Chapter 131

“I thought I liked work,” Rodella had to admit. “But you were right; maybe I just didn’t know how to relax.”

Rodella had truly rested to her heart’s content. Since graduating from the academy, this kind of break, free of any thoughts of work, was incredibly sweet.

“Told you so,” Aivert said, nodding as if it were obvious. “A person’s efficiency improves when they rest sometimes.”

“…Is that so?” But was this really okay? While she was resting, who was doing her work?

Just as her thoughts were about to drift back to her job, Aivert’s gesture pulled her out of her reverie.

“Stop.”

The vacation’s theme was “a break with no thoughts of work,” so he must have meant for her to stop thinking about it.

“Okay,” Rodella sighed deeply but nodded obediently.

In truth, it was easy to say, as her tension had already eased, and she didn’t have the energy to work.

The two of them had been slowly exploring the estate over two days. The mansion, which at first seemed like it would take an eternity to explore, now felt as familiar as a map in her mind.

The problem was, “This is where Aivert touched firewood with his bare hands, this is where I twisted my ankle looking out the window with Aivert, this is where Aivert…”

…He kept intruding into her memories in this way.

Aside from these minor “problems,” Aivert’s guidance was absolutely perfect.

As a result of nibbling away at the vast estate like slices of cake, they finally arrived at the last place.

“Alright, this is the library. It’s the last place we haven’t looked at.”

He pushed open the large doors and said, “It’s also the place I think you’ll like the most.”

The place I’ll like the most?

As Rodella blinked, the large doors opened, revealing a massive library with a wide window on one side. This wasn’t a library; it was more like a small bookstore.

“Wow…”

An exclamation of awe escaped her lips.

Rodella, excited without even realizing it, quickly approached the window.

From the window, she could see a scenic view, and…

“Did they get all the books in advance, too?”

Bookshelves filled a whole section of the room.

As Rodella scurried over, Aivert followed, saying, “They said they got them from various fields, and that you could fill it with your taste later.”

So, were these the tastes of Mrs. Royden and my parents?

Since both families prepared it together…

Rodella, who was scanning the bookshelves with interest, soon had to clear her throat.

[Fled from the Obsessive Duke Only to Be Devoured]

[Please Teach Me How to Desire]

The bright red covers probably meant…

“What on earth did they put in here?”

As she turned away from the bookshelves with a slightly flushed face, Aivert burst into laughter.

“You know those books?”

Aivert said as if it were the most natural thing in the world, “Madam Syveric said she chose them, so I read them. The content was amazing.”

So, the culprit was Mom!

The mischievous face of her mother came to mind, and Rodella fanned herself with her hand.

Meanwhile, Aivert led her to another part of the library.

“This side is a separate space for getting some air. It seems to be for clearing your head while you read.”

“Perfect!”

Rodella swung open the door to the outside.

As the door opened silently, warm sunlight poured in, and a gentle breeze tickled her hair.

Rodella broke into a happy smile.

“They really put a lot of thought into this and made it well.”

The books… would have to be changed, though.

Rodella looked back at him with a laugh on her face.

Perhaps because of the books, a slightly rosy face was turned toward him.

Aivert’s lips curved upward as he looked at her face for a moment.

“You don’t seem to be thinking about work… You must like the library.”

Rodella blinked at his words.

“How do you know?”

The answer came back immediately.

“I know everything about you.”

His tone was ordinary.

But hadn’t she heard that before…?

“I know everything about you.”

Rodella’s mouth slightly opened.

It must have been the day of the party at the Azure Knights’ headquarters.

He had said that when he instantly found out she had secretly brought alcohol.

At the time, she had brushed it off without a second thought, but…

Now, it was hard to do that.

“…”

Their gazes subtly met.

That’s right, you know me well. There’s probably no one who knows as much about me as you do.

This fact, unlike before, sent a clear tremor through her heart.

It was at that moment that Rodella’s lips were pressed into a firm line.

Aivert’s action of fidgeting with his pocket, which she had noticed before, caught her eye again.

“Did you hide something delicious in there?”

It was a good thing that a topic of conversation came up before an awkward silence could settle in.

That’s what Rodella thought.

But Aivert noticeably flinched.

What is it?

“…No.”

His answer was delayed by a beat.

“Then what is it?”

His reaction was even more suspicious when she asked again.

“Do you want to know?”

Rodella’s gaze fixed on and then dropped from his hand in his pocket.

“Yes.”

If he really wanted to hide it, he wouldn’t have let it be seen at all.

When she finally nodded, showing her curiosity, Aivert subtly averted his gaze.

“I wanted to keep it a secret.”

But there was nothing passing by the still sunny window that he could use to change the subject.

Only a snow-covered field under a cloudless sky was visible.

Finally, Aivert opened his mouth.

“I got the key.”

“Huh? The key?”

It might have seemed out of the blue, but Rodella had a feeling she knew what it was.

There was only one key that could be mentioned in this situation, wasn’t there?

It was when Rodella was about to say something.

As if his words weren’t finished, Aivert continued.

“But I had a bad thought.”

As Rodella blinked, Aivert looked back at her.

“Should I pretend I didn’t get it… pretend I don’t know?”

What?

“Should we stay like this? If I say the key was researched incorrectly, I can drag it out for a long time by saying they need to research it again.”

He looked down at his wrist, which was cuffed.

What kind of crazy task was he trying to put Sir Felix through?

“Give me the key. Let’s take these handcuffs off quickly.”

If they take them off, the oar won’t fly off because it’s caught on the chain, and there won’t be any inconvenience when they move, right?

Rodella spoke, but Aivert didn’t react.

“…Aivert?”

He took the key out of his pocket.

It was similar to the one she had seen when she was first cuffed.

The only difference was that it was a bit more lustrous.

He opened his hand to look at it, then clenched it.

—Crunch.

A foreboding sound was heard.

“…What are you doing?”

“I’m thinking about whether I’d disappoint you.”

Aivert sometimes, no, often took his thoughts in unimaginable directions.

Just as Rodella was about to stop him, not knowing what he was about to do this time.

Their gazes met directly.

“What if I were to destroy it – would you be disappointed?”

Aivert’s blue eyes were clearer than ever.

Clear and sharp, meaning this was a statement made with his own will.

Rodella slightly opened her mouth.