The palace's vast library stood before Alberto, its high shelves filled with countless books, scrolls, and forgotten records.
Alberto stepped inside.
There were very few people here. It wasn't that people didn't co here to read books, but since it was noon, everyone was busy with their own work. Usually, in the afternoon and after eleven at night, when there was less work, many people ca here to read.
After entering, Alberto looked at the rows of shelves. Then he heard a voice from behind.
"U-Um… Y-Your Majesty, what are you looking for?"
Alberto turned, his gaze landing on the speaker.
The librarian.
She stood before him, a girl barely twenty, with short chestnut hair that frad her delicate face. Her wide, brown eyes glead with a nervous energy, and her slender fingers fidgeted with the hem of her dark uniform. She had the air of a small animal caught in a beam of moonlight—anxious, uncertain, yet utterly captivated.
WOW! The Emperor—the Emperor is here—A-Also, he's so close! she scread internally, her cheeks heating up. He slls like leather and steel… and sothing else. Oh no, oh no, I'm going to die.
Oblivious to her internal chaos, Alberto spoke, his voice smooth, his tone steady.
"Oh, I was looking for the books from Britannia. Where are they?"
Alberto had ordered all the books from Britannia to be kept here so that his people could also learn about the outside world.
The librarian swallowed hard.
Stay calm. Stay calm. You can do this. Don't embarrass yourself.
"A-Ah… U-Umm… Please f-follow , Your Majesty."
She turned on her heel so quickly that she almost tripped over her own feet, barely catching herself.
Gods above, why am I like this?!
Leading him deeper into the library, she reached a secluded room. Unlike the main hall, where books stood neatly arranged on shelves, this chamber held rows of wooden drawers, each one ticulously locked.
With trembling hands, she pulled out a key and unlocked one of the drawers. Inside were several books—different from the mass-printed ones in the rest of the library. These were handwritten on parchnt, their covers weathered but sturdy, bound in deep blue and burgundy leather.
She carefully picked up a few, her fingers tracing the delicate gold lettering on the spines.
I hope he notices how gently I handle books. That I'm refined. Elegant. Worthy of standing beside him—NO. STOP. He's an Emperor. You're just a librarian. He doesn't even rember your na.
Her heart pounded as she turned to him, clutching the books to her chest.
"T-These are the books from Britannia, Your Majesty."
Alberto took one from her hands, flipping it open with practiced ease. His eyes scanned the text, absorbing the old script with a quiet intensity that made her stomach tighten.
He's so cool. Too cool. It's unfair.
She bit her lip, trying to suppress the heat creeping up her neck.
Alberto, still absorbed in the book, didn't notice the way she was practically lting under his presence.
Alberto looked through all the books. After carefully examining them for a while, he found the book he needed.
A black to, its spine engraved with a single sigil: a jagged eye with too many pupils.
The Profane Chronicles.
"I'm taking this for a while," he said, tucking the book under his arm.
The librarian's heart nearly stopped.
"Ah! W-Wait, Your Majesty!" She stepped forward before her brain could catch up with her actions. "You c-can't just… I an, there's a process, and, um—"
Alberto turned his head slightly, his gaze locking onto hers.
She froze.
Oh no. Eye contact. Direct eye contact.
Her brain short-circuited.
A thousand thoughts raced through her mind—none of them helpful.
He's looking at . What do I do? Do I breathe? No, I already am. Wait, did I stop breathing? Do I look away? No, that's rude. But if I keep staring, he'll think I'm weird. Oh gods, he's still staring. H-he's waiting for to say sothing.
A smirk flickered at the corner of Alberto's lips.
"Are you trying to stop ?"
The librarian felt a cold sweat run down her back.
"N-No! I w-would never, Your Majesty!" She waved her hands frantically. "I-I just… there's usually paperwork! And procedures! A-And if you just take it, I'll have to mark it under 'special borrowing,' a-and—"
Alberto exhaled lightly, sothing between a sigh and a chuckle.
"I'll return it soon," he said.
It wasn't an answer, but it was final.
The librarian clutched the books tighter against her chest, nodding quickly, even as her mind scread at her.
Of course, of course. He can do whatever he wants. He's the Emperor. Who am I to stop him? I'm just a librarian. A very, very weak librarian who just embarrassed herself in front of—
"Thank you for your assistance," Alberto added as he turned to leave.
Her breath caught.
He… thanked ?
Did he always do that? Did he even rember my na? Probably not. But thank you from him was enough to send my soul straight into the heavens.
As she watched him walk away, her knees nearly gave out.
I'm not surviving this day.
....
As Alberto walked away, book in hand, he couldn't help but shake his head slightly.
That girl is an idiot. She acted like a startled rabbit caught in a trap, completely overwheld just by my presence. Was it fear? No… it wasn't the sa reaction I got from n who knew I could have them executed with a word. It was sothing more foolish. How did soone like her beco a librarian? Now I feel like not everyone summoned from the System is smart. Should I replace her? Hmm... she doesn't have that much of a hard job as a librarian anyway.
Ah, I shouldn't worry about these things now.
Alberto glanced down at The Profane Chronicles in his hand. The book was more important. If it held even a fraction of the knowledge he needed, it would bring him one step closer to uncovering the truth about the Chest of Eternal.
The librarian, on the other hand, was nothing more than a background character.
As he strode out of the library, he dismissed her from his thoughts entirely.
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