章 21: side story - library
A room that is typical with a quiet atmosphere and the aroma of books is one of the reasons a girl often visits, she really likes that place, the library. Most girls her age prefer to attend dance classes or do their make-up, but for Jeanna she prefers to spend her time reading books.
TAKKK!!
The sound of a book falling surprised Jeanna who was busy reading a book, especially the very quiet library room made that sound the only one heard in the silence. Jeanna then turned her head to find where the sound came from. Her brown eyes found someone sleeping and a book that was already lying on the floor in an open position. She immediately took it to put the book back in its place. Before she put it down she had time to read the title of the book.
"What is this? He reads a book like this?" Her forehead wrinkled, Jeanna did not expect the boy in front of her to read a book like that.
Jeanna put the book back on the sleeping boy's body, she had just wasted her precious time.
Almost every day Jeanna spent her day in the library, actually she also wanted to play with her friends but they came to her more often to ask about her brother, Joseph Walterz.
That was the reason why she often visited the library, because only here could she feel calm. She didn't know how many books she had read, until she sometimes got bored if she had to read the same book over and over again.
While she was busy looking for a new book, the corner of her eye caught the figure of the boy she met the other day, the boy who was sleeping with a book that had fallen down. This time it seemed like he was going to sleep again seeing that he had already laid down on an empty bench.
"Are you going to sleep there?" Jeanna asked in a whisper from a distance, but it could still be heard.
"Yes, is it not allowed?"
Jeanna shook her head. "It's okay, as long as you don't snore."
"Pffttt..." The boy chuckled. "I don't snore."
"Are you reading that book?" Jeanna ignored the man's words, she was more interested in the book the man was holding.
She shook her head. "I didn't read it, do you want to read this book?"
Jeanna shook her head quickly. "No!" She didn't like romance books.
"Do you like reading books like that?" Now Jeanna's gaze seemed to be staring at him strangely in disbelief.
"What's wrong with this book?" The man then read the large cover writing, "Night of Love." He hurriedly threw the book carelessly.
Jeanna couldn't hold back her laughter seeing the man's behavior, luckily there were only the two of them and a librarian who was now staring at them fiercely telling them to be quiet. Jeanna tried her best to hold back her laughter but it didn't work, she had to hold her stomach and cover her mouth to be quiet. Because the laughter didn't subside, the librarian kicked Jeanna and the boy out, they weren't allowed to enter the library until they could calm down.
"I can't sleep because of you."
"Sorry, ha, that was so funny, ha ha." Jeanna was still trying to calm her laughter.
The boy looked at Jeanna from head to toe, black hair, brown eyes, small and thin body, that's roughly the appearance of the girl next to him.
"My name is Harvis, what's your name?" Asked the boy named Harvis.
"My name is Jeanna, you can call me Anna." Jeanna replied.
"You look younger than me, how old are you?"
"Fourteen years old." Jeanna replied, she also looked at Harvis from head to toe. "Are you eighteen years old?"
"I'm not that old!"
"Then why are you reading a book like that?"
Remembering the book made Harvis embarrassed. "I just took it, I just went there to sleep." Actually he took the book carelessly just to cover his face while sleeping.
"Sleep? You go to the library just to sleep?" Jeanna asked in disbelief. "You don't have a home?"
"Do I look that poor?" Harvis showed his shocked expression sadly.
"Ha ha ha." Jeanna laughed again at Harvis's behavior, even now her stomach was hurting from laughing too much. "No, I was just wondering. Why don't you sleep at your own house?"
"I can't sleep at home."
"What's wrong, is there something that makes you uncomfortable?"
Harvis nodded, "I don't feel like going home, if I go there I'll remember my late mother."
"I'm sorry. Is there anything I can do to cheer you up?"
Harvis shook his head, he also regretted saying that to someone else. Seeing Harvis getting gloomier.
"Do you want to go horse riding?" Jeanna suddenly asked. Actually she couldn't ride a horse, it was just that the invitation came out suddenly to cheer Harvis up so he wouldn't feel sad.
That's how they first met, Harvis and Jeanna often met in the library or just rode together. They met secretly, because Jeanna didn't like it when she was gossiped about, her brother was enough to be the topic among the women.
Their togetherness stopped after Harvis graduated from school, they didn't meet again until news was heard that she would be matched with a son from the George family. It was very surprising to her, especially since the man she was matched with turned out to be Harvis George, at that time Jeanna was only fifteen years old.
Talks about her began to emerge, Jeanna who used to visit the library more often now often played with her peers. She also became the talk of the town among the ladies of the nobles.
News about her grew bigger after the news of Harvis George's escape, there was even a rumor that Harvis George ran away because he didn't want to be matched with the daughter of the Duke Walterz family, the ruler of Zyra City.
Since the rumor spread, Jeanna became isolated, she was seen less and less. Her body also looked very thin, she often got sick and worried her family.
"Anna, eat." Duchess Walterz said softly, she brought Jeanna a bowl of warm soup and bread.
"I have no appetite, Mother." Jeanna refused weakly.
"You'll get sicker if you don't eat."
"I just want to sleep."
"Eat a little, just three spoonfuls." Duchess Walterz was still trying to persuade Jeanna to eat, her body was getting thinner, she was very sad to see her daughter's condition like this.
From behind Jeanna's bedroom door, Joseph Walterz, the older brother and first son of Duke Walterz stood looking at them with a sad look, he could not see his loved ones sick. In his heart he wanted to curse Count George's family, but he had to make sure what made his sister like this.
****
Joseph's engagement party was held a year later, Jeanna reappeared in front of the crowd. Her physical condition had gotten better, only she was getting quieter. Rumors about her were still heard, but she didn't mind it anymore, no one knew why Harvis George ran away from home. She also didn't think about the rumors and chose to be busy studying for her graduation next year.
"Congratulations on your engagement, my brother." Jeanna said sincerely, she concluded a smile that had been missing from her face for who knows how long.
Seeing this, Joseph was very happy, his sister was cheerful again. "Thank you, my sister." Joseph hugged Jeanna tightly, he promised to take care of his sister and not let anyone make her hurt and sad.
****
It had been seven years since he saw the face that made his sister sad, even though it was just his assumption, but Joseph was sure that he was the one who made his sister fall ill. Seeing Harvis's presence made Josepah turn to Jeanna, she wanted to make sure that Jeanna was okay.
"Congratulations on the birth of your grandson, Duke. I came here representing the George family." Harvis greeted him very politely, as if the incident seven years ago had never happened.
Duke Walterz accepted Harvis' greeting, he also sent his greetings to his father. It seemed that he did not mind the incident seven years ago, after all it was just a matchmaking plan not an official engagement.
"How are you?" Duke Walterz asked.
"I am very well and am happy to be able to attend the banquet and greet you again, Duke." Harvis replied very politely.
After a little talk, he then turned to Joseph who stared at him sharply as if he were prey to be pounced on. "Congratulations on the birth of your first son, Sir." Harvis said.
"Thank you for your greetings. I thought you were dead." Joseph said sarcastically and was immediately reprimanded by Rosaline, his wife at that time.
Harvis just smiled in response even though he was actually confused by Joseph's behavior. Now he had turned to a young woman who had become a beautiful woman that he had seen on the balcony of the banquet hall.
The shiny black mane and beautiful brown eyes had not been seen for years. "How are you, Anna?" Harvis asked.
"Are you close enough to me?" Jeanna asked back, Anna was her childhood nickname, and only the closest people could call her that.
"Sorry." Harvis quickly corrected his words, "How are you, Lady Walterz."
"I'm very well, thank you for asking me." After answering Harvis' greeting, Jeanna hurriedly left the hall because she didn't want to be the talk of the party. The party belonged to her niece, not her!
****
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