Chapter 82

“Well, the Young Lord Valentino is awfully busy these days.”

“I heard he recently discovered a new magitech formula!”

“And have you seen him? He’s so handsome, easily one of the two finest men in the empire, right alongside the Duke of Rikeran.”

As the ladies nodded enthusiastically, their eyes soon turned toward Dahlia. Of all those gathered here, she had the closest connection to Khalid. In addition, since he rarely showed himself in public, curiosity about him only continued to grow.

Given Khalid’s notorious reclusiveness, curiosity about him had only grown.

“Lady Lorenheim, what’s the Duke of Rikeran like in person?”

Surrounded by noble young ladies sparkling with curiosity, Dahlia offered a shy smile.

“The Duke of Rikeran… he’s truly a kind man.”

He was already known for his gentle nature, so how much more so would he be toward the female lead of the original story? Perhaps that expression about eyes dripping with honey wasn’t meant for Axion after all, but for Khalid.

Moments like this made her think, ‘Ah, so the story is unfolding just as it should…’ and yet, for some reason, an uneasy feeling lingered in her chest. And so, deep down, she felt a sense of relief at the sight of the two destined main characters drawing closer.

But then, struck by a sudden, unidentifiable feeling, she furrowed her brows ever so slightly.

‘Wait, why am I feeling relieved?’

︵‿୨ ₊‧꒰ა ཐི༏ཋྀ ໒꒱ ˚₊ ୧‿︵

“Hmm, so it really can’t be found after all.”

With a quiet sigh slipping from her lips, Evelyn set the book back in place. She had come to the imperial library hoping to find something on forbidden magic, but to no avail. Not a single mention of forbidden abilities could be found on the open shelves.

‘And I still know nothing about the Moon Goddess either.’

Although Felix kept her informed on the investigation’s progress, it seemed even the investigation department had hit a wall. Even the most well-connected information guilds refused to speak a word about black magic or sorcery. Left with little choice, she picked up a few mythology volumes into her arms and stood, stretching out her stiff and weary limbs.

After spending so long poring over ancient texts, her eyes had begun to ache with fatigue.

‘Haa, maybe I should rest for a bit.’

She stepped behind the towering shelves of weathered books and leaned gently against the stone wall. Closing her eyes, she let herself breathe in the subtle scent of parchment and ink, carried on the breeze drifting through the open window. This quiet corner of the library was rarely visited, and for the most part, it remained still and undisturbed.

She wasn’t sure how much time had passed when a cool scent of musk brushing her nose made her slowly open her eyes.

“Huh? Your Grace…?”

The man’s hand hovered awkwardly in the air, his face clearly marked with surprise. As her eyes widened in surprise and she stared at him, Khalid awkwardly lowered his hand.

“I meant nothing by it. I just thought the sunlight might bother your eyes…”

Indeed, a beam of sunlight had crept in through the window, casting its glow across her face. Evelyn gave a small shrug of her shoulders.

“I don’t misunderstand. You were simply being considerate, Your Grace.”

Only then did a flicker of relief pass over Khalid’s face. His gaze soon shifted to the book she held in her hands.

“You seem to have an interest in ancient texts.”

“Not especially. I just had something I needed to look into.”

As she answered, her clear, verdant eyes fluttered like leaves in a summer breeze.

“You’ve borrowed another book about animals today as well, haven’t you, Your Grace?”

In the man’s hand was an old volume titled 《 There Are No Bad Dogs in This World 》, written by a renowned trainer. The book had been published so long ago that it was no longer available in shops. It seemed he had made time in his schedule specifically to visit the library for it.

Khalid gave a quiet nod, his voice gentle and warm.

“I haven’t been able to spend much time with him lately, so he’s been sulking quite easily.”

“Your puppy must be very fond of you.”

“He’s still young, so he probably doesn’t understand much yet. I think he just likes the feel of a human hand.”

From the look in his eyes, it was clear he felt genuinely guilty for not being able to give his dog the attention it deserved due to his busy schedule.

“Still, from what I can see, you’re already a wonderful owner, Your Grace. You’re even reading books for your puppy’s sake.”

As if her words had brought him some comfort, the corners of his eyes softened with quiet warmth.

“I’m glad I decided to come here after all.”