Living My Fourth Life as the Dragon’s Daughter - Chapter 4

Chapter 4

The only time Hyazelki ever visited the library was when she entered the castle through Kael’s teleportation circle.

‘Lord Dragon isn’t going to be there now, so I hope he doesn’t mind that I’ll go there now.’

The excited Hyazelki skipped alongside Albert as they went on their way. Looking at the gleeful child, Albert felt a bit sorry for her, but he turned away and clutched the piece of paper that he was holding.

「 He hasn’t approached the child yet, has he? That’s the kind of personality he has. I don’t mean to say anything further… but you should move for once. I’m sure that child is just being shy, so she couldn’t move first. If Kael goes berserk, just tell him it was my order. 」

It was a letter from Ciel that was delivered by a messenger bird.

When they entered the library, Lisa was there. Yuri wasn’t anywhere in sight.

“Please rest here. It’s comfortable, right?” Lisa said with a smile as she carried Hyazelki and sat her down on a big cushion.

“Yes.”

Feeling like she could melt on that cushion, Hyazelki thought she might fall asleep while she was sitting on it.

“Now, here they are.”

Meanwhile, Albert brought out the picture books he wanted to show and set them down beside the cushion. He handed the book on top of the pile to Hyazelki.

“Read this first. I’ll be buying more children’s books, so there’ll be more for you soon.”

‘You’re buying more?’

Hyazelki looked up at Albert with a curious look, then eyed the books next to her.

‘But this is more than enough…’

She never had the chance to read so many books before, so she was already overwhelmed by this alone.

The books she had here were more than the books she’d ever read in all of her three past lives.

“Thank you.”

Hyazelki accepted the book and smiled brightly at Albert. The butler covered his mouth furtively with an affectionate gaze, then smiled at her as well.

“Then, I’ll be on my way.”

“Okay.”

“Oh my, how could I forget. Miss, I’ll get some snacks for you, so sit tight for a while.

“Okay.”

Lisa stealthily exchanged glances with Albert, then they exited the library together. Somehow, the two were in a hurry and didn’t even ask if the child could read.

Maybe they didn’t think much about it.

Now left alone, Hyazelki looked around the library. High bookshelves lined the walls, all filled with countless books. Being in here, at a place that smelled like books, made her feel at ease.

Hyazelki inhaled deeply, exhaled, then opened the book that Albert had given her. The book had colorful pictures and did not have many words.

‘…At what age do children usually learn to read and write?’

Hyazelki never had any proper education, so she didn’t know.

She skimmed through the illustrations and turned the book’s pages. Shwik. The sound of pages being turned made her feel calm.

It was hard to know what the book was about because she couldn’t understand much of the few words in the book. She’s lived three lifetimes, but it was sad that she knew so little.

‘This is fun.’

Just as she was so absorbed in the book that she couldn’t really understand…

Clack

She heard a small noise, then the sound of footsteps.

With her hands freezing over the book she was holding, Hyazelki stopped moving and tried to see who it was just by turning her gaze.

The footsteps stopped for a while, but started again and walked closer and closer to her.

‘Who is it?’

Hyazelki covered her face with the book, her eyes wide as she held her breath.

If Lisa had come back with her snacks, she would have just come to Hyazelki right away.

Soon, the owner of those footsteps finally came out from behind a bookshelf. His long hair was haphazardly tied up, but still flowed down, Nevertheless, he looked more elegant than messy.

For a moment, Kael looked at Hyazelki with surprise in his eyes. He didn’t expect her to be here at all.

“…What……”

He was startled because the child had never stepped into the library before.

Because he was startled, he clicked his tongue and turned away with a frown on his face.

But at the same time, the bookshelf in front of him tilted forward.

Kael immediately knew why the bookshelf was shaking. He was emitting dark energy. He made a grim expression and reached out to retract his energy, but it had already succeeded in pushing the shelf.

Somewhere, a sharp gasp could be heard.

Hyazelki, who was still looking at Kael, froze in place and could not move. She just stared at the huge bookshelf slowly falling over her, stunned.

“Hey…!”

On reflex, instead of controlling it with his dark energy, Kael leaned forward in a hurry to support the bookshelf that threatened to crush Hyazelki. At the same time, the dark energy had disappeared.

As he tried to straighten the bookshelf with a grimace, the books suddenly poured down toward the child.

Right away, Kael threw the bookshelf to the side and immediately went to Hyazelki’s side.

Tak, tak, tak, tak.

Hyazelki looked at Kael with amazement, staring at his flowing movements as if he was a martial artist.

None of the books that fell down reached the child and instead fell to the floor.

“Huu…”

Kael sighed in relief when he confirmed that she wasn’t hurt.

“…”

Then, when Hyazelki met his gaze, he realized that he was close to the child.

Shocked, Kael backed away at once.

‘I’ve noticed it since last time, but why does it feel like you’re running away from me…’

The child stared blankly at Kael.

Oh, she should say thank you.

In any case, he didn’t let the bookshelf fall on her.

“Um…”

However, before Hyazelki could even complete one word, Kael, who was staring at the fallen bookshelf, turned his back on him.

Hyazelki closed her mouth with a sullen expression.

As if he just remembered that Hyazelki was still there, Kael turned again and reached out a hand towards Hyazelki.

Something transparent glistened wrapped around the child.

“…”

Then, without a word, Kael turned back one more time and left the library.

‘What is it?’

Hyazelki tilted his head, looking around her, trying to identify what had sparkled at that moment.

After leaving the library, Kael let out another long sigh.

This was because the distance between him and Hyazelki was too close.

‘It’s ruined.’

He knew he shouldn’t be close to the little child.

He would taint her just by being close to something, small and pure.

Because he had seen so many other humans—he had encountered too many sinners.

“…”

Even though the distance between them was narrowed, nothing changed for Hyazelki.

But this was a foolish idea. She would be tainted by sins just by him staying close to her.

‘This child. You must take care of her because it is God’s will. Think of her as a daughter and take care of her.’

Kael recalled what Ciel had said and frowned. In particular, he found the words ‘Think of her as a daughter’ to be ridiculous.

That’s a relationship pertaining to humans. What did that have to do with him?

“It’s ruined.”

Kael shook his head, trying to erase his own words, then took a step forward. But right after, Kael saw Albert, and his eyes became cold.

“…Albert.”

Restless as he stood at one corner, the butler was startled by his master’s muted voice.

“Yes, Milord.”

Kael stared coldly at Albert as the butler rushed forward.

“The child was in the study.”

“…”

Seeing as he didn’t answer immediately, it seemed like the butler already knew about this. But he couldn’t have done this on his own.

‘Maybe that white-haired bastard did it.’

Kael sighed and placed a hand on Albert’s shoulder, which was shaking.

“Take the child to her room. Then, report back to me. From now on, if she needs a book, just bring it to her room.”

“…Yes, Milord.”

Albert replied, cold sweat dripping down his forehead. After hearing the butler’s answer, Kael walked away.

‘What would you do if I told you that those sinful men that you hate so much were tormenting that innocent child?’

Recalling Ciel’s words, Kael’s gaze became ice cold.

* * * 

“…Lisa. I don’t think this is something we can solve.”

Once their work was done for the day, Yuri left the library where the other maids were still organizing the books from the fallen bookshelf, implored Lisa.

“What happened?”

Albert and Lisa didn’t really leave Hyazelki alone in the library. They dragged Yuri into it first and told her to hide there. Among all the maids, she was the best at hiding.

“All of a sudden, a normal bookshelf fell, then books spilled over…”

“What?” Lisa asked in return with dismay.

“But the master supported the bookshelf and prevented the books from falling over the Young Miss… The master moved so quickly, I’ve never seen anything like it before.”

“Oh my, really?”

Lisa soon smiled at Yuri’s subsequent remarks, looking very satisfied.

“That’s great. Then there’s no problem after all.”

“But there is a problem.”

“What problem?”

“Milord might have noticed that I was in the library.”

“What? Why?”

“When I saw the bookshelf fall down, I was surprised and shrieked without realizing it…”

“Ah…”

Lisa looked at Yuri with a sad expression, patting her on the shoulder.

“Don’t worry. If the master was truly angry, just tell him that it was an order from Lord Ciel.”

“Did the Lord say that?”

“Yes.”

Yuri breathed out a sigh of relief at Lisa’s reply, nodding in return.

“Now, let’s get these books to the Young Miss.”

“Yes, Lisa.”

At the library, Albert picked up the books he had placed next to the cushion, and a few more.

Holding the books in their arms, the two excitedly headed to Hyazelki’s room.

* * * 

In a bright yellow dress, Hyazelki wandered around the castle.

Originally, she would have chosen the places that she thought Kael wouldn’t be at.

But it was different today.

‘Since I was helped, I should say thank you. I’m someone who knows that.’

Nodding to herself as though she convinced herself, Hyazelki looked up to Yuri who was walking next to her.

“Where should I go to see the master?”

In the garden, the child had smooth pebbles in her tiny little hands. Yuri gazed upon Hyazelki with a happy smile, her eyes wide open because she was surprised by the child’s words.

“The master? You want to see the master?”

“Yes!”

At Hyazelki’s loud reply, Yuri had a mysterious expression.