After finishing his meal, Isaac nodded and turned away. Gilbert followed him like a shadow.
Now that he thought about it, even without Luinael, Gilbert’s presence meant he’d never have the freedom to roam outside alone.
As Isaac climbed the stairs, a faint smile tugged at his lips.
“The carriage has arrived.”
“…….”
The carriage came to a stop in front of the tailor shop.
Isaac glanced toward the entrance and felt a sudden wave of nervousness.
“Isaac, were you comfortable during the ride?”
“Yes, it was fine.”
Once again, Isaac took Luinael’s hand as he stepped out of the carriage.
At the same time, a significant amount of points were accumulated.
The reason for this was the nobles gathered around the tailor shop.
“Is it true that His Grace the Grand Duke is with Duke Drake…?”
“So, the rumors in the articles were accurate?”
“Well, someone I know was at the palace back then, and they said…”
The moment Isaac stepped out of the carriage holding Luinael’s hand, whispers began to spread among the nobles who had been watching the grand carriage of the duke’s household.
Just as Isaac had anticipated, the events at the palace had been splashed across the newspapers.
The marriage between Isaac and Luinael had become one of the hottest topics in high society.
[Congratulations!
You’ve publicly acknowledged your relationship with your match, earning a significant amount of BL Points!
Current BL Points: 35
Keep earning more points!]
“…….”
Should he feel happy about this or not?
With a complicated expression, Isaac stared at the status window.
Even so, this was the emperor’s decree—no one could voice their objections.
But it wasn’t as though all the nobles accepted it willingly.
Many, like the ones who had caused trouble in the palace, found Isaac to be an unworthy match.
They were merely forced to tolerate the situation because they couldn’t defy the emperor’s decision.
Feeling their uncomfortable gazes, Isaac tightened his grip on Luinael’s hand.
“There are quite a few eyes watching.”
“…….”
“Shall I make them leave?”
Luinael’s voice was as gentle as always, but there was a slight chill to it.
That faint iciness in his whisper made Isaac pause.
This was unexpected.
He had assumed Luinael would treat others with the same kindness he showed him.
Or perhaps this was simply Luinael’s way of being considerate toward him.
Either way, Isaac wasn’t particularly bothered by the stares.
As long as no one openly caused trouble like before, he didn’t care.
Truthfully, he found it all too tiresome to deal with.
“No need. Let’s just head inside.”
“Understood, Isaac.”
Isaac spoke with a haughty tilt of his chin, and Luinael responded with a shy smile, matching Isaac’s stride.
The nobles, witnessing Luinael’s rare smile for the first time, audibly gasped.
That’s right. Surprised by his looks, aren’t you?
Even Isaac, who still hadn’t fully adjusted to Luinael’s stunning face, walked with his head held high, staring straight ahead.
To the nobles, it looked as though Duke Drake, backed by the authority of the grand duke, was flaunting his arrogance as always.
“Welcome, Your Grace the Grand Duke, and Duke Drake.”
The owner of the tailor shop greeted them with a bow at the entrance.
In honor of the grand duke’s visit, the shop had been completely cleared out for the day.
Luinael, the empire’s only grand duke, was a hot topic in society.
As a member of the imperial family and a war hero, his reputation within the empire was stellar.
Rumors of him being the emperor’s cherished last remaining relative only added to his allure.
It was no wonder that countless people flocked to the capital, hoping to catch Luinael’s attention.
The tailor was no exception.
“Would today’s attire be for… Your Grace the Grand Duke?”
“No, I’m here to find clothes that suit Isaac.”
“Ah… I see…”
For a moment, the tailor couldn’t hide his disappointment.
He had already been brimming with excitement at the thought of dressing Luinael in his creations.
But he quickly adjusted his attitude.
After all, the duke was said to be Luinael’s fiancé.
Their affection for each other seemed genuine, and the tailor’s enthusiasm reignited.
“I’ll show you some suitable outfits right away.”
With renewed determination, the tailor began presenting luxurious garments—silk shirts, vests, and jackets in black and silver tones.
It was almost as if he was aiming for couple outfits for Isaac and Luinael.
“Are none of these to your liking?”
“No, they’re fine.”
Isaac, who had little interest in clothing, couldn’t muster much enthusiasm.
Still, he made an effort to show goodwill toward Luinael.
Somehow, Luinael seemed to see through his disinterest.
“Shall we go somewhere else, then?”
“Somewhere else?”
“Yes, how about the library?”
“……?”
The library?
Was he talking about the Imperial Central Library in the capital?
Isaac’s curiosity was piqued.
The Imperial Central Library was the largest in the empire.
While the royal library within the palace held more national treasures, the central library was still an impressive repository of knowledge.
Before being reincarnated into this world, Isaac had been a voracious reader.
Whenever he felt stressed, he would turn to books to relax.
Even while working odd jobs to make ends meet as a struggling actor, he never let go of his love for reading.
After reincarnating, not much had changed.
In his spare time, Isaac read the books at the duke’s residence.
Though he struggled with more difficult texts, he persevered and managed to get through most of the library within a year.
Now, he was itching for new material, and Luinael’s suggestion came at just the right time.
“You like books, don’t you, Isaac?”
“Well…”
Did the original Isaac enjoy reading too?
Though he had no memories of the original Isaac being a bookworm, he decided it didn’t matter.
“Let’s go.”
“I thought you’d say that.”
Luinael smiled.
Their next destination was decided.
Of course, that didn’t mean they left the tailor shop empty-handed.
Only after purchasing every outfit and accessory Isaac had so much as glanced at did they leave the shop together.
“…….”
Tomorrow’s papers would surely report that Isaac had spent an absurd amount of Luinael’s money on a shopping spree.
Resigned, Isaac let Luinael escort him.
“If there’s a book you want to read, take your time.”
“Alright.”
At last, Isaac felt a sense of relief upon reaching the library.
The area had been cleared to create a peaceful reading environment.
Though Gilbert still lingered behind him, Isaac tried to ignore the ever-watchful presence as he browsed the shelves.
The history section seemed like a good place to start.
The empire’s history was so vast that there was always something new to learn.
While browsing, a title caught his eye:
“The Dark Shadow of the Eukrencia Ducal Family.”
It was a book he had never seen before.
Scholars had always shown great interest in the Eukrencia ducal family, given its frequently shifting leadership. Isaac’s curiosity was piqued, and he picked up the book.
“…Huh?”
The content was strange. Isaac tilted his head and kept reading.
“…….”
Why… were his and Luinael’s names mentioned in the text?
A chill ran down Isaac’s spine, and he quickly closed the book.
At the same time, a notification appeared before his eyes.
[You have discovered the ‘Original Novel’!]
“What? The original novel? What does that even mean?”
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