Chapter 24

Chapter 24. While the count was away from the mansion

Henelone’s puzzled eyes looked into the dark interior of the second floor. No matter where she looked, she couldn’t find any books that could be considered new. Henelone watched from a distance the employee who was going through a box in the corner of the bookshelf, then moved to her side.

The staff m*mber lifted the book she was holding in her hand and burst out.

“Ta-da! This is Fiona’s new work!”

“Heuk!”

Henelone, with her eyes as big as a lantern, covered her mouth with her hand in excitement. Fiona’s new work! Her heart was pounding violently.

Fiona!

She was a master of romance novels that made one immerse themselves in the book in an instant with her incredible writing skills and detailed descriptions.

Of course, it wasn’t just a romance. That’s why the bookstore staff led her secretly. That’s because it was a p*rnographic book that would be shocking if it were released on the market! Moreover, Fiona’s novel even had illustrations. Henelone, who was looking at the book with shaking eyes, asked the employee, pretending not to notice her efforts.

“Why is this…?”

“Huh? Ah. The previous librarian often ordered these books… Oh my, did I make a mistake?”

“Ah, that’s…….”

“As expected, there is no need for books like this in the library… I’m sorry, librarian.”

“No!”

Henelone grabbed the employee’s hand as she tried to put her book back. The startled employee looked at Henelone with her puzzled eyes. What do we do. Henelone hesitated for a moment, but eventually lowered her voice and whispered secretly.

“This… I’ll buy it separately…….”

“Aha.”

The staff m*mber with a bright smile held out a book, and Henelone accepted it with her hands trembling. On the sturdy hardcover, a title scrawled in stylish cursive caught her eye.

<While the Count was away from the mansion>

Oh my god. What kind of shocking story will unfold this time? As she hugged the book with a pounding heart, she suddenly remembered Heinz on the first floor. She could never confidently carry it in her hand. Henelone asked the employee with a nervous look on her face.

“Is delivery… possible?”

“Of course! Where should I send it?”

Henelone’s head rolled violently. First of all, not the mansion. The butler would check first, but if she was caught, she would die of shame. Even if the packaging was not opened, there were more than one person who may have checked it, including her maid, mother, and her sister in law.

So, the library after all?

But there is Heinz in the library. Would it be okay if she delivered it between new books? No, she couldn’t rely on such uncertain odds. Just in case, he might open the packaging together to help! Henelone, who was chewing her lips in contemplation, soon opened her mouth with a determined look on her face.

“Please take this out and deliver it to the library. Pack it well so the title is not visible!”

“Of course! Just trust me. I’ll package it perfectly!”

“And…just this! Please put it in the mailbox! Separately!”

“Yes, I understand~!”

The employee, whose eyes lit up meaningfully as if she understood, cheerfully responded with a playful salute. Henelone, who felt a little reassured by her friendly appearance, sighed and handed the book she was holding in her arms back to the employee.

“What kind of new book is taking so long?”

When she came down to the first floor with the staff, Heinz, who was leafing through a book, turned his head and asked awkwardly. Henelone, whose feet were numb, smiled brightly with an exaggerated expression and waved her hand.

“Phew, this new book is amazing! I can’t wait to talk to you… haha!”

“….Hm.”

Tak. Heinz closed the book he was holding and looked at Henelone suspiciously. Henelone, with fierce red eyes shining at her, hurried to his side, grabbed his arm, and led him out of the bookstore.

“Let’s go eat something!”

Heinz, who was staring blankly at Henelone’s small hand clutching his arm, soon obediently walked away.

“Goodbye~!”

A staff m*mber with a gentle voice greeted the two people and sent them off.

***

‘I should have changed my clothes and come back.’

After looking around the inside of the restaurant, Henelone hesitated and combed out her untied hair with her fingers. At most, she thought she would eat at a restaurant near the bookstore, but the place Heinz headed to was a nice restaurant on the fourth floor.

Moreover, the table they were shown to was on the 4th floor. It was a place where only high-ranking nobles could sit, so the only people around them were nobles dressed up in style.

A face covered in sweat, hair with ponytail marks, and a dress soaked in grass. For some reason, it seemed like everyone around them was glancing sideways in her direction, and Henelone’s face turned red. At this point, she became more resentful of Heinz.

‘But here… I think they said it’s difficult to even make a reservation.’

She heard it from Milena. Midlenato Restaurant, run by Count Midlen, was a major player in the restaurant industry. It was a place that quickly became a popular place with a nice interior and a menu that received rave reviews from the royal family. In particular, she heard that the 4th floor, which offers a panoramic view of the city, was the most popular and was fully booked for half a year.