188: A Library and Being Confused (4)
A few minutes later, the young lady returned with Anastasia’s attendant.
The attendant seemed to have come for Anastasia right when the lady was asking the guards for help, informing them that someone had collapsed. The timing was perfect.
After somehow sending Anastasia off to the infirmary, Avril let out a sigh of relief and turned to face the young lady beside her. As expected, she was a beautiful woman with an intellectual impression, giving an air similar to Lady Alexandra.
In other words, her behaving as though she were with a respected friend was something Avril felt couldn’t be helped.
“Thank you for your kindness. Shall we go together to the palace exit. I’ll carry your bags as well.”
Avril bowed respectfully and naturally extended her hand. When she still lived as a servant in her family home, she’d welcome and tend to guest like this.
“Eh?”
The young lady, however, once again, looked at her with an expression suggesting she’d seen something she shouldn’t have. Had she done something wrong?
Of course.
Suddenly, Avril recalled that she was supposed to be a villainess. And this young lady’s father worked at the royal palace. It wouldn’t be good if the day’s events happened to reach her father’s ears.
No, it’d be very bad.
…A villainess doesn’t carry another’s bags, does she?
Avril smoothly retracted her hand. She then started to open and close it, making it seem like she had simply moved it absentmindedly. That should resolve the issue.
As Avril made those foolish movements, the young lady seemed to shift her mood with a deliberate “ahem,” and spoke curtly with a haughty air.
“There’s no need for you to see me off. In any case, I still have need of other materials as well. I’ll be returning to the library, so there is no need to worry.”
“I see… Might you be in need of material related to administrative law, by chance?”
“…Eh?”
The young lady seemed surprised by Avril’s words. She had been staring intently at the cover of the administrative law textbook Avril was holding.
This national exam textbook didn’t have a clear title on the cover. Well, it technically did have one, but it was printed in very small letters and written in the classical language.
Due to the National Exam being conducted since long ago, the original covers of the textbooks had been preserved as they were, hence they ended up as they were.
Thus, unless someone was studying for the National Exam or already had the background to read the classical language, they wouldn’t be able to determine what the book was about.
Meanwhile, Avril recalled what she’d seen while walking between the bookshelves earlier.
All the materials related to administrative law seemed to have already been checked out. In that case…
“I checked the lending situation just earlier and most of the materials related to law appeared to be currently on loan, but those related to economics still seemed to be available.
If you’re looking for materials or textbooks that can be linked to administrative law, then for today, you might want to try to the Local Finance section. It is located in the N row, among the shelves that are separated from the main ones.”
She spoke in a single, smooth breath, and the young lady’s calm, almost almond-shaped eyes widened in surprise.
“You intend to take the National Exam?”
“Yes, I’ve only recently decided, but I intend to.”
“Only recently…”
The young lady’s eyes, which had only reflected confusion and bewilderment, smoothly returned to a serious expression. Seeing her like that truly made Avril feel as though she were with Lady Alexandra.
The young lady gave a graceful lady’s bow to the unsuspecting Avril.
“I neglected to introduce myself. My name is Jeanne, Jeanne Herzfeld. My father is the Prime Minister and also serves as an aide to His Majesty the King. If you intend to take the exam, we may meet again in the future.”
“Miss. Jeanne Herzfeld—”
The villainess, whose expression had completely relaxed, paled as she repeated the name.
Uhm… this kind person is the daughter of that cryptic civil servant who lead us on that roundabout path, the one who looked every bit like a high-ranking official, yet for some reason refused to share his title?!
Read more than 10 weeks ahead and support Faux on Patreon for only $3~
Leave a Reply