From then on, they continued to read in silence without further conversation.
It was because after Elisha had said, "I see," she had bowed her head and set off to find her book, causing Erich to miss his chance to speak.
It wasn't as if talking in a library was a common occurrence, but were they not the only two people there?
Erich narrowed his eyes, alternating his gaze between the book in his hand and Elisha.
Erich was particularly sensitive to the emotions of others when it came to Elisha. That was why he knew.
Elisha was in a bad mood right now.
‘But why?’
What on earth could be the reason for her to be in a bad mood?
He had implied that while he thought of Elisha as a precious person, he hadn't treated her as such. Unless she was a fool, Elisha would surely know who he was referring to.
He had clearly brought it up to clear the misunderstanding, but was it just his imagination that the misunderstanding seemed to be deepening instead?
‘It’s frustrating enough to die.’
It was a somewhat cowardly method, but if he could, he felt like using magic to force the truth out and clear the misunderstandings that had built up between them.
In a world where even cognitive impairment magic existed, such magic wasn't impossible, but...
‘I want to hear it from her directly.’
Not by force, but of her own volition.
Erich shook his head, letting the thought evaporate. His gaze remained fixed on Elisha.
He was dying to know what she was harboring in that mind of hers, but the one to open it had to be Elisha herself.
Otherwise, it would be meaningless.
‘...It bothers me.’
Meanwhile, Elisha struggled to keep her eyes fixed on the book, reading through the sentences, before she couldn't help but let out a sigh inwardly.
Lately, or rather, especially today, she felt engulfed in confusion whenever she faced Erich. Soon, Elisha closed the book she had been reading and shut her eyes.
No matter how much she tried not to think about it, once her thoughts started to spiral, they showed no signs of stopping. Thus, she decided to let her thoughts flow as they would.
‘Is Erich...’
Does Erich like "Lucy Forte"?
If so, since when?
Come to think of it, Erich had been quite kind to her from the moment he first encountered this appearance. It was a stark contrast to his first meeting with "Elisha."
Had he liked her—"Lucy Forte"—from that moment on? Not just because he coveted her ability, but for her character?
‘If all the special treatment I’ve received wasn't simply to recruit new talent, but because he had feelings for Lucy Forte.’
If the frequent luncheon invitations and having her assist in the Emperor’s guard during the allied nations’ conference were all because he liked Lucy Forte.
Elisha bit her lip gently and continued to speculate.
Come to think of it, he had even told her directly that she was pretty while she was disguised. He had never said anything like that when she was in the form of Elisha.
‘What if.’
What if Erich really does like "Lucy Forte"?
What if he had taken a liking to "Lucy Forte" simply because her appearance had changed, without even knowing who resided within?
‘...I don't want to think about it.’
Soon after, Elisha stopped all her thoughts and let out a long breath.
Thinking about it any further would only add to the confusion. In fact, she couldn't even read because she couldn't focus.
Even though it was a book she loved so much, she couldn't make sense of it now. It felt as if every letter was bouncing off her eyes.
In this situation, rather than wasting time forcing herself to hold onto the book, it was better to go back to the estate and rest.
No, rather than resting, it would be better to check out the book and read it at the estate.
Either way, leaving this place seemed to be the priority.
"I will take my leave now."
Having finished her thoughts, Elisha quickly tidied up her spot and bid Erich farewell. Erich stood up awkwardly, following her, and opened his mouth.
"Let's go out together."
Elisha frowned faintly as if displeased, but soon nodded.
As the two of them crossed the library, Erich kept a watchful eye on Elisha.
If he let her know any more than this that he was interested in her, the situation would become strange. He was already bringing up the past out of the blue; if he continued, Elisha would surely be suspicious given her personality.
But he couldn't clear the misunderstanding without talking about the past.
Should he really drag Dante Renard into this?
But it was doubtful whether Dante would even cooperate if he were brought in.
Besides, Dante Renard was currently something...
"Huh."
Just then, Dante Renard’s voice echoed through the quiet hallway.
It was the very moment Erich and Elisha had stepped out of the library.
"Why are you two coming out together?"
Dante asked, straightening his body from where he had been leaning against the wall. Elisha handed the pass to Dante and replied.
"We ran into each other inside."
"Then why are you giving this to me?"
"My reading clearance has been adjusted."
So that means it's useless to you now.
Dante nodded and took the pass Elisha handed him.
He had been waiting here because he couldn't enter the library without a pass, so it was a relief that her clearance had been adjusted.
Though he still didn't like how she openly showed favoritism.
It was the moment Dante’s gaze lingered on Erich for a second.
"I was under the impression you had no overtime today."
In the dim hallway, Erich opened his mouth, his eyes shining coldly. Dante swallowed hard but stood his ground and answered.
"I stayed behind to get some extra work done. Shouldn't Your Majesty be the one resting more?"
He had only just recovered from his sickbed, yet he was already heading to the library.
Having finished speaking, Dante pouted and stared back at Erich.
He had stayed behind to work, yet not only did he not get any praise, but Erich had been with Elisha the whole time.
There was no reason for him to be petty about something like this, but for some reason, he wasn't in a good mood. To be precise, it had been since the moment he discovered Erich following Elisha out.
"...Then we will take our leave."
Whether he liked it or not, Elisha gave Erich a sharp, formal bow once more and pulled on Dante’s sleeve. Dante finally withdrew his gaze from Erich and looked at Elisha.
He couldn't see well because of the darkness, but she seemed to be in an strange state.
"...See you tomorrow."
In the end, Dante also bid Erich farewell and followed behind Elisha. Left alone in the hallway in an instant, Erich ran a hand through his hair in irritation.
Elisha’s attitude, Dante Renard’s behavior, and above all, the fact that the two of them were together.
There wasn't a single thing that didn't bother him.
* * *
"No matter how I think about it, it bothers me."
Inside the carriage heading to the estate, Elisha stared out the carriage window and blurted out. Dante tilted his head as he looked at Elisha.
"What is that all of a sudden?"
"It’s not sudden."
Because this was the conclusion she had reached after thinking about it from the imperial palace until now.
Elisha said, still not taking her eyes off the window.
Erich’s remarks, the intentions of which she didn't know, kept floating around in her head. Not only were they floating, but they were also constantly creating huge ripples in her otherwise calm emotions.
It felt as if countless people were surrounding her in a vast banquet hall, constantly spouting words. It was chaotic and noisy. Even if she didn't want to think about it, it didn't go according to her will.
She was just confused.
Because it was an emotion she had never experienced before. Because she didn't know what to call this thing that was surging endlessly.
"Dante Renard."
Soon after, she rolled her eyes, which had been fixed in one place, to look at Dante. Dante flinched and shuddered as he met her gaze.
Elisha continued without caring.
"You’re the most emotionally expressive person I’ve ever met, so you must know."
"Wh-what, all of a sudden."
"I want to know the answer."
What the identity of this chaotic mass I’m feeling is.
Her eyes sparkled unusually as they held Dante. Dante nodded slowly.
Let’s at least hear what it is.
"The words that person said keep coming to mind, so I can't think about anything else."
"That’s intense from the start..."
"Even when I try to focus on something, my thoughts keep shifting elsewhere."
Before long, Elisha began to pour out what she was feeling without a filter.
Dante listened to her words and reviewed his own experiences.
This is similar to what I’ve been going through for the past few months.
He also had been swayed all day long by the words of the woman in front of him. He had even said things beneath his station in front of Erich.
"I don't like it when people talk about others in front of me."
This was also something he had been feeling lately.
"Strangely, I keep feeling petty toward that person."
It was an emotion she had never felt while living as "Elisha." No, before she returned to the imperial palace, all her emotions had been consistent, as if a line had been drawn.
Even if they had vibrated slightly off that line, they hadn't fluctuated this much.
"Renard, you must know."
Soon, Elisha asked, staring blankly at Dante.
"What kind of emotion is this?"
At the same time, Dante gathered the story she had told and burst into a low laugh. It was because Elisha, who hadn't even realized that simple fact, looked quite cute.
"You seem a little different lately, but you really are dull when it comes to emotions."
"..."
"Even if you grabbed a child passing by and asked, they’d know. That is—."
However, Dante’s words could not continue and were cut off abruptly.
The moment he met those eyes, Dante, too, had realized it.
The emotion that even a child passing by would know.
"That is..."
Dante Renard’s heart dropped with a deep, heavy thud, as if crushed by immense gravity.
Elisha, that, that emotion is.
"It means he likes someone."
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