A few hours later, the prince walked through the hallway, his footsteps steady and unhurried. Aisha followed closely behind him, maintaining a respectful distance.
As they passed through the corridor, several maids crossed their path. They stopped immediately and bowed their heads.
"Good morning, Your Highness."
The prince acknowledged them with a brief nod and continued walking. After a few steps, he suddenly stopped and turned around, his gaze falling on Aisha.
"Why are you following me?" he asked flatly.
Aisha blinked, then answered honestly, "Your Highness, I am your personal maid. Wherever you go, I will go as well."
The prince frowned. "I already told you and everyone else not to follow me. I value my privacy."
"I'm sorry, Your Highness," Aisha said calmly, "but I can't do that."
The prince raised an eyebrow. "Why? And don't tell me it's because you're my personal maid."
"Because it is my duty to take care of you, Your Highness," Aisha replied without hesitation.
The prince sighed deeply. "What a problem… First your mother gave me headaches, and now both mother and daughter are doing it one after another." He waved his hand dismissively. "Fine. Do whatever you want. I don't care."
He turned and walked forward again. Aisha quietly followed.
Soon, they stopped in front of a massive gate.
The library.
Before the prince could open it, Aisha hurried forward and stood in front of him. "This is my duty, Your Highness. I will do it," she said seriously and pushed against the door.
The door didn't move.
She tried again, using more strength.
Still nothing.
The prince sighed. "Move aside," he said. "You talk like an adult, but you're still just a child. You can't do that."
He gently moved her aside and pushed the door himself. With a low creak, the door slowly opened.
Aisha froze.
Her eyes widened in shock.
Inside wasn't just a room it was a vast hall. Bookshelves stretched endlessly in every direction, reaching up to the high ceiling.
The library had two floors, connected by a grand staircase, and both levels were completely filled with books.
Row after row. Shelf after shelf.
It felt less like a library and more like a world made of knowledge.
Aisha's breath caught.
She loved books.
To her, this place felt like a dream.
Without realizing it, she took a step forward, her eyes shining as she entered the library alongside the prince, surrounded by endless stories waiting to be discovered.
The prince looked at her and said calmly, "Come with me, if you're here."
He walked a few steps inside and continued, "This library is a restricted place. Only I and members of the royal family are allowed to enter. Since you've already stepped inside, it's fine this time but remember, don't do this again."
Aisha immediately bowed her head deeply. "I'm so sorry, Your Highness. I won't do this again. Please forgive me."
The prince waved his hand lightly. "Don't worry. I won't do anything to you."
He glanced around the vast library, his expression softening just a little.
"This place was built by my great-grandfather," he said. "He collected countless books from all over the world and gathered them here. But after he died, the rulers who came after him didn't care for this place anymore."
His eyes darkened slightly. "So it was sealed for a long time."
After a short pause, he added quietly, "I reopened it."
Aisha lifted her head, looking at the endless shelves with new respect. This isn't just a library… she thought. It's his refuge.
The prince walked along the shelves and picked out a book.
"I will help you, Your Highness," Aisha said quickly.
Without a word, he handed the book to her. She accepted it carefully, holding it against her chest. The prince continued selecting more books, one after another, and Aisha followed him closely, carrying each one. By the time he finished, there were eight books stacked in her small arms.
They walked toward a large table nearby. It was wide and polished, surrounded by several heavy chairs that looked rarely used.
"Put the books on the table," the prince said.
Aisha nodded and carefully placed the books down, one by one. The prince pulled out a chair and sat down, opening one of the books immediately. His eyes moved calmly across the pages as he began to read, completely absorbed.
Aisha stood quietly behind him, her eyes drifting over the books spread across the table. In this world, she had only ever seen very old books the few her mother sometimes brought home, their pages
fragile and worn with age.
In her past life, Aisha had never been given the chance to read books at all.