Bibliophile Princess: Volume 2

1. Auflage 2020
ISBN: 978-1-7183-0856-5
Verlag: J-Novel Heart
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 255 Seiten

Reihe: Bibliophile Princess

Now that her misunderstanding about their engagement being a farce to please the nobles and pacify the current political climate has been resolved, Elianna and Prince Christopher are able to set a date for the official wedding in the spring. In the meantime, the prince is sent off on a diplomatic errand, and Eli is selected to act as his proxy in this year's Autumn Hunting Festival. Scheming is afoot as someone suspicious from a foreign land infiltrates the festivities-their sight set on Eli. But just what are their intentions? And who is the mysterious phantom of the past, 'Ladybird'?

Autoren/Hrsg.

Yui

Weitere Mitwirkende

Sheena, Satsuki

Niioka, Alyssa

Leseproben

Chapter 1: An Autumn Sendoff

The ordinarily green land around him was painted in a colorful array of autumn hues. He felt the sun on his skin, bringing a prosperous crop harvest, and his thoughts wandered to the peace reigning over this land.

Located in a key position just west of Sauslind Kingdom’s capital of Saoura was the Eidel Domain. It was a land rich with history, where remnants of a fortress from the time of Sauslind’s famous Hero King still endured.

There was something almost feral about the man’s black eyes as he narrowed them. “...So this is the place that killed ‘her.’” His voice was thick with an emotion that would’ve been impossible for anyone else to read, and his disquieting word choice made the air around him heavy with tension.

The man continued to mumble, seeming almost amused. He wore a bold smile on his face that looked both boyishly innocent and vicious at the same time. “Elianna Bernstein... Let’s see if you live up to my expectations...or not.”

If any onlookers had been present to hear those words or to witness his sharp gaze and cruel smile, then they surely would have trembled in fear as they wondered... Just what would he do to this person if they weren’t able to live up to his expectations?

His words were swept away by the wind, and an unseen shadow fell over the land of Eidel as it began to bustle with activity, preparing to host an event coinciding with the autumn harvest festival.

~.~.~.~

There was a restless energy permeating the palace of Sauslind that day. The halls, which normally maintained an aura of refinement and rigidity, now echoed with the hurried footsteps of one Elianna Bernstein—in other words, me. Such behavior would ordinarily warrant harsh reprimand for a lady. It certainly might wound my reputation, but at the moment I was far too pressed for time to consider that.

“You don’t need to rush like that, m’lady. I’m pretty sure he won’t leave before you get there anyhow.” The man accompanying me with an easygoing tone and leisurely pace was a Bernstein manservant by the name of Jean. He was gangly and in his mid-thirties, and he had an undependable, sullen air about him. The two of us had been well-acquainted for years, so he spoke to me with obvious familiarity.

I was so focused on hastening my steps that I didn’t have the time to spare on a response, so instead I fixed him with a reproachful glare.

Jean didn’t even show a hint of remorse toward me, despite the fact that I was the noble daughter of his employer. In fact, he responded to my silent protest with a mere shrug. “I told you when it was time, just like I was supposed to. The other staff approached you about it too, but you’re the one who let our words go in one ear and out the other.”

I was at a complete loss for how to defend myself. I expelled a pitiful sigh, which was barely audible through the rest of my huffing and puffing.

Jean heedlessly interjected, “This way will be quicker.” Familiar with these passages, he led me down a shorter route. Ever since I began visiting the palace regularly, he started accompanying me at times in place of a maid.

I primarily locked myself away in the royal archives, so perhaps he was more knowledgeable about the layout of the palace than I was. The thought of that brought out the competitive side of me.

As we continued along the path he’d selected, I could see the main gate and a crowd of people gathered in the distance. The imperial guard seemed flustered when they noticed us and began urging us to hurry. As much I appreciated their urgency, I was winded from hurrying here and my mind was too preoccupied feeling relieved and accomplished that we’d actually made it on time.

The air was tense, as if a court lady with a strict sense of etiquette had discovered me and was about to start straightening my clothes while delivering a short sermon. I could feel the exhaustion mounting.

Just then, to my relief, someone cut in. “Eli!” His voice was brilliant, clear as the autumn sky, threatening to suck me in—so charismatic that it was almost as if it were just the two of us here.

The crowd of people naturally split, the other ministers and nobles that were there to bid their farewells now making a path for me. The person waiting on the other side made my heart sing louder than it ever had before. Though my feet were leaden with exhaustion now that we’d finally arrived, they naturally hastened toward him. As I rushed forward, my breathing ragged, he spread his arms wide open as if this were some kind of reunion scene in a stage play.

This man was the heir to Sauslind’s throne, Crown Prince Christopher. He was both great and wise, a young royal with a promising future ahead of him. The prince had dazzling blond hair, sky blue eyes, handsome features, a fit physique, and an impressive presence. He had quite the kingly disposition for his age, and Sauslind was proud to call him their future ruler.

I flashed him a smile just as broad as the one he’d given me and said, “I’m here, Your Highness.” Keenly aware of what ladies’ social etiquette demanded, I came to a hard stop just a few steps short of his outstretched arms.

“...Eli.” Our hero was visibly disappointed, dropping both his hands and his shoulders.

I blinked. Had I done something inappropriate?

The man before me certainly had an appearance and a presence about him that warranted the label “hero,” but this was a public place. Not to mention it would tilt a few heads in confusion if anyone were to refer to me as a “heroine.”

As I stood there, my breathing still uneven, the blond-haired, blue-eyed prince recomposed himself and let out a sigh. He reached out a soothing hand, brushing his fingers through the fluffy locks of my hair. His vivid blue eyes shone with affection, gleaming mischievously.

“Since my fiancée refused to appear, I was about to call off the whole public affair. Were you really that loathe to see me off?” His words and gaze seemed to tease me, causing my cheeks to heat up.

I, Elianna Bernstein, had been blessed with an engagement to the crown prince, otherwise nicknamed the handsome prince. I was neither the powerful daughter of some great noble nor a jaw-dropping beauty. As I had been told, the reason for my selection was partly out of political convenience. My family was known for being a long line of book lovers who would rather bury themselves in a tome than engage in political infighting for power or fame. Therefore, by selecting me, there would be little effect on the political climate at court.

Prince Christopher had taken that into account as he searched for a fake fiancée. When we first met, he had flashed that dazzling smile at me and said, “Lady Elianna, you need only stay by my side and read your books.”

Others would consider me eccentric; I already hailed from a family with an affinity for literature, but my own love of tomes was so extreme that it earned me the nickname “Bibliophile Princess.”

My appearance mirrored that of my late mother’s, from the faint hue of my fluffy hair to the ashen gray of my eyes. That bleak coloration and my generally stiff facial expressions had also earned me another shameful epithet—“Library Ghost.” But I also held a new title in the form of “the Crown Prince’s betrothed.”

From the time of our engagement, I spent years believing myself his bride-to-be in name only. At least that’s what I thought, until the beginning of this spring when another noble lady appeared who was rumored to be in a relationship with Prince Christopher. I actually witnessed a scene in which it appeared the two were maintaining a secret relationship. This convinced me that the woman he truly loved had at last appeared. I mentally prepared myself for the dissolution of our engagement only to be taken aback by how much the whole affair had affected me.

At some point during the four years since I was named his betrothed, I had developed feelings for the prince. By the time I realized my feelings, I was certain it was all too late. Faced with the fact that the love between His Highness and this woman was seemingly mutual, I fell into a pit of despair. One so deep that the name “Bibliophile Princess” no longer seemed apt, for I hadn’t the heart to read any book.

Thanks to the ensuing uproar as things unfolded, I realized it was all a misunderstanding born of my own misinterpretations. In fact, I discovered that the prince had carried feelings for me since we first met nearly ten years ago. An indescribable sense of happiness wrapped itself around me, as if it were all just a dream come true. Our relationship had remained strong since then.

We waited for the fuss to settle before proclaiming it across the kingdom. The official wedding ceremony between Sauslind’s Crown Prince Christopher and his betrothed, Lady Elianna Bernstein, would commence in the spring of next year.

I now knew three things: I was never really a “fake fiancée,” our feelings for each other were mutual, and I would be able to stay at his side for a long time to come. I felt like I was floating on air. Yet this was also why I’d felt an intense loneliness ever since it was decided that the prince would have to leave the kingdom for a while on official business.

I stiffened, growing pale as I recalled the reason for my tardiness. As the Bibliophile Princess, it wasn’t...