Sofia couldn't sleep with all the noise coming from downstairs. The ball, of course, had to continue. It certainly couldn't be interrupted for her.
The girl got out of bed and grabbed the book she had borrowed a few days ago from the Scott's private library, now turned public. "The Principles of Medicine" was a very heavy book, in every sense; physically because it was bulky and mentally because its contents were difficult to absorb.
The more she read, the more her mind became confused and lost in thoughts of her first dance with Edgar.
"He's not even what he says he is," the girl said to herself, shaking her head, wanting to push the memory away.
But the moment was so fresh that it always returned to her mind: hand in hand, her hand on Edgar's shoulder, their lips so close, and then those brown eyes looking into hers... Everything seemed so intimate that the girl wondered what the audience might have thought. All those gazes scrutinizing her. Judging her for how straight her back was, how she moved, how she followed his movements.
The girl was tired and soon fell asleep on top of the book. To be honest, it was mortally boring. She woke only when everything around her was silent. Her candle had burned out, and she had no other to light.
"I have to go back to the library and get the last two medical books... well, if no one has borrowed them already," she thought.
She then headed to the library without any light. She walked on tiptoes. Occasionally, she heard the floor creaking, but nothing more. Then, there she was, in front of the closed door of the library. She turned the knob and entered. Her gaze immediately darted to the high shelf, but the two medical books weren't there.
"Damn!" the girl exclaimed.
"Such words do not belong in your mouth," said Edgar, emerging from the darkness.
"I didn't know you were here, sorry for the disturbance," Sofia said, turning to leave.
"Wait, I have something for you."
Edgar disappeared into the darkness of the room and reappeared with the two volumes in hand.
"I set them aside for you. I knew you'd come back for them. Your ambition is strong. I really hope you get into the faculty."
The girl gave a weak smile and stepped closer to him to take the books. But just one step away from her goal, he hid the volumes behind his back and smiled.
"I'm not a liar, Miss Swan."
"But you lied to everyone about the faculty," Sofia pointed out.
"If you had been a keen observer, you would have figured everything out. I'm not very good at lying."
"So now I'm the guilty one because I didn't observe enough? Sorry if I had other things to do."
"I didn't mean to make you feel that way," Edgar apologized, handing her the books.
She took them but this time didn't leave. She stayed there, staring at him, then asked:
"Why did you stop attending the medical faculty?"
"Because I felt powerless when my mother died. Yes, I had a lot of medical knowledge, yet I couldn't help her."
"Did you love her a lot?"
"Can't you tell?"
"I'd say it's pretty clear," Sofia nodded. "Thank you so much for the books. I'll return them as soon as I understand what they talk about," she smiled.
"Well," Edgar smiled too, "then it will take eternity."
She gave him a stern look.
"Obviously, I'm joking, Miss Swan."
"Good night..."
"Good night."