Love Is Never Ugly

Chapter 30

As the afternoon drew closer the two decided to come inside and wind down from today's events. Charlotte wanted to do some reading in the library and invited Alastor to join her. He was surprised by her invitation but nevertheless happily accepted it.

"So I'm curious, what kind of books do you like?" She had asked him. "Shakespeare perhaps?"

"Not especially. I found most of his works painfully predictable and lacking any subject that could ever interest me. In truth I much preferred the works of Thomas More and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe."

"Oh I loved More's works. He's very gifted in combining fiction with philosophy. Have you ever read Utopia?"

"Nine times."

"Ten."

"Impressive. I would think that someone like you who enjoys fantasy would be bored with that type of literature."

"Oh no I think it's very fascinating. It really makes you wonder about the world and what the future holds for it. Do you think that a society like that could ever be developed in real life?"

"Anything is possible my dear but hopefully such a dreadful society will never arise. I personally enjoy Utopia because it reminds me of how important it is not to forsake myself just to appease society. Not to conform for the reason of achieving some era of peace that does not really exist."

"What do you mean forsake yourself?"

"In the kind of world described in that novel there would be no individuality. No self made worth. No independent thinking. Nothing that you may call your own even if you've earned the right to do so. How can anyone be happy when they're not their own master? Are in your case their own mistress?"

"I can't argue with that." She replied. "Do you have any other particular favorites?"

"A book that I have always favored considerably is Faust."

"Really? But that's such a tragic story."

"True but I found it to be very realistic."

"How so?"

"It explains the dangers of what happens when one becomes obsessed with their own desires. How sometimes the price for your fondest wish is much too great to pay. It also alludes to how beauty and lust can drive you to complete madness."

"I never thought of it like that."

"Most people don't. But what about you? What stories do you have a special fondness for?"

"Oh that's hard to say. There are so many that I adore."

"Name one."

"Well when I was fifteen I adored a Midsummers Night's Dream."

"Why am I not surprised?" He chuckled.

"But if I had to choose I would say that my favorite book was The White Doe. It was the first book I can remember and when I was little I would beg my nurse to read that story to me every night before I went to sleep."

"The White Doe, can't say that I'm familiar with that tale."

"Oh it's truly a wonderful story. It's about how love, friendship, and goodness conquers all adversaries. Is there a chance you could have it in the library?"

"If it's a book you would like then it'll be here. Remember this place is designed to suit your wants and needs."

At once Charlotte hurried over to one of the shelves and began to search through the books perched there until she found the one she was seeking.