Chapter 6
“Eh……?”
Ignoring the assistant cook, Orte took only an apple and left the kitchen. The food served to Orte was always overly salty.
Only Orte’s food was like that.
She didn’t even want to eat something that didn’t feel like real food, so she bit into the apple and headed to the library.
She planned to spend time reading books since she had nothing else to do.
It had been a long time since she had this much free time. The only time she had ever been so free was when she was locked in the tower. If she didn’t do anything, memories of the past kept haunting her, so reading was a good way to empty her mind.
The Duke of Weekend’s library was her first time visiting it.
Orte had always tried so hard to be loved that she never even had time to read useless books.
“Ah, y-young lady?”
When she opened the library door, a young girl wearing large glasses quickly pushed them up in panic.
“Ho-how did you get here……?”
“Isn’t this the library? I came to read books.”
“Ah, yes! This is the library!”
The girl hurriedly approached Orte.
“Are you looking for a specific book? Or maybe something related to your interests……?”
“Now that I think about it, I don’t even know what I should read.”
Orte didn’t even know what she liked.
Her only interest had always been the men of the Weekend family. Orte didn’t really have anything she could call a hobby.
“Oh, then try picking books by titles you like. If you read several, you’ll find out what genre you prefer.”
Misunderstanding Orte’s words, the librarian guided her to the bookshelves.
“From left to right: history, literature, society, classics, and magic.”
Orte looked back at the librarian.
The young-looking librarian strangely didn’t seem hostile toward her.
“How long have you been working at the Duke of Weekend’s household?”
“Oh, it’s been about a month……!”
So that’s why.
Orte nodded.
“Thank you for explaining. You may go now.”
“A-ah, yes……!”
The librarian bowed deeply and stepped back. It had been a long time since someone treated her with proper respect like that.
Orte absentmindedly rubbed her wrist and looked up at the library. The huge room was filled with tightly packed books.
Come to think of it, the Duke of Weekend’s library was famous for having a wide variety of books. Many people even came just to borrow books from here.
“With this many books, I can pass time until Yvonne comes.”
She had thought she would just lie in bed for five years, but now she had something to do. That was fortunate.
Orte placed her hands behind her back and slowly walked forward. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
The moment she entered the library, what greeted her was the smell of books.
“The smell of books is really nice. Just like Orte said, it feels calming.”
Suddenly, a voice filled her mind. Orte stopped walking and opened her eyes.
‘Who?’
The unfamiliar voice felt strangely familiar, but she couldn’t remember the face or identity of the speaker. While tilting her head, a book entered her vision.
Without hesitation, she walked over, pulled out the book, and unconsciously sat by the window, opening it.
She quickly became absorbed in reading.
Dining Hall
Mealtime was quiet.
Ignoring the dull conversations between the Duke of Weekend and Clef about business with half-listening ears, Ellen looked up when someone called him.
“Ellen. What were you thinking about during the meal?”
“Ah, Father. Sorry. What did you call me for?”
“How about you take over this business.”
“Me? Really?”
Ellen widened his eyes.
“Father, you want me to do business? I’d rather just live doing nothing.”
“There is nothing worse than wasting your talent. And you are already eighteen. It is time you start learning business.”
The Duke of Weekend said firmly.
Ellen was not as much of a genius as Clef, but he understood things quickly. However, he disliked sitting still, so he focused on sword training instead.
“It’s a simple task. You can assist Clef if you want.”
“Alright, I’ll do that.”
He answered easily, but already planned to escape by convincing Clef later.
“Ah.”
Then he noticed a seat was empty.
“Where is the parasite?”
Ellen didn’t notice Clef’s brief pause and continued speaking.
“By the way, what’s wrong with her? Father, do you know anything? Yesterday she suddenly said she won’t call Father ‘Father’ anymore. Did she eat something bad? Brother, do you know?”
“…Orte has not caused any trouble recently.”
“Ah, then I get it.”
Ellen put down his utensils.
“She’s doing it to get attention.”
Ellen laughed as if he had solved everything.
“Since yesterday, I thought she was acting strange. She must have changed her method. Seriously, does she think anyone will suddenly care?”
He clicked his tongue.
He completely forgot that he had even been thinking about why Orte acted strangely yesterday.
The Duke of Weekend wiped his mouth with a napkin and stood up.
“Good work, Father.”
After greeting the Duke, Ellen also stood up.
“Ellen.”
Clef stopped him.
“Why?”
“I met Orte in the garden yesterday.”
“What……?”
Ellen’s face twisted.
“The parasite went to the garden? Did she finally lose her mind?”
“She said she will no longer call either of us ‘brother’.”
“Then what will she call us?”
“Young master and sir.”
“Hah, so she finally realized she’s below even the servants.”
Ellen insulted her and turned away.
Clef did not stop him.
Instead, Clef himself was confused by the fact that he had passed Orte’s message to Ellen.
“I no longer expect anything from you, young master.”
Clef frowned as those words suddenly came to his mind.
What did that even mean?
Meanwhile
Ellen stormed out of the dining hall and called Colin.
“Master. Is something wrong?”
“Where is the parasite? Is she in her room?”
“The young lady? I’m not sure.”
“You don’t even know that?!”
Ellen shouted and marched straight to Orte’s room, opening the door.
“Hey, parasite!”
But the room was empty. It didn’t even look like she had just left.
Thinking she might be in the garden, Ellen rushed there, but she was nowhere to be found.
“Ah, young master!”
Someone called him.
“Who are you?”
“I am Bill, the one who teaches Lady Orte. She did not show up for class, so I was on my way back.”
“She skipped class?”
That was strange to Ellen, who knew Orte always took studies seriously.
“Yes.”
“That can’t be……”
At that moment, Colin ran back breathlessly.
“Master!”
“No one has seen the young lady!”
“What……?”
“It seems the young lady… has disappeared!”
— Imperial Palace —
“Duke of Weekend.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The Duke of Weekend bowed.
“You had a birthday yesterday, correct?”
“I am honored that Your Majesty remembers even a subject’s birthday.”
The Emperor laughed lightly.
“I thought I treated you specially. I am a little hurt.”
He signaled to a servant.
The servant brought several water bottles filled with clear liquid.
When holy power is continuously infused into water, it becomes purified water. It contains powerful blessings that can even save someone at the brink of death.
“I sincerely thank Your Majesty. I will serve the empire better.”
The Duke bowed again.
“Enough, raise your head.”
The servant handed the bottles to his subordinate.
“Are your children doing well?”
