Monica looked around the store while Felix was happily rifling through the back issues of "Minerva's Spring". His shocking statement made her stomach hurt a little, but the antiquarian bookstore was certainly something that made Monica's heart skip a beat.
They have everything from so-called old books that have been published relatively recently to what are called old books from a time when printing and bookbinding technologies were not yet developed. A quick look around the store showed that about half of the books on the shelves were entertainment novels for the general public, while the other half were practical and academic books. There were also some rare books that were out of print. Though she wanted to read some magic books, as expected, if she did that in front of Felix, he would discover that she could use magic.
As she walked around the bookshelves looking for a math book, she stopped in front of a certain shelf. There was a shelf of medical books and biology books. Feeling there's some familiar name, which had made her curious. Calming her heart, which was beating faster than usual, Monica slowly followed the words on the bookshelf.
"!"
A certain book caught Monica's eyes. A book that had been published five years ago—then banned for its publication before they were withdrawn and burned all of them.
[Magical Properties Deciphered from Genetic Traits by Benedict Raine]
Monica reached the book as if being drawn to the book before picking it up and flipping the cover with trembling fingers.
Like she had heard many times before, it had started with a sentence:
——Human body is made up of a vast array of numbers.
The contents of the book were difficult to understand without knowledge of both biology and magic, and Monica, who had not majored in biology, could only understand about half of the content.
Still, Monica was able to remember the numbers in the charts and graphs.
"…18473726, 385, 20985.726, 29405.84739, 235, 2108877, 25…"
That book, for its every page had been burned to ashes, was the proof of her father's life after he was executed as a heretic. And now, the book which she had burned into her eyes, was now in perfect form before her.
Monica hugged the book to her chest and rushed over to Porter.
"E-Excuse me… I'd like… to buy… this book… please!"
Porter lifted his head from his manuscript paper and looked at Monica. Then he looked at the title of the book, and his eyes behind his glasses widened slightly.
"My friend has entrusted that book to me. And I don't have any intention of charging a low price for it."
Monica was surprised to learn that this man, Porter, was a friend of her late father. But since she couldn't bring up the topic of her father in front of Felix, she forced down her agitation before leaning forward to ask:
"H-How much?"
Porter held up two fingers and held them out in front of Monica. The price for this kind of specialist book was about one silver coin. But he was asking for two silver coins, doubled of that price.
"Two gold coins."
Monica gulped unconsciously. Two gold coins are enough for a commoner who lives a modest life to live for a while without working. And she, who's been working as a Seven Sage, had earned enough saving to set up a house in the royal capital. But since she rarely does any shopping, doesn't usually carry around a lot of money, let alone bringing two gold coins.
"U-Um, could you keep this book for me? I will definitely come back to pay you someday, so…"
"How many years does it take a child like you to earn two gold coins?"
"*groan*"
Monica could pay two gold coins if she wanted to. But, if she says that here, it would leave a chance of her true identity will be revealed.
While Monica was desperately trying to think of a way to ask for a reservation, Felix, who had been standing next to Monica, placed two gold coins on the counter.
"Will this be enough?"
Monica couldn't help but look up at Felix with wide eyes.
"I-I couldn't accept this… I-I couldn't let you pay this for me… e-especially with this much money."
"Think of it as payment for keeping your mouth shut about my nightlife."
Felix then bent down a little and looked into Monica's face.
"I know you wouldn't be happy about me giving you accessories, but… you want to get this book, no?"
"Well, that's… but two gold coins…"
"I don't know what the book is worth, but to you, it's worth a lot, isn't it?"
The moment Monica heard those words, tears spilled from her eyes.
Everybody had scoffed at her father's research, at the books that were being burned, as worthless. They trampled them, tore them to pieces, and threw them into the flames. No matter how much Monica claimed its value, no one listened to her…in fact, she was not allowed to even try to tell them its value, so her uncle beat her. He beat her again, and again, and again, telling her not to say unnecessary things. So insistently until Monica lost her words.
Felix doesn't know the value of this book. Nevertheless, he acknowledged and allowed Monica to cherish this book. After having thought all of it, Monica was so happy when she heard those words. Nodding her head over and over again as her tears streaming down her face.
It was a book that was worth that much to her. It was proof of her father's life.
Felix bent down and wiped the tears from Monica's eyes with his fingertips.
"Well, I didn't mean to make you cry… but won't you smile for me?"
Felix gently lowered his eyelids when Monica forced her crying face to smile.
Porter snatched up a gold coin with a sour look.
"I did receive two gold pieces."
Then stashed the gold coins in a small safe before giving the book to Monica.
Her father's book was worth two gold coins.
"Now this book is yours."
Monica wiped her tears with the sleeve of her dress and received the book with trembling hands. Holding her father's book to her chest, she bowed deeply to Porter and Felix.
"Thank you so much for making this book… worth so much!"
"… Shouldn't the person who's being charged be angry that it's a scam?"
To Porter's dismay, Monica shook her head desperately
Her father would not have been interested in its reputation or its value which other people put on it, but Monica was still much happier than if his books had been sold at a low price.
Felix gently looked at Monica, who was holding the book to her chest, crying with her nose all red, but still smiling happily, with eyes that seemed to be looking at something nostalgic.
＊ ＊ ＊
There was a big party being held in the House of Madame Cassandra. The reason for this was because a certain wealthy guest had donated a large sum of money to the store. And the said guest was staying with a certain girl in the most magnificent room. Though he said he didn't need to bring in the store girl, it would be a disservice to the House of Madame Cassandra if she didn't provide any service.
Doris, the most popular woman in the store, left the party and knocked on the door of her guest's room with a light snack, a fruit platter, and a bottle of the finest liquor she could find.
In case they were having a good time in bed, I could mix it up with them. But if the childish-looking girl isn't doing well, this Big Sis Doris could teach her a thing or two.
Doris opened the door with these thoughts in mind and involuntarily blinked her eyes.
Her guests were seated on a sofa in the most luxurious room of the restaurant, both of them reading quietly.
"Wait, wait, wait! How can a pair of young men and women stay up this late reading together! A healthy man and a healthy woman should have done more than this!"
"Oh, Doris. Could you leave the drinks there for me? I am getting at the good part."
Doris had no idea what the real name of the man who was a regular at the store was. He called himself a baron, but she had a hunch that he must have been of higher status than that.
What was important to Doris was not who the man was, but how he behaved in bed and how much money he paid. In both of these senses, this baron was perfect.
He did not look down on the girls, he did not act arrogant or violent, and he was good in bed. In addition, his good looks and well money have caused more than a few of the girls to fall in love with him.
And the said baron who knows how to have fun at night, despite the fact that he's alone with a young girl, he's reading a book together!
"Hey, little girl! Are you okay with that? It's like you're implying Sir Baron is unattractive!"
"Well, this book proposes that genetic traits are small particles called genetic particles, which are like the blueprint of a person, and depending on these particles, you can determine the amount of magic power and special attributes."
"I didn't mean that kind of topic!"
Doris poured the liquor she had brought into an empty glass and pushed it to Monica.
"Here, drink this!"
"Oh, okay."
Monica tipped the glass as offered. After concentrating too much on her reading, she was thirsty and drank half of the glass in one gulp.
Doris also poured some liquor into Sir Baron's glass, and he took a light sip before closing his eyes.
"Hmm, this is a good wine."
"Isn't it? They're very good. Madame told me to bring you some."
"Mm, reading a book accompanied by a good wine is not so bad."
"This isn't what wine is for!"
Just as Doris yelled at him, Monica closed her book and stood up silently. Her eyes were somewhat vacant and unfocused.
"…Monica?"
Monica's mouth moved in a squirming motion when the Baron put down his magazine and called out to her.
‘…Uuu… it's hot…" said Monica as she abruptly took off the clothes she was wearing. It was an instantaneous event that the two did not have time to stop it.
Her eccentricities did not end there. As she approached Sir Baron with a wobbly gait, she grabbed his hand and flattened his palm with her fingers.
"…there's no paw."
There are more places to touch when it comes to pleasing a gentleman. Why the palm? What's more, she made a strange statement about the paw. It doesn't make any sense.
thought Doris in a daze as Monica pressed Sir Baron's hand against her own cheek before lowering her eyebrows sadly and muttered:
"…there's no paaaw."
Monica sniffed sadly, tottered over to the bed, and curled up on it in her underwear as if she was an animal. And like that, she left mysterious words like, "I want to be a cat…" and fell asleep.
Doris turned her head slowly to look at Sir Baron.
"Sir Baron, did you just pick up a cat?'
"Well, that was the first time I saw it too. I'm honestly surprised."
"What did she mean by the paw, anyway?"
"I wonder."
When they returned their attention to the bed, they saw Monica was munching in her sleep, looking very happy indeed.
