CHAPTER 97

"...."

'That's a dangerous remark....'

Regardless of her thoughts, Cedric smiled softly. With a smile that makes Dalia's heart go weak.

"Really, as you say, it's a serious situation.... Strangely enough, I don't feel that way when I'm with you."

"...."

"I guess it's because I want to tease you."

He laughed mischievously at the last word, but it was vague whether he was serious or joking.

Dalia blinked quickly, not knowing how to react. Cedric said softly.

"Dalia, there's nothing in your plans that isn't wonderful."

"But..."

"I'll make it happen."

Saying so, Cedric closed his eyes with his palms facing the ceiling.

He quietly closed his eyes without any distortion around the corner of his eyes, like a saint giving blessings.

'He's really handsome.'

With no time for Dalia to admire again, something surprising happened.

On all the shelves of the annex, more than 200 books jumped out of the shelves at the same time and began to flip through the pages in the air.

Cedric opened his eyes and looked at Dalia.

Is it because it looks incredibly sophisticated? Unlike him, it seemed a little difficult for her.

He loosened his collar roughly like a hot person. He said, taking a deep breath.

"Do you remember when you picked a book for me at the library back then?"

Dalia nodded blankly.

At that time, Cedric quickly picked up seven or eight books with just one keyword from a distance where the title would be hard to read.

"I just applied a little bit of the skills I used from there."

'...where is a little bit?'

In the meantime, Cedric seems to have improved.

A white envelope fell from one of the books that were flying in the air.

It was the letter that Dalia was looking for.

Cedric sighed and waved his hand back. Then, more than 200 books were back in place.

At the same time, the white envelope that fell on the floor ripped off its own.

When Beolde said that she had hidden the letter on the day before Her Majesty's wedding, it meant that no one had touched it for 10 years.

So the part of the letter protruding out of the book had a very white layer of dust.

The letter floated in the air and flew to Dalia. She took it in surprise.

Only then did she worry about Cedric.

It was nice to find the envelope quickly, but....

"Sir Cedric, are you okay?"

Dalia was surprised to see him.

He was holding his forehead and lowering his head, looking a little tired. Dalia was worried about him, so she bent her knees (Cedric was tall so she didn't have to bend much) and looked down at his face.

"I'm a little dizzy."

Cedric sighed and rested his forehead lightly on Dalia's shoulder.

If it's other times, she would have doubted his ulterior motive, but he seemed too tired.

So Dalia was just surprised and then patted him on the back.

But as time went by, it felt more and more strange. Cedric's soft hair tickled her chin, and the feeling of his hot forehead touching her clothes was strange.

Cedric was too tall for Dalia.

As he leaned over her, her body seemed to be covered by his shoulder and large physique.

It feels like being trapped.

It was so close, and besides, his breath on her body felt somehow strange....

Maybe she's becoming more perverted?

Just before Dalia couldn't hold back and asked Cedric if he was okay now, Cedric said in a slightly weak voice.

"I'm all right now."

He slowly lifted his head from Dalia's shoulder.

Only then did Dalia, released from her strange mood, spoke anxiously, fixing Cedric's hair that had been pressed against her shoulder.

"Still, wouldn't it be better to sit down and rest for a while? Shall I ask someone else to bring you something cold to drink?"

"Yeah, but let's stay together a little longer. I want to."

She couldn't say anything else to someone who was exhausted because of her.

Dalia put her bag on a nearby desk chair and sat next to Cedric. Then she rested her chin on her palm and stared at Cedric's tired profile.

'It would be nice if Sir Cedric could also purify himself.'

Come to think of it, it occurred to Dalia that Cedric still had no idea about her ability.

Somehow she felt guilty. It would be nice if she could purify him when he's working hard for her.

'...Should I just tell him?'

She thought that it would be fine if it was Cedric.

However, it was also strange to confess one's ability out of the blue. Moreover, until now, Cedric has always been so stable in Dalia's eyes that he seems fine without purification.

Cedric, looking tired and laid his head down on the desk with his arms as a pillow, then turned his head to look at Dalia.

"Come to think of it, are you carrying the gift I gave you?"

Cedric suddenly asked.

His gift?

Dalia, who remembered the jewelry from the previous Princess that he had given to her, hurriedly asked back because her face was burning for no reason.

"If it's a gift, what is it?"

"That, the magic bead. Always carry it with you from now on. Especially since you are in a lot of danger...."

"Ahh."

Dalia nodded.

And she showed him the inside of the locket necklace.

It would have been ten times more difficult to maintain composure without this when dealing with Aceras at that time.

"I have already brought it."

Cedric smiled contentedly after seeing it.

"Since we're at the library, should I take another class after a while?"

Cedric said playfully.

Dalia smiled too. It was fortunate that Cedric seemed to feel better.

"Then I'm going to be a really scary teacher this time. If you don't answer, I'll pinch your nose."

"Oh, I'm so scared I'm going to cry."

Cedric pretended to be weak as he raised his eyebrows to eight(八) shape.

Dalia glanced back at Cedric's hair flowing on his forehead.

"I'll go check what books are there. Sir Cedric, ask for something to drink!"

"Yeah, then."

Cedric smiled and waved to Dalia.

Dalia waved to him and wandered around the annex, looking at the titles of the books on the shelves for the first time in a while.

Originally, she hated reading books, but thanks to Cedric, Dalia's cultural studies have improved. Should she call this a good thing....

"Well, that would be fine."

"How are you, Miss Dalia?"

"Ack!"

A voice came in from behind her. She jumped from the spot in surprise.

'Is, is it the time to use this?'

Dalia hurriedly grabbed the locket necklace and lowered her hand only after realizing the identity of the voice.

This voice was never, ever heard here.

The Imperial Palace Library required a permit unless you were in a high-ranking position in the Imperial Palace like the 4 Ducal families, so originally there were not many people here.

Especially the third annex, it was really quiet because the library and the palace were separated.

That's why she never thought there would be anyone but Cedric....

Looking back, she saw Meldon looking down at her with both her hands above her chest, as if he had surprised her.

The black curly hair scattered randomly on the handsome and angular forehead, hard shoulders, tall stature, and copper skin, Meldon looked just like he did when they met before.

She hasn't seen him for a while.

But it's a face that she never thought she'd see here.

She tried to raise her voice in bewilderment, but hurriedly covered her mouth when Meldon hissed.

After a while, she asked quietly.

"How are you here...?"

"Isn't there only one person that I have a connection with in the Imperial Palace?"

"Ahh, Sir Cedric..."

But Cedric doesn't seem to know that Meldon's here at all.

"If you're asking me why I'm here, I need to find something."

"Can I ask you what it is?"

"Yes. If you can help me find it."

Meldon lightly chuckled. Strangely enough, he is someone that can't be hated.

She was very worried inside because of Aceras, but seeing Meldon casually playing pranks without knowing the situation made Dalia feel a little more at ease. On the other hand, she felt a little cheeky. He has no idea who Dalia is with right now.

"Well. We'll talk about that later. What have you been up to?"

"I also have a lot of work to do. I went from place to place. Including here."

"Did you get any results?"

"Well, I guess we'll have to wait and see."

Meldon leaned over to her. He was already an adult, and he was tall and had a big stature, which created a bit of a dangerous atmosphere.

"My esteemed father seemed to be communicating with the Holy Empire separately. I'm going to dig it up. Everyone has their own secret information, but I think he's going to cross the line a little bit if he keeps it like this."

Dalia blinked in surprise.

At that moment, she suddenly remembered Merida, who had come to find her.

Why would someone clever like Merida come to Dalia now?

Was it because Merida also knew that the Artus Ducal family was in a strange state?

Then, did Aceras suddenly appear in this Empire to convince Duke Artus?

'It'll be a problem if the Duke of Artus had moved already.'

In fact, even now, many nobles of the Frederic Empire steal information from the Holy Empire.

Some of the elder nobles of the Holy Empire also trade similarly to the nobles of this Empire.

However, while other nobles did not cross the line, whether for lack of ability or for other reasons, the Duke of Artus crossed the line. Eventually, he helps to kidnap Adrisha to the Holy Empire.

'At that time, I remember that he's being forced to help because of some sort of weakness.'