I was still staring at Belle, dumbfounded, until I realized I'd been holding the same expression far too long. I quickly cleared my throat, snapping back to reality.
"Ahem."
Belle tilted her head, raising a curious eyebrow. "Do we… know each other?"
For a moment, I hesitated, then offered a faint smile. "I, uh, thought you looked like someone I used to know. Must've been my imagination."
Her curious gaze flickered between me and the book in my hand. "You know," she said, her tone light but her expression knowing, "that book doesn't have a happy ending."
I closed the book with a soft thud. "You don't say," I replied, trying not to sound awkward. "That's… good to know."
She chuckled, a faint smile playing on her lips. "It's not often you see someone interested in The Cursed Prince. Most people prefer something a bit less... tragic."
Ruby, who had been quietly sipping her tea, suddenly piped up. "Oppa likes to read all kinds of books! Right, Oppa?"
I glanced at her, amused. "That's one way to put it."
Belle's curiosity didn't waver. "Do you read novels often?"
"Oh, yeah," I said, then thought to myself, 'Those light novels from back then definitely count, right?'
"But right now, I'm more interested in history—what's happened in the past few years."
Belle's thoughtful expression deepened. "If that's the case, there are better books for that. Mr. Robert keeps a great selection on the kingdom's history. Would you like me to show you?"
"That'd be helpful, actually," I admitted. "I've been… out of touch for a while."
"What's your name?" she asked as she began to turn toward the shelves.
"Adam."
She offered me a kind smile. "I'm Belle. Nice to meet you, I guess."
I couldn't help but smirk. "The feeling's mutual, I suppose."
She chuckled softly and led me through the library's aisles, pointing out a few thick volumes. "This one covers events across the Valtoria continent from five years ago," she explained, handing me a heavy leather-bound book. "And this one," she added, picking another, "details the wars between the kingdoms over the last few decades."
Ruby peeked over my arm, wide-eyed. "Wow, Oppa! You're gonna read all that?"
"We'll see," I said, unable to hide my amusement.
Belle handed me one more book, a smaller one this time. "This one's a good overview of legends and myths. It's a lighter read and gives you the big picture."
"Thanks," I said sincerely.
Belle nodded, a hint of pride in her expression. "You're welcome. Let me know what you think of them."
After checking out the books with Mr. Robert, the three of us stepped outside into the warm afternoon sun. Ruby skipped ahead, spinning in the street like a carefree child.
"Oppa, isn't this village amazing? Look at all the people!"
"It's something, alright," I said, smirking at her energy.
Belle chimed in, her tone light but with a hint of exasperation. "The village has its charm, but the people can be... small-minded."
I glanced at her, catching the flicker of frustration in her expression. "Small-minded, huh? Let me guess—you're not a fan of 'provincial life.'"
Belle laughed, her voice light and melodic. "How did you know?"
"Lucky guess," I replied with a grin.
Ruby spun back to us, practically buzzing with excitement. "Where do you want to go next, Oppa?"
I thought for a moment, looking around at the bustling streets. "Is there an inn or tavern nearby? I need a place to stay."
Ruby tapped her chin with her finger, deep in thought. "Oh! There's a tavern not far from here. They have the yummiest bread!"
Belle smiled at Ruby's enthusiasm but added, "She's not wrong. It's cozy, and the food is good… but it can get lively, even in the mornings."
"Well, lead the way," I said, gesturing for Ruby to go ahead.
"Okie dokie!" she cheered, grabbing my hand and tugging me along. "Come on, Oppa! I'll show you the best place to eat!"
Belle followed, laughing softly. "She seems very fond of you."
"She's got enough energy for both of us, I think" I replied, shaking my head with a smile.
---
The three of us arrived at the tavern, the scent of fresh bread and roasted meat wafting through the air. The sign above the door read Le Pub. Inside, the warm and rustic atmosphere buzzed with noise. Wooden beams lined the ceiling, a crackling fire burned in the hearth, and customers chatted loudly over mugs of ale.
As we stepped in, a waitress approached. She had golden hair tied into a ponytail and wore a dress that emphasized her curves. Her gaze flicked briefly to Belle, her expression turning sour as she muttered under her breath, "Why is she here?"
I raised an eyebrow, hearing her clearly thanks to my enhanced senses, but I decided not to comment. Instead, I ordered for the three of us while Ruby babbled about how great the bread was. The waitress gave me a forced smile and sauntered off.
Leaning back in my chair, I glanced at Belle. "Friend of yours?" I asked casually.
Belle sighed. "That's Claudette, one of the Bimbettes. She and her sisters are… well, they don't like me much."
Ruby chimed in eagerly, "They're jealous because Gaston likes Sister Belle more than them, even though she doesn't like him back!"
(A/N: If I were Gaston I would choose the Bimbettes, well you know 3 for 1 mwuhehehe)
"Oh, you little—stop it!" Belle scolded, ruffling Ruby's hair.
I chuckled to myself, thinking, 'Gaston, huh? So the main villain of the story is here too. Well, with Belle around, I guess it makes sense.'
As if summoned, the tavern doors burst open, and in strode a man who could only be Gaston. His muscular build, square jaw, and perfect hair made him look like he'd walked off the cover of some romance novel. He carried himself like he owned the place, and the chatter in the tavern quieted as people turned to greet him.
Spotting us, Gaston's eyes lit up, and he swaggered over. "Well, well. Belle," he said, his tone dripping with confidence. "I thought you wouldn't come here. Have you finally accept my invitation?"
Belle sighed, clearly unimpressed. "I'm here to accompany Ruby and her friend, not you, Gaston."
Gaston's attention shifted to me, his expression turning sour as he sized me up. "And who's this? Some scrawny bookworm who thinks he can win Belle's favor?"
I leaned back in my chair, meeting his gaze with a lazy smile. "Nice to meet you too… Mr. Narcissist."
The room went silent for a beat, and Gaston's confident smirk faltered as the insult sank in.
Ruby gasped, her hands flying to her mouth while Belle stifled a laugh, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
_________
[Did you know?]
[ Eugene Fitzherbert, later known as Flynn Rider, was born as Horace to King Edmund and his queen. During Eugene's infancy, their kingdom was plunged into chaos by a powerful opal that threatened to destroy the land. To protect his people, King Edmund ordered a kingdom-wide evacuation, ensuring the safety of even his own son. Eugene was whisked away by a servant woman and left at an orphanage, unaware of his royal heritage. He grew up believing his parents were bold adventurers traveling the world to make names for themselves. ]
[ Each night, young Eugene found solace in The Tales of Flynnigan Rider, a series of stories about a wealthy and daring swashbuckler who thrived on thrilling adventures. Inspired by his fictional hero, Eugene later set off on his own adventures with his friend Arnwaldo, now known as Lance Strongbow. Over time, Eugene adopted the persona of Flynn Rider, transforming himself into a charismatic rogue and skilled horseman, living up to the dashing image of his childhood idol. ]