Chapter 35: Book

“······Seo-yeon? What kind of book is that?”

Christina looked utterly dumbfounded as she checked the book I’d brought.

“[Fixing the Barn without cows].”

“No, I mean—what genre is that supposed to be?”

“It says it’s a fantasy novel.”

“······That’s a fantasy novel?”

Christina blinked rapidly, as if she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

Hmm. Was it really that bad?

I had actually put some thought into choosing it.

It wasn’t a big deal, but I still felt oddly hurt.

“Should I bring another book instead?”

“No, no. There’s no need to go that far, Seo-yeon······. Haa. Let’s just read it.”

“Okay.”

“A fantasy novel called Fixing the Barn without cows, seriously.”

I could still hear Christina muttering with clear dissatisfaction.

Sha-rak—

I simply opened the book.

Well, this wasn’t the first time Heroine #2 acted strange.

And she did say it was okay to read it, so it should be fine.

To be honest, I was curious.

What could be in a book with a title so ridiculous it scared a princess of the empire?

With a touch of anticipation, I gently turned to the first page.

“······To those who read this book.”

The first page of the novel was filled with a message from the author to the reader.

“If you’re reading this, I believe you already know why the title of this book is Fixing the Barn without cows.”

“Seo-yeon?”

“Yes? Did you call me?”

“Is that written in the novel?”

“Yes, it’s right here. The author’s note on the first page.”

“······Didn’t you say it was a fantasy novel?”

Christina spoke as if she’d never seen a fantasy novel that started with a note from the author.

“Yeah. It’s kind of fascinating.”

“···.”

“I’ve read quite a few fantasy novels, but… this is definitely a first.”

Same for me.

A fantasy novel that started not with a prologue but with an author’s note?

Typically, fantasy novels opened with an explosive prologue to hook the reader.

And that made sense—after all, in the oversaturated fantasy market, you had to grab the reader’s attention to survive.

Writers needed to make a living too.

And to do that, the book had to sell first.

It was endlessly frustrating from a reader’s point of view, but thinking from a writer’s perspective, it was nothing but pitiful.

······Not that I’m saying I’m a writer or anything.

Anyway, the point was this book I had in my hands didn’t fit the usual mold of a fantasy novel.

Christina eyed the book suspiciously.

“Seo-yeon, no matter how I think about it, I really don’t think that book is any good.”

“But you said earlier that it was okay to just read it······.”

“I thought so too, but now that I think about it more, it’s giving me a weird feeling.”

“······A weird feeling?”

What was she even talking about now?

She was getting a bad feeling just thinking about the book?

“Yes. I didn’t like it when you said the title, and hearing that part about the author’s note made it worse.”

“···.”

“Seo-yeon, would you maybe consider reading a different book? I could lend you one of mine, if you’d like?”

Christina pulled out a few books from her bag, offering them like she could hand one over at any moment.

[The History of Starfrost Academy]

[Swordsmanship Mastery – Intermediate]

[What It Means to Be Ahead of the Pack]

“Your Highness.”

“Yes?”

“I’m sorry to say this, but······.”

“Go ahead.”

“All of those books sound absolutely boring.”

“···.”

Christina looked visibly stunned at my brutally honest words.

I did feel a little guilty—but it couldn’t be helped.

I was sorry, but come on. They just looked so boring.

“I mean, swordsmanship doesn’t really mean much to me······. And I’ve never liked history.”

“······What about What It Means to Be Ahead of the Pack?”

“What would I do being ahead of anyone?”

“···.”

After hearing everything I had to say, Christina looked even more shocked than before.

Now I really felt bad. Maybe I hurt her feelings.

But seriously, they looked boring. I’m not even exaggerating.

You can’t pretend something’s interesting when it’s clearly not.

“You know, Your Highness. You already know I’m not someone who leads the pack.”

“······Seo-yeon.”

“My grades are near the bottom. I don’t have a single friend. I grew up in an orphanage, with no background or connections.”

“···.”

“Even if I stood out, I’d just crash and burn like a bird with clipped wings.”

It was obvious.

Just like you can only love if you’ve been loved,

you can only lead if you’ve known how to.

Someone like me—a problem child who’d never stood out even once—couldn’t.

“···.”

Christina’s face twisted into an unreadable expression.

It was a mix of shock, something indescribable, and maybe even more.

It was too deep to be simple pity.

Too emotional to be mere guilt—and there was no reason for her to even feel guilty.

Really.

There was nothing Christina should feel guilty for.

My poor grades? That wasn’t her fault.

The fact that I grew up without a family? Not her responsibility either.

If anything, it might be the fact that I didn’t have friends.

I wouldn’t say Christina had no blame there, but she definitely wasn’t solely at fault.

Sure, maybe if Christina hadn’t helped isolate Seo-yeon, I might’ve had at least one friend.

Maybe two, if we’re being generous.

But it wouldn’t have lasted.

Of course it wouldn’t have.

No one wants to be friends with a dead girl.

No one carries around a corpse and calls it a companion.

My hair, getting whiter by the day, wouldn’t allow that lie to pass.

So no, I didn’t think it was Christina’s fault.

It was mine—no, it was Seo-yeon’s.

If she hadn’t pushed herself to get into the academy, maybe she could’ve made some friends.

Even if they weren’t exceptional, she could’ve lived like an ordinary person, with ordinary friends.

It was completely her fault.

I had no reason to blame Heroine #2 for anything.

‘······Still, she hasn’t stopped making that face.’

Honestly, I was getting a bit flustered.

I only said those things to lighten the heavy mood.

It wasn’t a joke.

But when Heroine #2 heard me say her books were boring, she looked devastated.

So I tried to shift the atmosphere with a bit of self-deprecating humor.

“···.”

But when I saw Christina’s expression freeze up completely, it wasn’t hard to realize my plan had failed.

Ugh. Now what.

That’s not how this was supposed to go.

“Your Highness.”

“······Yes? Did you call me, Seo-yeon?”

“Do you happen to have any other books with you? Like, say, a fantasy novel?”

“······All of a sudden?”

“Yes. A different book.”

So I just decided to erase everything.

Make it like none of this ever happened.

Alright, Heroine #2.

That whole conversation we just had? Never happened.

“But just now, you were saying······.”

Naturally, Christina was confused by my sudden change in attitude.

“······Yes?”

“A fantasy novel. I’d really like to read one right now.”

“···.”

I ignored her resistance completely.

Please.

I really don’t want to sit here reading books with the imperial princess while we’re trapped in this painfully awkward atmosphere.

That would be torture.

I’d honestly rather be tortured by some delusional girl who thinks she’s a hopeless romantic—

No, actually, maybe not that either.

Whatever. You get the point.

Thankfully, it seemed like my desperate wish got through to Christina.

“······Haa. Do I look like the kind of person who reads books like that?”

Though she sighed, her expression and tone returned to her usual self—Heroine #2.

Good.

Though it was a shame she didn’t actually have a fantasy novel with her.

Still, I’d succeeded in defusing the icy mood, so it was a win overall.

“That’s unfortunate.”

“You don’t have to be disappointed. I usually only read more serious books, anyway.”

“You’re amazing, Your Highness. Reading nothing but boring books like those.”

“Books that aren’t entertaining are often more helpful for gaining knowledge—”

“So you admit they’re boring.”

“···.”

Christina clammed up immediately, realizing her verbal slip-up.

And seeing her flustered like that… put me in a surprisingly good mood.

Exactly.

There’s no way those could be fun.

Just look at the titles—no way the contents are any better.

Even if she’s the #2 student in the whole academy, that’s still a stretch.

Yup. Definitely.

Her face tinged pink, Christina quickly got to her feet.

“That’s enough. Let’s go.”

“But I haven’t picked out a book yet—”

“Just read that weird, unsettling one.”

Weren’t you the one who told me not to read it earlier?

Why the sudden change?

Christina tried her best to avoid my gaze as she spoke.

“You picked it, so you must have your reasons.”

“I didn’t, really······.”

“Finish reading it by the end of the week and write a report for me and—kyaa?!”

Thud thud—

There was a crash followed by a scream from Heroine #2.

She must’ve fumbled while trying to hurriedly put the books away.

“I’ll help.”

Thanks to her earlier, my mood had improved a bit.

So I generously offered to help pick up the books scattered under the desk.

The moment I grabbed the one lying on top—

“Don’t! Don’t pick that up!”

“Why not—”

And then I saw it.

“······The Noble Lady Loses Again Today?”

“···.”

The title of the book I picked up was… not exactly what I’d expected.

And it had come out of Christina’s bag.

“···.”

I didn’t even try to hide my silence.

······I mean, hey.

People can read stuff like that.

A novel with a title like The Noble Lady Loses Again Today?

It’s fine to like those.

It’s not a crime.

I could accept Her Highness’s tastes with a generous heart.

“But you said earlier you don’t read that kind of book······.”

“······Seo-yeon, shut your mouth.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“······Ugh.”

I probably could understand.

Maybe.