Chapter 41
That day, I spent the late afternoon with Aziz, discussing the direction of my future lessons.
Now that I had gained a fair understanding of the kingdom, we decided to focus my time on learning how to properly wield Ashtar’s power.
“I guess I’m getting pretty used to this world too.”
Through lessons with him, I had come to know small details about the kingdom—from its currency system to its history and religion. At first, even the idea that people had social hierarchies was hard to accept, but now I could speak and act almost like the locals.
As a result, I could vividly feel the gap between Suleiman and myself, which I hadn’t noticed before. At first, I just thought, “Ah, a rich tsundere butler has appeared.”
But now, I realized he truly held the position of a prince straight out of a fairy tale.
“Haah.”
After class, I walked across the small garden, letting out a sigh and slumping my shoulders.
Arin looked at me with a worried expression and asked cautiously,
“Ishtar, are you okay? Are you feeling unwell?”
I could only offer a pained smile in response to the girl’s question.
“Since when did it come to this…?”
Until recently, I hadn’t really paid much attention to Suleiman. My plan was to leave this place without regret once he secured his position as the next Sultan, taking the throne after Hirem.
But now, I couldn’t think that way. On the contrary, the thought of eventually leaving his side made my chest tighten as if I were suffocating.
And then, just thinking about having dinner with him later that evening made my heart pound even more.
“…I’ve gone mad. Absolutely mad.”
Ugh, I was going crazy. Really.
As I stood in place, tugging at my hair in frustration, Arin’s face turned noticeably pale. A few nearby maids, seeing what must have looked like a slightly insane person, snickered quietly.
I quickly covered my disheveled silver hair with my veil again. Not my favorite fashion accessory, but incredibly useful at times like this.
“Uh… are you alright, Ishtar?”
“I’m fine. Just have some thoughts to sort out.”
“Hmm… do you want to return to your room? There’s still time until dinner…”
“No, staying still will only let my thoughts run wild. Let’s go to the library. I need to look through some books.”
Hearing the firmness in my voice, Arin nodded and stepped ahead, leading the way out of the garden.
I let out a sigh and slowly followed her retreating figure.
The place Arin brought me to was Suleiman’s private library.
Seeing my troubled expression, she had brought me somewhere quiet, away from other people.
“…But… is this really a private library?”
“Yes, only Suleiman uses it.”
Expecting something small, like a personal study, I was stunned to see the scale.
The library was vast, with shelves as densely packed as a central library. The high-end wooden bookshelves reached so far up that I had to tilt my head for a long while to see the top.
Already feeling intimidated, I shrank even more under the weight of the room.
“The area is well-guarded, and there’s a medical room nearby, so even if something like last time happens, it’s safe.”
“Medical room? Why would there be one?”
“In royal private spaces, medical facilities are mandatory, in case of any accidents.”
Ah, right. Of course—he is a prince.
I guess today is just one of those days when my self-esteem takes a nosedive. The towering shelves made me feel like I might be crushed.
“Feel free to look around. I’ll stay near the entrance. Call me if you need anything.”
“Got it, thanks, Arin.”
After Arin left, I removed my veil and tidied my messy hair.
“Might as well take a look around.”
It was still too early for dinner, and I had some free time before Suleiman returned. I walked slowly between the maze-like shelves.
The sheer variety of books made it feel like exploring a large bookstore—hardly ever boring.
Among them, one particularly messy shelf caught my eye.
“What’s this…?”
Unlike the other neatly organized shelves, this one seemed chaotic, filled with a mix of books ranging from fairy tales to economic and military texts.
Curious, I pulled out a book.
“Hmm… what’s this? Statecraft…?”
Flipping through the pages, I noticed a clumsy handwriting. At first, I thought it was doodling, but it turned out to be notes.
Apparently, it was a book from his childhood, and the handwriting was so irregular it was barely legible—like a lower elementary school student in Korea scribbling notes.
“Kinda cute, actually.”
I gently touched the book, imagining young Suleiman studying it diligently, which made me smile.
“What are you looking at so intently?”
“Ahhh!!”
Startled, I accidentally tossed the book upward. As the thick book spun through the air toward my head, a strong hand caught me by the waist.
With a thump, I found myself pressed against Suleiman’s chest, his firm torso against my cheek.
The book fell to the floor, but I almost mistook my pounding heart for it.
“Careful. You could hurt your head.”
No, this situation feels much more dangerous!
Through the thin clothing, I could feel the warmth and firmness of his arms around my upper body.
“…So warm.”
I cautiously lifted my head to look up at him, towering above me.
Returning from the trip and diving straight into work seemed to have left him a bit different that day. His hair, usually neatly kept, appeared slightly tousled, and several buttons on his high-collared shirt were undone.
As a result, his broad chest peeked slightly between the open fabric.
The setting sun cast a red glow through the windows, giving his skin a richer, bronzed tone. His healthy skin seemed to shine, as if deliberately illuminated.
I swallowed dryly and squeezed my eyes shut.
“Wow, this is insane.”
The normally disciplined Suleiman, looking slightly relaxed like this, was incredibly stimulating.
Especially in such close contact.
I wasn’t sure what fragrance he was wearing, but it smelled amazing—like a siren going off in my brain.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
“I’m fine. Let go.”
I pushed away, stepping back from his solid chest.
“My face is so hot.”
It was embarrassing—lying against his chest like that, not a cat, but a human.
The strangest part was that those few moments stuck to him weren’t unpleasant at all. Actually… it had felt rather nice. Fearing these thoughts might be noticed, I lowered my head.
“So this is what you were reading.”
Suleiman bent down, picking up the fallen book. He flipped through the pages swiftly.
“It’s been a while since I saw this. I missed it.”
“…This is a book you read as a child?”
“Yes. I had pretty messy handwriting back then too. Teachers used to scold me while I corrected it.”
“It seems a bit difficult for children.”
“Princes start learning all sorts of tough subjects from a young age. I read this when I was ten.”
Wow. This book is almost the thickness of a college textbook… at ten years old?
I gawked in disbelief, and Suleiman chuckled softly, closing the book with a snap.
“All the books on this shelf are ones I read from early childhood up to age fourteen. They’re precious memories, though a little embarrassing to show others.”
“…You read all of these before fourteen?”
Looking at the hundreds of books on the shelves, I was speechless.
He shrugged casually.
“This is actually fewer than other princes. My mother wasn’t strict about academics, but rather about other things.”
“Like what?”
“Martial training and actual combat experience. She said using only your brain won’t make a great commander.”
Ah, so that’s why his body is built like that.
Indeed, Suleiman’s physique went beyond what could be considered a normal royal body. While his face was undeniably princely, his body alone resembled that of a warrior or general.
“Yes, a man should have a strong build.”
Impressed by Hirem’s deep meaning, I nodded slightly.
