9 – Chapter 9
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“It’s okay. So, are you going to look around the mansion from now on?”
“Yes. Is there a place you would like to visit first?”
“Um… I want to go to the library.”
“May I ask why?”
“That… As you know, I lack common sense…”
What is lacking can be filled up.
And basic knowledge like common sense is a part that can be filled with stories.
The library is where such stories are gathered.
“I see. Then I’ll stop by the library first.”
After saying that, Mr. Ea took the lead and started to walk.
The sound of two people’s footsteps echoing through the empty hallway and the sunlight pouring through the window.
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Looking out the window following the pouring sunlight, I see a beautiful garden shining with green light.
Several people mending a tree.
How long did it take to appreciate the slowly changing scenery, Ea-san stopped.
But I couldn’t stop because I was looking outside and didn’t notice it, and I had no choice but to bump into Mr.
“Oh.”
A body that could not overcome the shock and fell slowly backwards.
Thankfully, however, I managed to keep my balance and not fall.
“Are you okay?”
“Ah, yes…”
“Please be careful. You can’t take your eyes off this inside.”
“Yes.”
After I finish answering, the door opens, revealing a grand inner space.
Huge bookshelves filling the space and the books in them.
And each and every one of them is of such quality that it is okay to call them works of art rather than books.
As I step inside, I am greeted by a completely different atmosphere from the outside.
The slightly heavy air and the burnt smell of bound books are somewhere comfortable.
In addition, employees are managing the space by walking between the bookshelves standing like well-trained soldiers in line with fives.
Just as we couldn’t keep our mouth shut at the sight we saw for the first time, one of the servants started approaching us.
“…Hello. What did you come to the library for?”
At a glance, they don’t seem to welcome us.
Maybe it was when he was busy.
As I was about to say that I would leave soon, Mr. Ea spoke first.
“The lady came because she wanted to read a book. Please forgive me.”
Hearing that, the servant glanced at me and then went back to what he was doing.
I’m at work and an uninvited guest came and I’m very upset.
“My lady, have you decided which book to read?”
“Oh, there is nothing like that. Um… I want a book that contains as much general knowledge as possible.”
“Then would you mind if I pick out a book?”
“Oh, yes. I would appreciate it if you would.”
It’s the first time I’ve been here, so I don’t know if I’ll get lost again.
It would be better for Ea-san to bring it than for me to go.
So I was left alone, sitting at a table in the middle of the library and waiting.
******
“That girl is a saint of that church?”
“Yeah, it must be because I saw him going around with Ea.”
“As expected, you can’t tell people just by looking at them…”
It really is.
Because of her appearance, even if she wasn’t a saint of the eclipse church, she could be trusted as a hidden princess somewhere.
Besides, the way they fidgeted and played with their hands on the table, whether or not they knew we were constantly spying on them, was quite cute.
A kid like that really stands at the apex of such a cruel cult?
Speaking of the saintess of the cult of eclipse, she always had a fishy smile and looked at the world with thin narrow eyes as if she were mocking.
However, the saintess who appeared was so different from what she thought, how many times she must have hidden behind her bookshelf and watched her child with her fellow maids. Tidy up
And after a while, what came into sight was Ea, who had brought her books.
As I put the books Ea had brought on the table one by one, I saw the titles of her books.
「Encyclopedia of World Geography」
「Ancient History ~ From the Kingdom of Alfreich to the Empire」
「Development of culture」
…Is it bullying?
All of them are books in which you cannot find anything interesting.
Well, Ea’s hatred for the cult of eclipse was greater than any of us, so I thought that might be the case.
“How are you?”
“Huh? She’s flipping through her book right now. She must not like her.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah, even if it’s like me, I don’t think I’ll have the taste to read it if I bring a book like that.”
“I see.”
“…”
Ah, this voice is very familiar.
When she turned her head, what she saw was a maid in charge of the library who was exuding tremendous pressure.
“Why don’t you tell me more?”
“Mi, sorry…”
“I am not seeking an apology. Say more.”
“…”
The reason she was angry is predictable.
Who is she? It wasn’t enough for her to love books and the library, so she became obsessed with it, so the head of the household had no choice but to send her as a maid in charge of the library.
I’m sure he’s getting angry at me for disturbing his reading noisily this time too.
“How many times have I told you to be quiet in the library?”
“Um… Number 32…?”
“If you remember that well, why can’t you remember what I said?”
“Sorry…”
“Haa…”
It was a big deal. At this rate, I would have to tidy up the library alone as punishment.
That’s absolutely not the case!
How many days did you suffer from muscle pain after receiving that punishment the other day!
Somehow… I found a way… A way… To circumvent it!
“Yes, yes! Look at you too! Was this really unavoidable? What a saint of that church!”
“…I saw it earlier. It wasn’t a very pleasant impression.”
Lies. I know you like cute things.
I’m sure you would have liked it just by looking at the exterior.
But she didn’t spit it out on purpose.
Because it was an open secret.
“But I like that attitude.”
“Huh? Attitude?”
At that, she turns her gaze towards the child who will be with Ea, and she sees the child reading a boring-looking book.
Perhaps he was quite focused on that as well, turning the pages of the bookshelf quietly with only breathing.
“You seem to know at least the etiquette you need to follow in the library.”
“I read that…”
“Hmm? Can you see what that book is? I can’t see because my eyesight is poor.”
“So read the book in moderation…”
“Um… 「World Geography Encyclopedia」, 「Ancient History ~ From Alfrich Kingdom to Empire」, 「Cultural Development」.”
“Really, how do you read something so boring…?”
– Took
Suddenly, the pen in the librarian’s hand falls.
She was surprised by that. When she looked at her face, she looked really surprised.
“…Was it not only polite, but also intellectual? Even a saint of the eclipse church is still a saint, right?”
After saying that, she picked up the pen that had fallen on the ground and started writing down something in the notebook she was holding.
Now.
It slips away slowly without being noticed.
If you’re in that state, you won’t notice most things, so if you’re going to run away, now is the time!
“Even when you go, clean up before you go.”
“Ugh…”
******
It is successful.
The hatred of the cult of eclipse that the servants of this mansion have is in no small part due to the level of education that is almost equivalent to brainwashing by the head of the family.
Of course, there are some dogs that have genuine hatred, like the chef.
Among the users who have such hatred, the ones with the lowest level of hatred are those who manage the library.
I think it might be because I am able to make my own decisions after gaining various knowledge.
And among them, the maid in charge of the library has the least hatred.
If you want to convince the servants of the mansion, it is only natural that she should be the first.
So, even if the lady wanted another place, I tried to get her to the library somehow, even making excuses, but the lady wanted the library, so things were easy.
Most of her mansion already knows that she likes cute things, so in the morning she decorates the lady wholeheartedly.
And her three favorite books.
「Encyclopedia of World Geography」
「Ancient History ~ From the Kingdom of Alfreich to the Empire」
「Development of culture」
She is the books she likes the most, but nobody but her.
So she deliberately handed the books to her young lady.
And the result is that.
“If you have time, I recommend reading these books as well.”
The lady quietly hides behind the bookshelf and watches as she reads all three thick books.
The three sheets of paper contain what appears to be the title of a book written in densely packed rows.
She may think it’s no big deal, but she’s succeeded in winning a liking when she offers to borrow the books she loves from her library.
While she is in charge of the library, she is extremely reluctant to grant loan approval to other users.