#5: R18 Novels

It was a girl, she was a commoner, I could see it from her attire and body movements. She wore round glasses and had her blonde hair into two pigtails.

"Aren't you the famous young lady Montrez?", she asked looking at the title of the book I was reading.

Suddenly her eyes widened, and she squealed.

"Do you too like these? I too love this. The way he courts his young miss is too good. while reading his lines, my heart skips a beat. Doesn't yours too?"

She was way cheerful and cute, like a cat. She was so much free beside me, as though we were friends. I blushed. I liked the way she was talking so openly. So I too replied.

"Yes, especially that line when he picks up her hat", I added.

"Yes right?? So did you read Fashion Front? It is based on a female designer who gets stuck in a palace romance, she gets courted by three princes", she blurted out.

"Really? wow! Its called Fashion Front? Where can I get it? Is it there in this library?", I asked immediately.

But I soon covered my mouth, it wasn't elegant of a noble lady like me getting all excited over a book.

"Well, Would you see this? the upper class lady is interested in commoner's romance novels. That too R18 one. Doesn't it hurt your pride to discuss this with a commoner like me my lady?", she said with a stern gaze unlike her cheerful personality.

"Is it wrong if I am interested? I don't discriminate against commoners nor it hurts my pride to talk with others. I just don't have enough social experience."

She sat down in front of me, the sunsetting in the window beside us, caused her hair to look reddish, she returned to cheerful personality.

"Social experience? Aren't you being too honest with me, are you not afraid of me gossiping and starting rumors?"

"Even if you will, It doesn't matter. I don't know why, I have this feeling of wanting to confide in you. Can I?", I asked. I didn't know why I couldn't stop myself from talking. Maybe because I kept many things bottled up in my heart? Maybe..

"I may not be able to help you solve your problems since I just own a small bakery. But I can certainly lend you my ears on one condition."

"What is it?"

" Let me be your friend", she said with a big smile.

"Ok, Hello, I am Aurelia Luna"

"Hello, I am Mary Ann"

That was when I first made a friend. It told her about how Lilliana keeps me away from the parties, and acts as though she does everything for my sake. Even about the second prince and his affair.

I even told her about my plans of treason, which suppose is not treason because I want to support the crown prince to become the emperor.

I told her about my plan on becoming strong, and be a knight for a while. All these. I didn't tell her about my rebirth, but I know I already opened many secrets in front of her.

Unlike others, she responded well, as if she had already known about all of this.

"It is kind of unfair that I hold your secrets, so I will share some of mine", she told and took me away out of the library and into some streets and corners. to a small house of sweet smell of cakes in the corner.

"Welcome to my humble abode or your sanctuary incase of any trouble", she invited me in.

There were some people in, a baker, his wife, and twins. I greeted them and they began serving me. Her mom scolded her, to have brought a noble lady in a humble place. it seemed warm. Just like home.

"Don't disturb us, we have girls talk to catch up on.", She said and took me to the room upstairs. where I saw than a bedroom, it seemed as a warehouse for books. it was filled with books from this place to the other.

She showed me many romance novels, all of them R18. So I asked her age just to be sure.

"I am 15, Oh.. but I like R18" she smiled with drool all over.

She showed me many books, The Normal lady, Fashion Front, Not So Beautiful, A century too young to be true. etc.

She lent me the fashion front. I immediately started reading it.

"Friendship, doesn't only mean sharing interests, I will always be for you. Ok?" she said.

"Me too. Then can I ask you something?"

"Of course, Luna"

"I want to join a knight service, Ferocie is the best choice, but I want to join fast and not want my name to shown. Do you have any idea?"

"I do have one. But let me think it properly, and I will help you."

"Why are you so friendly with me?" I asked. Because it made no sense for her to befriend me, if it was money, she would have made a move.

"Let me just say, I know you, and you seem different from before. I like you now. I was always your supporter."

" Ok, I won't ask more. But I really had fun. I wish I could take you home with me.", I said.

"I would like it too, but I like men."

"I didn't mean it that way!! I meant to stay longer with me.... uhhhh....You must go slow on those books."

"Hahaha", we laughed and went out towards the place where I parked my coach, her parents invited me to have dinner but I was afraid I were any more late, Dad would start a search and make it all chaos.

I sat in carriage happily thinking about reading these novels, I certainly won't live this life in vain.