Chapter 10
1432 Words
"So what kind of books are you interested in, Louisiana? If you don't mind," Rain asked as we walked closer to the tall, large shelves full of books.
"Oh. You know, like some of the girls, I am really amused with how romance books are made. So, you can assume that it is books with romance genre that I am really interested in," I answered. "Do you know where the section for those books are?"
"Yes. It's on the opposite side. This section we are in is for written major events in the kingdom as well as places that has connection with again, this kingdom."
"I have noticed," I said.
Rain and I walked together to the other side.
"What about you, Rain?"
"Oh, me? I don't really have any favored genre or anything. As long as my guts tells me that a work is good, I just read it. You know, it could be fantasy fictions, or romance, adventures, science fictions - anything that is worth reading. Aside from fictions, poems are what I read too."
"Oooh. I see, I see," I said, nodding to myself as I scanned across the shelves.
"I've read tons of romance fictions from the same author. Let me search it up for you."
"Oh, Rain. You really don't have to."
"It's okay. I love recommending books to people," he smiled as he walked to a certain spot. "Come here. This little area are actually made from an anonymous author. Their works are good."
I immediately walked my way to where he was, stopping when I was beside him.
The side of the books had this capital A on the bottom part of it.
"A?"
"You're right. They just left their works under the A pen name."
There were about eight (8) books that had the A acronym on the bottom part of it's side. I took the ones at the right-most part.
"The Weakness of the Powerful..."
"Oh? That book? That one's very interesting," he said, pointing at me as he had this approving look on his face.
I turned the book around, the summary was written behind it.
He was living the life that the most wanted...
But the life he was living was a life choking his soul...
Until she arrived.
Will she be able to help him break through the invisible cage he was in? Or will she be another woman he will fail to protect?
"RAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH!" I was close to shouting- scratch that. I literally shouted my thanks to him. "This seems so good. How do I check it out?"
"Do you have any library card?"
"...no."
"Oh, that's fine, completely. Getting your own library card is fast. All you have to do is give us your full name and address. With your library card, you will be able to borrow as many books as you want. It is completely free since it's completely funded by the royal palace."
My full name? My address?
NO!
What am I supposed to do? Lie about my name and address in official accounts?
"Oh no! Seems like I have to get back early! I almost forgot that I still have to prepare for guests this noon!"
"I thought you were free till noon?"
"Oh, forgive me for I'm such a forgetful person. Is it possible for me to hide this at a certain spot so that it won't be borrowed by others? I will come back shortly. That's for sure."
Rain looked at me with confusion dancing in his hazel eyes. He looked at me with suspicions, that I could feel my feet sweating and my stomach started to curl out of nervousness that he'll see through me. And suddenly, he broke into laughter.
"That's usually prohibited, but since you're my friend now, I guess I'll keep it for you, and it will be a secret between you and I," he said, handing out his hand, and I gave the book to him.
"Why, thank you! How do I repay such kindness, Rain?"
"Can I expect you to come to a ball with me? Tomorrow?"
A ball? Tomorrow? But we also have a ball to attend to! Plus, Rain may act so kind and very much of a gentleman, he's just a man I just met. How do I know if he is a trustworthy man?
"Maybe a different one, Rain. I'm afraid I won't be able to fulfill such favor for I have things to attend to tomorrow."
"Then, will I see you again?"
...
"That's for sure! You have the book I'm planning to borrow, and I have no plans of not reading it. Maybe the day after tomorrow," I smiled. "Then, I shall go now. Thank you!"
And with that, I started walking, gradually my speed was getting faster, until I was running. I can hear Rain's "wait", but I ignored it.
I am terrible at lying, and I don't want to lie either!
The moment I step foot outside, the streets were no longer as quiet as it was earlier. There were many people outside!
++++++++++
With heavy breaths, I successfully got inside my room without anyone really seeing me. The sun was fully up, and as I looked at the standing clock, it was pointing somewhere at 10 in the morning.
How long was I even out?
So what happened was: I walked my way towards the town, I bumped into a wall who turns out to be a human male, I got into a bit of a long conversation with him, and then we passed the town's market, he took me to the library, we talked and had another long conversation at the library counter, and I've spent the rest of the time looking for romance books in the wrong book section, and then I found one, and I excused myself when I had to give me full name and address, and then I had to run my way back here-
"Where were you?"
A familiar voice suddenly got through my ears as my door opened with a grand sound.
"Y-Your Highness...?"
Holy!
The scene last night came playing on my head, and I couldn't help but look down to hide my heating face.
+
"Why...? Why would you suddenly kiss me when you were almost close to hitting me?"
Creed's eyes looked at me with disbelief.
"Let me make it clear to you that I don't hit women, and I will never have the intention of hitting them, no matter how much I despise them."
"You... You hate me?" I asked, and the pooled tears in my eyes came running down my cheeks.
"I resent you now. Who would have thought that you would have such nasty behavior such as touching sensitive topics that doesn't even concern you to the slightest bit? Also, I can ask servants to give you a dictionary. Maybe that will help you know the different degree of similar words."
I was shook with how he just spoke, speechless even. It is beyond my power to absorb the reality of how he just talked to me. People were so wrong about him, I was so wrong about him.
"As for your question, I kissed you because a servant was passing. We don't want our act to fail on the very first day just because of your shallow tears, don't we?"
+
"I asked you, where were you? I saw you heading out the palace gates earlier."
"I was just... hoping to see the town, assuming that it would be empty on the early morning," I said in my little voice, my self-esteem suddenly got down to zero, and I can not even bring myself to look up.
"Next time, just tell me if you want to go somewhere. At least I'll have something to give the people reasons as to why you're suddenly gone."
"Others saw me sneaking out? And they asked you?"
"No, Louisiana. I'm telling you this now because I don't want your conclusion to happen."
"...I understand. I'm sorry," I said, this time, looking up to him to at least show him that I was genuinely sorry.
He just looked at me with monotonous eyes, and then he cleared his throat.
"Have you had breakfast already?"
This man truly is confusing. One moment, he'd resemble a scary tiger, the next moment, he'll act like a concerned family member.
"I have not had breakfast yet."
"Come downstairs. I'll cook for you."
Can someone tell me what's more confusing than this man standing in front of me?
- Writer
