I Unintentionally Cured the Grand Duke’s Insomnia - Chapter 84
42. — Between Mockery and Salvation (2)
Over my closed eyes, his lowered voice came through like a comfort.
“If, as the Young Lady says, that book has committed some wrongdoing, then perhaps the Young Lady who wrote the book was also guilty.”
“….”
“I, too, seek forgiveness alongside you.”
“…Yes?”
“Your book was my salvation.”
His subsequent words surprised me, and my eyes that had been closed blinked open.
When I met his eyes, devoid of the slightest trace of playfulness, it felt like someone had hit me in the back of the head. I recalled the sound of Lily’s quiet sobbing that I could hear through the blanket over my head in the dark room. I then remembered Cain’s face as he fell asleep peacefully, with a relaxed expression painted on his face whenever I read the book.
I turned my head to avoid his smirking gaze as he made eye contact with me. The soup, still warm, had steam rising gently from it. I stared blankly at the soup with my hands clasping the hem of my dress as Cain rose up from his seat.
“It’s an undeniable fact that my life has been saved thanks to your book.”
“….”
“So, if the book is guilty and you’re guilty of sin, then it would only be right for me to share that sin as well.”
“…Your Highness.”
“If you were to go to hell because of this, then I’ll be there with you, Adelia.”
Without saying a word, he turned towards the window and pulled back the curtains I had kept closed all along.
As the curtains were drawn back, sunlight poured into the room, dispelling the darkness that had taken its place. Then, a warm spring breeze swept into the room as if it had been waiting as he swung open the firmly closed window.
His mischievous eyes sparkled like rubies as he turned towards me.
“So, how about we have a meal together now?”
“….”
“Even if we were to fall into hell together tomorrow, I’d like to have a meal with you today.”
[ T/N: I CAN’T DENY IT’S A LITTLE CRINGE BUT… I’M DEFEATED _(꒪ཀ꒪」∠)_ ]
˚ ·: * ✧ * :· ˚
Note, who had been reading without moving from where he was sitting, closed on the last page of the stack of papers the man had left behind. As he stared at the worn paper and faded writing that seemed to have been written quite a while ago, a heavily suppressed voice escaped his lips.
“This is ridiculous…”
Yes, this was undoubtedly something that made no sense.
It was impossible.
…Even the content of the newly published second volume, released just today, was exactly the same as the writing on the worn-out paper?
It had turned his thoughts upside down with an unbelievable fact.
He thought that the man would be one of those people who attached themselves to aspiring newcomers, spreading unverified rumors and seeking to expose their names bit by bit. So, he thought he might be one of those people with malicious intentions, envious of their fame and success, wanting to somehow bring other people down to their own level.
He wasn’t.
The writing on the stack of papers the man gave him was an exact match to the book published by Milcell today. It was identical, down to every last detail. Even the typos that he thought were mistakes were the same. Since he couldn’t wrap his head around how such a thing could be possible, he was left with no choice but to consider that one of the two had plagiarized.
Note’s gaze turned towards Milcell’s book.
Milcell’s book was now approaching its third volume, and the stack of papers in his possession already contained a completed piece of writing. His mind felt muddled with what that fact might imply.
“If it turns out that Milcell really plagiarized…”
“Note.”
Inside the bookstore, as Million entered, Note hastily clutched the stack of papers to his chest. Taken aback by the sudden visit, he forced an awkward smile.
“Wel, welcome. Young Lord.”
“…Did I perhaps come at a bad time?”
“Oh no, how could that be? Is there, um, a specific book you’re looking for?”
“No, I thought I’d just take a look around today.”
Seeing the corners of his mouth twitch up playfully, Note took a step back as if inviting him to explore comfortably as Million nodded his head in gratitude and naturally picked up a book placed on the display counter.
Note, who was staring at him intently, alternated his gaze between Million and the papers he was holding.
‘Come to think of it, isn’t Young Lord Million as passionate about reading as Miss Jenny? Should I ask? Would he think Milcell plagiarized this work, even in the eyes of the Young Lord?’
[ T/N: It took me a bit to understand this, so I thought some of you might be a bit confused why Note is asking the culprit if he’s plagiarizing as well LOL I forgot that it seems only Adelia knows that Million is ‘Milcell,’ that’s why Note is asking for his opinion about Milcell. ]
“Do you have something to say?”
“Yes?”
“It feels like I’m going to have a hole in my head, Note. If you have something you want to ask, go ahead.”
Million closed the book he was reading and looked at him.
Seeing his gently smiling face, Note swallowed his dry throat as if he had gained a bit of courage. Then, gingerly, he carefully placed the stack of papers he had been holding onto the display counter and added.
“Well… could you perhaps take a look at this writing?”
As he gazed at the title written on the first page of the stack of papers, his face seemed to momentarily freeze.
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