Claire paused, a faint, lingering smile gracing her features. "More accurately, it is the book that allows me to release my longing to grandpa" She took a long breath before beginning her tale.

"Since I was small, grandpa was a deeply affectionate man who would do anything for me. Even when I barged into his library while he was working, he was never angry or bothered. Instead, he would set aside his precious time to tell me fables from every journey he had ever taken"

"Grandpa was smiled often and laughed easily. He was a hardworking man, and the only one who truly understood me. When he passed away, my world felt as though it had collapsed. At ten years old, I could do nothing but cry and lock myself in this library whenever I missed him”

"And... this book was the only thing that could bring me peace" Claire stroked the white cover with a look of profound depth.

 I glanced at the volume, trying to find what made it so special. it had no title, and the pages were yellowed and brittle, looking as though they might crumble if turned too harshly. "I know. Mr. Harrie must be wondering what is so special about it, right?"

At her words, I looked up with a start, my surprised expression making her let out a small laugh."Pfft. You really are easy to read, aren't you?"

I looked away, trying to deny it. "Not necessarily. I am simply a man of transparent intentions"

Claire only nodded slowly, that faint smile still etched on her face. She began to open the white-covered book with the utmost care. On the first page, there was nothing of note save for a single line of script

'Me, Her, and the Real Adventure'

I honestly did not understand the meaning of those words or why they held the place of honor on the first page. But as Claire flipped through, she stopped at page fifteen, which spoke of blessings and true happiness. She pointed to a sentence with her forefinger.

"This is my favorite part, Mr. Harrie"

"Live freely, my sweet little bird. Your youth will taste bitter if you remain trapped in your beautiful nest. Know that the world of freedom awaits you"

"This sentence describes exactly how my grandpa was, Mr. Harrie"

"He told me that once, his life was restricted and under constant surveillance. He was expected to be the successful, wise successor of the Winston family, while he himself dreamed of being a wanderer. He wanted a life where no one could forbid him from going wherever he pleased"

"Eventually, when the family business suffered a significant decline, he managed to convince his parents to let him travel and search for something that could change their fortunes. At first, he did not have their blessing, but he forced himself to go anyway, exploring new places and meeting new people"

"He faced the bitter and the sweet with a wide smile. In the end, his travels bore incredible fruit. He returned with a wealth of information to rebuild the business and established connections with merchants that secured their supply chains for years to come"

"He always reminded me to be persistent and unyielding, just like him. That is why every time I read this book, I can hear his voice motivating me in his distinct tone. My longing finds its release just by revisiting these pages"

Claire closed the book and let out a long sigh. Her gaze remained fixed on a single point for a time before she seemed to shake herself out of it and looked back at me.

"I am sorry if my story was long and bored"

I shook my head immediately. "No. Your story was not bored at all"

"I know the feeling of admiring someone great. They may be gone, but the ambition and resolve they possessed live on in our hearts. I am actually glad to see you opening up to me. In a way, it proves you are beginning to trust me"

I rise from my chair and gathered the stack of books on the table. "Shall we return Miss Claire? I promised to Countess would not keep you out of your room for more than an hour” 

“I don't want your punishment to be extended because of my oversight"

Claire studied me intently for a moment before she, too, rise and nodded, agreeing to return to her room.

…

Klak 

Claire’s door closed firmly, leaving me to release a heavy breath I had been holding. I walked down the hallway, the sound of my footsteps echoing through the quiet house. 

No one disturbed me, yet I just felt drained from spending the entire day accompanying her in the library. The sun had set, and the sky was completely dark. As I descended the stairs, a maid called out to me.

"Mr. Harrie!" It was Anne, greeting me cheerfully from the ground floor.

I quickened my pace. "Good evening, Madam Anne"

"How was it? Did the Lady bring back many new books from the library?"

"I did not have a chance to check, as I had some urgent business to attend to"

"A great many, actually. It was difficult to walk with the stack piled so high it obscured my vision"

Anne laughed, her face lit with relief. "I am glad she enjoyed herself. Oh, have you had dinner yet, Mr. Harrie? I was just coming from the kitchen to call you down"

"Please, eat. We have prepared mushroom soup and roast beef that I think will suit your palate"

I shook my head gently. "Thank you, madam. But I am afraid I am not particularly hungry tonight"

"Oh? Why is that? Are you on a diet lately?"

I chuckled, scratching the back of my neck. "Certainly not. I simply lack an appetite"

Anne giggled. "Forgive me, I was only joking. You look quite exhausted. Is miss Claire so active that you find it difficult to keep up with her?"

"As you know, she spoke quite a bit today and asked many questions. It was somewhat overwhelming. Even so, I am happy to see her progress. She is becoming quite a critical thinker"

Anne smiled and patted my shoulder firmly. "Oh, I almost forgot to give you this"

She held out an envelope of aged yellow paper, sealed with the Dominique family crest.

 "The letter arrived this morning. I intended to place it directly on your desk, but I thought it would be rude to enter your room without permission. I waited for a chance to give it to you in person"

I nodded, offering a small smile and a word of thanks as I took the letter. "I appreciate it, madam Anne. I shall take my leave now"

With the letter in hand, I walked through the main hall and back to my room, passing through empty corridors lined with flickering candles and old portraits. 

Once I reached my door, my expression clouded. My focus shifted entirely to the contents of that yellow envelope.

Brak 

I tossed the envelope onto the bed and changed into a light, comfortable white shirt for the night. Once finished, I lay back and held the envelope up to the light. 

I turned it over and over before sitting up. Without a letter opener, I tore it open, pulling out the pages and tossing the scraps aside.

There were several lines of neatly arranged text. As I read, the tension that had gripped me vanished, replaced by a visible look of relief. The letter was not from Eric, but from my colleague, Heinry, who was currently filling in for me as a teacher and librarian back at the Dominique estate. 

Heinry wrote of how stressed and exhausted he was, facing unexpected challenges at every turn. He complained about students who were difficult to manage and acted out.

He also mentioned that several books had gone missing from the shelves without any record in the logs, forcing him to take an inventory of every volume and question everyone in the main house.

I could almost feel the weight of the tears he must have shed while writing this in the dead of night. At the end, he begged for advice on how to handle the mounting work and the never ending problems, hoping for a reply as soon as possible.

I closed the letter, weighing whether I should offer him any counsel or leave him to his misery? well of course I decided to make he learn to be independent, if he really want to grow into a strong figure. 

So, instead of writing a reply, I placed the letter on my desk, blew out the candle, and surrendered myself to sleep.