Observing the bewildered Adel, Pierre politely smiled and naturally led her to the next location.

“The next place you will visit is the library.”

“Ah…! Actually, I’ve been wanting to read books.”

“I’ve heard that you enjoy reading. Even in the Duke’s residence, it’s said that you always read books during your rest.”

Pierre had already grasped the Duke’s preferences through Marlene. He knew that the Duke, who never missed a day of reading, must have felt quite frustrated during the recovery period, unable to indulge in his books, especially considering the recent events.

“The Duke’s library holds ancient books as old as those in the royal library.”

At Pierre’s words, an unmistakable blush appeared on Adel’s face.

A lady who gets excited over books rather than jewels and dresses… It was the first time he had encountered such a noblewoman, even though she had been active in high society during her prime as a noble.

‘So, Her Grace must have a special fondness for this place.’

As one grew older, eyesight for seeing objects might dim, but the eyes for observing people tended to become sharper.

Although it had been less than half a day, Pierre, through various conversations with the Duchess, could sense her strong intellect and solid character.

“This building is the library. We’ll come to fetch you for the evening meal later, so feel free to explore until then.”

“Thank you. See you later.”

Pierre stepped aside to allow the Duchess to freely peruse the books and concentrate on reading in peace.

Adel entered the library. The unique scent of paper and ink mixed together, and as she felt the warmth from the arched windows, the library exuded a serene and tranquil atmosphere.

Large bookshelves, reaching high to the ceiling, extended in rows. Adel walked through the aisles, scanning the densely packed books one by one with her eyes.

She stopped at a section where old books were gathered. Expectations arose that there might be knowledge unknown to her. Additionally, curiosity about the history and anecdotes of the Upieter Empire, which Pierre had shared, stirred within her.

‘The beginning of the Upieter Empire…’

The book Adel chose appeared to be the oldest among the ancient books. Judging by the title, it seemed to be a record of the early history of the empire.

The history of the founding was the foundation of history education. Although Adel had learned the basics, she wondered if there might be some history she didn’t know in this ancient book.

Carefully dusting off the book to prevent any damage, Adel slowly opened the bookshelf of the ancient tome.

⌜Emperor Upieter, in order, subjugated surrounding territories through war and negotiation, uniting them into one empire, marking the beginning of the Upieter Empire.⌟

The book contained details about how Emperor Upieter conquered territories through war and negotiation, establishing the empire.

While it was more detailed than the history book she had seen, most of the information was already known to her.

As Adel flipped through the pages, her hand momentarily stopped at the section titled ‘Curse of the Upieter Imperial Family.’

The word ‘curse’ alone made her body feel tense, but the reason her entire body stiffened was…

⌜A curse befell the Upieter Imperial Family, a prophecy made by the fairy of flowers, Fleur.⌟

‘Fairy of flowers, Fleur…?’

If it was the fairy of flowers, then it was the presence that granted protection to her family, the Fleur Viscountcy. The southern region where the Fleur territory was located had a mild climate and fertile land, making it an ideal place for cultivating ornamental plants.
Having settled in these lands and formed a clan, the descendants, each inheriting the fragrance of their respective birth blossoms, owed everything to the protection of the flower fairy Fleur, revered by the ancestors of the family.

‘What curse did the flower fairy cast on the Upieter Imperial Family?’

Although educated about the family’s history from an early age as a member of the Fleur family, Adel was learning about the fairy’s curse for the first time. Adel swallowed nervously and continued reading the written contents attentively. It felt as if she had stumbled upon a secret that should have remained unknown.

⌜The flower fairy Fleur held the pure maiden Flora, who received her protection, in the highest regard among the clan blessed by her. Flora, under the fairy’s blessing, grew beautifully, and one day, she fell in love with a man who visited the clan’s territory. The man’s name was Upieter, the reigning emperor.⌟

The story began with the tale of Flora, the first ancestor of the Fleur family.

Emperor Upieter, on a visit to Fleurleigh, the southern territory, negotiated and subjugated the region into the empire, bestowing the title of Fleur Viscountcy.

In the process, Flora, the daughter of the Fleur family’s head, fell in love with the young Emperor Upieter, and, in celebration of territorial subjugation and harmony, the two promised to marry.