It Turned Out She Wasn't a Favored Concubine - Episode 17

I finished the letter as cheerfully as I could and called for Louis.

“Here’s my reply. As always, please deliver it, Louis. But…”

“Yes, what is it?”

“My brother is on the battlefield right now. He must be busy. So while I’m grateful and happy that he sends letters so often, I wrote in the reply that he doesn’t need to overexert himself. If the next letter comes late, I’ll understand.”

“Pardon? …Yes, I understand.”

Louis responded somewhat reluctantly and awkwardly tucked the letter into his coat.

But I didn’t dwell on it. I had other things to worry about.

How could I meet Perlo Shanaiyer?

After sending Louis off, I sat by the window, lost in thought for hours. The sun was setting beyond the palace buildings.

I stared blankly at the palace, wondering whose it was and what facilities it held, when my eyes locked onto a round building.

The library! Why hadn’t I thought of that?

The round building in the distance was the Imperial Palace Library. During my feverish illness, Louis had gone there daily to bring me books about Motus.

The library held countless volumes, and the Imperial Library had the right to possess newly published books immediately.

Perhaps I could find a way to contact Perlo Shanaiyer through the books on Motus. The newer the book, the more likely his name would appear.

“I want to go to the library!”

“R-right now?”

Louis rushed into the room at my call and looked out the window. The sun had already set beyond the palace walls.

“If you want books on Motus, I can bring a few.”

“No, I want to look for something myself.”

“…Understood.”

Seeing my firm stance, Louis quickly gave up and fetched my cloak.

When we arrived at the Imperial Library, the librarians inside jumped up in surprise. A few who saw my face directly even bumped their knees on their desks and fell to the floor.

Everyone froze, mouths agape, and after a round of silent glances, the youngest-looking librarian was pushed forward.

It was obvious he’d been volunteered.

“Y-your Highness, what brings you to the Imperial Library?”

His trembling voice was pitiful, but I didn’t have the luxury to consider others’ feelings. I got straight to the point.

“I want to see books on Motus. Where are they?”

“T-that would be right this way.”

The young librarian nervously led me to a shelf and pointed. I quickly scanned the titles on the spines—books related to Motus.

I recognized several from the time I was ill. I swiftly checked the shelf he indicated and tried to look at the one behind it, but the young librarian stopped me.

“Um, from here on, it’s literature…”

“This is all the Motus-related material in the Imperial Library?”

I was startled and raised my voice slightly. The shelf was large, but it was just one.

To think the Imperial Library had only this much on Motus. That meant I’d read nearly half of it already.

“Is this really all the Motus-related material in the Imperial Library?”

The young librarian couldn’t answer and fumbled. I calmed myself. It wasn’t right to scold someone who’d done nothing wrong.

“Ahem, sorry. I’m just in a hurry. Do people rarely come here to read about Motus?”

Startled by my apology, the young librarian blinked and explained.

“Yes… Most visitors are scholars sponsored by noble families. Some young ladies come to borrow novels. But I haven’t seen anyone looking for Motus-related books. Except for you, Your Highness. You borrowed some through a maid recently, didn’t you?”

“Oh? How do you know that?”

The young librarian shyly replied.

“I was the one who selected those books.”

He’d probably been chosen for the same reason as today—the other librarians didn’t want to risk upsetting me.

“I tried to give them in stages. Was my selection inappropriate?”

“No, they were great. Thanks to you, I understood them easily.”

It wasn’t just flattery. Those books had truly helped me expand my knowledge of Motus.

“I’m glad. But the books I recommended last were the highest level available here. Most Motus artisans have their own private labs and rarely visit the Imperial Library. So the more specialized books are kept in the restricted archives.”

My ears perked up.

“Restricted archives? There’s a separate archive?”

“Yes… The restricted archives contain more specialized research. The open shelves here are suitable for the general public.”

If the books I’d read were for general readers, then the ones for Motus artisans must contain more detailed and rich information. Perhaps even the answers I’d been seeking.

I should’ve come to the library myself sooner!

Regretting my delay, I asked the young librarian:

“Can I go into that archive?”

The poor boy hesitated again, glancing toward the senior librarians who were murmuring among themselves.

Apparently, the restricted archive wasn’t open to just anyone. And this young librarian surely didn’t have the authority.

I frowned and looked toward the murmuring librarians. Their chatter died instantly as a middle-aged librarian with a mustache reluctantly approached.

“It’s an honor to have Your Highness visit us. It seems this child has upset you. I’ll make sure he’s properly trained.”

The young librarian’s face turned red. I scoffed. You could’ve come yourself instead of pushing the kid forward.

“No, he treated me well. But I’d like to enter the restricted archive with the Motus materials. It seems access is limited. What should I do?”

“The restricted archive? Ah, yes, of course Your Highness should enter.”

“But… doesn’t it require the director’s approval?”

The young librarian panicked. So approval was needed. But the mustached librarian scolded him.

“Such a rigid child! Pay him no mind, Your Highness. Please, go ahead.”

The young librarian looked hurt and opened his mouth to protest. Instead of moving forward, I raised my voice so all the librarians could hear.

“No, let’s follow proper procedure. If approval is needed, I’ll get it and enter officially.”

“Pardon? But Your Highness doesn’t need approval like some lowly scholar. It’s fine. You don’t need to listen to this trainee.”

His constant belittling of the young librarian annoyed me even more.

“He’s the one who guided me. And I doubt this will be my last visit to the restricted archive. Better to follow the proper steps now.”

Faced with my firm stance, the middle-aged librarian reluctantly brought out a stack of forms. I slowly filled them out with a quill.

It took less than half an hour to get approval from the director—perhaps expedited because the applicant was the Third Concubine.

The director himself came downstairs, panting.

“Y-Your Highness, it’s an immense honor…”

“That’s the third time I’ve heard that. I plan to visit the restricted archive often, so I wanted to get approval in advance.”

“Often?”

The director’s face paled.

“Yes, I’ll be counting on you.”

“O-of course. It’s our greatest honor.”

His face said otherwise.

“So, where do I go to access the restricted archive?”

“Ah, well…”

The director looked toward the librarians. All of them, including the mustached one, avoided his gaze. In the end, the director handed the key to the young librarian still standing beside me.

“Lean, you guide Her Highness.”

It was frustrating how the adults kept pushing the responsibility onto the child, but I had no choice. I’d treat him kindly.

Lean took the key and looked at me nervously. I spoke gently.

“Shall we go?”

“Yes, yes. I’ll lead the way. We’ll need to go underground, and the stairs are narrow, so please be careful.”

Lean walked slowly with the key. As I followed, Louis tried to come along.

“No, I’ll go alone. Sounds like it’s hard for multiple people to enter.”

“But still…”

“Stay here and read with the other maids.”

At my suggestion, Louis hesitated, then bowed. I followed Lean underground.

“There are several restricted archives, but the one with Motus research is at the very end.”

As we walked through the chilly corridor lit by dim lights, Lean explained that the temperature was controlled to preserve the books.

I nodded and looked at the tightly shut doors.

“Are these archives rarely used?”

“Yes. Most people use the open shelves upstairs. We rarely come down here ourselves.”

“I see. Sorry for the trouble.”

Lean’s ears turned red.

“N-not at all. It’s my duty. And… I was too rigid earlier and caused you trouble. Judging by the others’ reactions, it seems you didn’t need approval after all.”

“You did the right thing. If I hadn’t gotten proper approval, it could’ve caused problems later. If the request is reasonable, it should be followed.”

Lean’s ears turned even redder. I pretended not to notice and kept walking. At the far end of the corridor, Lean finally stopped. He unlocked the door, revealing shelves packed tightly with books.

Dim sunlight filtered through frosted windows, casting deep shadows among the tall shelves.

I took a deep breath and stepped inside.

“If you need anything, just let me know. I’ll find it for you.”

Lean rolled up his sleeves.

“It’s fine. I’ll browse slowly. You can go back upstairs.”

“But if no one is here to assist you…”

“I want to look around quietly. I told the maids to wait upstairs. If anyone questions it, say I ordered it.”

Lean hesitated, then nodded.

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