Chapter 52
Lucy returned safely to the annex after the hunting contest, but she was sick in bed for a full day.
Even though her stamina stat had increased, she had gone through a life-or-death situation, so both her body and mind were exhausted.
“Just thinking about it again makes me dizzy.”
If Bartholomew hadn’t helped her, she would have died.
“I thought Elisha was behind this.”
But when Lucy came down from the mountain, Elisha looked truly relieved.
It was as if she had not slept all night because she was worried about Lucy.
In that situation, suspecting Elisha without evidence would only make Lucy look strange.
“But that doesn’t mean I can just let this go.”
This incident was on a completely different level from the usual harassment Elisha gave Lucy.
She had almost died in a way that had nothing to do with the game’s ending.
“What pushed Elisha that far?”
They hadn’t even met since the social party Elisha hosted.
“I need to be more careful from now on.”
Lucy reminded herself that Elisha could try to hurt her at any time.
With that warning in mind, Lucy stood up.
There was someone she needed to meet.
Lucy headed to the shopping district.
She wanted to see Alexander again.
She was curious why his health seemed so poor and whether he might be ill.
But Alexander did not appear at the bookstore where they first met, nor at the café they visited together.
It was as if meeting Alexander had all been a dream. There was no trace of him anywhere.
“So he’s not someone I can meet just because I want to.”
She realized again that she could only meet him if he wanted to see her too.
Lucy grew a little anxious.
She needed to see the book about the power of darkness.
The book that he said was the only one in the entire empire.
Lucy instinctively knew that book was one of the key clues to solving the game.
“But I can only read it if I meet Alexander.”
Feeling disappointed, Lucy looked at the special book she had already found.
She had only used it before to catch Alexander’s interest, but now she decided to read it herself, hoping for anything.
Maybe it would contain more information about Cerberus.
However, the book itself was nothing special.
It was just an ordinary novel.
There were parts she didn’t fully understand, but with her current intelligence stat, she managed to finish it.
“One book isn’t enough.”
Thinking that, Lucy left the café.
She went back to basics and searched through many bookstores.
After finding several more unusual books, she returned to the annex.
She expected Cerberus to come greet her, but instead, there was a guest waiting.
It was Bartholomew.
“Bartholomew?”
Just like she had promised in the cave, Lucy spoke casually when she was alone with him.
Bartholomew did the same.
“I came to see if you were okay.”
He still seemed a little awkward, but his gentler tone made him feel much closer.
“I’m fine thanks to you. How about you, Bartholomew?”
“Cecil is very skilled.”
That was true.
His arm healed quickly with no aftereffects.
Bartholomew had to admit Cecil’s healing magic was impressive.
The two of them walked to a bench to talk comfortably.
Cerberus followed along and sat by Lucy’s feet.
Sitting next to Bartholomew, Lucy spoke.
“I’m thinking of holding a tea party this week. What do you think?”
She naturally assumed Bartholomew would attend.
“I don’t think I can make time this week.”
“Then when are you free?”
Lucy was willing to match his schedule.
Bartholomew hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“I don’t plan on attending tea parties.”
Lucy’s eyes widened.
“Why?”
Bartholomew fell silent again.
Lucy looked at his side profile as he stayed quiet.
He seemed deep in thought.
The longer his silence lasted, the more curious Lucy became.
“To be honest,”
Bartholomew turned his gaze to her.
“I’m most comfortable when it’s just the two of us.”
“……”
“I don’t want that time to be disturbed.”
Disturbed?
Did that mean Logan, Patrick, and Cecil were disturbances to him?
“Well… I guess so.”
Lucy quickly understood.
When the male leads were around, she naturally paid less attention to Bartholomew.
That had happened at the social party and the hunting contest too.
Bartholomew had always ended up being pushed aside.
Maybe that was why Lucy had always felt sorry toward him and hoped he would get along with others.
“But maybe I was forcing that on him.”
Lucy was the only person Bartholomew considered a friend.
Since he was used to spending time alone with her, she couldn’t force him otherwise.
“Okay. Do what you’re comfortable with. I like that too.”
Lucy answered like that.
Bartholomew quietly looked at her.
Confused by his gaze, Lucy blinked.
“What is it?”
“It’s nothing.”
Lucy tilted her head, then let it go.
Suddenly, she smiled as if she had a good idea.
“Then since you’re already here today, let’s have a tea party just the two of us.”
She immediately called the servants and had them bring a table outside.
It was an improvised tea party, but that was fine.
The two of them drank tea in a relaxed atmosphere.
That was enough.
While chatting with Bartholomew, Lucy suddenly remembered something.
“Oh right, I need to read.”
“What book?”
“I’m not really sure. But I need to read it.”
Lucy answered honestly.
She had the servants bring the special books she bought today.
“Want to read together?”
Drinking tea and reading books while spending a peaceful afternoon.
That didn’t sound bad to Bartholomew.
He set Cerberus down from his arms and looked through the books Lucy brought.
After seeing many unfamiliar author names, he picked one.
“If you find anything special, tell me.”
“Something special?”
Bartholomew looked confused, but Lucy didn’t know how to explain it clearly.
“Anyway, I mean something that really feels important.”
Bartholomew didn’t fully understand, but he continued reading.
Lucy watched him focus on the book, then turned back to her own.
It was a peaceful moment.
After surviving life and death together, he felt even closer to her.
Lucy felt that there was no one else she was this comfortable with.
She felt glad Bartholomew was there as she continued reading.
How much time passed?
Both of them were so absorbed in their books that they didn’t even notice the tea growing cold.
Then—
Ding!
[You are enjoying a comfortable moment while reading.]
[Reading has now become a part of your life.]
[The Bibliophile skill activates, increasing collection power.]
[Collection Power: 10 → 50]
As the system message announced her increased stat—
[Congratulations!]
[You have reached Collection Power 50 and unlocked a new item.]
[Item: Royal Palace Library Basement Key]
[Effect: Allows you to find special books within the Royal Palace Library.]
The Royal Palace Library basement key!
Lucy noticed a neatly placed key resting on the page of the book she was reading.
At last, she had obtained a truly useful item.
“What kind of special book is in the palace library basement?”
Lucy’s heart filled with excitement.
