The old town, where the large bookstore opened, consisted mostly of one-story buildings, unlike the new town with its department store. Although the center of the old city seemed worn out at first glance, it was full of hidden gems, to the point that even the new city couldn't beat it.
Simply put, if the new city was a place in the sun, the old city was a place in the shade, with its streets filled with entertainment venues.
Tilia glanced at the streets, which had noticeably changed their atmosphere in just two blocks, then turned her head forward. A tall man walked in front of her with perfect posture, undoubtedly noble in every way.
Women in low-cut dresses were stealing glances at him, even an outside observer could easily sense it. However, Ilex, as if accustomed to this, did not pay attention to this and walked towards his goal.
Soon the bookstore showed itself. As Ilex was about to walk through the door of a new bookstore whose walls were covered with advertisements, he turned around as if he had only just realized that he had company.
- What are you doing?
Standing at the door, he waved his hand slightly towards Tilia, who stood at a distance. The gesture meant that she should enter. But Tilia only looked at the figure of Ilex, which seemed to be an illustration for a popular novel, her gaze restless.
"Everything will be fine?"
Tilia had a simple reason for accepting Ilex Davenport's help. Like he said, she really wanted to learn Ontario properly.
Despite her doubts about him, she needed to use him to achieve her goal. Ilex Davenport was undoubtedly better at Ontario than she was. If she studied with the books he chose instead of the mediocre ones, she could get much closer to passing the test.
“But still...”
A strange feeling of uneasiness kept her from taking further steps.
“Will everything really be okay? Surely there won't be any problems?
Tilia looked at Ilex, still doubtful, and took a deep breath.
"Enough. Now I have no choice but to accept his help.”
Remembering her inadequate Ontaroan, Tilia approached him. With one hand in his pocket and the other on the door, Ilex pulled the door further as Tilia approached.
The new bookstore had a different atmosphere. Brand new books, neatly arranged on the shelves, seemed to reach the ceiling. As Tilia looked around the vast space that gave off a strong feeling of openness, she unconsciously muttered out loud.
- Why open such a big bookstore in the old town? Of course, it would be better if it was next to a department store.
“Because the bookstore is not the main business,” Ilex answered her rhetorical question casually. - Below this place there is some kind of dirty private club. The bookshop is just a façade hiding a dirty basement.
He casually revealed the hidden truth and then gave her a slight warning.
- So, unless absolutely necessary, do not come here alone. These crazy people don't care whether it's day or night.
As Tilia watched his back as he walked through the bookstore towards the foreign language section, she narrowed her eyes. How did he know there was a secret public club downstairs?
“Isn’t the madman who can’t tell day from night really you?”
As she remembered the vivid rumors about Ilex and the rather remarkable incident that day, her eyes filled with suspicion. Ilex, who had found a section with books in Ontario, looked at it as if asking why it didn't fit.
Hmm. Tilia cleared her throat and walked away, pretending not to think too much.
Apparently, in the short time he had been there, Ilex had looked through the books in the corner and, without hesitation, took one from the shelf.
- You have already mastered grammar perfectly, so you don’t need a basic conversation book.
And suddenly the book he had chosen was in Tilia’s hands.
- You don't seem to know how to use endings correctly or choose the right words...
Pausing, his large, strong fingers ran along the spines of the books before he pulled out the next one.
- A freshly published novel would be better than the classics. Your goal is to master the language, not to study literature. Of course, it's not as effective as direct conversation, but indirect experience is still experience.
Bang, bang. The books he had chosen were back in Tilia's hands.
- You want to be good at using everyday vocabulary, right? Not for travel, but for everyday life or conversations?
- I think yes.
With her answer, Ilex's hand moved again. He easily took the book from the high shelf, which Tilia could not reach even on tiptoe, and again threw it into her hands.
Knock, knock, knock… the books continued to pile up.
As Tilia, her arms aching from the heaviness, hurriedly re-read the titles of the books in her hands, she suddenly remembered her wallet.
- I don't need that much.
Finally coming to her senses, Tilia quickly spoke, shoving the books back into Ilex's hands. He effortlessly picked up the stack with one hand, although it was enough to make her stagger.
The ease with which he held them, as well as the slightly confused expression on his face, irritated her a little. Tilia grabbed the top book with a sharp expression.
- I only need this one.
But contrary to her words, her gaze was drawn to the books he was holding.
If I read all this, my skills can improve significantly.
-……
Just as Ilex, seeing the look of regret on her face, was about to say something, a loud voice rang out from the silence of the bookstore.
- Hey! They say your sister is very beautiful, huh?
Tilia, who was looking at the books, instinctively turned her head.
Looks like what Ilex said was true. Men who smelled of alcohol walked up the stairs leading to the basement of a building she didn't even know existed.
Are these the club members he was talking about, the ones who hang out endlessly?
Tilia looked disapprovingly at these obvious scum, her eyes suddenly widening when she recognized one.
- Hey, tell us! This is true? Is your sister really beautiful? Kind? Innocent?
One of the men in the group had a particularly familiar face.
- How old is she? Does your father really not care about his daughter at all?
It was none other than her biological brother George Ambrose.
"Crap".
Seeing George appear in yet another dirty place, Tilia hid behind Ilex.
Any other hidden space would have been better, but this bookstore, emphasizing openness, had no tall bookshelves except along the walls.
Naturally, Tilia hid behind the nearest tall man, biting her lip nervously.
She left the house, pretending that she was going to visit Judy. Last night she escaped violence by citing a meeting with Lady Wells. If she were caught alone in a bookstore now, no, she would be caught with a man, no less.
“...I don’t even want to imagine it.”
She had no idea what kind of torment awaited her. Tilia hugged the book she was holding, eagerly waiting for them to pass by.
- No matter how beautiful your sister is, Brad, can she compare with Lady Ambrose? Is this Tilia? Didn't you say, George, that your sister was a fellow at the Royal Academy?
- Fellow, damn it. She probably cheated to get there.
- How could she cheat there? Haven't you heard about the scandal that happened recently?
Although Ilex seemed puzzled by Tilia's strange behavior, he continued to cover for her. Hearing their conversation, he seemed to understand Tilia's situation.
-……
Ilex looked at George Ambrose, his expression calm, as if indifferent, not betraying any thoughts or plans.
But at that moment Tilia didn't care at all what was on his mind.
“Please just pass by quickly.”
All she wanted was to avoid disaster if George Ambrose discovered her. The men continued to chat as they walked through the spacious bookstore.
- Remember Gregory Myers, the guy we used to drink with? Apparently, he was expelled for cheating on an exam. The Myers family, no less, and he was expelled!
- I heard that it was not just because of fraud. They found a heretical book in his room.
Heresy?
While waiting for George to leave, Tilia looked down at the mention of heresy.
She didn't know why this particular scene came to her mind.
An old library flooded with sunlight. Ilex Davenport is leaning against the window, holding a book called An Introduction to the Ethics of Theology.
As she recalled the contents of this book, a mocking voice rang in her ears.
- Either way, the Myers family is finished. Not only did the Count try to bribe the Dean of the Academy, but they even found forbidden books in his eldest son's room. By now they've probably already issued an arrest warrant.
More than just an arrest warrant, of course. Tilia, who had been diligently studying the introductory book last week, was well aware of the severity of the punishment that awaited the Myers family.
If a book was found that directly contradicted the authority of the church, not only would their lands be confiscated, but even their title could be revoked. Just as this man said, the fall of the Myers family was inevitable.