorry. I almost spoiled it.”
Lenore hurriedly covered her mouth with both hands. Daniel seemed quite surprised by her sudden excitement, as she usually didn’t raise her voice.
Lenore rubbed her chest with her palm to calm herself.
“So, which character left the strongest impression on you?”
What she really wanted to ask was which character he liked best — his favorite — but she rephrased it slightly.
Unless someone really loved books and got deeply immersed, they wouldn’t try to pick favorites. They didn’t even have the concept of thinking about ‘favorites.’ For them, even the most entertaining books were simply ‘entertaining’ and that was the extent of their appreciation.
But Daniel had filled this library with so many books. Though there weren’t many novels, it made her think he didn’t like them, but maybe, just maybe, he was like her?
“There were several impressive characters. The protagonist and their relationships were notable too. But if I had to choose one…”
Lenore waited for his words with a pounding heart. She nervously swallowed dry saliva.
“The most impressive was Count Tivonne.”
“I knew it!”
Lenore was so happy that what was meant to be an inner thought burst out loud. She apologized for raising her voice.
“I’m sorry. I just really love Count Tivonne.”
As expected, Count Tivonne was an impressive character even from a man’s perspective. Ah, I shouldn’t do this. I must control myself. His eyes have gotten as wide as a rabbit’s from surprise.
Lenore told herself to calm down internally. But her excited fan heart, thrilled at finding a kindred spirit, couldn’t be contained.
“Isn’t it wonderful how he acts so smooth and casual while actually loving only one woman? Even though he loves her too much, he keeps his distance because advancing their relationship would put her in danger, yet he can’t give up and keeps hovering around her. He doesn’t care how much he gets hurt, but when it comes to the woman he loves, he becomes so protective– oh. I just realized this is from later in the story too.”
Lenore took a deep breath after her outburst.
“Anyway, Count Tivonne is straightforward even when he does bad things. He doesn’t stoop to harming children or women!”
Lenore had no doubt Daniel would agree with her words.
However, Daniel frowned one eyebrow, searched for words to respond, then shook his head.
“I don’t think Count Tivonne is a character worthy of admiration. Despite all his excuses, he’s ultimately a villain, and the number of people he’s harmed is not small.”
Lenore felt her excitement, which hadn’t subsided even with deep breaths, instantly vanish.
Who said she liked real villains!
The Count Tivonne that Lenore liked was purely a fictional character, existing only in books. What’s good about imagination? It’s that no matter what villains like Count Tivonne do, no one actually gets hurt.
But to be criticized for her taste while bringing up real victims.
Lenore firmly shut the door to her heart and distanced herself from Daniel. Do you know what type of person is hardest to get along with as a book lover?
Someone who hates books? No. It’s men like Daniel Sillingdeer who read the same books but criticize others for being wrong just because their thoughts differ slightly from their own.
What manners? Daniel Sillingdeer was just as rigid as his father and a rude person who couldn’t respect others’ preferences.
“I see. I was mistaken.”
Not about liking Count Tivonne, but about thinking I could possibly become friends with you.
Lenore stood up, completely put off.
“I’ll take my leave now. I forgot I had something to do. Enjoy reading the rest.”
As if I care whether you enjoy it or not!
Lenore left the library while internally spitting in disgust.
* * *
Having classified Daniel as someone not worth associating with, Lenore completely stopped visiting the library where she used to shut herself in daily. It was because she might run into Daniel again there.
‘Though Count Tivonne may be a villain, he’s far more gentle and better than someone like you who acts all proper while being rude!’
She often imagined going back to that moment and retorting to Daniel, frustrated that she hadn’t properly defended her favorite character. She couldn’t trust herself not to burst with anger if she saw that man’s face in person.
Instead of going to the library, Lenore, who had nothing else to do, tried various activities. She played the violin briefly, did some embroidery, and when her body felt stiff, she did exercises and stretching.
“My lady, are you not going to the library today either?”
The maid asked curiously, as Lenore, who used to go there like it was her workplace, was looking bored but showing no intention of going to the library.
“No. I’m not in the mood to read.”
Lenore answered primly, then suddenly remembered the book she left in the library. While most books in the library were Daniel’s and therefore fine to leave behind, the white book she’d left in her excitement was hers.
“Could you go see if the Count is in the library?”
At Lenore’s request, the maid immediately went to check the library.
“Is the Count there?”
“No, my lady. There’s no one in the library.”
Since he wasn’t there, it was a perfect opportunity. Lenore quickly made her way to the library. And soon regretted it. Instead of asking the maid if Daniel was in the library, she should have asked where he was so she could avoid him.
Unfortunately, Lenore ran right into Daniel in the hallway.
Ugh! The last person I wanted to see!
