Chapter 22
The next day, Lia headed to the library as usual. A maid recognized her and bowed deeply.
“Shall I prepare a room for you, my lady?”
“No, I’d like to look at some books today. Thank you.”
Lia smiled brightly and followed the maid’s guidance into the reading hall.
The library was a three-story building, but the reading room stretched all the way up without any floors dividing it. The ceiling was high, with long chandeliers hanging here and there.
Books filled every direction, with staircases connecting the shelves. It was almost like a maze where one could easily get lost, so bells had been placed at intervals to call for maids.
“If there’s a book you want, I’ll bring it for you, my lady.”
“That’s alright. I’d like to browse myself today.”
“Understood. Please ring the bell if you need anything at all.”
The maid hurried out, and Lia slowly began walking. Her face gleamed with anticipation. She had always asked the maids to fetch books for her, but this was her first time browsing on her own.
She followed the sign marked Magic to the left. Soon another sign appeared, pointing to sections such as Basic Magic, Offensive Magic, Healing Magic, and Potions.
“For now… I should start with basic magic, right?”
Suppressing the urge to glance at offensive magic, Lia walked toward the basic section.
“Wow…”
It was only basic magic, yet the shelves were packed full. The books were so well-preserved it almost looked like a bookstore rather than a library. As she ran her fingers along the spines, she would pull out anything with a title or cover she liked.
If she found one she wanted to borrow, she wrote it down on a slip of paper. Handing that slip to a maid on her way out meant the books would be delivered straight to her house.
“No borrowing limits, no return deadlines….”
Of course, if she never returned the books, an invoice would be sent to her family. No noble attending the royal academy would dare skip out on book fees, though.
By the time she had browsed an entire floor, Lia headed toward the staircase on the right. Even the steps were lined with books, and she was distracted by them as she climbed.
Thunk—her face collided straight into someone’s chest.
“Oh, sorry…”
She automatically looked up to apologize—and immediately frowned.
It was Derren, looking down at her with his usual cold expression. It had been a while since she’d seen him, but there wasn’t the slightest bit of joy.
“Of all people…”
Cursing inwardly, Lia turned to leave.
“Going up?”
Derren jerked his chin at the upper floor where he stood.
“Not really. There’s someone here I don’t want to be around.”
Her words dripped with sarcasm. Derren snorted and stepped down a few stairs.
“Not because you can’t read any of the books up there?”
“What?”
He tapped the spot beside her. Lia frowned and followed his gesture—to see a sign that read Advanced Magic. She realized the third floor was the advanced magic section.
“So that’s why you’re here? Changed your track now?”
Ignoring his nonsense, Lia turned away. But he had no intention of stopping.
“Smart move. After all, as the daughter of the prestigious Cablik family, it wouldn’t do for rumors to spread that you’re only chasing after men.”
Lia slowly closed and opened her eyes. Derren’s words and behavior had been crossing the line for a while now—it was getting harder to ignore.
“Didn’t I tell you not to meddle in my affairs?”
He stepped closer, leaning right into her face.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“Ah, so you came here for me? Makes sense. At this hour, I’m always here. And someone like you—who’s never set foot in the library before—suddenly showing up? Plausible enough.”
“What?”
“Well, people don’t change that easily, do they?”
Derren smirked with satisfaction.
What nonsense is this? Does he seriously still think I like him?
Lia couldn’t make sense of it. She wasn’t harassing Ciklaen anymore, nor was she chasing after Derren. Why was he so hung up on her?
“But you’re still hanging around Ciklaen, aren’t you… I don’t like that. Did you forget my warning?”
“Warning?”
“I told you—whatever you’re plotting, don’t drag Ciklaen into it. What are you planning with such an innocent, clueless girl?”
“Ha.”
Lia grew more irritated. Insults toward her were one thing, but he was talking as if he had to protect and control Ciklaen.
He’s making it sound like Ciklaen can’t even stand on her own two feet.
“Who Ciklaen spends time with is her choice. Not your business.”
“And you think you have the right to say that? You, who couldn’t go a day without tormenting her not long ago?”
“And you? Do you have the right? What are you to Ciklaen, anyway?”
She recalled how, in the original story, Derren had always been unusually fixated on Ciklaen. Until Jen’s death and the formal engagement, the two had only been friends.
To be precise, Derren had been harboring a one-sided crush on her.
Someone as proud as him wouldn’t have liked that fact one bit. As expected, he snapped back.
“Ciklaen and I are—!”
“Friends. Nothing more.”
“You—!”
“Did Ciklaen ever ask you to step in? To say she was uncomfortable with me suddenly sticking to her?”
“That’s…”
“She didn’t, did she? Because she’s not that kind of person.”
“She’s too kind, like a fool…”
“We reconciled, actually.”
“…What?”
Derren’s eyes widened dangerously.
“Reconciled? What nonsense is that?”
“I apologized to her—for all the times I bullied her before.”
“You apologized? You?”
His face twisted grotesquely, as though the words physically pained him.
“Of course, I know a simple apology won’t erase the past.”
“You… apologized?”
“Yes. And I’ll keep apologizing from now on. Maybe one day, things between us will change.”
“Change? That’s impossible…”
Derren muttered in disbelief.
What’s wrong with him?
Lia tilted her head, but pressed on.
“So there’s no more place for you to meddle—neither with me nor with Ciklaen—”
“Don’t.”
“What? Deny it all you like, but Ciklaen doesn’t like you. You’re only her friend—”
“I said don’t!”
Derren suddenly roared, slamming his fist into the bookshelf beside him. Several books crashed to the floor. The sudden violence made Lia flinch.
“What are you doing?!”
“Why did you apologize?”
“What?”
With a rough sweep of his face, Derren grabbed her shoulders painfully tight.
“Let go of me!”
“Nothing’s ever changed until now! Why are you suddenly trying to change?!”
Lia twisted to break free, but his strength was overwhelming. Unlike Jen’s natural intimidation, Derren radiated raw, personal rage—directed squarely at her.
Jen’s presence was naturally imposing, but Derren… he’s genuinely furious at me. But why?
She began to feel faint. This wasn’t mere dislike. He hated her. He was enraged by this situation.
“Just stay the way you are… stay the same. Why is it so hard for everyone to just… stay the same?!”
Muttering like a madman, he slammed the shelf behind her.
“Kyaa!”
Lia ducked, covering her head as books toppled above. But the pain never came.
“My lady!”
Someone rushed to her side, pulling her into a protective embrace.
“Are you alright?”
“Uh… y-yes…”
Lia blinked. It was the library maid from earlier. She snapped her fingers, and the books hovering above Lia’s head floated back to their places.
“That was…”
“Magic, my lady. More importantly…”
The maid cast a wary glance at Derren.
“What on earth happened here…?”
Though of lower status, she couldn’t directly scold him. Still, academy rules stated any student who committed violence would be punished, regardless of rank.
If this goes wrong, Derren might get expelled…
Lia quickly stood.
“It was just an accident. I bumped into the shelf, and the books fell.”
“But I heard a loud noise—”
“We were only talking about the books. Our opinions clashed, so our voices got a little loud.”
The maid still looked doubtful, but reluctantly nodded. Derren stared at Lia with a strange expression as she covered for him.
Don’t get me wrong—I’m not protecting you. If you really get expelled, the one who’ll suffer is Ciklaen.
Lia still wished for Ciklaen’s happiness. And in that happy ending, Derren was essential. Losing him now would ruin everything.
“Anyway, I’d like to borrow these.”
To change the subject, she quickly handed over her list.
“Ah, yes.”
“I was already having trouble finding my way—could you guide me out?”
“…Of course, my lady.”
The maid glanced once more at Derren, bowed stiffly, and led the way. After a few steps, Lia looked back and whispered at him.
“Calling in an audience now, huh? What happened to that noble dignity you’re so proud of?”
“You—!”
His eyes flared with rage.
As if I’d be scared of that.
Lia turned away quickly and followed the maid. Derren cared about appearances—he wouldn’t dare act violently with a witness present.
Still… was Derren always this violent?
Something felt terribly off. She had dismissed his past harsh words, thinking the novel’s perspective from Ciklaen made him seem harsher than he was. After all, he was always kind in front of her.
But what I just saw… that was practically split-personality behavior.
Uneasy, Lia shook her head as she felt his burning gaze stabbing into her back.
