ISEUL
I was walking around the estate when I saw a big library. I peeked through the doors and, after confirming that no one was present, I went in. The library was a lovely place. I had always loved it since my childhood. Now, a boy wearing a hood, standing behind the curtains, would come and say, 'Will you still love me if you knew how I looked?' and I would run towards him and kiss him.
My lips landed on a shelf. The smell of old and new books engulfed me. I looked for spicy novels, but there were none. It only had romantic tales of heroes and warriors at most.
I remembered that the isekai-ed leads go to the library to know about their standing. (very cliché of me) So I thought of doing the same. But suddenly…
"Rue!'
A book I was holding fell from my hands. A familiar voice! I turned around, and my brother walked closer.
"How surprised I am to find you here! Pray, what is it that delights you, Rue?"
Shoot!
"Brotha, can you red thes or e? (Brother, can you read this for?)", I said, slowly turning back.
"A book? This one?" he said, picking it up.
"Yesh(Yes)"
"To mine understanding, this is not a storybook. Is it?… Ahh… a history book!? Would you have me read aloud the history of Cerion?"
I nodded.
But… He started laughing heartily.
"a?"
"You took it out by whim? Ha! Ha! You choose a book that you will have to devote yourself to reading all your life! I pray, you refrain from touching it now, Rue.", he said, pulling back his usual gentle self, as he put the book back on the shelf.
"Ooooo(Noooo)"
"Huh? You are truly set… on this?"
I nodded again.
"Well… all eyes on me."
As soon as these words left his mouth, the candles covered by designed glasses went out. Then suddenly, at some distance few candles lit up and formed a circle. Slowly, the ring descended and floated in such a position that it worked like a spotlight. Under this spotlight, my brother stood in an operatic posture and started with the classic…
"Once upon a time, Welotis was home to towering mountain ranges from which mighty rivers flowed. The people of Welotis sought to build dams to control the floods, but doing so would give them power over the water supply of the five human kingdoms in the west. Cerion refused to allow this. In response, Cerion and Zulane formed an alliance, and war erupted. The alliance emerged victorious, and the rulers of the two kingdoms were married. Together, they went on to conquer the remaining kingdoms of Siviona and Glacia, uniting the lands and establishing the West Empire of Humans: Cerion."
His storytime ended, and the lights in the library lit up again. The crown-like candles above my brother went back to their original position and hid themselves behind the designed glasses. He bowed.
"Now, did you enjoy this?"
I was still in a daze. Actually, this daze thing has happened a lot of times since I have come here. I am afraid this is a dream. Then I will wake up one day and realize that I was in a coma. Ugh! Talking to yourself has some extent, Iseul. I know this is real. But how long will this happiness last?
"Humana?(Human?)"
"Yeah, we have different races here. We are humans."
Different races, too?!
"Brewther, be hab majic herr?(Brother, we have magic here? )"
"Yes. We do… But… Wait! How did you know what magic is? How did you know the word magic?"
Oh no. Jesus Chhrrrist. The instant ray of hope for the probability of magic existing in this world was shattered by his question. How am I supposed to answer this?
The more I made him wait, the more his frown and the confusion became clearer.
"Gobernech!"
"Oh! Governess Winter told you? Yes, you might have wanted to know about it after that incident," he nodded.
Internally, I breathed a sigh of relief. And push my question further.
"Bat iz ma-(What is ma-)"
I was interrupted by a knock on the library door.
"Young master? My lady? Are you here? Lord Master summons you to the supper hall. The estate has a guest waiting to meet you. "
"Yes, we are coming."
My brother grabbed my hand, pulled me up by my waist, and cradled me.
"Let's go."
I wrapped my arms around his neck.
"Excuse me."
The guards answered back.
"I request you to open the door, for I am carrying my sister."
The guards on the other side of the door obeyed. We stepped out of the library, and I glanced back at the shelf where the books on magic were kept.
We soon reached the supper hall, and my brother set me down. The guards pushed the doors open, and as we walked inside, they closed behind us.
I was surrounded by nobles, including a rather stern-looking gentleman seated beside my seat. My father introduced me, just as he had at previous noble suppers. Nevermind. I made my way to my seat, my neighbor not even sparing me a glance, far too absorbed in a discussion about ships.
I was lifted onto the seat by my nanny. I shuffled back to sit properly, making sure my shoes did not brush against my 'closely-seated neighbors'. I swished my gaze over the dishes laid out before us. I was still learning the proper way to handle cutlery and all that. Right fork! Right knife! But this knife is a bit–
My knife slipped, and a small piece of meat shot off my plate, landing right bang in the middle of my neighbor's dish. He looked up.
Jesus Christ. I am doomed.
For a second, he looked disturbed and somewhat offended. But as he turned his head to look at me, his initial annoyance faded from his face. His expression softened. Maybe he was able to feel that I am so… Emmm…barrased!
He took the piece of meat from his plate and gently fed it to me, even offering a reassuring smile.
Huh? Why do I feel like…? Why do I feel sorry for him?
The dinner continued without any further incidents, but my heart was still feeling heavy. The guests continued their conversations, and the atmosphere gradually returned to normal. My father quietly chuckled at the incident, understanding that it was simply a result of my youthful inexperience.
After the dinner, the guests slowly started to take their leave. My father, too, left after giving me a tight hug.
As I was escorted to my room, I noticed a faint expression of displeasure on my mother's face. I felt a slight pang of disappointment; she does not act like this.