Chapter 134: A Quiet Search Beneath Watchful Eyes
Chapter 133: A Quiet Search Beneath Watchful Eyes
Lyria’s POV
They left.
Not immediately—not without those looks.
Diana lingered the longest, her expression tight with something she did not dare voice aloud, while Theresa’s gaze burned in a quieter, sharper way. Sally alone kept her head lowered, though even she could not entirely hide the tension in her shoulders.
But they left.
And when the door finally shut behind them, the silence that followed felt... different. It felt safe.
I stood where I was for a moment longer, staring at the door as though I expected them to return.
They did not.
A breath I had not realized I was holding slipped from my chest, slow and quiet.
"...Finally," I murmured to myself.
My shoulders loosened, just slightly.
The room no longer felt like something I had to defend. Thank the goddess for that.
I turned away from the door and moved toward the bed, my steps slower now, the exhaustion I had been holding back settling into my limbs all at once.
Cleaning had taken more out of me than I had expected.
So had speaking.
So had... holding my ground.
I sat at the edge of the bed first, pressing my hands lightly against the mattress as though testing whether it would hold me. It was softer than the mattress in my previous chamber—not by much, but it would do.
I hesitated only a moment before lying down.
The moment my head touched the pillow, my eyes closed.
And sleep came.
—
When I woke again, the light had shifted.
The sun no longer stood high but had begun its slow descent, its glow softer now as it slipped through the tall windows and stretched across the floor in long, quiet lines.
For a moment, I simply lay there, staring at the ceiling.
My body felt lighter. I felt well-rested too.
But my mind still whirled with thoughts.
I pushed myself up slowly and sat there for a brief moment, gathering myself before I stood.
I made my way to the wash basin and cleaned myself again, carefully this time, taking more care than I had earlier. Dust and sweat from the morning’s work were washed away, replaced with something closer to what was expected of me now.
I dried my hands and reached for my clothes. I did not have anything new yet, so I was still wearing my old clothes—but the mask was gone, since the Queen had not returned it, and the goddess knew I enjoyed the air on my bare skin.
I dressed quickly.
There were important things to think about.
If I was to remain here... if I was to be seen as one of them...
Then I needed to learn properly. I had some knowledge from being Jacinta’s shadow, but that would not be enough, I suspected. I needed to know more.
And the only place I could begin was at the library. I would take some books and then head to Patricia. I was certain she would have knowledge about what was expected of me.
And I also needed to inform her about everything that had happened. It had been a while since I last saw her, after all.
I moved toward the door, hesitating only briefly before opening it and stepping out into the corridor.
—
The palace halls were quieter than usual.
Or perhaps I was simply more aware now.
Every step felt measured.
Every glance... noticed.
I kept my gaze lowered as I walked, though not too low—not as I once did.
There was a balance.
I was still learning it.
The journey to the library felt longer than I remembered, though I knew that was only my thoughts slowing me down.
By the time I reached the tall double doors, I paused—only for a second.
Then I pushed them open.
The library greeted me with the same quiet stillness I remembered.
Rows upon rows of books stretched along the curved walls, towering high above, their spines lined neatly in colours both faded and rich. Tall ladders rested against rails that allowed them to glide across the shelves, and the scent of old parchment lingered faintly in the air.
Sunlight streamed through the high arched windows, casting soft golden light across the marble floor and the long reading tables arranged beneath them.
It was peaceful here.
It always had been.
I stepped inside, letting the door close quietly behind me.
For a moment, I simply stood there.
Then I began to walk the length of the huge library.
My fingers brushed lightly against the spines of the books as I passed, my eyes scanning titles I could now—barely—recognize.
Not all of them, but enough.
I moved along the shelves, searching.
One section.
Then another.
I found books.
Many.
Too many.
Some were thin. Others thick and intimidating. Some had titles I could partially understand, others entirely beyond me.
I picked one up.
Then another.
Then set them both back.
But I did not know which book to take. Which one would be appropriate to learn about etiquette and more?
My fingers tightened slightly against the edge of a shelf.
Perhaps I should have gone to Patricia first.
She would have known the right book I could use.
A small groan slipped from me before I could stop it.
And then a soft chuckle echoed through the quiet.
Close.
I froze, turning slowly—and found myself staring directly into a pair of vivid green eyes.
My breath caught.
I knew those eyes.
Of course I did.
Baron Redwick stood a short distance away, his posture as composed as ever, his thin-framed spectacles catching the light as he regarded me with quiet interest.
But he was not alone.
Beside him stood another man—taller, more relaxed in his stance, with an ease that seemed almost deliberate.
Duke Thorncrest.
He gave a low whistle.
"Well now," he said lightly, stepping forward with a grin that did not bother to hide itself, "what an unexpected pleasure."
Before I could react, he dipped into a smooth bow.
"A delight to meet you again, Princess Lyria."
I blinked in shock. I knew I had told the maids to refer to me with my title, but it was still shocking hearing it from someone else... again.
Before I could respond, Baron Redwick exhaled sharply and reached out, pushing the duke slightly to the side.
"Must you always behave in such a manner?" he said flatly.
Duke Thorncrest only laughed under his breath but allowed himself to be moved.
Baron Redwick stepped forward, his attention returning fully to me.
He bowed.
"Princess Lyria," he said.
I lowered myself into a small curtsy at once.
"G-good afternoon, m-my l-lords," I said softly.
Baron Redwick straightened, studying me briefly before speaking again.
"We noticed you walking through the aisles," he said. "You appeared... occupied."
His gaze shifted briefly to the shelves around me.
"Searching for something, perhaps?"
Heat rose faintly to my cheeks.
I tightened my hold on the book in my hands.
"I—I was j-just..." I began, then stopped.
I did not know why, but I felt embarrassed to tell them I was searching for a book on etiquette.
Before I could recover, Duke Thorncrest leaned slightly closer, his grin returning.
"Ah," he said thoughtfully, "I believe I understand."
Baron Redwick shot him a look.
One that clearly warned him to stop.
He did not.
"Searching through the royal library with such intensity..." the duke continued, tapping his chin lightly as though in deep thought. "One might assume you are in pursuit of something quite particular."
I blinked in shock. Did he already know what I was searching for?
"A lewd novel, perhaps?" he added smoothly.
"What—?!"
"And finding none?" he finished, his grin widening.
My face burned.
"I—I w-would n-never!" I said quickly.
Duke Thorncrest chuckled.
I could not even properly form a response.
Not when my thoughts had already begun to scatter.
I had never... I could not even read properly yet. And I had seen covers of such books, but I had never read them.
"I-I was n-not l-looking f-for that at a-all," I managed at last, my voice soft but firm despite the heat still lingering on my face.
The duke’s smile only widened.
