Lady Eliana's body is quivering with fear. Her gaze is fixed on the ground and her hands are clenching tightly against the ground. The character I've read about. I can't believe she will respond like this to me. I sigh. Of course I should expect that. I am currently the villain of her story, not her supporter.
"Just leave," I say.
I don't have time for her early appearance. In the novel, we are meant to meet during the Queen selection introduction. Not in the library. Is she here to prepare for the Selection? But isn't today her birthday?
I sigh again. I like her as a female lead. She's kind to everyone, and friendly too. She's a smart and strong female lead, except when she's with Cornelius. Her love for him makes her a bottom. I massage my head. What am I even thinking? Should I take this chance to befriend her? But how? Ah! I know.
She is about to withdraw and leave when I call after her. "Lady Eliana." She whirls towards me. "Are you preparing for the Queen Selection?"
She nods, ashamed.
"You don't look like you're twenty," I ask.
"I am! It's my birthday today…"
Bingo! I smile and she looks away again. Understandable. Our station has a considerable gap. "Happy birthday," I say. "Are you not going to invite me?"
Eliana looks up. She's very beautiful and innocent. I guess this is Calais's type. "I can't… You're a Duke's daughter and I'm—"
"We are two people who are interested in magic, right?"
"No! No! My magic is very far from a prodigy like you. I'm sorry for mistaking that, I—"
"You said it yourself. I am a Duke's daughter." I sigh and then add, "Is that why I am not welcome at your birthday celebration? Don't worry, I am used to it."
"You are!" Suddenly, Eliana holds my hand. "You are very much welcome. But people, they will get enamored with you. It might be embarrassing and…"
"Don't worry. I can handle embarrassment. It can be a practice for when the Queen selection starts."
"But aren't you betrothed to General Calais?"
I lean forward to her, and she smells sweet. Strawberry, perhaps?
"I am trying to make him fall in love with me. But if he doesn't, Queen selection is my last resort," I whisper to her as if she's an accomplice.
Eliana exclaims. "You love him?!"
I nod.
"Do you know why he doesn't return your feelings?"
I smile. Is she checking if I know that it's her that he is in love with? Amazing Eliana. That's one of the reasons she is the heroine. A thinking mind behind an innocent, gullible face.
"He didn't. But I don't care. I am trying my best to make him fall in love with me," I answer. Although, during this time, General Calais had already promised Eliana that he would only love her.
Eliana looks away.
"What is it?" I ask.
"I—"
"I don't mind if you have a small house. It will be a pleasant change in my surroundings," I interject, knowing exactly that she still wants to talk about Calais.
"It's not that… It's, you see, Calais, he…"
Is she trying to tell me about Calais' love for her? I grin. This transparency and courage, no doubt she's one of the strong contenders during the Queen selection. Isn't she afraid of Lyrica? I'm sure she heard rumors about her.
"Don't tell me you are the reason General Calais can't love me?"
Eliana drops her eyes to the ground. "I'm sorry, but I can't help you with it. He… I can't change his heart. I—"
"Then you will be my rival," I say. I sit before her and say, "Raise your head, Eliana." She did, ashamed and flushing. "Will General Calais be there? On your celebration?"
"Yes."
"I want to see him again. Will you please invite me?"
Eliana's eyes widen. "Of course! I mean… if you don't mind that Calais is in love with me… He kind of…"
"Sweet to you?"
She nods again. "Will you mind if I try to take his attention instead? You know, being sweet to him and all."
"Of course not! I—"
I touch her cheeks, smooth and unblemished. "Will you please invite me?" I ask again.
She reaches for my hand and says, "Yes! Lady Lyrica."
"How about just Lyrica?" I suggest.
"Thank you! Uhm, Lyrica?" she says, unsure if she really should call me that way.
I stand up. "But first, let me buy you a gift."
But what should I give her? I look at her and remember that the main reason she becomes interested in Prince Cornelius is that he gifts her a magic book. It will be expensive, but that will be fine. Thankfully, I used that scapegoat last night for Duke Lartius so I can get money. Right now, I can afford it.
"No, you don't need to buy me a gift! Your presence alone is already enough, I—"
"I insist," I interrupt her. I believe there is a magic shop just outside the library. "Come," I say again, reaching for her hand and pulling her up.
**************************
I return the section list to Ludmila while dragging Eliana with me. Emman is no longer waiting for me. He will come back tonight, so I need to be back here by that time.
A few blocks away, I see the magic shop. It's a quaint little store, with the entire room covered with shelves of books. Even the floor is littered with it, including the table where the cashier should be. The entire room is only the size of a public high school classroom.
I am about to enter when Eliana says that she will wait outside. Seeing that many books and not being able to buy them is something she doesn't want to experience again. So I agreed and let her wait outside the store.
"Any magic book for my friend outside?" I ask.
A bespectacled young man raises his head to me. Long, green hair tied at his back. "Lady Lyrica Dunnett," he greets. He looks at Eliana outside and massages his chin. "For that kind of friend, I suggest magic books about agriculture, herbs, or basic defensive magic. What do you think?"
Eliana likes gardening. Her house is described as surrounded by plants, vegetables, herbs, and flowers. "What's your most expensive agriculture-related magic books?"
"Is your friend planning to join the fair?"
I cock my head. "What fare?"
"The fair where farmers get to showcase their produce."
"Ah, that one. She… What does that have to do with your magic books?"
"Because the most expensive book we have will have strategies to win different events at the fair. If she's not planning to join, then the next expensive magic book will do."
I think about it for a while. What kind of magic book did Prince Cornelius gift to her, anyway? I doubt it's about agriculture. Probably herbs? But that fair, I remember it happened after the Queen selection and Eliana was sad that she had no harvest that could compete for it. Her plants were left for too long and without her care, and unfortunately, they all grow to be ordinary.
"Let me get that fair-specific magic book," I say.
The young man gets up and goes to the bottom of the shelf behind him. Then he takes a thick, comprehensive-looking book. The book is green with vines as a cover and a winner prize logo at the top right. Aside from the knowledge in it, it might also be priced for its aesthetic—with its glowing green cover and the vines that seem to move around it.
The young man places the book in front of me and says, "Should I wrap it for you?"
"Yes, please," I answer.
While he's wrapping it up, I start to browse through the shelves. I see a lot of splendid titles, but I stop myself from buying them. Right now, I just need to celebrate Eliana's birthday. But that doesn't stop me from mentally noting around a dozen of books that I would like to buy when I return. Thankfully, though, Lyrica's brain can memorize and remember a lot. She is such a gifted woman.
"How much is it?" I ask.
"Fifty silver coins."
"Th—That's expensive!" I stutter. That's already half of my allowance!
"A gold coin then," he says, hiking his price.
I grumble. "Fine, I'll take the fifty silver coins offer."
I think this is the reason no farmers buy it. They can't afford it! Sighing. I take my coin bag and count fifty from it. Maybe I should ask Aiko for that allowance given to me this month. In that way, I can buy the books that I think are good.
After the purchase and leaving the bookstore, I hand Eliana my gift. "Happy birthday," I greet. "You can open it while on the carriage."
"Carriage? I don't have one. I rode a horse."
"Oh." I've tried riding a horse before, but I am a beginner at it. Lyrica, though, is an amazing rider. "Can I ride with you on the horse? I can sit behind you."
Eliana nods. "We'll need to return to the library, though. My horse is there."
"No problem at all."