Chapter 12 

4. The Bibliophile and the Study (1)

Miraine Laster loved books. What had begun in childhood as an escape from his father’s coldness had long since become his lifelong companion. So, naturally, in the dull monotony of life in Wicker, Miraine thought of the library.

He was forbidden from doing anything that might constitute a sudden or unpredictable action, but surely there could be no problem with reading a book.

At least within the castle itself, he was free to move about, so Miraine made his way to the library without anyone interfering.

The Grand Duke’s library.

He could hardly imagine what its size might be. Like a man going to meet his lover, Miraine headed there with his heart pounding in anticipation. Wicker had a strong martial tradition, so perhaps the library would be rather unimpressive. No—surely the library of a ruler would possess at least a certain degree of grandeur.

For the first time in a long while, he was able to forget about the political situation and simply lose himself in anticipation.

And that was how the incident began.

Upon arriving at the library, filled with the scent of books, Miraine stared in awe.

‘As expected of the Grand Ducal family.’

The library was shrouded in darkness, but through the faint candlelight, Miraine could make out row upon row of bookshelves stretching endlessly into the distance.

It was a sight difficult to find even in the capital.

Books were luxury items among luxury items.

At first, Miraine assumed the room had been designed merely as a display of wealth. Books were one of the markers distinguishing nobles from commoners, after all, and noble libraries were often maintained for the sake of appearances.

But before long, Miraine realized that this place was not merely decorative.

The books were meticulously organized by subject, and numerous rare and ancient volumes were carefully preserved.

This was unquestionably a space meant for practical use.

Miraine was initially taken aback, but before long, he became completely absorbed in exploring the library.

As one of the rare nobles who genuinely loved books, he quickly lost himself in the shelves.

Up to that point, there had been no problem.

The problem occurred while he was reading.

More precisely, the incident began when Miraine sensed the sound of breathing and turned his head.

His face instantly registered surprise.

At the far end of the library, he discovered a large man sprawled across a chaise longue.

A small window allowed the blue light of the moon to filter faintly into the library. The dim moonlight passed diagonally across the sofa, gradually revealing the sleeping man’s body as though unveiling it from beneath a veil.

Miraine’s breath stopped when his eyes reached the elegant hand dangling over the edge of the chaise.

The moment he saw those beautiful fingers, as though carved from soft marble, he realized who the man was.

“Your Highness?”

A silver mask was held between those graceful fingertips.

At Miraine’s voice, the man opened his eyes and twisted part of his face, now illuminated by the moonlight.

Miraine, overwhelmed by surprise, drew in a sharp breath.

‘To think we would meet again like this.’

His tense body felt stiff at every joint.

This was the first time he had faced the Grand Duke since that night.

Just as the nervous young man swallowed hard—

Thud.

He heard something fall to the floor.

Miraine’s thoughts began racing.

Then he hurriedly turned around and shouted,

“I didn’t see anything!”

The Grand Duke did not answer immediately.

Only his rough breathing, betraying his displeasure, lingered around Miraine’s ears.

Listening to his own wildly pounding heart, Miraine swallowed nervously.

A sharp gaze seemed to bore into his back.

No—

It was closer to murderous intent.

Imagining those vivid blue eyes glaring relentlessly at him, Miraine slowly exhaled.

His trembling body gradually settled in the silence.

Once he regained his composure, a strange expression crossed Miraine’s face.

‘The Grand Duke without his mask is standing behind me…’

He was entertaining a rather audacious thought.

Would he see a hideous face if he turned around?

It was the sort of mischievous curiosity that was difficult to resist.

Like Pandora’s box.

Miraine had to struggle against the urge tempting him toward that forbidden curiosity.

After a long silence, a cold voice came from behind him.

“Turn around.”

The natural command left no room for argument, and Miraine obeyed.

As he slowly turned, he reluctantly swallowed his disappointment.

He knew it was wrong, but he was still curious.

The moonlight had cleverly avoided most of the Grand Duke’s face, allowing Miraine to see only his lower lip.

‘If only the moonlight had passed a little higher. Just how terrifying must his appearance be for his infamous reputation to have spread across the entire continent?’

And then Miraine fully turned around—

and froze.

“Grand Duke.”

Blue eyes gleamed between the silver mask.

This time, the moonlight passed directly across the silver mask.

The Grand Duke stared at him with two deep eyes whose emotions were impossible to discern.

Those blue eyes reminded Miraine of the clear Wicker sky he had seen on his journey by carriage.

Miraine’s tongue felt stiff.

Frozen as he stared into those eyes, he finally caught his breath and spoke.

“It has been a long time.”

The Grand Duke glared at Miraine before opening his lips.

“Did Laisa not inform you? No one is permitted to enter this place without authorization.”

“Is Your Highness not here as well?”

“Hah. Do I look like ‘no one’ to you?”

Miraine responded in a gentle voice.

“Do I look like ‘no one’ to you?”

There was no answer.

The blue eyes visible through the silver mask flickered.

Miraine thought the Grand Duke was flustered.

A cold, tense silence passed between them as they cautiously read each other’s expressions.

Miraine was the first to break it.

“This is the first time I have seen you since that night.”

His voice sounded casual, but inwardly, Miraine was deeply unsettled.

It was not because of what had just happened.

Standing before the Grand Duke, Miraine was reminded of that night in vivid detail.

His gaze briefly fell upon the Grand Duke’s large, elegant hands.

Miraine remembered the fingers that had slipped between his lips that night—the fingers that had parted his moist lips and tangled with his tongue.

Those long fingers had toyed with his tongue and thoroughly explored his mouth.

Remembering it, the tips of Miraine’s ears turned faintly red.

‘Thank goodness it’s nighttime.’

At least the darkness would conceal his flushed face.

The Grand Duke standing before him with those calm eyes had breathed heavily over him that night.

Miraine remembered the low sounds that had brushed against his ears.

And the slight curve of the lips beneath the silver mask.

“Indeed. I misspoke.”

The Grand Duke’s cold, guarded eyes were different from the man he had been that night.

Yet he was undoubtedly the same gentle and strangely captivating man.

Miraine’s expression wavered slightly.

“Let me put it another way. No one except me is permitted to enter this area.”

Miraine composed himself and answered slowly.

“Is that so? I did not know.”

The polite answer left the Grand Duke unable to find another fault to criticize him for.

Instead, he silently scrutinized Miraine with sharp eyes.

Miraine merely maintained a faint smile.

‘He’s like a cat with its fur standing on end.’

He felt half bitter and half amused.

Not wanting to provoke him, Miraine spoke gently.

“I did not see your face. The library was rather dark. Would it not be better to add more candleholders? You will damage your eyes.”

“That is none of your concern.”

“Is that so?”

His voice was soft, almost wistful.

In a way, it sounded pitiful. That was partly intentional on Miraine’s part, but there was also genuine sincerity behind it.

As the Grand Duke looked at Miraine’s faint, weary smile, his gaze wavered ever so slightly.

After a brief hesitation, he slowly spoke.

“Moonlight is sufficient. And I did not come here to read.”

“Then why did you come?”

“……”

His voice was softer than before.

“This has been my space since I was very young. A place where I can take off my mask and rest freely.”

Then, in a quieter voice, he asked,

“Did you really not see my face?”

“I do not lie. You may rest assured. I truly did not see your face, Your Highness.”

Even if Miraine had seen it, he would have claimed otherwise.

But the truth was, he genuinely had not seen the Grand Duke’s face.

At those words, relief appeared in the Grand Duke’s expression.

He released a long sigh before speaking.

“I apologize for raising my voice. But do not enter the library again. This is not a place you should come.”

“Then where am I allowed to go within this estate?”

A faint smile still lingered on Miraine’s composed face, but there was an edge beneath his words.

The Grand Duke fell silent.

His blue eyes seemed to pierce straight through Miraine, as though trying to see into his very heart.

Then, suddenly, the Grand Duke let out a short, sharp laugh.

“You’re quite bold.”

A flicker of agitation crossed Miraine’s composed features.

Then the Grand Duke’s voice turned cold.

“I’m sorry, Miraine Laster. Do you really think I would simply let you wander freely around my castle?”

His mocking tone made Miraine suppress a small sigh.

The intensity of the Grand Duke’s gaze was overwhelming.

“Why would I leave the son of Count Laster to roam freely?”

The words were laced with ridicule.

Then came the final blow.

“I do not trust you.”