The Grand Duchess Escape - Chapter 115.1
A deep, raspy voice descended upon her from above. Asella carefully opened her eyes as she attempted to regulate her increasingly rapid breaths.
The book safely landed in someone’s hand. With long fingers firmly gripping its edges, sleeves adorned with crimson cufflinks, and a pristine white shirt devoid of any creases. Slowly, her gaze traveled upward.
“…Your Excellency.”
Struggling to summon the strength, Asella managed to utter a faint call to the person standing before her.
‘When did he arrive? What if he saw? What should I do?’
Her body quivered with tension, sweat gathering within her clasped palms, while her heart pounded resoundingly within her chest.
She willed herself to avert her gaze from the bookshelf where she had concealed the map.
Calix extended the book silently.
“Th-Thank you.”
Asella accepted the book and cradled it against her chest, burying it within her arms. It felt as though, without this embrace, she might inadvertently drop it once more.
“What brings you to the library…?”
“I came to find a book.”
His response was simple.
Asella realized that she had asked a silly question. He was the master of the castle, and it was not her place to inquire the reason for his whereabouts, regardless of whether it was in the study or elsewhere.
Clutching the book tightly, Asella hesitantly spoke.
“I-I was just about to leave.”
Offering a somewhat arbitrary excuse, she tried to push past him.
“That book… didn’t you take it out just a moment ago?”
She paused.
Asella visibly tensed, her body stiffening. She turned her head slowly like a broken puppet and she met the intense gaze of his blood-red eyes.
She felt her heart pounding in her throat as he looked at her with anticipation in his eyes.
“…Yes. It was getting late so I thought I would just take it with me and read it in my room.”
“…”
“So, if Your Excellency doesn’t object…”
Asella prayed, forcing herself to keep her eyes from fluttering shut.
Maybe she could leave now… Maybe he saw nothing… and would suspect nothing…
After what seemed like an eternity, the man’s red, thin lips parted.
“Sure…”
As soon as his permission was given, Asella swiftly turned away, as if to flee this place.
* * *
Calix kept on watching the spot where Asella had hurriedly disappeared to before he began to move slowly. He walked leisurely through the gaps between the bookshelves, his gaze scanning the books carefully, as if approaching a cornered prey.
Suddenly, Calix’s footsteps halted.
It was precisely the spot where Asella had tucked her handkerchief earlier. The book she had struggled to retrieve due to its weight earlier, Calix was now pulling it effortlessly with a flick of his index finger.
A chilling voice echoed through the silent study.
“…A map.”
And not just any map—it was a detailed map of the interior of the Benvito Grand Duchy.
“After sending all the maids away, what did she do in here?”