Finally, we entered the emperor’s main palace. We went straight up to the floor where the secret archive was located.

“Oh…”

Upon entering the space guided by the Crown Prince, I murmured in admiration.

The place was filled with warm air and had an overall quaint and cozy atmosphere.

“This is a dedicated reading room for our family. It’s mainly used when going to the palace library is inconvenient.”

As Klaus said, the floor with the secret archive was decorated like a small library throughout.

Bookshelves were in the center of the space, and desks were scattered around. It didn’t feel like a warehouse where materials were stored, like the palace library, but more like a large study.

An old librarian was sitting on one side of the wall. Although it was small, as it was a library and also had the secret archive, it was a principle that someone always guarded the place.

“Crown Prince, have you come?”

The librarian greeted Klaus and glanced at me with a suspicious look.

Klaus quickly revealed my identity.

“This is my aide, Muzele. She’ll be with me while I read.”

“Oh, I see.”

The librarian, with wrinkles on his forehead, quickly understood.

I glanced around.

Opposite the librarian’s seat was the entrance to the secret archive. Between them, bookshelves slightly taller than a person were arranged at regular intervals.

By moving behind the bookshelves, it seemed like we could reach the secret archive without being noticeable to the librarian.

As soon as Klaus moved a little away from the librarian, he whispered to me quietly.

“Let’s sit for now.”

I nodded my head without saying a word.

We pretended to read while sitting on the chairs. Fortunately, the elderly librarian didn’t pay much attention to us.

The interior was very warm. I took off my outerwear and folded it behind me as a cushion, just like I used to do in the public library.

Klaus whispered to me in a low voice, barely audible to me alone.

“To prevent the risk of fire, we can’t bring torches into the secret archive. Therefore, the crucial work must be done while there’s daylight.”

Is he really determined to make me do everything? He’s even breaking the rules!

With a small smile, Klaus stood up.

“I’ll ask the librarian to open the archive door. He manages the keys.”

I looked at Klaus, who was moving away, with a bewildered expression. My heart pounded with the approaching ordeal.

He approached the librarian, and their small conversation faintly reached my ears.

“Could you open the door to the secret archive? There are some materials I’d like to examine closely.”

“Alright.”

The librarian, holding the key, got up and subtly turned his head to check if I was still in my place. It seemed like he was watching me in case I tried to follow them to the secret archive.

The two of them walked briskly towards the front of the archive. Soon, with a clinking sound, the lock opened.

“Please enter, Crown Prince.”
Klaus went inside alone. After confirming his entry, the librarian returned to his seat at a slow pace. The archive door was not completely closed, slightly ajar.

“…….”.

I held my breath, alternating my gaze between the librarian and the archive door.

How much time has passed?

“……!”

The elderly librarian slowly dropped his head! Perhaps due to the warm indoor air, he was dozing off, nodding gently.

Considering this place is a quiet reading room where people hardly come, there would be no one to complain even if someone dozed off alone.

Thanks to that, I got a perfect opportunity to infiltrate the secret archive!

I turned my head slightly toward the slightly open archive.

“!”

Klaus, who was also waiting for an opportunity like me, reached out through the gap in the door, signaling me to come quickly.

Alright, now’s the time!

Carefully, so as not to make any noise, I picked up paper and pen, stood up, and, just in case the librarian woke up, moved cautiously while holding my breath.

Klaus also made an effort to open the door silently.

As the door opened, I slipped through the gap like a shadow. Almost simultaneously, Klaus quickly retreated.

He whispered hastily, “Close the door. If the librarian asks about you, just say you were sent on an errand. Good luck.”

Before I could respond, Klaus closed the archive door with his own hands.

With a small click, the door closed, and I was left alone inside the secret archive.

“Phew…….”.

Cold air seeped in abruptly, giving me goosebumps all over my body.

Only now did I regret leaving my outerwear behind. Because I was extremely tense, thinking about things like outerwear never crossed my mind, fearing the librarian might wake up.

It couldn’t be helped. I had to focus on the imminent task, putting aside the cold.

“Now, where should I start?”

I swept my eyes over the tightly packed shelves while gently brushing my arms.

How much time had passed?

“…….”.

I tightly sealed my lips and diligently moved my hands.

How long had it been?

“Now, there’s only one book left, huh?”