Chapter 45 (1/2)

Finally, Kyosul could go out with the royal doctor’s approval, but she was allowed only to go around within the compound of the Dongbi Palace. In fact, she was fully recovered and pretty healthy contrary to everyone’s fear. While she was wandering around the Dongbi Palace, she came to stop by the library.

Looking around the bookshelves here and there, she examined one with sparkling eyes. She looked up at the top bookshelf.

“Why is the book I’m looking for always on the top?”

She reached out her hand. She couldn’t touch it, so she took a small stand near the bookshelf and stepped on it. She touched it but couldn’t take it. Narrowing her brows, she stretched her hand. Now, she stood on tiptoes and lightly jumped up.

“Oops!”

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At that moment, she lost balance and fell. She closed her eyes quickly. As it was not that high, she wasn’t dangerous anyway.

Thump!

She fell from the little wooden ladder-style stand, but she didn’t fall nor bump against the bookshelves behind her.

“Huh?”

She opened her eyes. She stood still on the floor. The hands holding her were warm. She felt someone’s warm chest behind her back.

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“Did you discover only today that there was also a library in the Dongbi Palace?”

She heard someone’s cold voice. She shivered at the voice instinctively because she knew whose voice it was.

It was none other than Bipaan who held her.

“Long live the Crown Prince! I’m honored to see you here.”

She awkwardly bowed. She looked funny when she turned her head with embarrassment. She was leaning on him with one of her feet on the stand and the other feet still off the floor.

“I don’t think your posture is good enough to offer greetings to me,” said Bipaan.

“Really? I agree,” she said, bursting into laughter at that moment. His eyebrows wiggled.

He lifted her and put her down on the floor with a rigid expression.

She was happy to reach the floor safely but stepped back when Bipaan reacted coldly.

“Thank you.”

Strange enough she felt her face become rigid. She closed her lips awkwardly. When she greeted him with a smile, Bipaan’s face was chilly like a lump of ice.

“Do you enjoy it?”

“Pardon?”

He said, “I mean do you enjoy coming here?”

He bit his lips. Unlike his reticent attitude, he talked a little more today, but his facial expression was as chilly as ever.

“As you asked me about the library of the outer palace the other day, I thought you didn’t know there was no library in the East Palace. How about it? Don’t you think this library has more books, and it’s more interesting than the library of the outer palace?”

“Oh…”

She just rolled her eyes, at a loss for words.

She barely answered, “I haven’t read books here yet, but there are many interesting books here.”

Every time Bipaan asked her a question, she felt he tested her fiercely. She was careful enough to select every word for fear she might offend his feelings.

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“Are you going to keep acting like a rabbit whenever you reply?”

“Rabbit?”

“You move your shoulders when you reply to me…”

She blushed at his critical comment and curled up her shoulders. As she was always tense around him, she got scared whenever he said something to her. This time he noticed it again.

He came nearer to her. She smelled a sweet musk from his body, which she thought fitted him well because of its soft and fresh smell.

When he came too close, she stepped back instinctively. Her back touched the bookshelves. She hunched her shoulders as she couldn’t move back anymore. His sleeves touched the tip of her nose.

Her heart sank suddenly.

“Here…”

He then stepped back as quickly as he came near her then presented a book to her.

It was the very book she was trying to reach out.

Receiving the book with both hands, she asked with scared eyes, “How did you know I was going to read this book?”

“Didn’t I catch you when you fell from the stand while trying to get this book?”

“Oh, you’re right. You saw me falling here.”