I’m Supposed to Be the Neglected Princess in the Future, but Something Seems Strange... - 5 - The Count and the Library

“The Count Molt is a friend of Crown Prince Raphael?”

—The next day—

Rose came to the library after being invited by Count Molt. They entered a private reading room together.

After Rose told Mira about Count Molt, Mira became suspicious and asked the ship’s service staff about him.

It turned out he really was famous. The staff said easily, “He’s a friend of Crown Prince Raphael of the great nation of Martan.” Usually, service staff wouldn’t share personal information about guests, but maybe Count Molt had told them about Rose already. The staff smiled and added, “He told us to help you anytime you ask for him, so feel free to call us.”

Rose, who had hoped to get closer to Prince Raphael, was shocked at how easily that connection had happened.

But Mira seemed more interested in something else.

“Well then, I fully support you! Do your best, alright?”

Rose had no idea what she was supposed to do her best at, but she nodded vaguely. She could tell Mira was excited.

And so, before Rose could even respond to the invitation, Mira had already accepted on her behalf—and now here they were.

“You don’t have to look so unhappy. It’s not like I was keeping it a secret.”

“I’m not looking unhappy.”

“Really? You look like you have a grudge against Prince Raphael.”

“Not at all.”

If someone asked whether she held a grudge, she couldn’t say no. But that was toward the prince in the future, not the one in the present. Right now, she had no personal feelings about him.

“Haha, still, you really are such a sheltered young lady.”

“Huh?”

Count Molt suddenly said that with a playful smile, and Rose tilted her head, confused.

“I didn’t know you were so beautiful. And more than that, I didn’t expect you to be so pure and sweet. You’re really different from what I heard.”

“?”

What was he talking about?

While Rose was still wondering, a tea set was delivered to the room. As expected of a first-class library—it even had tea service if requested.

It wasn’t free, but remembering what Count Molt had said before about “accepting a gentleman’s kindness,” she gratefully accepted.

“So, what books did you bring?”

Even though he was the one who invited her, Count Molt didn’t seem interested in reading—he had no book in front of him.

Rose, on the other hand, held two books and showed him the titles with a smile.

“‘Cecilia’s Love’ and ‘The Velvet Bell.’”

“Both are romance novels. Hmm… ‘The Velvet Bell’ is fine, but ‘Cecilia’s Love’ is an erotic novel. Do you like that kind of thing?”

“Erotic novel…?”

“It’s a book where the romantic acts between men and women are described in great detail—for lovers of eros and—”

“Kyaaah!”

Rose dropped Cecilia’s Love in shock.

Seeing her face go bright red, Count Molt burst into laughter.

“Ahaha! That was the best reaction!”

“Did you tease me on purpose?!”

“Well, it is an erotic novel. I just thought maybe you had an interest in that kind of thing, but I guess not?”

“Ugh…”

How embarrassing. Even though she was married in the future, she had no experience in that aLea at all. She had been locked in a tower since the start of her marriage. Her face felt like it was on fire.

“Alright, poor thing. I’ll return that one for you. While I’m at it, I’ll bring back a better book. What kind of novels do you like?”

“…‘The Pure Love of the One-Winged Goddess.’”

“Of course. You never fail to meet expectations. Alright, I’ll bring you something you’ll like.”

Count Molt stood up with Cecilia’s Love and left the room.

While waiting, Rose took a sip of her iced tea to cool down her flushed face. It had a fresh mint scent that helped clear her head.

Once she calmed down, Count Molt returned, holding a book.

“Here. ‘The Forgotten Flower.’ I think you’ll like it.”

It was a book Rose didn’t know. According to Count Molt, it was based on an old folktale from Martan.

Excited, Rose opened the book. Just then, Count Molt quietly placed an envelope on the table.

“Did you know there’s going to be a masquerade ball in the hall at the ship’s bow four days from now?”

Rose looked up.

“This is your invitation. If you’re interested, you should come.”

“Huh…?”

Something she had really wanted had just been handed to her so easily. Rose stared in surprise.

“You’re not interested?”

“No… It’s not that at all.”

In fact, she was very interested. She absolutely had to stop her sister Lea from disappearing.

But if she jumped up and said “thank you!” too quickly, it might seem suspicious. So she calmly picked up the envelope and asked,

“Will you be attending as well, Count Molt?”

“Oh, but it’s a masquerade. That’s a secret. It’s part of the manners—not to ask about names or status.”

That’s right. At a masquerade, masks don’t just hide faces. They hide identity, background, and even names. The whole point is to pretend to be someone else and enjoy the night.

“That’s why I won’t ask if you’ll be there either. Just come if you feel like it. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.”

“In that case…”

Of course she would go. But since the rule was not to say anything that might reveal her identity, Rose just gave a vague nod and accepted the envelope.

“Sorry for disturbing your reading. I won’t talk anymore—enjoy yourself.”

Count Molt said this as he elegantly sipped his tea.

Rose nodded once, then opened the first page of The Forgotten Flower, the book he had brought for her.