‘…Bored.’
Yohan spun his pen absentmindedly before letting it fall onto the desk. A sigh escaped as he gazed at the slow-moving clouds outside the window. The ticking of the clock’s second hand sounded unusually loud.
Though he was technically back at work after the vacation period, there wasn’t much to do since the Special Department for the Containment of Magical Zones hadn’t been officially established yet.
The clerks handled paperwork, and trivial dispatch missions weren’t something that required a Supreme Mage’s attention anyway.
“Looks like you don’t have much to do either, Yohan?”
Francia, sitting nearby, broke the silence. She, too, had nothing on her plate, as it was practically guaranteed she’d be part of the soon-to-be-formed Special Department.
“Yeah. Honestly, having nothing to do makes time drag even more.”
It was better to be busy than idle. When you were absorbed in tasks, time seemed to fly by. Having nothing to do at work was an unexpectedly dull and tiresome ordeal. You couldn’t exactly play around, but there wasn’t any work to focus on either.
“What were you doing, Francia?”
“Oh, just reading a book.”
“Oh? What kind of book?”
“Um… just a romance novel?”
Francia smiled faintly and winked as if she didn’t want to reveal the title.
“If you’re bored, how about reading with me? There are so many fun ones out there these days.”
“I don’t really read novels. Nothing’s ever caught my interest.”
“Not into novels? That’s a serious problem!”
Francia’s eyes sparkled as she pretended to put on a serious expression.
“There are so many good ones! Once you get into it, you’ll be looking for books nonstop, trust me!”
“Is that so?”
“Of course!”
With that declaration, Francia placed her hands on her hips and playfully wrinkled her nose.
‘Novels, huh…’
Yohan blinked slowly, scratching his chin. He hadn’t read novels much since his reincarnation. Considering the era’s setting, they all seemed too bland.
Compared to the dopamine-filled stories of the modern era, everything felt underwhelming.
‘Romance novels are mostly about nobles and commoners falling in love, epic tales always revolve around the First Emperor’s exploits…’
Even the concepts were predictable enough to make him lose interest. To someone like Yohan, who was used to the thrilling novels and webtoons of the modern world, the local fare didn’t quite cut it.
“Nope, this won’t do. After work, I’ll recommend a few for you!”
Of course, Francia had no way of knowing what Yohan was thinking as she beamed with confidence.
“Hmm, so what are you reading now?”
“Uh… me?”
“Yes. That book seems intriguing.”
Yohan smiled slightly as he gazed at Francia. She hesitated, clutching the book tightly to her chest as if embarrassed. The title remained hidden.
“Ahem, that’s a secret!”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes! It’s not something Yohan should be reading just yet.”
“Hmm.”
Suspicious, but Yohan decided to let it go. Forcing her to reveal something she wanted to keep private wouldn’t do any good.
Still, her reaction was so pronounced that his curiosity only grew.
‘Should I sneak a peek?’
Feigning indifference, Yohan began tidying up his desk, subtly shifting his gaze. Francia finally turned her attention back to her book, seemingly engrossed once more.
With a sidelong glance, Yohan carefully tried to glimpse the book’s cover.
‘The oppressive Count’s assistant secretly?’
Yohan’s eyes widened in disbelief. The pen in his hand slipped and rolled across the desk.
‘Isn’t that… basically erotica?’
Not that there was anything inherently wrong with reading such material. It was a genre that had its audience and expressed human desires, after all.
The problem was that she was reading it in a public office surrounded by other officers. The audacity was remarkable.
‘So… that’s her taste?’
Truthfully, Yohan had picked up hints of Francia’s preferences before. She always reacted more strongly during moments of dominance, so it wasn’t entirely surprising.
But “training methods”?
Dominance was one thing…..he could accommodate that. But training? That was a whole different ballgame. For one, he had no idea how to approach it, and his personality wasn’t cut out for anything too sadistic.
‘Still, I should at least try, right?’
Francia might have been satisfied even if Yohan didn’t go out of his way to cater to her preferences, but he wanted to fulfill his partner’s desires whenever possible.
‘Guess I’ll have to read that book first.’
While Yohan was lost in deep contemplation, stroking his chin, Francia was happily immersed in <The oppressive Count’s assistant secretly> Discreetly.
* * *
The chandelier hanging from the lofty ceiling cast a gentle glow, and the central magical device played soothing classical music to calm the mind.
It was a space where rows of endless bookshelves blended with soft light. The subtle scent of books lingered in the air, complemented by elegant wooden decorations that exuded a sense of timeless charm.
Rustle.
Only quiet whispers and the faint sound of pages turning could be heard. People scattered across the room sat in chairs, wholly engrossed in their books.
“…I didn’t know there was a place like this in the Imperial Capital.”
“Of course. I come here from time to time as well.”
After work, instead of heading back to the estate, Yohan and Francia decided to visit the largest bookstore in the capital.
Although the Ferbache estate boasted its own library, they had come to the bookstore because Yohan wanted to look for a novel to read.
“Do you have a preferred genre?”
As they strolled past bookshelves lined like avenues of trees, Francia suddenly asked.
“A preferred genre, huh…”
Yohan rubbed his chin and furrowed his brows in thought. The question prompted a moment of deep contemplation.
In his previous life, when Yohan was an avid reader, he gravitated toward genre fiction. It was purely focused on entertainment, which he appreciated.
Among the genres he indulged in the most was…
Romantic Fantasy.
Though it was primarily targeted at women, there were also a fair number of male readers. In fact, the world Yohan had reincarnated into resembled a romantic fantasy novel he had once read.
‘But this place won’t have anything quite like a rofan, will it?’
Although the background might be similar, the atmosphere would be vastly different. After all, people’s thoughts and the times themselves are not the same.
“Uh… I don’t particularly have a preferred genre. I just watch whatever catches my interest.”
Yohan answered casually. It wasn’t a lie—he genuinely watched anything as long as it was interesting, regardless of the genre.
“Hmm. Then, what would be good…”
Francia leaned forward, scanning the bookshelf. It was a section featuring popular authors of the day.
“It’s best to start with a work that’s widely recognized. How about this one?”
The book she picked up was a romance novel titled For the Undying You. It was intensely sentimental.
‘Normally, I wouldn’t give a title like this a second glance…’
But to his surprise, it piqued his interest.
“Not bad. I’ll give it a read.”
Yohan smiled lightly as he took the book.
“Hehe, I hope you enjoy it. I wanted to share impressions with you after reading the same book. Reading is such a good hobby too.”
Sharing hobbies between couples can strengthen their bond. Having common ground naturally gives them more to talk about.
“Thinking of it that way makes it even more intriguing. We could even go on library dates.”
“Hehe, exactly! You’re thinking the same thing as I am.”
Francia smiled brightly, tilting her head. Her glossy black hair flowed down her shoulders.
“Just buying one feels a bit odd, so shall we look for some others too?”
“Sounds good. Finding interesting genres is the priority right now.”
Yohan and Francia wandered through the bookstore, browsing a variety of books. It had been a while since they enjoyed such a relaxed date, and the laughter between them seemed endless.
As they leisurely strolled between the bookshelves, Yohan finally spoke up after some deliberation.
“…By the way, Francia.”
“Yes, what is it?”
“Are you into… training?”
“…What?”
At the mention of the word ‘training,’ Francia blinked her large eyes in bewilderment, her expression frozen.
“T-Training? What are you even talking about…?”
“Hmm.”
Yohan gazed steadily at Francia. His deep blue eyes seemed to pierce through her.
“Playing innocent won’t work. I saw the title of the book you were reading at the public office.”
“…”
Unable to meet his gaze, Francia lowered her head. Her ears, peeking through her dark hair, turned red.
“While I might struggle with something too extreme… I’m willing to try.”
“W-Wait, what!?”
“For your satisfaction, Francia.”
“Huh? No, that’s okay! Really!”
Francia frantically waved her hands, her face turning scarlet. Even her actions and expression made it clear how embarrassed she was.
“Haha, there’s no need to feel shy. Isn’t it a husband’s duty to accommodate his wife’s preferences?”
“Ughh!”
Letting out a sound that was almost a whimper, Francia covered her face with both hands.
However.
‘It worked…!’
Behind the hands covering her face, a small smile spread across Francia’s lips. That’s right. In truth, all of this was part of Francia’s plan.
Reading such an embarrassing book at the public office and then continuing the conversation with related topics.
Deliberately not telling him the title of the book she was reading, leaving him curious.
Purposefully showing the cover and subtly letting Yohan notice it…
It was all intentional.
Since it was far too embarrassing to voice her request directly, she had no choice but to hint at it this way and let Yohan approach the subject on his own.
‘But it worked.’
Francia’s eyes gleamed coldly as she sat there, feigning embarrassment.
“Shall we head back? It’s gotten quite late.”
Yohan smiled faintly and patted Francia’s head.
“Yes…”
Francia maintained her shy demeanor, nodding her head slowly, her act flawless.
* * *
While Yohan was dining with Francia and flipping through the books they had bought from the bookstore, there was a sudden interruption.
Knock, knock, knock!
Three urgent knocks echoed sharply.
—“My Lord! There’s an emergency!”
A trembling voice called from outside the door. It was the head butler, and his tone made it clear something dire had happened.
“Come in,” Yohan commanded.
The door swung open, and the butler burst in, panting heavily. His face was pale, and sweat glistened on his brow. Panic and fear were written all over him.
“What is it?”
Yohan’s voice was low, calm, but laced with tension.
“A guest has collapsed at the door! They are in critical condition!”
“…What?”
Yohan’s eyes widened, the atmosphere in the room becoming instantly oppressive.
“I’ll go immediately.”
Realizing the severity of the situation, Yohan stood up quickly. He followed the butler out of the room and to the mansion’s lobby, where a woman lay unconscious, drenched in blood.
“…Vera?”
It was Vera, an aide to Rudella.
“Ah… My Lord…”
Barely clinging to consciousness, Vera looked up at Yohan, her voice faint.
“First, we need to treat—”
“No…!”
Before Yohan could finish, Vera grabbed at his sleeve with trembling fingers and cried out. Her face was deathly pale, her terror unmistakable.
“The Lady is in danger…!”
“The Lady? Do you mean Lady Bismarck?”
“Yes, there’s no time!”
Vera’s voice quaked with desperation.
“His Highness, the Crown Prince, has imprisoned her…!”