How to Survive as a Princess in a Reverse Harem Game - Chapter 16
“So, what book will you be reading?”
“I plan to read ‘The Myth of the Foundation of Lublin’”
“The myth of the foundation……? Isn’t that a book for children? Your Highness must have read it a long time ago.”
“It’s been a while…… I just wanted to read it again.”
For a moment, I was flustered, and my voice trembled without me realizing it.
Perhaps because my excuse sounded plausible, Reno simply nodded in agreement.
‘Now I need to find the book…… huh?’
Something glimmered in gold. As I got closer, unfamiliar letters naturally came into view.
<The Myth of the Foundation of Lublin>
The book I had been looking for.
Instinctively, I reached out, but it was just out of my grasp.
‘Just a little more and I’ll reach it.’
Straining, I tried to grab it, but before I could, a hand swiftly pulled the book out for me.
“You should ask me for help with things like this.”
Reno handed me the book with a smile.
“Thank you.”
I absentmindedly reached out to take the book, but just as Reno was about to hand it to me, he pulled it back.
“……?”
“It’s heavier than I expected. I’ll carry it to the royal palace for you.”
“I’m not going to the palace. I’ll read it here.”
I gestured toward the table in the center of the library.
“You mean you’re going to read all of this right now? Here?”
“I’m going to read it.”
“Are you serious?”
I nodded.
Reno looked utterly baffled by my response.
‘He has every right to be.’
Truthfully, my feelings weren’t much different from Reno’s. The book was massive, the thickness was truly overwhelming.
Even though I was used to reading from a young age, this book’s thickness was just too much. If it weren’t for the quest, I would have wanted to run away.
“Wouldn’t it be better to borrow it and read it in your room? The chairs are hard and uncomfortable here.”
“I want to read it here, now that I’m already here.”
I didn’t know when I’d be able to finish reading the book, and I wanted to avoid wasting time. More importantly, this quest had a time limit.
I opened my status window to check the time.
[―Time limit: 23:21:19]
At first glance, the time seemed to offer plenty of leeway. But it was also a time that shouldn’t be taken lightly.
If I thought I had plenty of time and kept putting it off, I would definitely end up delaying until the very last minute. Besides, if I returned to the palace and some urgent quest came up, I wouldn’t be able to read at all, even if I wanted to.
I felt sorry for Reno, who would be waiting for me, but my decision to finish the book here and now in the library wasn’t going to change.
I reached out my hand for the book, and Reno reluctantly handed it to me.
Ding!
[<System> You have obtained the book ‘The Myth of the Foundation of Lublin’>.]
So, quest items get a notification too, huh?
That will be pretty useful when checking the items I’ve earned from quests later on.
“Too bad. Isaac was supposed to be guarding you today.”
“If you’re bored waiting, you can go somewhere else for a bit.”
As I sat down in the chair, Reno came up behind me and pushed the chair snugly against the desk.
“You’ve come all this way, so I can’t just leave Your Highness now. If Isaac finds out, I’ll get scolded.”
“Isaac will scold you?”
“Yes. For not properly guarding Your Highness.”
Considering how he tried to send me off alone to the library, it didn’t seem like he guarded me well in the first place. The maids used to talk about Reno in a similar way too.
“Your Highness, as you know, he looks like he’s made of eternal snow, right? Like he’s got a sword in his mouth or something. Even when nothing’s wrong, if he questions you with that face, you end up getting nervous for no reason.”
That’s true…… Isaac really does look like the epitome of a cold, handsome man.
“If he looks like that, his personality should at least be warm, but his personality is just as sharp as his looks. There’s a reason people are scared of him.”
Yeah, I’d probably avoid him too if it wasn’t for the quest. Being handsome is one thing, but feeling distant is something else entirely.
“Anyway, don’t worry about it. Just relax and read.”
“You sit here too. There’s plenty of room.”
“I’ll stand. It’s more comfortable for me.”
“Is that okay? It might take a few hours.”
“I’m fine.”
I’m not, though.
I stopped fidgeting with my lips, realizing that with his determination, it was pointless to argue further.
‘I should just read quickly and get up.’
As I opened the book, a thought suddenly crossed my mind.
‘Was I supposed to read it completely? I wonder if I can just flip through the pages quickly?’
Holding the book with its spine pressed against my palm, I pinched the corner and started flipping through the pages from the very first one.
In the blink of an eye, I reached the last page and only the book cover remained in sight.
Ding!
[<Quest> Let’s learn about the history of the Lublin Kingdom! Completed (1/1)]
‘Huh? It actually worked?’
I was surprised that my little trick had succeeded.
Is it because this is a game? There’s always some kind of bug, after all.
[<System> Rewards are being distributed.]
[<Rewards> Book ‘The Myth of the Foundation of Lublin’, and the ‘Lublin’s Nobility and Major Aristocratic Families: Character Information’ encyclopedic entry.
Both the book and the encyclopedic entry are registered in your ‘Inventory’. You can access them anytime and even choose to discard them if needed.]
I immediately opened my inventory. Sure enough, there were two book-shaped icons occupying space in my inventory.
One resembled the founding myth book currently on the desk, and the other was a different book altogether.
“Then I can read the myth book later.”
Feeling the presence of Reno, who had been standing behind me the whole time, I decided it was time to return to the palace.
As I stood up, Reno gave me a puzzled look.
“Let’s go back, Reno.”
