Chapter 20 It Touches My Heart
Out of curiosity, Sadie would try to take a look, but Alexander would rubbornly block her.
Christmas was around the corner.
In the library, a slim hand suddenly reached out and snatched the book from Alexander,
He was deeply focused when the interruption startled him. He slammed his hand on the table and shouted, “Who dares to-”
His anger faded instantly when he saw Zephyr’s face.
He deflated like a balloon. “Zephyr, you’re back…
Zephyr flipped through the pages of the book expressionlessly. “Is this your book?”
Book of Dalliance was a picture book filled with romantic pictures of men and women.
“No, it’s not!” Alexander hastily denied, his eyes landing on Sadie in his panic. “This book… belongs to Sadie! She lent it to me! Right, Sadie?”
From where Zephyr couldn’t see, he pleaded with Sadie, pressing his hands together.
Sadie was confused.
Is he really that scared just because he got caught reading a popular novel?
She pressed her lips together, unsure if she should take the blame.
Alexander gestured frantically. Ten silver coins!
Fill give you ten silver coins if you say it’s yours!
Sadie slightly raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
Alexander continued gesturing urgently. Twenty silver coins!
Sadie remained silent. That novel must have been banned by the imperialgovernment.
The imperial government had banned many old books, saying commoners couldn’t read them. But since the Emperor didn’t pay much attention to the people’s everyday lives, some still dared to read them. Even if caught, the punishment was just to have the book taken away and be warned. It wasn’t serious.
Is Alex afraid of Zephyr because of his position?
Alexander looked completely defeated as he mouthed the word, “Please!”
Then he raised the offer to thirty silver coins.
With the total now thirty silver coins, Sadie finally said, “Yes, it’s my book. I bought it from a street vendor for five bronze coins. Many others bought it too.”
The law doesn’t blame the masses. With so many people buying banned books, there’s no way Zephyr would arrest them all, right?
Zephyr turned another page.
The whole book was full of pictures of a man and a woman doing private things in a lady’s room.
He said without emotion, “I didn’t expect you to enjoy this kind of book, Miss Francis
Sadie replied boldly. “The story is exciting. I really love it. It touches my heart”
“It touches your heart?”
“The story is full of twists. It’s very interesting?
Zephyr flipped a few more pages and commented mildly, “It’s quite a wild ride
a
Alexander wore a stern expression, wanting to laugh but not daring to. When the two weren’t paying attention, he quietly slipped away.
Sadie racked her brain for a reply. “I often imagine myself as the heroine in the story.”
She had read other novels where the heroine traveled the world with a sword, fighting battles and living freely
For someone like her, who was always protected, it was exciting to imagine.
Zephyr remarked, “The heroine of this book? Miss Francis, you look soft and gentle, but your temperament is far from ordinary. Even your hobbies are unique. I have to admit, I misjudged you before.”
Sadie was surprised.
Zephyr never liked her. Behind her back, he never had anything nice to say. But now, he was giving her praise.
She cleared her throat and replied modestly, “You flatter me, Lord Zephyr.”
Zephyr gave a half–smile, closed the book, and solemnly handed it to her.
Looking straight into her large eyes, he said, “I know you like reading books like these, but it’s better to keep them hidden. If others see it, they might say the Gates family lacks proper upbringing.”
Then he turned and walked away.
Sadie was utterly baffled.
It’s just a novel. What does that have anything to do with the Gates family’s reputation?
The rich girls at Cranesong Academy like reading such books too.
She flipped open the book and immediately froze on the spot.
This book… is….
She quickly shut the book. Her beautiful face blushed bright red.
Book of Dalliance!
She had just boldly confessed to Zephyr how much she loved the story, even said it touched her heart.
Chapter 20 1: Touches My Heart
She had also claimed she liked imagining herself as the heroine.
Ar that moment, she felt frozen to the core.
Zephyr’s gaze was sharp as a blade, and with that faintly amused look in his eyes, she felt like she was about to fall apart.
“Alexander! I’ll kill you!” she screamed in the library.
In the end. Alexander gave her thirty snowflake silver coins and his precious gold dagger with colored gems to make up for it.
When Christmas came. Sadie woke early and went to see Eleanor.
The room was cozy with warmth from the heated floor. Beaded curtains and soft green drapes hung low, and a gentle fragrance drifted from a phoenix–shaped incense burner. Through a screen embroidered with mountain and river scenes, Sadie spotted Eleanor sitting by the window on a mahogany couch carved with a plumed cockscomb design. She was quietly gazing through a flower–shaped window at the snow piling up the courtyard.
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