Chapter 96: Thorns


    I was so dazed that I identally brought the book from the Royal Library home with me. That makes


    me no better than a thief!


    I decided to flip through the book after having dinner anyways. The curiosity of what Queen Gaelle was


    reading was slightly killing me.


    Why did she leave in the middle of the tea party? Right after Queen Dowager left too?


    Why was Queen Gaelle looking through the reference section and not take the book back with her? It


    looked as if she did not want to be seen reading it.


    I flipped through the first few pages and understood that it was a book on botany that described certain


    nt species, how to identify them, where they were found, and their uses. Some of them contained


    medical uses, while others warned of toxicity. I noticed one of the corners of a page was folded. I


    assumed that this was the page Queen Gaelle was on.


    The nt on the page was called the Gympie nt. Almost everything about the nt warned about


    the toxicities of the nt causing death and no further details. There was nothing medical based about


    it.


    Why would Queen Gaelle look up such a dangerous nt?


    I tried to rack up any memories about Queen Gaelle and her enemies but could not think about anyone


    she particrly hated in the past...


    When Erik told me that my mother and King Arundel were formerly past lovers, I had a feeling that


    there could have been some sort of resentment towards my mother. However, Queen


    Gaelle''s gaze seemed fixed only on me during the tea party despite our limited interactions. That just


    just might have been her evaluating my worth as her future daughter-inw.


    Have I not just proved that I am an unworthy Crown Princess with a book I identally stole in my


    hands?


    I could not return it myself either because I was in no position to go in and out of the Royal Castle as I


    pleased...


    I sighed dismally.


    A few dayster, I received an invitation letter from Erik. He was inviting me over for lunch. When I read


    the contents, I jumped up for joy not because I could see Erik but because I could return the book on


    my next visit.


    I prepared myself by wearing a fuchsia pink dress with a flounce off the shoulder top and an empire


    waist. I also wore a dark red suede string wrap choker around my neck and wore my hair down in soft


    waves.


    The book was tucked in the back of my dress right below my shoulders. I had to hide the book in a non-


    inconspicuous ce to avoid being searched by the Royal Guards.


    It felt like a box was digging into my back every time I walked.


    "I am so jealous that Lady Arielle has such good posture," a Royal Maid said as she escorted me


    through the Castle. "If you do not mind, would you care to tell me your secret?"


    What secret?


    I tucked a book into my back, so now my back is straighter than a silver pin.


    "...I practiced by walking in a straight line with a stack of books over my head," I answered with a smile.


    "What a fantastic idea!" she said excitedly as she escorted me to a lovely gazebo with a white table set


    for two.


    "I must excuse myself to go powder my nose," I said.


    "Would you like for me to escort you?" she asked.


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "It is a short distance away. Please do not mind me and rest under the shade," I said politely.


    "I understand," she responded with a bright smile.


    I quickly made my way in the opposite direction of the loo to go find the Royal Library. As I was


    approaching it, I was soon met face to face with Garett who was justing out from it.


    "Arielle?" Garett said in surprise.


    "Geh! Garett!" I said in surprise.


    "...I do not recall ever adopting such a title before. What are you doing here? Are you trying to sneak in


    the Library again?" Garett asked.


    If it is this perceptive person, he would definitely be able to see through my lies.


    "...Yes," I answered.


    "There should be limits to how honest a person can be. What havoc have youe to wreak today?"


    Garett asked as he crossed his arms.


    He supposedly hates me but is willing to banter with me.


    "I identally took a book home with me," I said as I pulled the book out of my dress. "I would like to


    return it."


    Garett scrunched his eyebrows together when he saw me pull the book out of my dress.


    "...That is an incredibly improper ce to put a book," Garett said as he rubbed his temples.


    "It is better than pulling the book from under my skirt. Now, if you will let me pass, I can go return the


    book," I said.


    "You do not have permission to go in and out as you please. I will return it for you," Garett said as he


    put out his hand.


    "...Thank you," I said as I ced the book in his hands.


    "...This book does not belong to the Library here," Garett said as he inspected the book.


    "That cannot be...I brought this book back with me on ident the other day," I said.


    "I cannot bring the book back with me if it does not belong to the Library," Garett said as he handed me


    back the book.


    What do I do now?


    "...This book refuses to leave my side," I said depressingly.


    "Is it the type of book that you prefer not keeping around you?" Garett asked.


    "Pardon?"


    "Some people tend to hide things that they do not want to keep on their person in the Royal Library.


    Some contain dangerous items, while most are practically harmless...There are also some people who


    choose to take advantage of the Library to hide indecent books," Garett exined.


    Indecent books?


    "...There is no way that I would carry around a book with indecent contents," I said shyly.


    "For someone who sticks books down their dresses, that is quite difficult to believe," Garett said


    snappily as he took the book back from me and began examining the contents. I was a bit frustrated


    from not being able to deny his words. "There is no seal or signature of the owner in the front or back


    pages. What kind of book is it?"


    "It is a botany reference book," I answered.


    Garett''s expression soon turned sour when he flipped to the page with the folded corner.


    "...Were you researching the Gympie nt?" Garett asked.


    "Is that a problem?" I asked.


    "For what reason would you..."


    "The person who read the book before me was probably researching it. I prefer using bookmarks


    instead of folding corners as a ce marker," I said.


    "It is not a very pleasant nt. You should stop looking into it," Garett said coldly as he handed me


    back the book again and turned to leave.


    ...This book is stuck to my side like a thorn.


    I decided to tuck the book back into the back of my dress again before going back to have lunch with


    Erik.


    Garett said that he could not stand looking at me because he hated me, but he never ignores me


    whenever I approach or talk to him. He also seemed sincerely concerned for me when he saw me


    looking at a poisonous nt.