Library Saint

I am Hildebrand. I am the third prince and just had my baptism this fall. I had been ordered to stay in the Royal Academy over the winter as a part of my royal duties, despite not yet being enrolled as a student. I was instructed to avoid meeting the students as much as possible, and so my days were spent closeted in my room. Still, this was extremely tedious. Not even ten days had passed before I was overtaken by gloomy and pessimistic feelings.

“Since the majority of students are still in the midst of their lessons, the academy should be relatively deserted during class hours. How about stepping outside for a bit?”

Thanks to the suggestion of Arthur, my attendant, I had the opportunity to wander the Royal Academy grounds during class hours. Navigating discreetly to avoid the attention of the students made the experience quite enjoyable.

I strolled around the gazebos near the building where classes took place, explored the greenhouse where professors cultivated herbs, and admired the view of the Royal Academy grounds while riding on Arthur’s highbeast.

“Given that it is winter, the grounds are currently pure white and blanketed in snow. However, during other seasons, one can see the different dormitories interspersed among the greenery of the trees, which makes for a wonderful sight. That area over there would be covered in flowers of various colors, forming an enchanting landscape.”

“I would love to witness it again when winter gives way to another season.”

“I believe all the snow should be gone by the time of your debut, Prince Hildebrand.”

I’ll be making my debut during the Archduke Conference in spring, where I’ll be introduced to archdukes from every duchy. I’m also practicing the harspiel in preparation for that event.

“Arthur, what’s our destination for today?”

“We will be visiting the library.”

That was disappointing. Libraries were filled with nothing but books. While going to the library might be a better option than staying cooped up in my room, it would not be an enjoyable experience by any means. Arthur smiled wryly as he watched me slump my shoulders.

“The library houses large shumil magic tools. They are quite adorable to look at when they are waddling around.”

“I would like to see that.”

So, I headed to the library with Arthur guiding the way.

“Oh, it appears that the librarian is absent.”

Arthur murmured to himself after looking around the reading room. Although the librarian was nowhere to be seen, as Arthur had mentioned, two sizable shumils—one black and one white—were waddling about, their heads swaying gently from side to side. While I was entranced by their cuteness, a door unexpectedly creaked open behind me.

A pretty girl, donned in a vibrant ocher cape and matching my height, strolled in through the door. Being the shortest attendee at the fellowship gathering, she had garnered considerable attention as a first-year student of my age, and her presence was quite memorable.

That color… It belongs to Ehrenfest.

Caught off guard by a student finding me despite my attempts to be discreet, I momentarily set aside my own agenda to inquire why she wasn’t in class. To my surprise, she remained unperturbed by my tone, lightly touching her cheek and calmly stating, “I passed my lessons early specifically so that I could read in the library. I intend to come here to read on a daily basis.” With that, she issued instructions to the shumils and departed without showing any intention to linger.

As I gazed at the sight of her ascending the staircase to the second floor together with the black shumil, the white shumil addressed me, saying, “Guiding Hildebrand.”

“Prince Hildebrand, how is it that you are in the library despite not being registered…?”

“He was registered as a royal during his baptism, so it’s only natural that he would have access… Ah, you are a mednoble, Professor Solange, so perhaps you were not aware of this.”

While Arthur spoke with Professor Solange, the librarian, I had the white shumil guide me around the library.

“Here, carrels. Read books. Hildebrand, love books?”

“I do not dislike them.”

I couldn’t bring myself to admit to the white shumil, which managed the library, that I wasn’t particularly fond of books. Being a member of the royal family, it would be quite embarrassing to express such a sentiment.

“First floor, only this much.”

While exploring, I noticed that the majority of books on the first floor were study guides used in the Royal Academy’s lectures. Professor Solange mentioned there might be some first-year curriculum books I could understand, but I wasn’t inclined to borrow study materials. I already had plenty at my villa.

Having completed my tour of the first floor, my attention shifted to the staircase the archduke candidate from Ehrenfest had ascended earlier.

“What is on the second floor?”

“Second floor. Reference documents.”

I followed the white shumil and started to climb the staircase, when the black shumil came hopping back down and said, “Milady reading.”

“Milady?”

“Yes. Milady.”

I had no idea why the library’s shumils were addressing the archduke candidate from Ehrenfest as “Milady.” Given that the shumils oversaw the library, it almost seemed as if she held a royal status within its confines.

Contemplating that peculiar thought, I ascended to the second floor. The arrangement of shelves differed from the first floor, and the scent and ambiance were distinct, likely influenced by the presence of old documents. As I explored the second floor, I soon encountered the retainers of the archduke candidate from Ehrenfest.

Approaching, I observed the archduke candidate engrossed in quiet reading. She was reading a thick book that was chained to the bookshelf. It made for such a beautiful sight that I was struck with the urge to capture it in a painting that I could display.

Perhaps due to the gentle light filtering through the window, the spot where she sat appeared remarkably radiant to me. As a wisp of hair cascaded off her petite shoulders, her dainty white hand effortlessly brushed it away, causing her glossy, midnight-hued locks to capture the light and gleam even more resplendently.

Even as her hands moved, her golden eyes remained unwaveringly focused on the book laid out in front of her. It was evident that her gaze was solely devoted to the letters on the pages, with no acknowledgment spared for my presence.

Does she not realize that I am here?

Just as that idea crossed my mind, her expression underwent a sudden change.

Her golden eyes, reminiscent of the moon, gently narrowed, her lips formed into an elegant arc, and a rosy blush adorned her cheeks.

Her delicate, white hand caressed the page before gracefully turning it. The gleam in her eyes reflected the excitement and joy of delving into a new page.

I found myself enthralled by the spectacle of her immersing herself in a challenging book with evident delight, despite claiming to have completed all her classes.

“Prince Hildebrand?”

I suddenly came back to my senses after Arthur called my name. An inexplicable urge to keep observing her lingered, even though another part of me insisted otherwise. It was a peculiar sensation. Without fully grasping why, I turned away and walked silently, careful not to disturb her reading.

“What sort of person is your Lady?”

I asked the two shumils that, and they answered while wobbling along.

“Much mana. Milady good.”

“Milady loves books.”

Their answers weren’t very detailed, but I understood that both of them were very much attached to her.

◆

Upon returning to my chambers, I asked my attendant, Arthur, a question. I was curious to learn more about her.

“Arthur, what is the name of the youngest female archduke candidate from Ehrenfest?”

“The youngest? Please give me a moment.”

Arthur sifted through the documents detailing all of the archduke candidates and mentioned, “Charlotte.” So, her name is Charlotte. After repeating it silently a few times, I decided to follow her example and read one of the books in my chambers.

“Oh, what’s this? Prince Hildebrand, studying without being told?”

“I must, to avoid embarrassing myself as a member of the royal family. Today, when the shumils asked me if I liked books, I ended up replying that I did not dislike them.”

Arthur chuckled and called for my scholar. The scholar took a seat behind me, helping me navigate through challenging sentences and teaching me unfamiliar words. It was the typical routine for my lessons. Despite my attempts to emulate Charlotte, I couldn’t imagine myself finding enjoyment in this.

I think seeing her again might rekindle my interest in reading.

Once the scholar’s explanations became tiresome, I beckoned Arthur, who stood behind me.

“Arthur, if I visit the library again, will I have a chance to meet that girl from today?”

“She did say she goes to the library on a daily basis, so bumping into her again should be rather simple… Is she someone who caught your eye?”

Arthur seemed taken aback, so I quickly shook my head.

“I’m not sure if that’s the right way to put it… I just found the sight of her reading very beautiful and wanted to see it again.”

I simply wanted to watch her reading. I had no intention of getting in her way. When I mentioned that, Arthur put his hand to his chin, pondered for a moment, and then gave me a small smile.

“Perhaps it is your Dunkelfelger blood that causes you to be attracted to intellectual women.”