Regulus walked up to the nearest door in the hallway. He didn't think too hard about it; he just randomly turned the knob and pushed it open.
What came into Regulus's view was not a guest bedroom, but a vast room lined floor-to-ceiling with countless books.
And in the center of it all, sitting on a step stool, was a cute little girl.
She sat perfectly motionless.
She had light cream-colored hair that was combed into twin, elaborate spiral drills. She wore an extravagant dress composed mainly of crimson and pink ruffles, which perfectly suited her petite height of barely 130 centimeters.
If she hadn't blinked her eyes just then, people would definitely mistake her for an exquisitely crafted porcelain doll placed in the library for decoration.
But the most striking feature was her eyes—a pair of vibrant blue eyes with unique, pink butterfly patterns forming the pupils.
She was incredibly beautiful. She was the kind of adorable existence that made people want to hug her tightly and tease her until she pouted.
This was the Great Spirit of the Forbidden Library, Beatrice. Or "Betty," as she preferred to call herself.
The girl was already looking right at him.
Although Regulus had successfully bypassed the Door Crossing magic and opened the Forbidden Library on his very first try, he didn't think it was because of his luck.
It was because of the intense, overwhelming emotion revealed in Beatrice's butterfly eyes. She had let him in.
The next moment, the "motionless doll" sprang to life.
Beatrice hopped off the stool and ran quickly toward him. Her small shoes tapped rapidly against the wooden floorboards.
She didn't stop until she collided with his legs, wrapping her small arms around his waist in a tight hug. She buried her face in his coat for a short moment before raising her little head to look up at him.
"Lord Regulus... you're finally back, I suppose."
"I'm back," Regulus said softly.
While responding, he reached down and stroked Beatrice's fluffy, perfectly curled hair. It felt very comfortable.
As expected, Beatrice was also deeply familiar with him. Seeing the unshed tears and the raw excitement in her eyes, he knew the relationship between the two of them was definitely—
"Ugh!"
Regulus's expression suddenly contorted. He looked down at his waist. The small hands hugging him had suddenly grabbed a pinch of soft flesh through his shirt and twisted sharply.
"You clearly said you wouldn't make Betty wait too long, in fact!" Beatrice glared up at him, her eyes watering with both joy and profound grievance.
"Is the 'not too long' you spoke of a full four hundred years, I suppose?! Such a long time... even for a Spirit like Betty, it is very, very long! So long that Betty was almost unable to hold on, in fact!"
Her words revealed centuries of loneliness, dissatisfaction, and vicissitudes. At the same time, the pinching strength in her small hand increased slightly.
Looking at the crying girl in front of him, Regulus didn't know how to answer directly.
Four hundred years was indeed a bit too much. He really couldn't understand what his future self had been thinking, making a little girl wait alone in a library for four centuries.
"And!" Beatrice sniffled, her voice rising. "After finally coming over... you didn't look for Betty first! You went to see that Roswaal instead! That made Betty very angry, I suppose! Very angry!"
"It hurts, it hurts, it hurts!" Regulus groaned, tapping her shoulder.
"Hmph~!"
Regulus's exaggerated cry of pain softened Beatrice's expression. She finally released the pinched flesh, though she kept her arms around him.
The reason she had done it was because she was genuinely upset.
Not only had she waited for an eternity, but when she discovered Regulus's arrival through the detection magic set up around the Mathers mansion, she had been overjoyed. She had waited by the door with anticipation and trepidation for the moment he would finally open it.
But what happened?
Not only did he not come straight to the library, but through her magic, she saw him flirting with a massive convoy of women outside! He had even shown interest in that child, Julia.
Even if she could overlook his usual shameless behavior with women, the final straw was that he actually went to see Roswaal before coming to see her!
Could it be that her position in Regulus's heart was lower than that of an old apprentice? It was too much!
Regulus, finally liberated from the pinch, couldn't help but rub his waist as he looked down at the sulking Great Spirit.
She was throwing a tantrum.
However, it was completely understandable. And the specific way she was venting her dissatisfaction—with a familiar, physical pinch rather than magic—clearly showed just how close they truly were.
"Betty, who did you learn that pinching trick from?" Regulus chuckled.
"From Mother, I suppose," Beatrice sniffed, wiping a tear from her eye. "Betty didn't expect it to be so useful. No wonder Mother liked to use this method to vent her anger on you every time she was mad, in fact."
Regulus couldn't help but imagine the frail Witch of Greed. Given Echidna's terrible physical fitness—she would likely collapse after running just a few steps—this kind of low-energy, close-quarters physical venting was indeed perfectly suited for her.
Without another word, Regulus reached down and directly picked Beatrice up.
She didn't resist at all. She wasn't even surprised. She naturally wrapped her arms around his neck, settling comfortably against his chest. It seemed she was very used to being carried by him.
"Have you really been eating properly these past four hundred years?" Regulus teased, bouncing her lightly.
"Of course Betty has, I suppose!"
"Really? Then why hasn't your weight increased at all? And your height..."
"Mumu~!"
Beatrice glared at Regulus, her cheeks puffing out indignantly like a squirrel.
"You're bringing this up again! You clearly know that Betty, as an Artificial Spirit created by Mother, will definitely not have any changes in her physical appearance, no matter how much time passes, in fact!"
"Is that so?"
"Of course it is! Damn it, nothing has changed at all! It's just too annoying, I suppose. In the future... no, after Mother revives! Betty will definitely ask Mother to transform this body into an adult form! Then let's see how you continue to treat Betty like a child!"
"Transform into an adult..."
Regulus looked at the girl in his arms thoughtfully.
With Echidna's unparalleled magical ability, she might actually be able to do it. But honestly? Only a small, cute Betty is a good Betty. How could he let her change this iconic look?
"Don't even think about it," Regulus said, poking her nose. "The appearance of an adult doesn't suit you."
"Really?" Beatrice pouted, but a sly glint appeared in her butterfly eyes. "If that's the case... then forget it. Betty originally just wanted to ask Mother to add an ability to transform into an adult temporarily, on the basis of her current body, I suppose."
As she spoke, Beatrice secretly peeked at Regulus's reaction.
Regulus's eyes lit up instantly.
If it was just adding an ability to transform back and forth at will... that would be the best of both worlds!
"That is really something to look forward to," Regulus grinned. "Betty's appearance after becoming an adult."
"You... as expected, you are still so shameless, in fact," Beatrice sighed, shaking her head, though she couldn't hide a small, pleased smile. "And one more thing. Please don't get the wrong idea, I suppose. Betty is already over four hundred years old. Betty is an adult no matter how you calculate it. She is a mature woman, in fact."
"A mature woman?"
"That's right! Betty is already mature."
Regulus looked at Beatrice, who was sitting in his arms, specifically emphasizing her "maturity" to him.
He had a feeling she was doing it on purpose to provoke him. He decided to test her a little.
"Betty, you know... judging whether a girl is a 'mature woman' isn't solely based on age."
"Betty knows that, of course, I suppose."
"You know what it actually takes?"
"Yes, Betty knows perfectly well, in fact."
Their gazes met. Despite her brave words, Regulus saw a deep hint of shyness and panic hidden in Beatrice's beautiful eyes. Her face flushed pink.
It seemed she really did know what he was implying, likely from reading too many books in the library over the centuries.
Regulus chuckled but didn't push the teasing further. Her meaning was clear; they both understood the implicit boundaries for now.
So, Regulus brought up the most important question.
"Betty. Do you want to form a contract with me?"
Beatrice looked down, playing with the lapel of his coat.
"Not yet, I suppose."
"Not yet?"
"Yes," Beatrice said softly. "Mother said... that if anyone wants to form a contract with Betty, it must be witnessed by her, in fact."
She looked up at him, her butterfly eyes filled with a touching sincerity.
"Because for Betty, a Spirit contract with you is like a metaphorical marriage. And since it is a marriage... it must be officiated by Mother, I suppose. So... could you please wait for Betty just a little longer?"
Her words revealed a profound, vulnerable shyness.
She had waited for this promise, for this contract, for four entire centuries. It was her sole reason for enduring the crushing isolation of the Forbidden Library. And because she always knew, deep down, that Regulus would surely return to complete the contract with her, she had found the strength to persevere.
"I can wait," Regulus said, hugging her tighter. "I'm not going anywhere this time."
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