Chapter 82: The aning Of Love
Rosalie’s astonishnt was, in all honesty, rather straightforward. The book that Angelica had set before her was nothing short of unexpected - a to delving into the intricacies of sexual education.
"The Sacred Book Of Satisfaction?"
Lady Ashter read the title out loud, arching her thin eyebrows, her bewildernt only deepening, and shifted her rounded eyes to the princess who, on the other hand, was on the verge of exploding into laughter.
"Go ahead, open it! The illustrations within are nothing short of extraordinary!"
Finally, Angelica’s emotions bubbled up uncontrollably, unleashing peals of laughter so hearty that tears welled at the corners of her eyes. Amidst this explosion of mirth, she boldly cracked the book open right in the middle, using her pale, slender finger to indicate a rather absurd depiction of two individuals engaging in mutual pleasure. Even to Rosalie, and particularly iling, who was no stranger to matters of sexual education and intimacy, this illustration felt surprisingly novel.
"Where on earth did you find this ridiculous book?"
Still grappling with her bewildernt, Rosalie began to peruse the contents of the volu. Her finely arched eyebrows shot up in response to both the explicit imagery and the detailed instructions found on its pages. The princess rested her chin thoughtfully on her fists, gracefully positioning her pointed elbows on the polished wooden table and, with a hint of disappointnt creeping into her voice, she let out a sigh tinged with irritation.
"They handed
this book during my ti in the Holy Temple when I had my first period at the age of fourteen. Can you fathom the audacity? Such a shocking revelation within the hallowed confines of the Holy Temple!"
"Indeed... Hold on a mont, they were trying to impart this knowledge to you at fourteen?"
Angelica nodded in affirmation with a soft "mhm" and emitted yet another exasperated sigh.
"The Emperor’s intent was to make
more valuable, you see. They had plans to arrange my marriage to soone from Izaar, as mandated by the Continental Alliance, once I reached fifteen. However, fate threw a curveball when I missed my period for six months, and His Holiness began to suspect potential reproductive issues."
She leaned gently over the table, her pale cheek finding solace on its cold, polished surface. Her eyes closed, yet her face retained a surprising serenity. The pose seed oddly inviting, prompting Rosalie to follow suit. She, too, leaned in over the wooden table, resting the left side of her face on her outstretched arm, fixing her deep gaze upon her friend. Angelica’s beautiful visage glistened, capturing and reflecting the golden afternoon sun’s warm embrace.
"Did it upset you?"
After what felt like an eternity of profound silence, Rosalie’s hushed voice finally erged from her rosy lips. It caused Angelica to flinch slightly, her eyes still shut, concealed beneath the lush curtain of her long, blonde eyelashes.
"Not exactly... Life within the Temple had its dull monts, but it offered a sense of tranquility. Even though I grappled with the notion of leading a seemingly purposeless existence, I remained steadfast in my resolve to avoid entangling myself in the web of political machinations. And... I had no inclination for a marriage born solely of convenience."
With this, she finally opened her eyes and extended a warm smile to Lady Ashter.
"You are truly fortunate to marry the man you love, Rosalie. It’s a genuine blessing."
Rosalie continued to gaze into the depths of Angelica’s eyes, finding it impossible to divert her attention, despite the awkwardness stirred by the sincerity of her words. In a strange way, she felt a pang of sympathy for herself. Or, to be more precise, for the original Rosalie Ashter, who had been hopelessly in love with Damien Dio but hadn’t been afforded the opportunity to wed him in the novel.
Everything appeared hopelessly entangled and profoundly unjust. However, she still had nearly an entire year ahead of her.
"Rosalie?"
Concerned by her friend’s protracted silence, Angelica lightly tapped her on the forehead, successfully regaining her attention. Her smile had transitioned into a furrowed, worried expression, lips slightly parted. Rosalie fluttered her lashes, attempting to conjure a fitting response to the princess’s earlier statent, but her thoughts remained frustratingly elusive. Consequently, she rely smiled and nodded.
"Yes... It is indeed a blessing."
Then, she locked eyes with Angelica once more and posed a question,
"Angelica... Do you ever wish to experience love soday?"
The princess shifted her head, resting her chin upon the table’s surface. She emitted a long, contemplative hum, taking a few monts to craft her response.
"I am not entirely certain anymore. Love is a rather expansive concept, wouldn’t you agree? It extends far beyond the realm of romance. There are so many things, so many beings, one can love. Sotis, I am overwheld with affection just watching children at play in the streets. My heart swells with love as I witness a flower unfurling its petals. Love envelops
when I observe a bird tenderly caring for its hatchling... I want to believe that love exists everywhere, in all its forms. I want to believe that I am capable of experiencing each and every facet of it."
Such a heartwarming yet familiar speech suddenly made Rosalie flinch and widen her eyes – those were the exact words spoken by Evangelina!
’What is happening? For the second ti in a row, the characters in the novel are either speaking lines ant for later tis or saying things they shouldn’t be saying at all!’
"Your Highness?"
Lady Ashter’s anxious contemplations were abruptly interrupted by the resonant call of a male voice seeking Angelica. Both girls turned their heads in the direction of the sound and spotted Sir Artemian, Angelica’s personal guard, striding purposefully toward them. His weighty footsteps reverberated through the tranquil library like the rhythmic beating of drums. The knight ca to a halt directly in front of the princess, executing a graceful bow of acknowledgnt to the ladies, before continuing,
"Your Highness, it’s ti to resu your regular schedule. You need so rest."
Angelica let out a long, exhausted sigh, wiping her eyes with her pale hands, then rose to her feet, and offered Rosalie a sowhat forced smile.
"Well, I suppose it is ti for
to take a break. Rosalie, would you like
to arrange for an Imperial Knight to accompany you back to the mansion?"
Rosalie briefly glanced at the towering bookshelf behind the princess and shook her head.
"Thank you, but no. I’d like to stay a bit longer, if that’s alright."
"Of course! Feel free to linger as long as you wish. Just rember to request an escort when you’re ready to depart. It would put my mind at ease."
"Alright, I promise."
After Angelica departed the library, accompanied by her steadfast guardian, Lady Ashter positioned herself before one of the bookshelves. She began the deliberate process of scanning the array of titles adorning the neatly arranged volus, her thoughts still grappling with the uncertainty of her quest.
’In the novel, Rosalie managed to uncover books on Demons and Demonic rituals in the Imperial Library... I wonder how long it will take for
to find even a hint...’
"May I offer you so assistance, Lady Rosalie?"
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