"Seraphina, meet Lord Val, your new partner in managing the library. Lord Val, this is Seraphina, my current librarian." The head librarian introduced the two.
Seraphina's eyes widened in shock, while Val was just smiling innocently.
"You?"
"Hi, Lady Seraphina. It's a pleasure to meet you!"
Val took Seraphina's hand quickly for a handshake, and she couldn't do anything about it.
"You knew of each other?" the head librarian asked.
"No!"
"Yes!"
He immediately turned to her after denying that they both knew each other.
'What? 'Val thought.
"Anyway, I don't really care if you both knew each other or not. I expect both of you to work together and get along. I'll leave the library in your care," the head librarian said.
"Lord Val, you may start today if you'd like or tomorrow. Seraphina, make sure to guide him well about the work here in the library. Well, I'll be off then. Goodbye! Have a nice day to the both of you.
[Seraphina's POV]
This moth*rf*ck*r dared to show his face with me! I'm so going to kill him!
I'm not mad because he's working here right now; I'm mad at the fact that he has the guts to show his face around after ghosting me on our last meet-up! He made me wait there for an entire afternoon! And he didn't even show up or write a letter to me to inform me so that I wouldn't look like a stupid person waiting for someone who I don't know if they'll show up or not.
'Did he take revenge on me because I was late on our first meet-up? But still... Unlike him, I still showed up! While I waited for nothing.'
After we agreed to meet up 3 more times, on our first meet-up again, we didn't even do anything that special. We just ate at a fancy restaurant (his treat; I knew he was a noble from the start pretending to be poor), did some window shopping (I was the only one shopping; he just tailed me like a pet), and then went home. (See? Nothing special at all).
On our second meet-up, he showed up for a while and then left me after 10 minutes because he said he had somewhere important to go. And finally, on the last day, as I said, he ghosted me. He could have just told me that he wasn't available that day so I wouldn't go.
'But no, on our second day he assured me that he'll be showing up on the last day.'
~~~~~~ FLASHBACK ~~~~~~
"I'm really sorry, my lady. I really want to spend some time with you today, but I need to take care of this matter first, for our future together. But I promise I'll make it up to you tomorrow, okay?" He reached for my hand and kissed it before immediately leaving.
I watched his retreating back as he vanished from my sight.
"Look at that boy! He didn't even let me answer first before leaving. Tsk! Tsk!"
~~~~~END OF FLASHBACK~~~~~
Now who wouldn't be mad at that!?
"My lady! Where should I put this book?" He was carrying a lot of books that he got on the table, where the readers left it.
"On the shelves, of course! Want to try putting it outside?" I know I'm being sarcastic, but I can't help it.
I'm pissed just by looking at him.
His shoulders slumped, and he turned to walk around. The look on his face made me guilty, but my pride is kicking in, so I'm just going to let him be.
"I'm not even his lover to be acting up like this, but still... I take pride in myself. Let him deal with my anger. Hmph!"
~~~~~
[Kaelith's POV]
I've been very busy trying to track the association for the past few days (well, the emperor is currently busy wooing that librarian girl, so obviously I'm the only one capable of tracking them). We received a tip 2 days ago regarding the location of their main headquarters, but when we arrived at the scene, there was nothing there. Just an empty, abandoned building lot.
And there was a note that was left behind for us. It says, "HAHAH... Got ya!" like it's mocking us. The emperor was so pissed I almost wanted to go home and stay as far away from him as possible. Because aside from the fact that his imperial majesty's planned date got cancelled,. We also didn't manage to capture the association.
"Hahhh... And right now, the emperor, OUR EMPEROR... was working at the library. Working at the library, you hear? And wooing a girl that we don't even know the background of yet. Oh heavens... If the councils learned about this, they would really, really be shocked."
The children were looking at me like I'm some kind of a lunatic person. I am currently at the central plaza sitting on the bench and waiting for the emperor to arrive. There were children playing around, and there were lovebirds dating as well. Everyone was smiling and minding their own business. This plaza was filled with laughter and full of life.
But soon, this place will be filled with cries, and blood will be spilled everywhere. As much as I want to pity them, the war is necessary in order to track down the association. Because if not, the casualties may be far greater. Humanity will perish, and only evil will prevail. And we wouldn't let that happen. We're trying to terminate the association, starting from their branches down to their roots.
"My lord, my lord!"
I looked at the child standing in front of me, tugging my sleeve. The young girl was holding up a flower in her left hand and was smiling at me.
'From the look of her, she looks like about 4-5 years old.' I thought to myself.
"Is this for me?" I asked, surprised.
"Yes, my lord," she meekly replied.
I smiled at her. "But, why?" I asked, curious.
"You look so sad sitting there, so I thought that by giving you this flower, it would make you happy. Just like when my mom was sad, Papa would always give her flowers, and then she would be happy again," she explained, gesturing with her little hands.
'Oh my god! Can I take her home? '
"Oh my, thank you! You're such a sweet girl. Your parents must be proud." I patted her head, and she giggled cutely.
"I hope it made you happy!"
"Yes, it did. Thank you! What's your name again?"
"I'm Asha."
"Well then, thank you, Asha!"
She stayed for a bit longer, and we talked a lot of stuff about her dreams, her family, and a lot more. When the sun was setting, her mother came to pick her up, and we both bid our farewells to each other.
"Stay safe, little one."
******