The Princess's Private Tutoring - Chapter 7

Episode 7. Is Truth Found in Books?

As the day of the curse drew nearer, her body grew weaker, and if she didn’t bask in the morning sunlight, even getting through the day became a struggle.

Sometimes, when she was alone, shadows looked like death’s messengers coming to take her, and if she woke up in the night, the darkness suffocated her.

On days when her efforts hit a wall, she wanted to cry. She wanted to resent her fate and throw a tantrum.

But who could she cling to? Who could she scream at?

Celestia swallowed the sorrow rising from deep within.

And she thought of Killian, whom she had met today.

“How about starting lessons in eight days?”

“What are you thinking about so deeply?”

Celestia, who had been looking down at a book, raised her eyes. Two pairs of curious eyes were staring at her.

“Thinking? I was reading.”

“You’re holding it upside down.”

Lyla took the book from Celestia’s hands. Then she turned it right side up and handed it back.

Celestia let out a sigh. “Busted.”

“We’ve been serving you since you were six years old. We can read you like a book. Something’s on your mind, isn’t it?”

“No.”

“It’s about Duke Killian, isn’t it?”

“No.”

“Did he say he didn’t want to teach?”

Celestia kept denying Lyla’s questions.

Even so, her questions grew sharper, inching closer to the heart of the matter.

Celestia, once again impressed by her maid’s competence, closed the book.

“No, he asked to postpone the lessons. Naturally, I said no.”

“Then the problem’s already solved.”

That was true.

On the surface, the issue had been neatly resolved.

As Celestia wished, lessons would begin tomorrow.

Everything had gone her way, so she should’ve been pleased. Yet she wasn’t at ease. In fact, something felt off.

“I’m in a hurry, Sir Killian. If there’s no special issue, let’s begin tomorrow. Is there some problem on your side?”

He had hesitated at her question.

That was the reason.

That fleeting hesitation lingered in Celestia’s mind.

What if he really did have unavoidable circumstances?

‘Am I pushing him too hard, thinking only of myself?’

While guilt stirred within her, selfish emotions surged too.

‘It’s my life on the line! What could be more important than that?’

Celestia had to have sex with Killian this year, no matter what.

Technically, any man would do, but she’d rather die than go that route.

She’d once tried to imagine marrying one of the suitors her father proposed, but she couldn’t picture any future.

What meaning would such a marriage have?

Could a life extended by sleeping with a horrid man be a happy one?

‘I suppose I’d live anyway…’

But she wanted to try everything she could first.

The only man who could break Celestia’s curse was Killian.

Like a newborn duckling imprinting on its mother, ever since seeing him at age six, Killian had been the only man in her eyes.

‘Who could be more desperate than me? I have to abandon this half-baked guilt and pity.’

Hadn’t she already resolved to become the ultimate femme fatale and seduce Killian?

‘I won’t capture him with half-hearted resolve!’

Recalling her goal, Celestia sprang to her feet and strode across the bedroom.

“Where are you going?”

Lyla and Anne scrambled to follow her.

“You have to know your enemy to win.”

“Are you heading into battle?”

“It’s no different from war. It’s a matter of life and death.”

Silence fell over the room. Lyla and Anne’s faces turned pale.

This was why.

Celestia couldn’t freely share her worries.

Words like death, curse, or anything that reminded others of it were taboo.

“It’s a metaphor.”

“Yes, we know.”

Lyla and Anne forced a laugh.

They both knew of Celestia’s long, trying one-sided love for Killian.

Lyla, having collected herself, asked, “You’re right. So how will you investigate him?”

“His Majesty, you know, always gave me the same advice when I was in trouble.”

Celestia yanked open the door and concluded her sentence.

“The answer is in books!”

At her confident expression and tone, color drained from Lyla’s face.

“Y-You don’t mean… you’re going to the library?” Anne was so shocked she stammered.

“You’re stating the obvious. Where else would I go to read books?”

Before the two maids could stop her, Celestia marched off to the library.

Lyla and Anne looked at each other and exchanged quick glances.

‘You’re going to learn…’

‘…about romance from books?’

‘Anything but that.’

The two shouted in unison,

“We have to stop her! Princess! Princess Celestiaaa!”

Their desperate cries echoed through the corridor.

***

Lyla and Anne stopped Celestia from even approaching the library and brought her back to the bedroom.

“Who learns about romance from books?”

“Then what should I do? Neither of you has been in a relationship either.”

Unfortunately, all of Celestia’s closest aides were lifelong singles.

“Should we call Miss Hailmary?”

Lyla pressed her forehead.

Was there truly no one to give Celestia advice?

A good master is always accompanied by competent attendants, and for a monarch to succeed, they must have a wise advisor.

‘I should’ve tried dating harder myself!’

While Lyla was lost in strange self-reproach, Anne offered a brilliant solution.

“What about inviting Madam James and Lady Eldorado?”

Lyla’s face twisted oddly. In contrast, Celestia’s face lit up.

“That’s perfect! Aunt James and Sister Eldorado must have real-life experience!”

These two were progressive women of the Kingdom of Mason, having gone through both marriage and divorce.

What’s more, they adored Celestia, so they would never give bad advice.

Anne looked proudly at Lyla.

Lyla still didn’t think it was a great choice, but lacking any better idea, she accepted it.

She just hoped those two could serve as Celestia’s tranquilizers.

Shortly after, Madam James and Lady Eldorado arrived at Stella Palace.

After their divorces, the two had lived in a mansion near the royal palace.

It was a gesture from Perriorson.

King Perriorson had tried to provide residences for the two women, once cherished by his late queen, within the palace grounds. However, he had been thwarted by conventions, procedures, and laws.

So the compromise was a luxurious mansion near the palace.

From there, the two frequently came and went from the royal court.

Especially when Celestia needed help, they dropped everything and rushed over.

Just like today.

“Your Highness, so you’re finally meeting Sir Killian?”

Celestia threw herself into Madam James’s arms. Once her nanny, Madam James embraced her warmly and generously.

“Yes, and I need your help.”

“How can we assist you? Shall we get you an aphrodisiac?”

Lady Eldorado was always proactive.

That was both her strength and weakness. Occasionally, she made such dangerously bold remarks that Celestia was startled.

“A-A-Aphrodisiac?!”

“There’s one that can make even an elephant rise with just a drop.”

Lady Eldorado was dead serious.

Celestia quickly shook her head.

If she didn’t stop her now, she might actually go out and get one.

“I’m not at that point yet.”

“That’s a relief. Before I turn into a criminal, Your Highness must capture Sir Killian.”

Celestia felt at ease with these two because they knew the full history of her unrequited love.

Madam James’s eyes drooped. She looked at Celestia with a sorrowful gaze. “Why would Sir Killian reject our Princess Celestia?”

“I’ve never been rejected.”

Celestia clung to her last bit of pride. The only time she had directly proposed to Killian was when she was six.

She had realized her love for him since then, but not once had she said “I like you.”

‘There wasn’t even a chance to. There had to be some hope first!’

He had drawn such a clear line that she couldn’t even utter the first syllable of “like.” He was a fortress of ice in a frozen kingdom.

‘I can melt him.’

But even getting close to that fortress was an immense challenge.

“Let’s stop analyzing the situation here and talk about how to move forward.”

Lyla lifted the mood before it could sink into a swamp of gloom.

“What must our princess do to make Sir Killian fall for her?”

All four women turned to Celestia.

Four pairs of eyes scanned Celestia from head to toe. Four heads tilted to one side.

“She’s adorable.”

“She’s lovely.”

“She’s full of grace.”

“She’s perfect.”

Madam James, Lyla, Lady Eldorado, and Anne each offered a word.

They couldn’t understand why Killian hadn’t courted Celestia yet.

Could it be because Perriorson disapproved?