“I am Ian Stirling, Your Highness, the Second Princess. It is an honor to meet you.”
At my greeting, Chloe smiled lightly and carefully withdrew the red leather-bound hardcover from the bookshelf that I had been reaching for.
“The men of the Empire usually have no interest whatsoever in novels of this sort. You are quite unusual.”
Chloe ran her slender fingers over the corner of the book’s spine and looked up at me.
The book in her hand was *The Phantom of the Opera*.
“The story of a hideous genius lurking in a dark underground lair, obsessed with a beautiful singer, harming countless people, and kidnapping her... is quite provocative, is it not? The scene where a giant chandelier crashes from the ceiling onto the stage is quite romantic.”
Chloe continued in a smooth, gentle voice.
“But the knights of the Empire prefer heroic tales to such gloomy novels. You are unusual, Your Highness. Do you enjoy novels?”
“Yes, I enjoy them very much.”
“Really? Then what is your favorite novel?”
I pondered for a moment.
The novels in this world were strangely adapted versions of the masterpieces from Earth that I had known, tailored to the tastes of this romance fantasy setting.
They say that nothing is missing, but conversely, it could also mean that some of the content has been slightly altered.
After a brief moment of thought, I quietly opened my mouth.
“I like *The Old Man and the Sea* the most.”
“Oh my, you have quite fine taste. Might I ask why you like that novel?”
“Hmm... there are many reasons, but first of all, because it is set near my homeland.”
“Come to think of it, you are from the southern Stirling Kingdom, are you not? The one famous for its fishing.”
“I am not sure if it is quite famous, but it is true that fishing is the main industry. It is a place where, from anywhere in the kingdom, you can see the sea within two days on horseback if you wish.”
“I see... However, I do not think that is the biggest reason you like *The Old Man and the Sea*.”
“I do not know if you will be disappointed because it is such an obvious answer, but I like the narrative of being shattered, yet undefeated. The old man triumphed over the giant fish, and though he could not bring his prize back safely, the struggle he displayed in that process was something that I thought demonstrated human greatness.”
“That is a fine answer.”
The Princess smiled brightly, and with that very smiling face, she posed a terrifying question.
“Then, speaking as the blue blood of the Stirling Kingdom that was trampled by the Empire, are you saying that deep down, you wished to die standing rather than kneel before the Empire?”
“……!”
Her chilly violet eyes raked across my face persistently.
Beneath the perfectly crafted smile of a kind young girl, a chilly violet gleam flickered, as if trying to pierce straight through to the bottom of a person.
“……”
“I want an honest answer, Your Highness. You must have already experienced it, but the Empire favors those who are brave and dignified... It despises those who speak falsehoods to evade the crisis before their eyes.”
What answer should I give here?
After a very brief moment of consideration, I simply voiced the thoughts in my mind honestly.
“As an individual of the Stirling Kingdom, I wanted to fight.”
“It would not even have been a fight.”
“Yes, had I stepped forward and stood at the vanguard, I likely would have been cut in two by Her Highness the First Princess’s sword.”
The moment the First Princess was mentioned, a faint crack appeared in the Second Princess’s perfect smile, then vanished just as quickly.
“But even against an opponent I could not defeat, I could not bring myself to tell all those who follow the royal family that we must fight to the bitter end. Not everyone would have agreed. If there are many who would rather live on their knees than die standing, I must follow their will.”
“Even though you are royalty?”
“It is precisely because I am royalty.”
“Hmm...”
“And if by my remaining here I can save three million lives, what fight could be braver than that? I came here of my own choice.”
Chloe, the Imperial Princess, stared fixedly at me for a moment.
Upon her pale cheeks, which had gazed at me expressionlessly for some time, a very faint flush soon bloomed.
“...You truly are an interesting person.”
Chloe smiled, seeming genuinely pleased.
“Our Prince Ian is truly a brave man.”
“Thank you for the praise.”
“Then... shall we return to our novel discussion as before? Have you read — as well?”
“...I roughly know what it is about, but I have never properly read it.”
It was the truth. Surprisingly, I had never read it.
“That is unexpected for someone who loves books? It is quite a famous novel.”
“Translations had not come to Stirling.”
“Oh my, how fortunate.”
“Why is that fortunate?”
“Because that gives me a book to recommend to Your Highness.”
Chloe took a black leather-bound hardcover from the bookshelf and placed it in my arms.
The title — was embossed in silver on the cover.
In the moment I received the book, her cold fingertips lightly brushed across the back of my hand.
“Can you read this book by this time next week? I shall come to the library. I wish to hear your honest thoughts, Your Highness.”
“I shall.”
“How wonderful. I have always been lonely in the Imperial Palace because I have no friends with whom to properly share such stories. I am truly glad to have made a good friend.”
Chloe lightly grasped the hem of her skirt and offered a greeting, smiled prettily with her eyes, then quietly turned and disappeared beyond the bookshelf.
In the spot where she had completely vanished, only a sweet yet chilly lily fragrance lingered faintly.
#
After Chloe left, I went to the library lending desk and borrowed the book she had given me along with a few slim history books.
The librarian checked my status and his eyes went wide, but he stamped the checkout without a word.
I tucked the books under my arm and headed toward the café in the central area where Amber was waiting.
“……”
In a corner seat of the café, I saw familiar sand-colored hair.
Amber was sprawled across the table, fast asleep.
I ordered a cup of coffee at the café, sat down across from Amber, and began to skim through the Empire’s history while drinking.
Amber woke up after I had finished one cup of coffee, ordered another, and drained more than half of it.
“Mmn... hah!”
Amber startled awake and jerked her head up.
Amber looked around blankly for a moment, then hastily wiped her mouth with her gloved hand and shot up from her seat.
Her eyes were still half-closed.
“Ah, my apologies! I only meant to rest my eyes for a moment... Have you finished looking at the books?”
“You looked tired, so I did not wake you. Let us return now.”
“My apologies, Your Highness. I have been rude...”
“No, not at all. Thanks to that, I enjoyed drinking coffee and reading. One can sleep when they are tired.”
We walked out side by side through the library corridor.
“By the way, it seems it was true that members of the Imperial Family come here. While picking out books inside, I happened to meet Her Highness the Second Princess, and our conversation grew rather long.”
“...Yes?”
Amber’s footsteps came to an abrupt halt.
“Who did you just say you met inside the library?”
“Her Highness Princess Chloe, the Second Princess.”
When I answered calmly, Amber’s jaw dropped.
“Ah, this is the book Her Highness recommended.”
I tapped the book tucked under my arm.
“She seemed to love books immensely. We conversed well about books, and she was quiet and polite—quite a fine person.”
At my words, Amber’s pupils began to tremble violently. She gasped and took a step toward me.
“D-did you really talk only about that?”
“Yes.”
“The Second Princess... recommended a book to Your Highness?”
“We even promised to discuss the novel more next week. Is there some problem?”
Amber opened and closed her mouth as if trying to say something, then hastily clamped her lips shut.
“...No. It is nothing. Just, yes... well, um, hmm...”
Though she tried to act as if nothing was wrong, Amber’s voice was trembling faintly.
As befitting a soldier who could not lie well, I realized she was trying to hide something, but I did not press her to say it aloud.
“I see. Then will you accompany me to the library again next week?”
“...Yes. Next time as well, I shall wait in the café.”