“What a strange feeling.”

Of course, this premonition was somewhat future-oriented. She didn’t feel unable to leave right this minute.

Mail was confident that, given the chance, she could pack her bags and return home tonight. The only reason she wasn’t leaving was because the conditions weren’t right.

Riela had said she’d leave the empire after seeing Ormil eliminated. The most hopeful and soonest date was the first elimination day.

With six days left. Six days is shorter than it seems. That was hardly enough time for her vague foreboding to come true, Mail thought.

“Mail.”

“Yes?”

She was a bit slow to respond, lost in thought. Raising her head, Mail saw that Riela was already standing again. She’d seen her sit on the bed as soon as she entered, hadn’t she?

Come to think of it, Riela hadn’t taken off her coat yet. Normally, she would have thrown it off right away, saying it felt stuffy.

“Wait, are you planning to go out again?”

The way she was standing, still in her coat—it looked like she had plans to go out again. Riela nodded.

“I’m going to the library. Do you want to come?”

“But didn’t you just go there?”

“I went without Rose last time, but now Rose is here.”

Mail recalled that Riela had come back from the library empty-handed. Really? She’d assumed Riela just hadn’t found a book to borrow. But that wasn’t it?

Riela declared confidently that now that she had a porter to carry her books, she’d go back to the library.

“I’m going to borrow a lot.”

“How much is a lot… Are you planning to bring back an entire bookshelf?”

“I can manage it,” Rose replied.

Joking didn’t quite work with Rose around. Mail stood up, adding a request to spare the bookshelves.

She had already decided to stay by Riela’s side as much as possible while in the Empire. There was no reason to refuse when Riela herself invited her along.

“I’ll go with you.”

Riela led the way eagerly, despite being notoriously bad with directions. Naturally, Mail walked behind, guiding her. “Princess, it’s right, not left. Princess, straight ahead, not the corner.”

“Mail, if you have any books you want to borrow, feel free. Rose will carry them for you,” Riela said brightly as they entered the library. Her criteria for borrowing books were simple—not if she could read them all, but if she could carry them all.

Mail chuckled awkwardly at Riela’s generosity. Most people would first consider if they could finish reading them in time.

Meanwhile, Rose, who had boldly offered to carry even a bookshelf, stood confidently beside Riela, encouraging her to pick out as many books as she wanted—even the library itself, if possible!

Mail, half-jokingly worried that Riela might actually attempt this, walked away from the pair. She left Riela to her romance novels, which weren’t quite her style, and headed toward the “Professional Literature” section, hoping to avoid a repeat of last time’s fiasco—’Passionate Nights with (cut short)’.

Large, clearly labeled category signs made navigating easy. ‘I should’ve done this last time,’ she thought, chagrined over her last embarrassing mistake.

“Ah!”

“…Are you alright?”

A quiet exclamation, more of a yelp, echoed through the library. Mail turned instinctively, concerned.

The woman who had cried out had been hit on the head by a book that slipped as she was trying to pull it from a high shelf. She was holding the injured spot, and as Mail asked if she was okay, the woman looked up.

With her movement, her silver hair swayed softly, almost rustling like the sound of silk. Mail blinked at the pale, delicate silver, feeling an oddly familiar memory resurface.

“Oh, it was you from last time.”

She recognized the woman. They hadn’t truly met, but they had bumped into each other once before.

It had been a small, unremarkable incident when they’d run into each other while turning a corner in the hallway. But Mail remembered it vividly, as the woman’s entirely pale appearance and striking sky-blue eyes had left an impression.

“Oh… hello. What a coincidence meeting you again.”

It seemed the memory wasn’t only with Mail. The woman responded warmly, bowing her head after briefly touching her head.

“Thank you for asking if I was alright. You were very kind then, and now as well.”

There was no need for such thanks, but Mail waved her hand dismissively and recalled that the woman had been unusually polite last time as well. She seemed like quite a unique character. Even upon seeing her again, Mail found her undeniably graceful.

To change the topic, Mail asked, “Did you come to borrow books?”

“Oh, yes. And you, my lady?”

“Of course. This place is so well-organized. It’s nice to see so many books at a glance.”

This wasn’t just flattery—the library truly was praiseworthy, with neatly arranged shelves and expertly curated books, evident from the well-marked categories. Whoever organized it had done an outstanding job.

“People who enjoy reading must really love this library. It’s a place you’d want to return to, again and again.”

But as Mail spoke, she noticed the woman’s expression darken noticeably.

It was a stark change. The woman quickly looked away, apparently surprised at her own reaction, then murmured softly while keeping her head down.

“Y-yes, it is a wonderful place, open only to the people of the palace.”

On the surface, her words sounded obvious. Since it was a library within the palace, naturally, it would be open only to palace residents. However, something in her tone gave Mail a strange feeling.

‘So, in other words, if you’re not of the palace, you can’t enter… Does that mean something significant to her?’

Mail could imagine several possibilities. Perhaps the woman, though currently in the palace, might soon be forced to leave.

If that were the case, she would no longer be a palace resident, which meant she couldn’t visit the library anymore. That would explain the change in her expression.

‘I’m jumping to conclusions.’

Mail quickly brushed off her assumptions. There was no need to assign weight to a hunch based solely on intuition. She decided it was time to excuse herself; they weren’t in a position to continue chatting.

“Perhaps the palace library is maintained so strictly because of that. Well, I hope you find a book you like. I’ll just…”

“Oh, wait.”

The woman quickly looked up and stopped Mail, hesitating briefly before her lips parted.

“Are you… a candidate for the selection process?”

“…Pardon?”

Her question was abrupt and without any clear context. Mail looked at her curiously, taking in her pale skin and delicate frame.

From what Mail remembered, this woman hadn’t been among the candidates in the banquet hall. If she had been, Mail would have noticed her immediately. Since all candidates had been gathered then, it meant this woman wasn’t a candidate.

‘Why is she asking that?’ Though curious, Mail answered simply.

“No.”

“Oh… I see.”

“But I am serving one of the candidates up close.”

The woman looked surprised. It seemed she found it quite unexpected that Mail was staying here as a companion rather than a candidate herself.

Given Mail’s appearance and status, it wasn’t unreasonable to have thought she could be a candidate herself.

“Who are you serving…?”

“I think it’s best I take my leave now. Do you have any more questions?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Um, could I… ask just one more thing?”

“Go ahead.”

Although Mail granted permission, the woman hesitated, taking her time to speak. It was a silence that some might find frustrating. She paused a moment longer, then finally spoke up.

“I know this may sound strange…”

“…?”

“Do you know, or have you heard, if His Majesty… has taken any particular interest in a candidate?”

“Pardon?”

Mail’s voice came out louder than before, a clear sign of her surprise. As the woman said, it was indeed an odd question. His Majesty, interested in a candidate?

‘A particular interest in one of the candidates?’

That was impossible. Besides, the premise itself felt off. As far as Mail knew, the Emperor already had a beloved, and he’d explicitly declared that he wouldn’t interfere in the selection process. Why would he take a special interest in a candidate?

There was no chance, and even if there was, it was news to her. Without hesitation, Mail answered.

“I’m afraid not. I haven’t heard or seen anything like that.”

“…”

“Even if you look at me like that, I’m not suddenly going to know what I don’t.”

“Oh, I… I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. Well then, I’ll really be going now.”

Mail nodded lightly in farewell and turned to leave. She was curious why the woman was so keen to know about this, but not curious enough to press for answers. She wasn’t one to dig into matters unnecessarily.

The woman’s gaze lingered on Mail’s retreating figure for a moment before looking away.

Once Mail disappeared, Iseline dropped her composed facade. Her expression, which she had tried to keep steady, visibly darkened as she turned to look at the shelves, biting her lip.

‘She said she hasn’t heard or seen anything? Then that means that candidate isn’t the type to gossip.’

Iseline felt certain—it wasn’t just speculation. The Emperor had found someone special. There was no other way to explain his recent behavior.