- an obstacle.

07

Nakaangat ang tingin ko, walang emosyon ang mga mata. Hindi rin maipinta ang mukha ko, kaunting nakaawang ang bibig.

I'm behind the manor, staring at a carriage right now, or is it still called a carriage?

It's made of chunks of woods, slightly burned and the others are destroyed. It looks frail, mukhang hindi na aabot 'to paglabas lang ng manor.

"L-Lady Harlotte, this is the best carriage I can find," kinakabahang sambit ni Melissa na nasa tabi ko na may hawak-hawak na sumbrero. "The others have the family's crest, and t-the Lord might find out you went outside. . ."

I sighed. I hope I can ride this thing safely. "Thank you, Melissa." Umangat ang tingin ko sa harapan para maghanap ng kutsero.

"How about the coachman?" tanong ko.

Hindi kaagad nakasagot ang katabi ko. "U-Uhm, about that-"

"Lady Harlotte!" pagtawag sa 'kin.

Napalingon ako sa tumawag sa 'kin. Sa direksyon ng likod ng manor kung nasaan ang malaking garden namin. Kumunot ang noo ko nang makita ang lalaking kumakaway at tumatakbo papalapit sa 'min.

My nose crinkled the moment he went closer to us which he immediately notice. "Oh, sorry," aniya at humakbang siya paatras.

Wearing a brown newsboy hat, a dirty white long sleeves shirt with brown suspenders. Shabby brown pants as his bottom, and paired worn out shoes. Eyes and hair brown, skin moreno.

Inalis niya ang sumbrero niya at nilagay 'to sa dibdib. "Homer at your service, Lady Harlotte!" masiglang aniya.

Naningkit ang mga mata ko. "Who are you?" I asked.

"I'm sorry, lady. I've been here for a while, but we haven't faced each other like this yet. Pero lagi ko po kayong nakikita," nakangiting sagot niya. "I'm the Adelaide's gardener, Lady Harlotte."

That explains why he's dirty. I gave a Melissa a side look. "And why a gardener is here?"

"I-I-I apologize, my lady. All of the other coachmen were fired, except from the Lord's personal coachman. I-I don't know who else to call," kinakabahan niyang sagot.

"Don't worry Lady Harlotte, I can ride a carriage!" pagsali ni Homer. "Hindi ako manggugulo at uhm." Inamoy niya ang sarili niya. "Lalapit sa inyo, hehe. I can also keep this a secret from the Lord!"

I groaned. I'm with two people who have opposite personalities. Kinakabahan sa tabi ko si Melissa na magkamali, sa kabilang banda ay sobrang sigla ni Homer.

"Fine, fine," walang ganang sagot ko. Homer's expression lightened, he then went in front of the carriage.

I looked at Melissa, and took the hat she's holding. Sinuot ko ang malaking berdeng strawhat na puno ng ribbons at bulaklak.

"Leave my room window open, got it? If Druce look for me, tell him I'm sleeping, I need to rest," ma-awtoridad na sambit ko. Inalalayan niya 'kong umakyat sa kalesa.

Melissa bowed. "Understood, Lady Harlotte."

Melissa watched as the carriage starts moving. Dumaan kami ni Homer sa likod na gate ng manor kung saan dumadaan kadalasan ang mga trabahador sa mansyon at ang mga gamit at pagkain namin.

I'm wearing a sage green hat, and plain green long sleeves dress with dark brown boots inside. Paired with a green neck choker with an emerald gem at the middle. My hair is on a one side braid.

Natatakpan ng sumbrero ang halos kalahati ng mukha ko, ang kalahati naman ay natatamaan ng araw mula sa bintana ng kalesa.

I will go to the local library where I went the day of the accident.

It's time to gather information and clues.

🗝🖌🎞

It wasn't long before the carriage stopped in the middle of the city.

"We're here, Lady Harlotte!" ani Homer sa labas. Ilang segundo lang ay pinagbuksan niya 'ko ng pinto.

He was about to hand me his hand when he realized he's dirty.

I smiled. "It's okay, Homer. I can go down by myself." Bumaba ako ng kalesa.

Sumalubong kaagad sa 'kin ang medyo maingay at masiglang bayan. Sa harapan ko ay ang nakakalulang mataas na estraktura.

A classic Victorian building. Filled with arc windows and doors with railings. Patterns carved at the walls, made from stones and bricks.

This is the local library of this city.

I heaved a sigh. "Wait for me here," ani ko kay Holmer na tumango.

Pumasok ako sa loob ng library. Since I'm just wearing an ordinary dress, I blended well with the other people going in and out of the library. As soon as I went inside, I was greeted by dozens of rows of tall shelves filled with books.

At the right side are the tables and chairs for those who wants to read, and at the middle is a circular counter where the librarians are.

For a second, I forgot why I came here in the first place. Nabuhayan bigla ang pagiging bookworm ko nang makita ko ang ilang daang libro sa harapan ko.

Lumiwanag ang ekspresyon ko at parang kumikislap ang mga mata ko.

A paradise for people who loves to read like me!

I'm filled with excitement as I stepped inside. . . which also disappeared in an instant.

Para akong huminto sa ere na nakakurba ang labi sa isang ngiti at nakaangat ang isang paa para humakbang nang may humarang sa harapan ko.

Eh?

Lips still smiling, face lightened, but my eyes went from looking to the books, to looking at the grumpy old lady in front of me.

"Lady Harlotte." Her voice sounds scary, she reminds me of my senior from where I used to work.

"Y-Yes?" I tried to smile.

Masama ang tingin niya sa 'kin, nasa bewang ang dalawang kamay.

"Who said you can come here again. . ." Tinignan niya 'ko mula paa hanggang ulo. "Without bringing anything?"

Umangat ang dalawang kilay ko, nabigla ako sa sinabi niya. I want to dramatically point at myself.

Me? Really? Me? An Adelaide?­

I look so confused. Am I not allowed here without bringing anything? Should I pay first to get in? But isn't this a public library?

"O-Oh, I forgot to bring money. I'll pay-"

"Lady Harlotte!" I flinched when her voice slightly rose. She took out a rolled paper from her pockets and pointed it at me.

"Without bringing the books back!" aniya. "The books you borrowed!"

Naapawang ang bibig ko. Kinuha ko ang nakarolyong papel na tinuturo niya sa 'kin. Halos malula ako sa listahan na bumungad sa 'kin. Mabilis ang paggalaw ng mga mata ko sa pagbasa sa mga nakalistang title sa libro.

I—Harlotte borrowed all of these?!

"You're banned from the library until you bring at least half of the books back!"

"B-But, I want to read-"

"No buts! Usapan ay usapan, Lady Harlotte!"

I look so defeated, holding the list in my hand. I look like a brown puppy who just got kicked out from a dog food store for eating too many snacks.

No. . . my dream!

I'm dramatically reaching to the books in front of me. So close yet so far. . .

So long, my paradise. . .

"Nakaharang ka!" masungit na ani ng librarian.

I touched my chest, overreacting. I understand. . .

I walked out of the library, sniffing even though I'm not crying, my eyes are softly closed. Pinupunasan ko ang imahinasyon kong luha. I didn't know that this will be the biggest obstacle I'll face in this case. I'm really hurt-

"Well, well, if it isn't the young lady of Adelaide."

Nawala ang pag-iinarte ko at agad akong napamulat nang makarinig ako ng boses. Mulat na mulat ang mga mata ko nang mapatingin ako sa babaeng nagsalita.

A very familiar face.

Her curly blonde hair is in bun with curly strands in front. With a small violet hat with feathers, wearing a velvet polonaise dress with floral design. Chin raised, eyes blue. White skin like porcelain, she looks like a doll.

My expression worsened. She really looks like her illustration from the book.

Another character that filled my newsfeed because of the readers opinions about her. . . bad reviews.

The bitch character in the book, who hates the twins—specially Hilian. Since she liked her fiancé, Felix.

The spoiled brat from the well known Ruelio Family.

"Lady Cordelia."

𓉞✎🕊