Chapter 2

I’m not a book thief.

“You’re confident for a thief.”

It was not until a sharp voice was directed at me that I suddenly came to my senses.

Carlix, the Grand Duke of Reinhardt.

He has lived in battle since the age of 18, is the supreme armament and commander of the Ruberia Kingdom, and has defeated the northern frontier.

Plus, he’s the one who sends Erika to execution.

It’s an honor to meet you like this, but why is the male lead here?

In the original, he didn’t even run into Erika in person.

Let’s calm down. I’m not a rebel right now, so it’s okay.

I tried to calm down, but he was looking at me with a cold stare…

“I think you’re mistaken. I’m not a thief.”

No sooner had I hastened to bring up an excuse, Carlix came forward in a form of coercion. I stepped back, but was blocked by a bookcase before I could go a few steps.

He reached out his arms and blocked me as if he wouldn’t even give me a chance to run away. I was pushed to the bookshelf and was stuck in his arms.

The cold blue eyes stared at me.

“Magical library is not accessible except for royalty, high-ranking aristocrats, and library directors. Don’t you know that trespassers are punished by national law?”

Facing the perfect sculpture’s appearance closely, I was speechless.

“Are you listening?”

I came to my senses from his disapproving voice.

No, I know this isn’t the case. I coughed in vain and faced him with a serious look.

“I’m not a thief, Duke Reinhardt.”

His eyes flashed.

“You know me.”

I can’t say, ‘of course I know you because you’re the main character’.

“The title of Grand Duke of Reinhardt, the supreme commander of the kingdom, is so famous that everyone knows it.”

“Really? I wonder what’s the name of the young lady who hid here like a thief?”

He’s really turning it around with dignity.

I held back my irritation and maintained a polite smile.

“The introduction was late because I was in a hurry. My name is Erika Diel. I’m visiting Director William.”

I did it! I finally greeted according to manners! The nanny would’ve shed tears of emotion if she saw this.

When I was first possessed, people around me looked at me with strange eyes because I didn’t know how to behave as a child. The kind-hearted members of the Viscount family understood that it was probably because of the mental shock of losing my father.

“Why did you come to see the director?”

“It’s personal, so I can’t tell you.”

I hesitated a little, avoiding his gaze. It was embarrassing to say that it was to avoid a forced marriage.

“You’re not a thief without revealing the purpose of your visit?”

Suddenly, Carlix pushed me roughly on the shoulder.

The hard books on the bookshelf slammed against my back, causing pain. I frowned and glared at him.

“It’s a no-brainer. Furthermore…”

Carlix’s gaze slowly went down with my right hand. His elegant, straight hand grabbed my wrist strongly.

Holding the compass in my hand, he looked at me with contempt.

“I can’t believe you tried to steal a bookfinder. Isn’t that perfect evidence?”

Bookfinder? This compass?

“I saw it for a moment out of curiosity. I tried to put it back where it was.”

“You’re lying to the end.”

Carlix snorted, but then stopped trying to take the compass. He looked at the needle of the compass that was shining.

His cold eyes then have changed significantly.

“Are you the book leader?”

Speaking in a softer voice, Carlix gently grabbed my hand and took the compass.

“Excuse me, I’ve never seen you before.”

When the compass reached his hand, the light went out and the needle stopped.

“What’s a book leader?”

“Isn’t that why you were looking for the director?”

Instead of answering, Carlix put the compass back on the palm of my hand. Curiously, as soon as it touched me, the needle began to spin.

“Book leader refers to a person who can find the location of a magic book using a bookfinder.”

A magic book? Did Erika have that ability? Why did this ability not even exist in the original book?

I wasn’t sure because the original story was a romance between the heroine, Priscia, and the male lead, Carlix.

It’s already unfair to suffer while being possessed, but now to have such a useless ability. A book search system would be more convenient.

Above all, I had a bad feeling that things were going to increase more than anything else. Office worker’s instincts have never been wrong.

It’s best to get out quickly in times like this.

I bowed my head to greet him with a wry smile.

“Oh! I see. I’ll have to tell the director. Then excuse me.”

As I was trying to escape under the hard forearm that blocked me, his voice caught me.

“Well, that’s great. There’s a magic book I’m looking for.”

“Yes?”

Carlix’s face came so close to me that it was burdensome.

“Use the bookfinder to find it. Right now. I’ll give you permission later.”

“Wait a minute, Grand Duke. I don’t even know how to use it, but it’s also hard to do this all of a sudden.”

I frowned, trying to get away from him as much as I could.

At that moment, loud shouts were heard through the door and footsteps were coming up the stairs.

Have they really chased me all the way here?

It was the worst. Contemplating how to escape, Carlix frowned as if displeased.

“Why is it so noisy outside?”

As Carlix approached the door, I reflexively grabbed his arm.

Now, only Carlix is my hope!

He immediately shook my hand off.

“Do not touch my body recklessly.”

He was a complete iron-like man. He reacted harshly just from me holding his arm.

Well, I guess you might not like it. Even so, there’s no such thing as plainly speaking, is there?

According to my nature, I would like to say something, but I have to put out the lights in the hall right now.

“Please help, Grand Duke. They’re after me! They’re kidnapping me and trying to sell me to an old noble!”

I tried my best to play the innocent and pitiful miss who is in crisis.

Despite my best actress performance, he looked down at me with an expressionless face.

“What does that have to do with me?”

“What?”

There’s no such thing as a lost male character.

In this situation, can’t you help me out of compassion?

I was dumbfounded and stared at Carlix’s handsome face. He glanced down at me with a cold stare.

“Why should I help?”

“Ugh…”

Yes, you’re only warm-hearted to the female lead. I’m only a supporting actor, so it doesn’t matter if I’m kidnapped or not. Well, it would be funny if he did help someone he has never seen before, but…

The back of my neck was stiff because I was thinking about how to persuade him, and then I noticed the compass in my hand.

Well then, I’ll have to give him a reason to help.

I stood up straight and stared confidently at him with both hands on my waist.

“Make a deal with me, Grand Duke. I’ll find the book for you if you help me.”

“What if I refuse?”

“There’s nothing to lose anyway. We’re already in the worst situation. If you don’t help me, I’ll be kidnapped and you won’t find the book you want.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“Threatening? For something to come, something else needs to go.”

I looked up at the compass with a business smile. Carlix frowned uncomfortably and laughed briefly.

“It’s a deal. What kind of help do you want?”

“First of all, I want you to get rid of those guys.”

I quickly pointed to the door while singing joyfully inside.

Carlix bowed slowly to me. I could feel anger from his cobalt blue eyes under those long eyelashes.

I almost avoided it, but somehow I felt like I would lose, so I hardened my gaze.

Carlix whispered threateningly in my ear.

“Lady Erika, be honored. It’s unusual for me to move someone’s way.”

Carlix stormed out the door. I followed him in a hurry.

A young male employee and a middle-aged woman with a warm impression were trying to prevent Verdi’s men from climbing up the stairs.

“Why are you making such a fuss when I’m just looking for a girl. You want to get in trouble?”

One of them grabbed the male employee by the collar and shook him violently.

“Please, calm down. This is a sacred library.”

“I’ll shut your mouth first!”

One of the men tried to punch the poor employee in the face, and Carlix strode down, suddenly grabbed the man’s neck, and threw him down the stairs.

“What? Argh!”

The man rolled off the stairs screaming desperately.

Falling to the end of the stairs, he slammed his head on the floor and fainted with maybe one or two broken limbs.

“There’s a lot of bugs in the library.”

Carlix, who briefly glanced at Verdi’s other men, recited coldly.

The other guy tried to escape with a frightened face, but made eye contact with Carlix. The Duke looked down at him as if he were looking at a trivial bug.

“Who, who are you? Why are you attacking us…?”

He protested in a terrified voice, but Carlix responded with a kick instead of answering.

“Ahh!”

The man shuddered and collapsed, clutching his stomach. He coughed in agony and blood came out.

The library employee and the middle-aged woman, who were watching the scene, looked at Carlix with complex eyes mixed with gratitude and fear.

The middle-aged woman stepped forward and bowed her head to Calix.

“Thank you for your help, Archduke Reinhardt.”

Carlix nodded his head dryly to greet them.

“Mrs. Marian, where is Director William?”

“The director has entered the palace to cure the king’s illness.”

The corners of Carlix’s lips smiled cynically.

“It seems that his Highness has suffered from a chronic illness again. Do not report this to the manager. I will tell him later.”

“I will, Archduke.”

Mrs. Marian answered calmly.

Carlix frowned as he looked at Verdi’s fallen minions.

“Call the Capital Military Police right away. The Royal Library’s security system is the worst. What the hell is Director William doing?”

“I’m sorry, Archduke.”

Madame Marian, restless, bowed her head and apologized. She looked at her fourth-floor magic library with her worried eyes, and her eyes widened. She found me standing awkwardly in front of the library.

“That young girl…?”

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***