Seeing Aidel who had stiffened in embarrassment, Pierre chuckled politely and naturally led her to the next location.

“The next place we’ll visit is the library.”

“Ah…! Actually, I was just wanting to read a book.”

“I heard that you like books. They say you always read when resting at the Grand Duke’s residence.”

Pierre had already grasped the Grand Duchess’s preferences through Marlin. He had heard that she never missed a day of reading, so he imagined she must have felt very frustrated not being able to read during her recovery from the recent incident.

“The library in the Grand Duchy has ancient books as old as those in the Imperial Library.”

At Pierre’s words, an undisguisable look of delight spread across Aidel’s face.

A lady who gets more excited about books than jewels and dresses… Though he himself was once active in high society as a nobleman, this was the first time he had encountered such an aristocratic lady.

‘No wonder His Highness regards her so specially.’

As one grows older, their eyesight may dim, but their ability to see people clearly often improves.

Although it had been less than half a day, Pierre could sense the solid intellect and virtuous character that made up the Grand Duchess’s inner self as he conversed with her about various topics.

“This building is the library. I’ll come to escort you for dinner later, so please feel free to look around until then.”

“Thank you. See you later.”

Pierre excused himself so that the Grand Duchess could freely browse the books and concentrate on reading quietly.

Aidel entered the library. As she sensed the distinctive smell of books mixed with paper and ink, her heart felt more at ease. The library, bathed in warm sunlight filtering through the arched windows, had a quiet and peaceful atmosphere.

Tall bookshelves stretched up to the high ceiling in rows. Aidel passed between the shelves, scanning the densely packed books one by one with her eyes.

Aidel’s steps halted in the section where ancient books were gathered. She felt expectant that there might be knowledge she didn’t yet know. Additionally, she had become curious about the history and secret stories of the Jupiterre Empire that Pierre had told her about.

‘The beginning of the Jupiterre Empire…’

The book Aidel chose seemed to be the oldest among the ancient texts. Judging by the title, it appeared to be a record of the empire’s early founding history.

The history of a nation’s founding was the basis of historical education. Though Aidel had learned the basics, she wondered if this ancient text might contain historical information she was unaware of.

The old book, bound with parchment, hinted at its age from its exterior alone. Layers of old dust had accumulated on the book, as if no one had read it in a long time.

Carefully dusting off the book to avoid damaging it, Aidel slowly opened its pages.

⌜The first Emperor Jupiterre subjugated the surrounding territories one by one to form a single empire, and that was the beginning of the Jupiterre Empire.⌟

The book contained details of how the first Emperor Jupiterre established the empire by conquering territories through war and negotiation.

It was interesting to see the process of territorial expansion described in more detail than the history books she had seen before, but most of it was content she already knew.

The place where Aidel’s hand paused as she turned the pages was the section titled ‘The Curse of the Jupiterre Imperial Family’.

The word ‘curse’ itself made her body shudder, but the reason her whole body stiffened was…

⌜A curse was placed upon the Jupiterre Imperial Family. It was because of a prophecy made by the flower fairy Fluor.⌟

‘The flower fairy Fluor…?’

The flower fairy was the being that had bestowed blessings upon her family, the Fluor Count’s household. The southern region where the Fluor territory was located had always been characterized by a mild climate and fertile soil, making it ideal for ornamental plants to thrive.

It was all thanks to the blessing of the flower fairy Fluor, who had cherished their ancestor, that the family had settled in this territory and formed a clan, and that each descendant possessed the scent of their birth flower.

‘What kind of curse did the flower fairy place on the Jupiterre Imperial Family?’

As a member of the Fluor family, she had been educated about her family’s history since childhood, but this was the first time she had heard about a fairy’s curse.

Aidel swallowed dryly as she carefully read the written content. Somehow, her heart pounded as if she had discovered a secret she shouldn’t know.

⌜The flower fairy Fluor cherished Flora, a pure maiden among the clan that received his blessing, the most. She grew up beautifully with the fairy’s blessing, and one day, she gave her whole heart to a man who visited the clan’s territory. The man’s name was Jupiterre, the first Emperor.⌟

The content began with the story of Flora, the first ancestor of the Fluor family.

The first Emperor Jupiterre visited the Fluor territory, a large domain in the south, and incorporated the region into the empire through negotiation, granting the title of Count Fluor.

In the process, Flora, the daughter of the Fluor family head, fell in love with Jupiterre, the young emperor, and the two promised to marry to commemorate the territory’s incorporation and harmony.

⌜However, a rebellion broke out in Mailo, the largest territory in the empire, and to resolve it, the emperor had to marry a woman from the Mailo family. In the end, Emperor Jupiterre, choosing the stability of the empire, could not keep his marriage promise to Flora.⌟

Emperor Jupiterre, with his cold rationality, chose to protect power rather than love. He believed that the union between a man and a woman was merely for political gain.

As a result, the heartbroken Flora gradually weakened. Eventually, she passed away after languishing in sorrow.

⌜Deeply saddened by the death of Flora, whom he cherished the most, the flower fairy made a prophecy to the Jupiterre Imperial Family. Upon hearing this prophecy, Emperor Jupiterre declared it to be a binding curse that would weaken the imperial power, and became wary of the Fluor family.⌟

‘A binding curse…?’

What could that be?

Aidel hurriedly turned to the next page with confused eyes. However, unfortunately, from the next page on, the content was damaged and could not be properly confirmed.

‘Just what… is written in this ancient text…’

The story of her family’s ancestor and the first emperor, and even the curse placed by the flower fairy… It was full of unbelievable tales.

She was so curious about what curse the flower fairy had placed, and why the first imperial family had become wary of her family.

‘Does Father know about this content?’

She thought of Count Fluor. Perhaps her father, as the head of the family, might know about the contents of this ancient text. She decided that she must ask him when she returned to the capital.

This book contained more detailed information about the early founding of Jupiterre than any other history book. It didn’t seem likely that this ancient text would deal with content that wasn’t actual fact.

‘If our family and the imperial family shouldn’t be entangled…’

A hypothesis she didn’t want to think about kept arising.

‘Does that mean His Highness and I… shouldn’t be in a relationship either?’

Aidel’s pupils shook greatly. She bit her lower lip hard at the pain that suddenly pierced her chest.

‘No… That can’t be.’

If the fairy’s curse, which the Jupiterre Imperial Family had been wary of as something that would weaken the imperial power, had manifested, surely her family would not have remained unscathed either.

The fact that her family had continued in the Jupiterre Empire for such a long time was proof that the curse was either a mistaken prophecy or incorrectly recorded history.

Thinking it must be just needless worry, Aidel tried to calm her anxiously beating heart.

Aidel entered the reception room with Pierre, who had visited the library earlier than scheduled. It was due to an unexpected visitor.

“Lady Aidel…!”

As soon as he saw her, a man sitting in front of the table jumped to his feet. The one waiting for her with a face full of worry and anxiety was Rainien.

“I’m so glad you’re safe!”

His voice cracked with overwhelming emotion as he saw Aidel. His eyes welled up with undisguisable relief and joy.

“I’ve caused you much concern, Lord Rainien.”

“What are you saying! I should have protected you safely, Lady Aidel, who was accompanying me… I’m truly sorry.”

Rainien bowed his head with a face tinged with self-reproach. His face, which used to be bright and gentle, had become dark and gaunt. It was a look that showed the mental anguish he had endured.

“Don’t blame yourself. I’m fine now. The incident has been resolved as well.”

“I saw it through the newspaper articles. Marquis Chalet and that Douglas… are they the culprits?”

As the prince of the neighboring empire of Lisandro, Rainien had limited power within the territory of Jupiterre. It was a protocol to prevent any potential incidents between empires.

All he could do was monitor the contents reported in newspapers and watch as inspections were carried out in the capital.

In the midst of this, as soon as the capital lockdown was lifted, news of the arrest of Marquis Chalet and Douglas was reported as breaking news.

Hearing that the Grand Duke, who should have been preoccupied with searching for the Grand Duchess, personally conducted the trial of these two, Rainien inferred that these two were connected to Aidel’s abduction.

“That’s right. His Highness rescued me from their plot. He also handed down the punishment they deserved.”

“I see… I’m truly relieved that you were safely rescued in time.”

If only I had been the one to save her… A fleeting, hopeless wish cast a lonely light over Rainien’s eyes for a moment.

But soon he shook his head as if to dispel the futile thought. It was enough just to be able to see her safe like this again.

“Are you truly alright? I heard from Dean Jefferson that you took a sick leave.”

Jefferson, the dean of the Imperial University, had informed him about the Grand Duchess’s sick leave. Upon hearing that the reason she hadn’t attended classes for over a week was because she was recuperating at the Grand Duke’s residence, he had rushed here immediately.

“As you can see, I’ve recovered and I’m fine now. I even took a walk today.”

“I know it’s improper, but please forgive my rudeness in suddenly visiting upon hearing that you were here, Lady Aidel.”

“Rudeness? Aren’t we close friends?”

As Aidel smiled gently as if to say not to worry, Rainien also smiled brightly, his eyes crinkling.

Pierre, who had been closely observing the two smiling at each other from the side, interrupted with a fake cough.

“Ahem! The guest room is prepared. Your Highness must be tired from your long journey, so how about resting for a while before joining us for dinner?”

“That would be good.”

“Then… I’ll see you again later.”

Rainien nodded at Pierre’s suggestion, followed by Aidel’s encouragement. Although he had much to talk about with her, he moved to follow Pierre, anticipating their conversation at dinner.

‘That room would be best, indeed.’

A faint wariness flashed in Pierre’s eyes as he glanced at Rainien. Pierre’s steps headed towards the guest room furthest from the Grand Duchess’s room.