My etiquette classes began once again and three days a week with a private tutor at my aunt Bernadette's home as requested of my parents. Lady Bernadette would always appear before the library to take me to her home. I thought it was a bit odd since I would never call her. I accepted her kind gesture for three days so far. It was only until I asked Maura for a map that I found out that it was a mere fifteen minute walk from the library to her house.
When I questioned Lady Bernadette about it, she quickly admitted that she had been escorting me from and to with a detour to make it seem like the distance was further than I thought all because she was worried about me walking outside by myself.
The tendency I have to surround myself with people that adore me to a fault has still not changed...
I began walking from Lady Bernadette's home to the Exurbia Library after my lessons. It was a good chance for me to get familiar with the nearby shops and scenery.
Nariel is a truly beautiful country with its unique architecture and emphasis on greenery plants all around. It is said that the architectural designs of most buildings and roads are based off of the picture records from Asmaria.
Everyone in this country is a fanatic about a lost country other than me.
Still, the nostalgia I feel from seeing this country as if I had been here before. In my first life, I never even stepped out of Arundel even once before...
"Welcome back, Arielle," Maura said as she greeted me after I changed into my uniform.
"Good afternoon, Maura," I told her.
"Garett said that you have been doing well in remembering the library sections. You will be placing the books back," she said as she pointed towards a large stack of books. "You will be fine since it is all sorted by section. You will be in one aisle for the most part."
Carrying all these by hand...There should be at least seventy books.
"Where is Garett? I have not seen him all day."
"Garett attends Nariel Preparatory five days a week. He will be here later in the afternoon."
If I remember right, Nariel royalty and the young Prince Erik currently go there.
"I see."
"I thought that you might attend there as well."
"No, I will be attending the Royal Academy within Arundel in a few years..."
"That's still going to be about five years from now...How making some friends? That's what school is all about."
"Friends?"
I only had Charlotte who I considered a true friend. If I were to look back on my first life and second life, I only remembered classmates' names and faces and only exchanged a few pleasantries. Other than Charlotte, I never felt a really strong connection between anyone.
I thought it was enough to only have one person understand me and only one person who could love me as a woman.
"More importantly, have you ever really lived for yourself?"
"Huh?"
"You have lived your life as a Duke's Daughter for how long? All these etiquette and socializing classes were done with the intent of serving your husband, am I right? You requested to come over here of your own will, but still have not changed your way of pleasing your parents. What about yourself? What have you done to make yourself happy? Do you really not have any desires?"
There was only one time that I ever asked for something. Erik denied me of it, and my heart ended up being broken because I lost something very important that day...
What was it?
I suddenly snapped back to reality.
It was not as if I completely remembered my past life. There were some parts that were still fuzzy...
"Apart from wanting to come here, not really... Surrounding myself with the scent of ink and lovely scent of old books...Can that not be my dream?"
"If that is what you truly wish for, I would say no more. That is not what you want, Arielle. Like you, him, and myself...we are all escaping from something," Maura said as she took a stack of books onto her hands and carried them out. "I just hope that you will not end up like the rest of us."
With her usual professional smile, she left like the wind.
Maura is one to not be taken lightly...
Her words cut deep into me.
I came here as an escape from Erik as well as for anyone that I could encounter within my country. I would have to see him if he were to come by my home eventually. Constantly avoiding him for five or six years would have its limits. I opted with the excuse of studying in another country where my parents would accept because of my aunt living here.
No matter how tied we are to fate, even he cannot force himself here.
A loud trumpet rang throughout the library.
"Our Prince is here!" a booming man's voice rang.
I spoke too soon...
I was on the second floor.
Upon just hearing the word Prince, I quickly lunged myself towards the ground and crawled to the ledge.
A herd of various noble children in black uniforms had entered the library with several guards.
Maura bravely went up the the guards.
"This library is not a place for you soldiers in heavy uniforms," she said crisply.
"The Second Prince of our nation is here! How can we be asked to leave?"
Nariel royalty...That makes sense.
"Under Article 37, under subsection 12, militarized personnel are not allowed intrusion upon public facilities or businesses or homes at in times when the country is not at war. If you lot forgot how to read, shall I read it to you from the book word from word?"
"...Ask that everyone in this library apart from staff to leave then!"
"All these people are happy residents of this country... To ask them to leave while they are here for business and leisure activities, shows how rotten the abuse from soldiers are," Maura said coldly.
The guard grabbed Maura by the collar.
I quickly got to my feet.
I need to do something.
"Who are you to..."
Maura pointed at a golden circular badge to her chest.
"As an honorary Royal Librarian appointed by the King, I have the authority to throw out anyone I dislike," she said as she grabbed the soldier by his collar. The soldier was then lifted into the air and thrown outside of the large double doorway. She went back to smiling professionally. "Anyone else like to be escorted out the same way?"
Everyone including the Nobles shook their head incredibly fast before the very scary Librarian.
For such a petite young woman to have that much strength, the world truly is full of mysteries...
I looked around and saw people circling around two individuals. One was a boy with spiky crimson red hair and sapphire colored eyes. He was very handsome with a sharp gaze and sly smile.
For a moment, I felt his eyes lock with mine. He smiled.
I quickly ducked and looked back again to see if he was still staring over here. His attention had turned towards the people around him.
My heart is ever so nervous...
The person to his left was a flaxen blonde haired boy with ear length hair and long bangs. When he turned, I saw the familiar emerald green eyes I loved.
Erik...
I quietly retreated with my back to the shelves and sighed. Of course he would show up here.
Fate is always unkind to us...
I grabbed the stack of books for the fourth floor and quickly made my way up there. It was an unpopular section, so I could hide away from others if I wanted to. I never thought that I would use this spot for this purpose so quickly.
What am I doing?
Am I going to hide from Erik forever?
As I was placing books away, I saw a head of vibrant red hair pop up from the other side of the shelf.
I quickly jumped back and fell onto my bottom.
"Sorry...Did I scare you?" a voice from the other side asked.
A boy?
He walked around the shelves and revealed himself.
He was the popular boy I saw earlier! He really did see me...
"N-No...I'm fine," I said as I quickly fixed my sitting position.
He looked at me closely as if he was witnessing a strange creature.
I felt awkward around boys that I did not know in my past life.
"Are you a fairy?" he asked as he sat down in front of me.
Fairy?
Is he crazy?
Wait, if I say that I am a fairy, will he go away and pretend he never saw me?
"That's right," I suddenly blurted while I was gathering my thoughts.
He chuckled at me.
"Then, Miss Book Keeping Fairy, could you help me find a book?"
Am I certified to help people yet?
I have only been putting books away...
"I am not certified to help you..."
"That's too bad...How about telling me your favorite book here?"
I took out a blue book from the pile I was supposed to put away and showed it to him.
"Tales of Grimel..."
"Are you sure that it is not just some random book you pulled out?"
"...I truly like this book."
"What is it about then?"
For the next thirty minutes, I explained to him the plot and a little splendors about how the story often tugs at the emotions of the reader. I also began a brief history about the author and how the author struggled to write this story while experiencing painful arthritis in their hands and the painful loss of their husband, as well as other things.
It was about halfway through that I realized that I was speaking with so much zest about the book that I completely forgot about maintaining my face.
"...I apologize for my rudeness," I said.
"Why?"
"I never helped you find a book and began rambling on about this series...I just thought that it would be a waste if no one found this wonderful book because it was in this section."
"Is this a section for unpopular books?" he asked.
"I believe that it is more of a location issue. The books are a bit old, but are still in great condition. If more people came up here, surely they will like these books as well."
He gently took the book from my hands.
"Thank you for helping me find this book, Miss Fairy," he said as he got up.
I indirectly helped him...Is this fine?
I went back to sorting out books and occasionally looking over and keeping track of Erik's location. The boy from earlier had joined with Erik after Erik finished checking out books. They seemed rather close from how closely they stood to one another.
I watched Erik leave with his classmates with my hand to my chest.
I had no idea how important this library was or how close it was to Erik. I had asked about whether it was regular for students from Erik's school to come here. The Academy makes a trip here once a month. In the meantime, students that happen to check out books will return some time within two weeks to return books or renew them with their own time.
I feel as though I have gotten more awkward and honest with my feelings ever since my second life. All of my feelings show up on my face. The way I am now, I will surely mess things up...This means that I have to continue hiding.
Just a few more years and I will save Erik and protect the happiness around him...
Within a few days, we had received an influx of new people entering the fourth floor new people going up to the fourth floor.
I felt happy about the new rush, but I also began hearing some odd rumors about if you were to find a book the book fairy likes you could see her.
That boy played a prank on me...