Chapter 88

Still, one thing needed to be clarified.

“I’m not stepping in directly… From now on, the Knight Order will handle everything.”

She wanted to avoid dangerous matters from now on.

Of course, even if the investigation of the heretical cult was entrusted to the Knight Order, it was still just an investigation. Ultimately, she was responsible for counseling the clients.

At this point, it seemed appropriate to clarify that the counseling office was not a problem-solving bureau, but Eched merely nodded as if he understood.

“His Highness said this, that you’re not the kind of person who can be stopped just because someone tells you to stop.”

Well, that was true…

“So, I’ve decided to do as you say.”

That was appreciated, but still…

“Were you talking behind my back just now?”

“Does this count as talking behind your back?”

At her incredulous response, Eched gave her a puzzled look.

“Regardless of the content, if you talk about me when I’m not present, it’s gossip.”

“Then don’t you talk about me behind my back often?”

His words assumed she would naturally talk about him a lot, which made her bristle.

“I don’t talk about you that much!”

Well, compared to the past, at least.

At that, a slight crack appeared in Eched’s expression. His gaze, now filled with dissatisfaction, was fixed on her.

“Why not?”

“What…?”

Was he asking me to gossip about him now?

“Whether it’s gossip or not, just talk about me.”

Was there really someone who actively asked to be gossiped about?

What a peculiar taste.

Feeling an inexplicable unease, she turned her back on Eched and was about to leave the office.

Knock, knock.

The sound of knocking came.

Usually, the door would just swing open…

“Come in.”

Only after Eched gave permission did the door open.

“Commander… Oh… Good day, Chief of the Counseling Office.”

Lutz entered the office, holding some documents.

“Hello.”

She greeted him brightly and slowly began to walk away.

“Commander, the assailants did open their mouths, but there wasn’t any significant information.”

“Is that so?”

“They said even within the heretical cult, there are hardliners and moderates. The ones who caused this incident were radicals among the hardliners. It’s presumed they died during the fight.”

Thud. The sound of Lutz placing the documents in front of Eched was heard.

Afterward, the sound of papers being turned and Eched’s brief hum of acknowledgment followed.

“But Shaterian, when exactly are you planning to leave?”

She, who had been lingering near the door, stopped at Eched’s question.

When she turned her head slightly, Eched and Lutz were both looking at her.

She had been planning to leave, but the mention of the assailants had kept her from doing so…

“R-right now, I’m leaving…”

She gave an awkward laugh and grabbed the doorknob.

“By the way, Commander, weren’t you supposed to meet the Saintess at the library today?”

Once again, she froze in place.

This was clearly not her fault.

It was entirely Lutz’s fault for continuously saying things that made her stay.

“You’re going to the library today? With the Saintess? Just the two of you?”

She closed the door, which had been half-opened, and spoke to Eched.

But she didn’t ask to hear his answer, as she quickly continued.

“That’s great. I needed to go to the library too. Let’s go together.”

This wasn’t part of her schedule at all, but the lie came out effortlessly.

Eched hesitated for a moment before responding.

“I don’t want to go with you…”

“What?!”

She shouted in frustration at the unexpected rejection.

She stomped over to Eched’s desk and slammed her palm down on it.

Thanks to the thick stack of documents on the desk, it didn’t hurt as much.

“Take me with you!”

“Why are you being so stubborn?”

“That’s…”

“That’s?”

“…”

Unable to answer, she bit her lip and pursed her lips inward.

As her words failed her, she began to notice her surroundings.

Lutz, standing nearby, was looking at her with wide, surprised eyes.

In her moment of jealousy, she had failed to pay attention to her surroundings.

‘This is all your fault…!’

She blamed Eched for going to the library with Anella, just the two of them.

Of course, she knew it was an irrational jealousy, but still…

‘Hmph. Do you think I can’t go to the library just because you won’t take me?’

If he wouldn’t take her, she’d just follow them secretly.

The imperial palace had five libraries in total, and as long as it wasn’t the one requiring the Emperor’s permission, she could enter freely.

Unfortunately, the one they were meeting in was precisely that restricted library.

At the library entrance, the soldier informed her that she couldn’t enter without the Emperor’s special permission. When she tried to pull the “Do you know who I am?!” card, she was promptly turned away.

***

But she wasn’t one to give up so easily.

All she needed to do was get the Emperor’s permission.

‘I am a determined citizen of the Kentri Empire!’

However, the Emperor’s office already had a visitor. And a rather noisy one at that.

“Puhahaha! Puhaha… cough.”

Orgon was laughing so hard he seemed to choke on his own spit.

“Sigh…”

The Emperor let out a deep sigh.

The situation was as follows: Apparently, the soldier who had turned her away had already reported the incident to the Emperor.

Orgon, having heard the news, had rushed over and was now laughing his head off, while the Emperor was contemplating how to deal with her *buse of authority.

“It was just a joke…”

“Shaterian Melis.”

Oops. 

Being addressed by her full name meant the Emperor was quite upset.

“Yes.”

She quickly erased her smug demeanor and answered obediently.

Even Orgon, quick to read the room, quieted down.

As silence filled the room, she couldn’t help but grow more nervous under the Emperor’s gaze.

“Your Majesty, since it ended as an attempt and nothing actually happened, perhaps we could let it slide…”

“Crown Prince, leave us.”

Orgon, who had been trying to defend her, was promptly dismissed by the Emperor.

Once Orgon left, the office was filled with a heavy atmosphere.

With another deep sigh, the Emperor began to speak.

“Terry, I understand your curiosity. But I’d like you to stop taking an interest in dangerous matters.”

The Emperor clearly believed she had tried to sneak into the library out of mere curiosity about what they were discussing.

‘Well, that’s partly true…’

But the real reason was her concern about Eched and Anella being alone together.

If she were to confess her true feelings, the Emperor would likely welcome it with open arms.

In that case, he’d grant her permission a hundred, even a thousand times over.

But admitting such feelings was too mortifying.

There was no way she could say, “I was jealous.”

But there was no other option…

“Your Majesty, the Commander and the Saintess are meeting at the library.”

The Emperor stared at her, as if asking why she was stating the obvious.

“That library requires your permission to enter, doesn’t it? And you only granted access to those two today.”

“So?”

“So… they’ll be alone in the library.”

“…”

The Emperor widened his eyes as if to confirm whether she meant what he thought she did.

She nodded, affirming his thoughts.

“…Permission granted!”

The imperial seal was stamped on the entry pass. She received it with a deep bow.

“Thank you!”

She hurried back to the library where she had been turned away earlier.

This time, the situation was different. She confidently presented the Emperor’s entry pass to the soldier and entered the library.

The restricted library, accessible only with the Emperor’s permission, was a cultural treasure containing the Empire’s history, including forbidden books.

To prevent damage to the materials and ensure the security of the forbidden books, access was strictly controlled.

The library was enormous, designed to house its vast collection of materials.

Standing at the entrance, she marveled at its grandeur.

The Kentri Public Academy’s library, which she had considered large, was only about a third of this library’s size.

A library this grand and beautiful being off-limits felt like a waste.

It was her first time entering this library, and she was so captivated by its splendor that she momentarily forgot her purpose.

Having graduated from the academy and spent her life immersed in the motto “studying is my world,” she had grown tired of it and had rebelled by indulging in third-rate novels.

She frequented old bookstores in the city rather than libraries.

It was in one such bookstore that she first encountered the works of Rune, an author who felt like destiny.

In any case, she began searching the vast library for Eched and Anella.

At first, she had been in awe of its size, but now its enormity was starting to irritate her.

She was crossing a cloud bridge to the bookshelves on the opposite side of the second floor when she finally spotted them.

They were sitting in a glass-ceilinged area, talking intently while looking at something, bathed in sunlight.

The scene was like a painting.

The sunlight streaming down created a dreamy atmosphere, and their beauty seemed almost unreal.