I Unintentionally Cured the Grand Duke’s Insomnia - Chapter 110

55. — The Secret Hidden in the Book (2)

“Oh, it wasn’t a big deal. I was just wondering if my book was really that uninteresting…”

As I gave a casual answer, I realized there was no need to tell Cain that I had thought my book might be the prophecy of this world. Even if I were to honestly confess that fact, there would be no way to prove it, and if he asked how I managed to write something like a prophecy, I wouldn’t be able to answer either.

“It might be boring. The idea of ‘interest’ is subjective.”

I turned to him and finished my words, recalling the words Million once told me.

With a smirk, he replied.

“You’ve become quite spirited.”

I burst out laughing at his words, which seemed like something one would say to a child. Then, I picked up a madeleine from the dessert plate with my fork and parted my lips.

“I’m trying to be brave. After all, I haven’t done anything wrong.”

As I popped the tiny madeleine into my mouth, I caught sight of Note walking busily outside the terrace. His face was stiff as he walked away briskly, holding a stack of papers in his arms.

The sight of him made me call out to him unconsciously.

“Note!”

Note, who was strolling through the square at a brisk pace, glanced around as if he had heard my voice. When I gestured for him to come over, he brightened up and quickly made his way to the cafe terrace.

“Young Lady!”

“How have you been?”

“Oh, I thought I was going to die. I was wondering when the Young Lady, who is our bookstore’s esteemed customer, would be coming in.”

As I chuckled at Note’s endearing banter, Note glanced at my face and asked cautiously.

“How are you doing, Young Lady?”

“Of course, I’m doing well. Were you worried?”

“Of course! Are we not usually close?”

“Is that closeness built on money, though?”

When I playfully retorted to his remark, Note chuckled as if finding it amusing as well. I looked at him smiling and pointed at the wad of paper in his arms.

“But what is that?”

“Yes?”

“What you’re holding in your arms. Is it a new release that just came out?”

“Oh, this? No, it’s not that…”

“No?”

“A while ago, a man who came to visit the publisher tossed it to me. He handed it to me as if throwing it and then left. I’m looking for him, hoping to find him again.”

“Why? Are you trying to get it published?”

“Oh, no. What business does a bookstore owner have meddling in publishing? It’s not like that…”

He trailed off momentarily as if pondering. As I waited quietly for him to continue, Note, who had been fidgeting nervously, finally spoke up as though he had made up his mind.

“Young Lady. You remember this new book by the author Milcell, too, right?”

“I, I do remember.”

As soon as I heard the name Milcell, I glanced subtly at Cain. Perhaps it was because it was a familiar name, but his gaze, which had been on the teacup, turned towards Note.

Note, still unaware that Cain was sitting across from him, went on carefully.

“Actually, the manuscript I’m holding is very similar to Milcell’s latest work. No, it’s not just similar but almost identical, as if it were simply copied.”

“…What?”

“So, even the parts with typos are perfectly the same…”

“Wait, wait a minute! Are you saying that it seems like the owner of that manuscript wrote Milcell’s book exactly the same way?”

As I asked, interrupting his increasingly excited tone, Note paused for a moment at my words before he gingerly handed me the manuscript and replied.

“No, considering the texture of the paper and the degree to which the writing has faded, this manuscript came first.”

“….”

“And above all, the owner of this manuscript is stubborn. I had my doubts, but even the second volume of Milcell’s recently pre-released book for review had the exact same content as this manuscript.”

He spoke prudently with a stern face.

Looking back and forth between Note and the manuscript he offered, I eventually asked.

“Um, can I take a look?”

He nodded as if telling me to read it.

The first page of the manuscript he handed me had the exact same title as Milcell’s book. I then slowly flipped through the stack of papers he handed to me and read it.

This was ridiculous.

…Milcell was plagiarizing?

When I consulted him about plagiarism, the person who reacted more sensitively than anyone else was Million. So, to me, who knew that Million was working under the pen name Milcell, the fact that he had plagiarized seemed absurd.

I couldn’t believe it even as I read the first page of the manuscript Note handed me, so I flipped through the pages again and again.

“Isn’t it strange? As expected, the Young Lady finds something strange about it as well, right?”

Seeing me flipping through the manuscript with a perplexed expression, Note added quickly as though he was also flustered.

“No matter how you think about it, it’s strange. Of course, I’m just a bookstore owner, so I can’t definitively say this book is plagiarized. But even so, every single word is exactly the same!”

“….”

“So, I was hoping to meet the person who wrote this manuscript again and hear his side of the story…”

“….”

“He’s gone.”

“…What?”

His bewildered words continued over my tangled thoughts. Note ended his words with a lowered voice as he looked at me, who was frowning in confusion and asking.

“Just like the recent disappearance cases happening in Lian, that man disappeared without a trace.”

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