Chapter 27
“Eckla, you said you had two pieces of completely shocking news, right?”
I asked Eckla, using the sound of rain and the wheels rolling as our background.
“Yes, my lady.”
“One was about the book—what’s the other?”
“Oh, that.”
Maybe it was because I thought I might have found a way out of my situation. I was feeling a bit calmer now, and curiosity about the story Eckla had cut short earlier began to stir again.
“My lady, do you remember wearing that strange dress to the last ball?”
Oh no, this again?
“Eckla, was my outfit really that strange? People are still talking about it?”
I was genuinely upset.
Aren’t they being way too much? It was just a dress—do they really have to keep tearing it apart like that?
I wore it specifically not to stand out. If I had known it would be like this, I would’ve just gone all out in a rainbow-colored gown!
“Hahaha, oh my lady. No, it’s not like that.”
Eckla chuckled, her cheeks reddening with laughter, then continued.
“I can’t quite recall the right words, but… ever since you wore that dress, the noble ladies have started dressing more modestly. They’re especially avoiding colors that are hard to dye, like yellow or pink.”
“What?”
“And just recently, Lady Ariste wore this super flashy yellow dress, and everyone criticized her harshly, calling her clueless.”
“……”
“My lady?”
“Uh, yeah.”
“Isn’t it amazing? You started a huge trend, my lady!”
“……”
I didn’t know what kind of expression to make. My mouth opened, then closed again silently.
What is this situation?
“My lady, you’re truly amazing. Actually, I think I misunderstood you before.”
“Huh?”
“People are calling you a warrior standing up against absurdity. They say you’re cool and inspiring.”
“……”
“Where did you get that kind of courage?”
“No, no, that’s not it.”
If possible, I wanted to crawl into a mouse hole.
That wasn’t my intention at all. How on earth did I end up becoming that person?
“And until recently, I thought you were cold and scary. But now you’re so kind and warm. I’ll really do my best from now on.”
“Oh, thank you for saying that. You’re already doing a wonderful job, Eckla.”
Eckla looked at me with a deeply moved expression.
I hate these mushy, sentimental moments.
“Uh, is the bookstore far from here?”
“We’re almost there. Also, did you know there’s a tea party at the Schrein viscount’s estate on the 10th?”
“A tea party?”
“Yes. According to Elome, Lady Grania is preparing for it with everything she’s got.”
I had never experienced anything like this in all nineteen regressions.
I’d heard a lot about Elome, who works for the Schrein family and is close with Eckla.
But I had absolutely no personal relationship with her.
“Why did they invite me to a tea party, though?”
“Well, probably because you’re the talk of the town now.”
Ugh, good grief.
“We’re almost there, right?”
Feeling embarrassed, I turned to look out the window.
🔹 🔹 🔹
Ding–
I walked in hurriedly before the bell even finished ringing.
From inside the carriage, it had looked like just a light drizzle, but the rain had grown heavier.
Even though I’d only taken a few steps from the carriage, the hem of my dress was already soaked.
“Hello.”
As I entered, an elderly man responded to my greeting with just a slight nod of his head.
It was my first time inside the bookstore, and it was much more spacious than I had expected.
In fact, it looked rather complicated—winding like a maze.
“Good grief, this is a bookstore? Just stepping into one of those corners feels like falling into another dimension.”
The rain outside seemed to be growing heavier.
I had to find the book quickly and head back home.
I didn’t hesitate to say, “I’m looking for a book.”
The owner only slowly lifted his head without saying a word.
“It’s called Renata the Tumultuous.”
“My lady—”
Eckla suddenly nudged me in the ribs.
“Hmm?”
“Mr. Clem can’t hear. And he doesn’t speak, either.”
Ah—realizing that made cold sweat break out on my forehead.
“Then how…”
Knowing now that he couldn’t hear, I lowered my voice instinctively. The old man bowed slightly.
Then, as slowly as a turtle, he opened a drawer and pulled out a small, worn piece of paper.
“Ah, we’re going to communicate by writing.”
Or so I thought—but instead of handing me a pen, he slowly opened another drawer.
“An impatient person wouldn’t survive this.”
And that impatient person? That was me.
I tightly shut my eyes, then opened them again and firmly pressed my lips together.
I didn’t want to say anything rude or accidentally rush him.
Meanwhile, the old man pulled out an incredibly thick catalog from beneath the counter.
“What is this?”
The question escaped me instinctively—but I held my tongue.
Just then, the old man pushed a piece of paper and a pen toward me.
I wrote Renata the Tumultuous on the paper and politely handed it to him.
Without a word, the man began to flip through the pages, his hands delicate and slow.
That’s when I realized—the contents of this enormous bookstore were cataloged in that single tome.
Curious, I peeked at the shelves behind him. Dozens of books as thick as the one he was holding were piled high.
“Ah, it’s a master index of sorts.”
I admired his precise, detailed work and decided to wait patiently.
After quite a while, the old man finally scribbled something and handed it to me.
Section L, 24th shelf, book 398. Only one copy. Not for sale.
“You mean I can’t buy it?”
I looked down at the note, disappointed, and scribbled my question in response.
The old man gave a single, slow nod and closed the thick book.
Sir, but I really need that book.
With a desperate expression, I wrote and showed him another note—but he shook his head.
I’ll pay double. No, triple. I don’t care how thick it is—I need it.
That book was something I needed desperately.
Who knew what it contained? Maybe it held the answers I was looking for.
Please, grandfather.
Please let me buy that book. Yes?
As I begged, the old man slowly opened another drawer.
His movements looked even slower than before—three times slower, in fact.
He scribbled something on a small piece of paper and handed it to me.
You can read it here. As much as you like.
“But how am I supposed to read a novel right here?”
It was a half-muttered complaint—but the old man extended a twig-like finger and pointed somewhere.
Where he pointed, I saw five or six cushions that looked soft and comfortable.
Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who complained like this.
And despite being unable to hear, he understood everything I was saying.
“……”
Well, I didn’t have much of a choice.
As I picked one up, the old man tapped the sign in front of the cushions.
No lamps due to fire risk. Luminous stones allowed.
“Oh, of course. But… is it really that dark inside?”
Only after asking did I realize how stupid the question sounded.
Sigh. This is going to be quite the ordeal.
“Eckla, I’m sorry, but go ahead without me.”
“Huh? No, my lady. I’ll stay with you.”
“I can’t buy the book, so I’ll have to read it here—and it’ll take a while.”
“Still, I’ll wait.”
“No, you have errands from earlier that you still need to finish.”
“Well, that’s true, but—”
“I’ll read for about two or three hours. Come back when the sun starts to set. Okay?”
Eckla looked at me with concern, but I gave her a cheerful smile.
“Alright. I’ll do that.”
Once she left, I took the slip the old man had given me and scanned the inside of the bookstore.
Now and then, I could hear the turning of pages and footsteps.
It seemed I wasn’t the only wanderer exploring this world.
Alright. I’ll join them, too.
