IMHMF 18

Chapter 18

“Get used to it. There will be more once we are married.”

Married.

Whenever talk of marriage with him came up, divorce always followed close behind in my thoughts like a shadow.

Is it not rather amusing, a marriage with divorce promised from the start…

“By the way, we would need to go through an identity check to enter the imperial palace regardless, so how exactly are we going to sneak in?”

In response to my question, Eden showed me a transport magic stone.

“Is the use of unauthorized magic stones not prohibited within the imperial palace?”

“That applies to ordinary people, not to me.”

The only people permitted to use magic stones and magical energy within the imperial palace were all members of the founding noble families. Of course, not all members of the founding noble families were permitted to do so.

It was only possible for those whom the emperor had specially authorized.

He tucked the transport magic stone he had shown me back into his coat, then suddenly wrapped his arm around my waist.

“Eden?”

“To transport two people, we need to be close together.”

And then he lightly lifted me into his arms. It was a swift motion, yet not a single part of it was careless.

“Wrap your arms around my neck.”

“Eden, you have more than enough magical energy. Is it really necessary to do it this way…”

Before I could voice any further complaint, he swiftly transported us to the front of the library.

“Duke Hylus?”

My eyes met directly with those of the imperial palace librarian who had been standing in front of the library. Feeling needlessly embarrassed by the situation, I whispered urgently to him wanting to get out of his arms quickly, but he gave no response.

“Eden, put me down.”

“……”

“Eden…!”

Despite landing several punches against his chest, he seemed to have no intention of setting me down and paid it no mind. The librarian opened the library door for him as he walked in with me still in his arms.

Eden entered the library with unhesitating steps and only set me down after finding a spot with a comfortable amount of sunlight.

“Eden, I could have walked here perfectly well on my own.”

“My fiancée is not in the best of health.”

“I am not unwell. I am perfectly healthy.”

“You collapse at the slightest thing, so how can I trust that?”

It was the imperial palace librarian who broke the bickering between Eden and me.

“Duke Hylus, it has been a while.”

“Raven.”

“Is this the much-talked-about fiancée?”

The librarian, who had greeted Eden first, naturally turned his gaze toward me.

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“How do you do, my lady. I am Raven Killia, imperial palace librarian and second-rank minister.”

“I am Eloa Rumania, daughter of Count Rumania.”

No sooner had Raven and I finished our greetings than Eden took hold of the hand I had been shaking with Raven. He gripped it so firmly, as though making a point of showing his jealousy, that even after his hand released mine, it still felt as though it were being held.

“So this is where you were exiled to, the library?”

“Haha, I had hoped to rest while in exile, but it seems that will not be possible.”

“My fiancée is looking for a book. I would appreciate your assistance.”

“Yes, I shall attend to the lady with great care.”

“Loa.”

“Please take care on your way.”

“I will be back soon.”

Eden, who had been saying his farewell to me in a gentle and soft voice, pressed his lips to my forehead before I knew it. His unfamiliar gesture made me feel strangely flustered. Ordinarily I would have been flustered and pushed him away, but with Raven standing before us, I could not do so.

“The two of you seem to get along very well.”

Raven… something must be wrong with your eyes…

But since I could not voice such thoughts, I offered a slightly awkward smile.

“I suppose it is because we have not been engaged for very long.”

“Might I ask what book you are looking for, my lady?”

Should I say sorcery? What if I am misunderstood for no good reason?

Reading my hesitation, he quickly added.

“I mean nothing else by it. I simply thought that since the ducal residence library has just as many books as the imperial palace library, there must be something that is not even there.”

“Ah…”

“If it is difficult to say, you need not tell me.”

“Yes, thank you for your consideration.”

“Books related to sorcery are in section D600.”

“……!”

I could not help but be startled at Raven’s words. My expression, which I had failed to conceal, was laid bare, and Raven, seeing my expression, smiled and spoke.

“Usually, books that are difficult to mention tend to be about sorcery or romance.”

“……”

“For reference, books on romance and marriage are in section J200, and books on divorce law are in section J300.”

“Thank you.”

“I hope it is of some help.”

Avoiding Raven’s gaze as he returned to his place, I made my way to the J300 section. I had originally intended to look only at sorcery-related content, but I could not help being curious about the divorce section. I slowly browsed through the books in J300.

“There really are nothing but law books…”

Even though I wanted to divorce Eden, I had no desire to read thick law books filled with difficult language. Behind my somewhat dampened interest, a title caught my eye: <100 Ways to Divorce Your Husband>.

I picked it up without hesitation and opened it to find elaborate illustrations inside.

Method One.

Push your husband down the stairs as though by accident. However, it must be a staircase of at least two floors.

Method Two.

Have foods your husband dislikes prepared at every meal. However, a health-related reason is required.

The book was full of entries like this, none of them particularly useful.

“This is not a guide to getting a divorce at all.”

Just as I was about to close it in disappointment at the meaningless content, the eighty-seventh method caught my eye.

Method Eighty-Seven.

Find another woman for your husband to fall in love with. He will naturally become neglectful of you, and you will be able to obtain a divorce.

Another woman for him to fall in love with…

I closed the book with a loud snap, shook my head, pressed my lips together, and put it back in its place.

“…I really should not have looked at that.”

“At what, may I ask?”

I could not help but be startled at Raven’s sudden appearance behind me.

“Raven?”

“Ah, I apologize if I startled you.”

“It is alright.”

“I noticed you were not in the sorcery section, my lady, so I came to check.”

“Is it not natural for a young lady to be more curious about matters of personal love?”

I acted to make it clear to Raven that I had no interest in sorcery.

“If you are interested, might I recommend a few books?”

“Recommendations?”

“Yes. I have a great interest in magical energy and divine power, which naturally led me to develop an interest in sorcery that has vanished from the world. Among the books I read at that time, there were some that I found quite worthwhile.”

Raven’s words were a difficult offer to refuse.

He seems a little suspicious, but it is true that a book chosen by Raven would be more reliable than one chosen by me, who knows nothing about sorcery.

“Alright. I would appreciate your recommendations.”

“How much do you know about sorcery, my lady?”

“Only that sorcery disappeared with the emergence of magic stones two hundred years ago, and that sorcerers disappeared along with it.”

“In truth, sorcery and sorcerers did not disappear naturally.”

“Then?”

“It is mere rumor, but they say that magic users and sorcerers came into conflict and fought, and that the sorcerers, having lost, were the ones who disappeared. Furthermore, according to related ancient texts, sorcerers were extremely wicked and cruel people.”

The smile Raven wore as he finished speaking looked somehow bitter.

“If, as you say, a war broke out between magic and sorcery and the magic users won, then it may well have been written that way. History is written by the victors, after all.”

“……”

“Is it not the nature of history that the victors preserve their own favorable and advantageous aspects?”

“If what you say is true, my lady, are you suggesting that sorcerers were not actually wicked and cruel?”

“Of course. One should believe what one has experienced, not take rumors at face value.”

“……”

“And ancient texts especially. They are only for reference, and one should not believe everything in them.”

“Haha, you have caught me off guard, my lady.”

“Pardon?”

“It is nothing. My perspective has been broadened thanks to our conversation.”

Raven recommended books in order, from a beginner’s introduction to sorcery suitable for someone learning about it for the first time, all the way to ancient sorcery texts, then stepped aside and told me to read at my leisure.

After entering Eloa Rumania’s body, I had been able to speak this country’s language without difficulty, as well as the foreign languages Eloa had carefully learned. But ancient texts would be written in an ancient language… the real question was whether I would be able to read them.

I could not very well ask Eden about this either, and I was at quite a loss when Raven drew close to me again.

“Is the ancient language the problem?”

“Ah, yes. I have never studied the ancient language.”

“If you would not mind, might I teach you the ancient language?”

“You, Raven? I have heard that the ancient language is at a considerably high level. Teaching it would take quite a bit of time.”

“That is alright. You were of help to me just a moment ago, so I would like to be of help to you as well.”

Raven’s offer was tempting, but since learning the ancient language would require meeting him frequently, I could not give an easy answer.

Raven was still a character who had not been mentioned in the original work, so I felt cautious.

Perhaps sensing my hesitation, before I could stop him, he sat down in front of me.

“Do not worry. It will not take long. Thirty minutes should be sufficient.”

“Thirty minutes?”

“Yes, if I may have your hand for a moment.”

Half-believing and half-doubtful, I extended my hand, and he quickly took hold of it. When he placed his hand over my head after taking mine, an irresistible drowsiness washed over me.

“Ra…”

“You will wake in thirty minutes. This is a gift for the lady who gave me comfort.”

Raven, who caught my head as it fell lifelessly and rested it gently on a soft cloth, had eyes that looked somehow a little sad, for reasons I could not tell.