Chapter 103: Tea Time
Adal arrived back at the library to find that, surprisingly, it was much busier than usual.
The elderly who used to find books and read in the quietest of corners in the library were back in their spaces. There were school children who sat in groups, studying, and adults doing their leisurely reading.
It was still much less than Adal was used to before the royal family were killed in his library, but still, it was a start. Things were returning to normalcy.
...
After greeting Penelope and Juliette, who were currently working on the main floor, Adal headed upstairs to clean himself up, and then returned to the main floor.
It was the first day in a while where he had worked like he normally had. It was good to be able to temporarily turn off his mind from the troubles of war and politics.
Still, he knew that battle loomed over their heads and could arrive at any moment.
I have to make sure that I enjoy this whilst it lasts.
...
After recommending various smut books to young ladies and classics from Earth to the elderly, the library closed for the night without facing any troubles.
Adal, Penelope, and Juliette decided that they were to hang out by the library for a few hours, sharing a cup of blue tea.
It was a relaxing thing, and it gave him a chance to catch up with them about matters that were usually far too unimportant for him to focus on.
"Did you hear?" Juliette asked as she took a sip from her cup. "My ex-husband, John Pearlington, his family has gone bankrupt. I heard that he has to work a normal day job now."
The old Penelope would have laughed, but now she just felt sorry for the man, so Adal laughed for her.
"So, he has lost a beautiful wife and his funds. What a shame that is."
His jest earned a small chuckle from the woman.
Juliette then turned her attention to her friend.
"Penny, are you still in much contact with your family?"
The green-haired beauty adjusted her glasses.
"A little bit, but if I am to be honest, I have sort of... forgotten about them. I feel like they represent the past me, and that isn’t something I want."
Adal listened to the conversation.
Even when it comes to family, she still thinks about her past and how she might turn herself around... With this, her Penitent class will level up faster than she could ever imagine...
"What about you, Jules? I hope it’s not too much of a touchy subject for you," Penelope then asked.
She was talking about Juliette and her family. Ever since the woman had divorced her husband due to not wanting a child with him, her family disowned her and told her that they wanted nothing to do with her.
Juliette smiled.
"They have tried to contact me a few times, regretting what they had done. I just can’t bring myself to speak to them. They made their decision, and I want them to live with it."
Her words pleased Adal. He had no intentions of the woman returning to her family.
He was enjoying their company in the library very much.
...
After a few hours passed, Juliette and Penelope made their way to their bedrooms to sleep. They were all still avoiding the Outer Realm Gate, as Adal was uncertain as to what was waiting for him in Iglantis.
In the near future, he would pay them a visit, but for now, he would wait things out until he felt certain that they were still his allies.
However, he did miss Princess Opal a lot. She was the reason that he hoped their alliance still stood strong.
...
Using his free time, Adal worked on writing a few more novels for the library. He rewrote some classic fantasy works that he had read back on Earth, such as Wheel of Time and Realm of the Elderlings. Once completed, he placed them on the shelves.
It was whilst he was doing this that he felt a breeze coming from the space behind him, followed by a presence which was very hard to notice.
He spun around, alerted, but once he saw who the intruder was, his body relaxed.
It was Nimrodel, and she had somehow entered the room without using the door or windows.
The assassin’s powers truly are frightening.
The woman wore her black robes, along with a black hood. Beneath the hood peeked her cute brown face and piercing golden eyes.
"You are allowed to knock, Nim. Did you know that?"
Nimrodel chuckled softly and sat herself down atop a table.
"That does not suit the ways of an assassin... Who is Nim?" she asked, her head tilted sideways.
"Nim is what I will call you. It is a cute name."
Usually, if anyone were to even suggest that Nimrodel were ’cute’ in any way, she would cut off their heads. She had done it many times before, when men spoke about her petiteness.
But when it came to Adal, she could not say anything. If that was what he wished to call her, then that is what she would be called.
"Librarian, you asked me to come and speak to you. I assume this is because you wish for me to report on what took place at the Icefall Kingdom."
Adal nodded his head.
It was he who had told the assassin of his plans to have Olympia blow up the king, and had asked that she follow her on the way back, in case things went wrong.
"The King and the Prince are both dead. We would storm the Icefall Kingdom, but our forces are being used here. They will have to wait, and then we will take them over," Nimrodel explained, pleased with herself.
Adal was pleased too. Events were playing out how he had expected them to.
With this, the sun elves will easily become the most powerful race in the Mainlands, so long as they are able to handle the Orcs and Dwarves.
That left only one problem to deal with.
"I would like you to do a favour for me," he said.
"Anything," Nim replied immediately, as if Adal were her king.
He thought for a few seconds before answering.
"First, fetch me the woman named Colette. I have business with her, and once that business is done, I will be travelling to the Iglantis Kingdom. I will be taking a few of my women with me, but will also leave some here. I want you to keep an eye on them and make sure they are safe."
Nimrodel bowed her head slightly.
"Consider it done. But, Librarian, what will you be doing in the Iglantis Kingdom?" the assassin asked.
Adal flashed her a calculated smile.
"I will be making sure that they are on our side."
