I clutched the bag with the elixir and peeked my head through the door crack.

‘Good, no one’s here!’

I quickly left the room and hurried down the stairs at the end of the hallway, taking little leaps.

‘If you go this way, you can go straight to the annex through the back door.’

Still, there were many people wandering around the Duke’s residence. I had to hasten my steps to prepare for any unforeseen situation, causing the bag to shake.

I pouted my lips at the snake’s complaining.

‘If you’re going to do that, don’t follow me.’

I didn’t want to bring this silver snake from the beginning.

As I was about to leave the room, the silver snake kept nagging, asking where I was going and insisting on going with me, so I had to bring it reluctantly.

‘I should have sneaked out.’

However, sneaking out while avoiding the silver snake hiding under the bed was no easy task.

I arrived at the eastern annex, ignoring the silver snake’s grumbling.

‘I guess this is it.’

Finding the library located on the first floor was really easy because the shelves lined with books caught my eye as soon as I opened the largest door on the first floor.

“Wow…….”

I stood in front of it for a while, forgetting to close the door, tilting my head back, and slowly gazing at the tall bookshelves.

‘There are really a lot of books.’

The height of each shelf was tremendous. It seemed to exceed the height of an average adult. Nevertheless, each and every shelf was packed with books.

I quickly took out a book that I had placed next to the silver snake in the bag.

“No.”

I pressed down on the silver snake’s head, which was sneakily peeking outside, with my palm.

Holding the book, I hoisted the bag again and carefully held the book with both hands.

‘The next volume must be on the shelf.’

Upon close inspection, there were specific numbers and characters listed on the lower part of the book cover.

I decided to find the shelf with that number.

‘Usually, the same kind of books are organized together.’

I slowly moved my feet, checking the numbers on the books.

‘It’s not here either…, shall I go one shelf over?’

Being quite short, I couldn’t see the books placed above no matter how high I raised my head.

I’d prefer the book to be within reach. If it wasn’t, I’d have to use a ladder, but it was a bit scary to climb to a high place.

‘If it doesn’t work, I’ll ask the silver snake for help, whatever.’

Stopping in front of the spot where this book was originally supposed to be, I found a space where a book should have been was conspicuously empty.

And then I discovered the book next to it, titled ‘The Second Story about the Legendary Animal, the Dragon.’

‘I found it!’

I reached out to pull the book at once, but there was a problem. My height was not enough to take out the book.

‘I think I can reach it if I stand on tiptoe.’

I approached and stood on tiptoe. Fortunately, the tip of the book reached my fingers.

I put down the bag and went back to the shelf, standing on tiptoe again. But my hand reached the book, though not enough to grasp it.

I sighed and stared at the shelf, tilting my head up.

‘It seems like I can do it…….’

The book was barely reachable, making me more determined. I stood on my tiptoes with all my might and reached out as far as I could.

‘Just a little, just a little more!’

I pulled the book out gently with my index finger, and it moved forward slightly. Just when I was about to pull it out more diligently…

The unbalanced book suddenly fell down.

‘Ah!’

It’s going to hit me! With that thought, I tightly shut my eyes. At the same time, someone else’s voice rang out.

“Be careful!”

I heard the collision but felt no pain. Thump. The sound of the book falling to the floor.

With a sudden feeling of unease, I slowly opened my eyes and saw a blonde boy, his body wrapped around my head, in my line of sight.

“Are you okay?”

Cl, Clements?!

“I didn’t do it on purpose…….”
Diane fidgeted, her hands like ferns, fumbling with Clements’s hand.

Clements looked at the scratch on the back of his hand without much interest.

“It’s nothing.”

Diane might see it differently, but to him, it was just a minor burn.

Clements casually brushed off his hand.

He then picked up the book that had fallen to the floor and handed it to Diane.

“Is this what you were trying to get?”

That was when he felt something was off. Diane just mumbled blankly without taking the book.

“Because of me…….”

“I’m fine, you must be startled.”

Until then, Clements had thought that the child was just frightened by the wound.

Since she’s still a child, she could be like that, and he thought she would be fine with a little comfort.

That was what he was thinking when he knelt down to meet the child’s gaze.

“Diane?”

As soon as their eyes met, Diane jumped back, startled. She examined Clements’s hands with a troubled look and scrutinized his face.

“Are you angry? You’re angry, right?”

“No, I am…….”