Chương 47: Leadership Meeting

Lira woke to the sound of muffled voices filtering through the library. At first, her thoughts were sluggish, caught between sleep and awareness, but the sharp scent of lacquer, thick and oily, immediately reminded her where she had fallen asleep. Years of surviving alone had trained her into a light sleeper, and even now her body reacted before her mind fully caught up.

She straightened almost instantly, rubbing the lingering traces of sleep from her eyes with the sleeve of her dress and smoothing down her apron just as the library doors opened. Steward Dalwin entered first, moving in without warning or even a hello, as if the library belonged to him. Behind him followed Head Maid Celene, Hesta, and Steward Harwin, forming an unlikely procession of authority.

It was the first time Harwin had visited the library since Lira was put in charge of it, and more importantly, it was also the first time Lira had seen all four of them together in the same space. Trailing behind them came four footmen and four maids, among them some familiar faces: Maren and Braka from the maid side, Collin and Marco from the footman side. Collin barely spared the assembled leadership a glance.

The moment he entered, he immediately returned to his polishing, as though the presence of half the castle's administration was irrelevant to him. The rest of the staff, however, lined themselves neatly along the walls and remained on standby, clearly waiting for instructions. Lira stepped away from the lacquered table and approached them, dipping into a respectful curtsy.

"Welcome to the library, sirs and madams." Harwin surveyed the room slowly, his gaze moving over the shelves, tables, and newly cleared spaces with visible approval, a smile fixed on his face as always.

"I must say," he remarked, "the place has cleaned up remarkably."

"Not at all, not at all," Dalwin interjected immediately, waving a dismissive hand as though such praise had been premature.

"There is still far too much left to do before the social season begins." Celene folded her arms, her expression tightening slightly.

"I was under the impression that the library would remain closed this season." Dalwin turned toward her with theatrical disbelief.

"And why, pray tell, would we do something so tragic?"

"Because the books are outdated," Celene replied without hesitation.

"Most of this collection is between twenty and eighty years old." Harwin gave a thoughtful nod.

"She is not wrong. While many works remain timeless, opening a library without contemporary titles or currently fashionable authors would be rather embarrassing." Dalwin looked personally offended by the direction of the conversation.

"Who cares about the books?" he grumbled.

"No, what this place truly requires is atmosphere. Carpets, curtains, better lighting, softer seating." He spread his arms dramatically as if presenting a grand vision.

"This library is not merely a repository of books. It is a venue." Lira blinked. Dalwin continued, warming to his own argument.

"A place for nobles to conduct quiet conversations, steal meaningful glances across the room while hiding behind an open book, confess forbidden affections, and suffer dramatic heartbreaks, all while maintaining an illusion of propriety." He gestured toward the reading area as though already imagining it populated.

"Think of it as an indoor alternative to the hedge maze. Private with its tall shelves and reading nooks, but also public enough to be respectable." Lira stared at him, struggling not to let her disbelief show. Apparently, libraries were not, in fact, for reading. Hesta snorted audibly.

"As if nobles needed more places to sneak around." Celene, wisely ignoring that, turned toward Harwin instead.

"What do we actually have the budget for?" Stolen story; please report. That, Lira thought, was by far the most sensible thing anyone had said since the start of the conversation. Harwin pressed his fingers together and considered.

"Carpeting the entire library would be excessive," he admitted.

"Curtains, I can easily justify. Cushioned seating is possible in moderation. Additional lighting and acquiring newer books would be the most extensive expenses by far." Dalwin sighed dramatically, as though Harwin's words had deeply wounded him personally. Lira hesitated briefly before speaking.

"What if we compromise?" That was enough to draw everyone's attention toward her.

"We could open the library quietly," she explained.

"Keep the doors accessible, but avoid formally advertising it as a completed project. That way, only the more curious or observant guests would discover it." Harwin raised an eyebrow.

"A soft opening."

"Essentially." Lira nodded.

"That would let the space begin serving its function without the pressure of appearing fully complete. Meanwhile, larger upgrades could be delayed until next year, when funding for better books, lighting, and furniture is easier to justify." Dalwin's face lit up.

"Splendid, my girl. I knew I liked you." He clapped his hands together once, startling one of the footmen.

"A mysterious hidden gem tucked away within the castle; an exclusive, understated, and slightly secluded space. The nobles will adore it." Lira was not entirely sure that was the point she had been making, but if it worked, she was not about to argue. Her aim in that suggestion is to secure her position as caretaker.

"In the meantime," she continued, steering the conversation back toward practical matters, "I can continue working on the upper floors. I do not think we should officially open the library while the upper levels remain in their current state." All four administrators turned and collectively glanced toward the staircase leading upward. They all nodded. Even Hesta, who looked a bit displeased for some reason.

"Yes," Harwin agreed.

"That is reasonable. What do you require most urgently? I can place an order."

"Curtains," Celene answered immediately.

"Those windows are entirely too bare."

"And cushioned benches along the walls," Dalwin added.

"Between shelves for privacy, far better than the openness of the tables."

"I also removed the old tapestries," Lira added, gesturing toward the folded pile stacked neatly in one corner.

"Replacement pieces would be appreciated." Harwin gave a short nod.

"That should be manageable." Dalwin, already mentally redecorating, hummed approvingly.

"Something tasteful. Blue, not brown."

"Noted," Harwin said with the weary tone of a man used to indulging nonsense so long as it remained within budget.

"We should also speak with the court wizard regarding the heating enchantments," Celene said.

"This place is far too cold." Lira felt her stomach tighten immediately. Celene continued, oblivious to the internal crisis she had just triggered.

"And while at it, it would be prudent if I update his Majesty on the library's progress."

"No, no, leave it to me. I will handle it," said Dalwin. Lira could barely hear them arguing over who got to deliver the report. A court wizard was one thing. The king was another entirely. She kept her expression perfectly neutral through sheer discipline, though internally she was almost panicking. The king was known to be a powerful mage, or maybe that was just propaganda. Either way, she wanted nothing to do with royalty. Still, there was nothing to be done about it now.

The project had gained momentum beyond her ability to quietly manage. What had started as an abandoned space she claimed to hide and learn, had now gained a life of its own. Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful. She was interrupted from her quiet musing by Hesta.

"I must say, I am quite disappointed," she said.

"I do not like changes that much, and you have turned my punishment space into a place of relaxation." Lira gave her an almost wicked smile.

"Follow me, please. There is something you need to see." She led Hesta upstairs. As soon as she opened the door, dust was disturbed and began rising visibly into the air.

"There are two more floors of this," said Lira.

"I will welcome every maid you send with hard work, I can guarantee it." Hesta nodded at that, visibly satisfied. Lira knew how to placate petty people like her. People like Hesta tended to assume everyone else was just as petty and spiteful as they were, merely better at hiding it. It was often easier to convince them you could give them what they thought they wanted than to turn them into an enemy.

As they descended back to the main floor, the discussion about who got to kiss the king's boots had apparently died down.

"Very well then, I will go place the order for the fabric for the curtains," said Harwin.

"I will inform the seamstresses to prepare for making them," said Celene.

"I will personally purchase the benches," declared Dalwin.

"Do not go overboard," Harwin warned, though even with the exasperation in his eyes, he still maintained his usual smile. Celene turned toward the maids.

"You are under Lira's orders for the day."

"You as well," added Dalwin to the footmen almost as an afterthought. Then they all left, leaving Lira alone with seven pairs of eyes fixed on her. Oh bother. Now I have to lead again.