Chapter 65: The Name He Hated Hearing

Fria had to agree with that opinion. Flower names or bird names, that was the best they could come up with? Whoever had named the palaces clearly lacked imagination.

As he nodded, however, a question soon occurred to him. By the rules, Regina shouldn’t have been able to be here at all.

“Lady Regina, how did you get in here? Did you receive special permission from His Majesty? As far as I know, consorts aren’t allowed to enter the library.”

At the question, Regina narrowed her eyes at him.

Earlier, she had overheard the librarians whispering among themselves about “that male consort” coming again. According to the rumors, he had once held a secret rendezvous in the library with the notorious playboy Byron, only to be caught by the Emperor himself.

The aftermath had supposedly been so disastrous that anyone who valued their life should pretend they had seen nothing.

There was only one male consort in the palace: the Emperor’s favored lover from Alphenia.

Rumors described him as a man of such bewitching beauty that the Emperor’s obsession with him made perfect sense.

Regina had little interest in tea gatherings and always skipped them under the excuse of poor health, but palace maids constantly brought her gossip anyway.

After hearing both the maids’ stories and the librarians’ whispers, her curiosity had naturally been piqued.

Just how beautiful was this man who supposedly had the Emperor wrapped around his finger?

When she heard he frequented the library, she thought she might eventually run into him.

And then, right on cue, an eye-catching young man had appeared before her.

Indeed, his beauty fully justified the Emperor’s favoritism.

Contrary to the rumors, he looked more innocent than seductive, though perhaps the rumors referred to his personality instead.

If a man with golden hair and blue eyes, so handsome he looked as though he had stepped out of a painting, turned out to have a wicked personality underneath, that would be entertaining in its own way.

She regretted not witnessing the infamous “bloodbath” that had supposedly taken place in the library.

Since he was known to frequent the library, perhaps he was the scheming type?

An innocent appearance paired with a devious nature. The thought made Regina’s heart race with anticipation.

First, however, she needed to confirm whether this handsome man really was the infamous male consort.

The young man calling himself “Duncan” had recognized her first.

Was he trying to recruit her to his side?

The moment she mentioned the consorts’ quarters, his expression had changed.

Then he abruptly started questioning her right to enter the library.

Was this his way of boasting that, unlike the other consorts, he alone enjoyed the Emperor’s special permission?

“Why would I need permission? I told them I was a maid, and they let me in. Maids can enter, but consorts can’t. Don’t you think that’s a contradiction?”

Regina’s counterargument earned a solemn reply.

“Perhaps it’s for the safety of such important people.”

“The library isn’t exactly dangerous. Frankly, the only worthwhile things in this palace are the gardens and the library. Since I’m only a consort in name, I might as well enjoy myself however I can.”

That was hard to argue with.

Fria nodded again.

Truly, the only worthwhile things in this palace were the gardens, the library, and his newly granted residence.

“Still, wouldn’t it be dangerous if you were discovered?”

“Who would pay attention to me? Don’t I look exactly like a maid?”

She had walked right through the front entrance without hesitation.

Not once had anyone questioned whether she was actually a maid.

“I know people whisper that the attendants are prettier than the consorts. Well, it’s true, so I don’t really care.”

“Appearance isn’t everything, though. And Lady Regina is elegant and very charming.”

For someone with a face like his to say that…

Regina wasn’t especially concerned about her own appearance, but hearing those words from the male consort irritated her slightly.

“For consorts, appearance is everything. Isn’t that exactly why His Majesty favors a male consort?”

The young man’s expression wavered.

“…Do you really think so?”

“I’m not the Emperor, so I can’t say for certain. But isn’t that what consorts are? Flowers blooming in a garden, waiting for the Emperor to pluck them whenever he wishes.”

“…I suppose so.”

Regina had spoken partly to test him.

To her surprise, his face visibly darkened.

What was that reaction?

Had he never wanted the Emperor’s affection?

Or perhaps he wanted the Emperor to value more than just his appearance?

Then again, with a face that beautiful even when dejected, what busy ruler would bother looking deeper? Most people would simply pull him into their arms first.

While the young man sat lost in thought, Regina subtly began pulling the disputed book toward herself.

Noticing, Fria immediately looked up.

“I told you that I reserved that book first.”

“And I told you that I reserved it too. Lord Duncan should pick another book.”

“I’ll read it first, so Lady Regina can wait a little longer. I’m in something of a hurry. I really don’t have much time. To keep you entertained while you wait, I’ll recommend a few alternatives.”

Quickly scanning the shelves, Fria selected several books and handed them over.

After spending two weeks trapped in the attic, he’d devoured practically every book he could find.

No matter how knowledgeable the Axendar consort was about romance novels, surely she couldn’t surpass him.

Regina merely scoffed.

“Your taste is remarkably ordinary.”

“Is it? I thought I read a fairly wide variety.”

“The setting changes. The heroine’s hair color changes. Sometimes she’s a princess, sometimes a noblewoman. Sometimes the love interest is a king, sometimes an emperor, sometimes a dragon. But fundamentally, they’re all the same story.”

Regina began criticizing the stack of novels.

“The protagonist is always a proud beauty. Usually a fallen noblewoman or an unfortunate princess whose kingdom has been conquered. Circumstances force her to become involved with a wealthy, influential man. Naturally, he’s cold, arrogant, and looks down on her for essentially being sold to him.”

Pointing at the books, she continued.

“Eventually he’ll sleep with her, because of alcohol, an aphrodisiac, jealousy, misunderstanding, or political necessity. She’ll resist at first, but before long she’ll discover physical pleasure. Then she gives him her body, then her heart. After that comes endless anxiety. What does he really feel? Does he love me? Does he only want my body?”

“…”

Had all the books he’d read really been like that?

Regina’s argument was disturbingly persuasive.

“This one too. The Madam S novel we’re fighting over. The heroine will enter a political marriage. She’ll move somewhere unfamiliar and suffer from loneliness. She’ll spend her days tending flowers or relying on a maid she treats like a younger sibling. Meanwhile, her cold husband will still be unable to forget a former lover. Their bodies will come together while their hearts remain apart. Misunderstandings. Conflict. Emotional turmoil. The man will take whatever he wants from her physically. She’ll hate it at first, but eventually she’ll surrender her heart as well.”

“Do… do you really think it’ll happen like that?”

Fria asked anxiously.

“Of course.”

“So the heroine falls for a man who’s arrogant, selfish, inconsiderate, even coercive in the beginning? A man whose only assets are money and power? Someone who’s still obsessed with another person from his past? Someone who imprisons people, looks down on them, and won’t even let them go anywhere without permission?”

“I never mentioned imprisonment, but it seems you’ve already grasped the pattern.”

Regina nodded.

“I never understand why protagonists forgive so easily. They endure terrible treatment, yet the moment the other person shows a hint of vulnerability, they end up opening their arms to them. If he’s sick, they’ll even stay up all night nursing him.”

“Well… perhaps there are reasons for that…”

Fria defended the heroine weakly.

There were several points that hit a little too close to home.

“Reasons? Let me guess. A tragic past. Childhood abuse. Betrayal. Deep mistrust of humanity. The loneliness of rulership. Something like that?”

Regina waved dismissively.

“I can see it coming without even reading the book. None of that is the heroine’s fault. Why should she have to excuse his behavior?”

“You’re right.”

Fria applauded sincerely.

“That’s true.”

“But that’s part of the fun of reading these stories. Even while finding them frustrating, you still end up hoping the couple will be happy together in the end.”

Her expression softened slightly.

“Because real life usually gives us the opposite ending.”

“…That’s true.”

Fria agreed quietly.

Then another question occurred to him.

“If they’re all so predictable, Lady Regina, why do you insist on borrowing them anyway?”

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