Chapter 011 - Perks

Right after General Calais leaves the house, I make my way towards the library. And for the remaining hours of the day, and on the succeeding days, I browse through all the books available. After a week, I remembered all the contents and knowledge inside.

As expected, General Calais did not visit again. But why would I even expect that? He's not in love with me. Besides, not even my parents and siblings bother to ask how am I doing. It's only Aiko I see as she delivers my meals into the library or my room. Although, she didn't stay at the library. She says she needs to feed my pets, and that I've been ignoring them for such a long time. I let her handle those. Besides, reading about these books comes first. I need to have at least basic defensive magic. Thankfully, it comes easy for Lyrica. It's like muscle memory. Every time I try one spell, it works perfectly, as if Lyrica's body already memorized it to the point that she can do it even while sleeping.

I stretch after finishing up with the last book. It's still ten PM and I know that Lyrica's father sleeps at midnight. So I get up and leave the library. Aiko is outside, sleeping beside the door.

"Miss?" she asks, waking up from the noise.

"I will go to Father's study. You can sleep now. See you tomorrow morning."

Aiko nods and walks away. Once she's out of sight, I make my way towards Father. His study is on the second-floor annex, beside his bedroom. In that way, he can have more done without walking back and forth around the enormous mansion.

Facing his room, I gather all the courage that I need. I haven't seen him since that lunch the first time I woke up here. Since it's already night, the hallway has that eerie glow that comes from the small lamps. The moon even gives off a mystic vibe to the hall. It's sifting through the hallway windows, giving it a mystic quality.

I knock on the door, and since it's very quiet, the sound reverberates and seems to echo all around. I just wish that no one is waken up by the sound.

"Come in," Duke Lartius Dunnett says behind the door.

I push it open and find myself in a room with furniture made of ornate patterns. There is a couch at the center and shelves of books all around the room. The room only has two windows, and between these two windows is the Duke's desk and chair.

"I heard you've been cooping up in the library for the entire week," he greets.

His eyes are still on the documents he's perusing. He's wearing glasses which makes him look his age. Without the glasses, he looks like an attractive man in his late thirties.

Since he's not looking at me, I don't bow at him. Instead, I say, "Good evening, Father."

"What do you want this time?" he asks.

"Can I borrow the books in your room?" I ask. These are the remaining books in the mansion that I haven't read.

"No. They are in my study for a reason."

"Then can I ask your permission to leave the house every day to visit the town's library?"

Finally, Duke Lartius shifts his attention to me. "You never asked me permission before."

"I think of changing that," I respond. Besides, even if it will be in the future, I want him to love his daughter, too.

Duke Lartius purses his lips. "Is this change because of General Calais?"

"No. Not that," I say.

"Or do you want more allowance? I've told you, your allowance will be given to you at the end of the month. Is your money depleted already?"

Oh! I have money? To whom does he give it? I smile. "I also hope that you'll give my allowance early," I say, improvising.

Duke Lartius sighs and pulls open his drawer. "I am about to hand this to Aiko, but here you go," he says, placing a bag of coins on the table and gesturing for me to take it. "Just a warning though, your next allowance will be given to you by the end of next month, so don't go spending it on useless things."

I nod. "And about the regular library visits? I need a carriage in the morning before it opens and at night before it closes."

"I will tell Emman to prepare every day. Is there anything else?"

"Can you give Aiko other tasks while I am preoccupied with the library visits?"

"I will ask Lisa for that," he says, referring to the head servant.

"Thank you, father!" I say, taking the bag of coins from his table.

Duke Lartius knits his brows. "Instead of Calais, is this the result of the church visit instead?"

I give him a big smile. He might be referring to the fact that Lyrica becomes sweet to him and her siblings after she first heard of her fate. However, her family is unfamiliar with it, and that only made Lyrica feel unloved, which resulted in the prophecy becoming true.

"No, Father. In case General Calais doesn't fall in love with me, at least I am prepared to compete at the Queen's selection," I answer.

"I still don't think that your personality will fit with the General."

"It doesn't matter," I say. Duke Lartius likes General Calais, even more so than he likes his own daughter.

"You should really stop forcing yourself on people."

"Thanks for the advice, Father. Can I leave now?" I ask, sensing that this conversation won't end well if we continue.

Duke Lartius waves his hand towards me and I make a small bow and leaves.

Silently, I close the door and look out the window. There is a full moon. I sigh. This area is an annex of the main house. It's smaller and safer for him, against me. Duke Lartius Dunnett doesn't trust Lyrica.

I close my eyes and calm myself. I didn't know that being unloved by my family is hard, even if they are not my real family. Still, this is my life for the meantime and I will be the recipient of that dislike. Let's just hope that this will be easier for me than it is for the real Lyrica.

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"Miss, we are here."

In Emman's voice, I get off from the carriage. The library is on the edge of town. Few citizens come here and mostly, only nobles visit. I enter and look around. There are more people than I have expected. Mostly women. I look at the old man and woman behind the information desk.

"Miss Lyrica Dunnett, good morning," the female librarian greets. She's a young woman wearing eyeglass and has her hair tied in a ponytail. "Is there a section you'd like to visit?"

I look at the name tag on her chest. Ludmila. A member of the nobility. Daughter of Knight Kayes. At least, Lyrica remembers names and who they are.

"None really," I say. "I just want to browse through everything."

Ludmila takes a paper with the list of the library category selections and places it in front of me. "Here you go. Once you finish browsing our selection, you can just list down the serial numbers of the book and we will send it to your house. Just like before."

I nod and take the piece of paper. I look at the entire library. It's huge! Outside, it looks like a plain old building, with columns in front, larger than normal windows, and an immense door. It also has four floors. But inside… The sheer size of it unnerves me!

From Lyrica's memory, I know that she has already read most of the magic books here. She was a voracious reader before she discovered magic and before her prophecy was read. After that, her downfall started. From slaves, drugs, monsters, pranks, sex—everything that's considered an aberration to her world.

The library hall is circular, with doors that open up to different sections. There are only three stairs, one in front and one each on my left and right. There is also a gigantic chandelier at the ceiling which illuminates the paintings on it. It is something to feast my eyes on.

Everything looks like it's made of wood here. Wooden floor, wooden chairs, and table, except the shelves–it has the same color as wood but it feels different to the touch. Probably something that will give better protection to the books?

I climb the stairs and push open one door. As per the list, this is the section for books about magic—at least the magic books that are not restricted.

Inside, I exclaim. Bibliophiles will love this place! Winding stairs towards the second-floor balcony. Shelves all around a room that is bigger than Dunnett's library. Wooden tables and chairs with a beautiful lamp on each. There are even a couple of couches!

At the furthest edge of the room, there is a door that opens to an open space balcony. There are reclining chairs and tables. And then a huge space for practicing magic.

Memories of Lyrica enjoying her stay in the library resurface. This is her favorite place, away from her family and closer to strangers who don't give a damn about her. At least, when strangers look at her with hatred and fear, it does not hurt as much compared to when her family is doing it.

I sit down on the reclining chair and close my eyes. Breathing in the smell of trees and sunlight. It feels like I am back in my world, probably vacationing in the countryside. Suddenly, a memory of a young boy appears. Shining red hair, a beautiful smile, and a fair complexion. He was saying something… About how he's able to do what Lyrica can do. He was showing Lyrica his magic, and then Lyrica felt proud of his accomplishment.

"Corn, make me your wife when you grow older."

"Yes, Lyr! Join the Queen selection, I'm sure you'll win!"

My eyes open. Is that Prince Cornelius and Lyrica? I try to remember this in the novel. There is a part in the confrontation between Lyrica and Eliana. Lyrica was telling Eliana that she's first in Cornelius' life, so he belongs to her and not to Eliana. Lyrica even went as far as telling Eliana that the prince didn't love her.

That was during the time Lyrica feels that Cornelius was falling in love with Eliana despite being married to her. So when Lyrica died on the gallows, Cornelius made Eliana the new Queen who, during that time, is one of his three concubines. And that's where the story ends.

In the epilogue, Calais continues to serve Eliana as her general. He dies in a battle when he can no longer bear the heartbreak. If only he had a second chance to fall in love with someone, there is no need for him to die.

Suddenly, a face appears. "Hello, I just thought to greet you. I didn't know other people were interested in magic books."

I stare at the small face. Cute, gentle, and open. Eliana! She has pink hair that makes her stand out during the Queen Selection. And seeing her in the flesh is disconcerting. I sit up from the reclining chair and she evades my sudden move. I look at her—from head to toe. Petite frame, only a little over five feet.

"Hi, I am Eliana Pellegrini, daughter of…" She pauses, and recognizing me, she falls to her knees, fear evident on her face. "Oh! I'm sorry! You are—I didn't mean to—"