I Will Protect You This Time

Episode: 64

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Isabella and Anne are walking in the Hallway.

"M-My Lady…"

Anne called Isabella nervously.

'Is she angry that I called the aide? Aghh! But that old man-'

"Good job, Anne."

"P-Princess!"

Anne replied cheerfully.

"Here, take this."

Isabella untied her pearl necklace from her neck and handed it to Anne.

'I have to give her things from time to time. It will be good if she stays loyal to me even for the money. I need her to get information about Rubena.'

Isabella thought to herself.

"M-My Lady! How can I?!"

"Just take it, while I am giving it to you. It's not like you haven't taken anything before."

"Ah. Thank you, My Lady."

Anne slumped and took the necklace.

"Anyways, what happened today shouldn't reach people's ears. If I hear any rumours about people talking about today, I will know exactly who did that… Anne."

"Y-Yes. Princess."

"Now, go."

"Huh? But where?"

"Did you not hear anything? Go check on the servants who are transferring things from my room. Make sure they are working properly. I am counting on you."

"Yes. I will try my best."

Anne replied cheerfully and rushed to Isabella's room.

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I looked outside. It's cloudy. It will rain soon.

I wasn't even a little bit scared talking with the butler.

Scoff*

It will be weird if you are scared of a butler after bearing all that torture, Isabella...

Whoosh~

A cold breeze struck from the hallway windows making me tremble… Or is it the sudden memories of those horrible tortures…

When I think about that, I get furious… and also scared. I don't want to go through that hell again… Where all the people I love died in front of me…

Sigh~

Let's not think about that anymore. I have to find out about so many things. 

About why I returned… Now that I think about it, after dying I just remember laying in a dark place… But then… I can't remember. But I know something happened… Why can't I remember?

Haa~

There are so many things I don't know. The best place to find all that is Grandfather's private library. But I can't go there now. 

Hmm~

Let's just go to the Royal Library for now.

After that, I continued walking towards the Royal library that was on the first floor of the palace.

The Library door sure is huge. Although it's nothing like that of Fellmirr.

I never got the chance to enter here as I was too scared then. Well whatever, at least now I don't have to think about meeting Mathias.

Soon I tried to enter the library but then the Knights guarding the door blocked my way with their spear.

"W-Who are you?"

A knight asked with a flustered face.

And the other one just looked at me with his eyes wide open.

"I didn't know anyone else had Golden hair other than the Royal family. Anyways it will be troublesome if you can't even recognize the first Princess, don't you think?"

I said with a smile. I am too tired to argue with someone.

"Ah. Ap-Apologies, Princess!"

The two knights soon bowed then removed their spear from the front.

"Thank you."

Saying that I finally entered the library.

"Wasn't she supposed to be ugly?"

"What the?! I totally forgot to think after seeing her!"

"She is kind too."

"Shh~ We shouldn't talk anymore here."

"Ah. You are right."

After that, the flustered knights stopped talking and quietly guarded the door.

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"Wow~ It's humongous!"

So many books!

Now that I see, the librarian isn't here. Well whatever, it's better this way. 

After that, I started walking and checking out each and every section.

Hmm~

There are so many. There's an entire section about the History of Loire. 

What the?!

Emperor Mathias?!

I can't believe he made so many books about himself! What a creep!

Anyways, I need to find books about magic.

After searching for a while, I finally found the Magic Section at the corner of the library. 

Hmm~

There are so many books. But I think I already read about those in Grandfather's Library before.

Hmm?

That one… 

A book on the upper shelf caught my eyes. It had a dark purple cover.

But how am I supposed to get up there?

I looked around and found a ladder. 

Ah. Found it! Soon I dragged the ladder in front of the shelf where that book was. But… Why is it so heavy?!

Sigh~

Soon I got up and took the book.

"Origin Of The Beasts."

I didn't think I would find a book about beasts here. Although it's not what I was looking for… 

Well, whatever. I took the book then looked down. Aghh! I don't want to get down. I will have to get up to put the book back in place anyways. Let's just sit here.

I started reading the book sitting on the top of the ladder.

[ It is said that in the Beginning, the Beastmen were mere animals without any strength or magic power. But then the Moon Goddess took pity on them and blessed them with Celestial Power.

Soon the Beasts could use magic and those with high-level magic could transform themselves into humans.

But soon they turned Arrogant and greedy. Because of their greed for power, they killed the Celestial Goddess to gain her power. At the time of her death, the Goddess cursed them that they would drown in eternal Darkness until death. And that's how they became the dark and ugly creatures. That's why humans from the Loire don't get near the Fellmirr Empire.

The Beastmen are ruthless and ugly creatures. Some say that they look like Goblins. Their tummy springs out like melons.]

What the heck is this? All this information… How ridiculous! It's filled with wrong information. 

Why is this kind of book even in the library?! It just has some interesting covers. 

Sigh~

I guess you can't judge a book by its cover. And I read this for hours! What a waste of time!

Rumble!

I looked outside at the loud rumbling of Thunder.

Shaa~

It's raining.

"I should go back now."

Saying that I placed the book back and started getting down from the ladder. 

It must be because I was sitting for a while, My legs feel numb. Sigh~ Whatever let's just get down carefully Isabella.

But-

My legs slipped a step! 

Here I just thought of getting down carefully. My legs will break today for sure!

"Kyaa~"

I screamed while tightly closing my eyes to get prepared for a broken leg.

But it didn't hurt a bit? Wait… I did fall on the floor, right? Did I not fall?

I slightly opened my eyes.

"Are you okay?"

My eyes widened at the sight of the person.

"William? Oops! I mean, Greetings, the Crown Prince."

He caught me. But when did he even come here?

"P-Please put me down."

"Hmm."

But he didn't say anything and started walking.

What the? What is wrong with him? It's already embarrassing that I am in his arms.

"I said, put me down."

But William continued walking with an aloof expression. Then soon put me down on a bench. 

"T-Thank you for catching me, Crown Prince."

"What were you doing in the library?"

"Reading books."

"Books about magic?"

"Am I not supposed to read it?"

"..."

William didn't say anything and just looked at me.

"Anyways, Thank you so much for your help, Crown Prince. Now please excuse me."

Saying that I got up from the bench but-

Stagger*

Ughh! My legs must have been twisted. 

I was going to fall but William caught me again. 

"Sit."

He again made me sit. Then he bend his knees and touched my legs.

"What are you doing?!"

"Your ankle-"

"I don't need your help! Please just get up! I am thankful that you noticed but I can handle myself."

"Is that so?"

But without listening to me, he used his magic and healed my ankle.

"Are you feeling better?"

Aghh~ I just told him I would be okay! Now I owe him one.

"Yes! Thank you so much, Your Highness, the Crown Prince."

But without saying anything, William continued looking at me.

"Then I will be going."

Saying that Isabella hurriedly left the library.

And William silently stands there looking at his hands.

"I hate this…"

William said with a frown then clenched his fists and walked towards the entrance of the library.

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Sigh~

How frustrating! Why did I have to see his face…

William… I can never understand that person. Why did he even heal me? 

Now that I think about it, he wasn't there on the day of my execution.

Hah!

What a hypocrite! He never said anything when other Aristocrats insulted me. And now trying to help…

Ughh!

I hate to admit it but I really owe him one.

Rumble~

It's raining cats and dogs…

"Haa~ What a gloomy weather!"

Anyways, I am hungry. I should ask Anne to prepare Steaks for me. 

Thinking about that, Isabella continued walking towards her room.