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Chapter 05
“Hey, Costans!”
“Sir, don’t you see that look? Costans’ expression. That bastard is in a bad mood right now.”
“That’s why I told you we shouldn’t come!”
The men’s voices could be heard clearly from beyond the window.
One had dark skin and appeared to be the oldest. Another was tall with blond hair. The remaining one seemed to be the youngest, speaking cautiously.
“Have you been well, Costans?”
“It’s been a while, Costans!”
The men who entered the library raised their hands with bright smiles toward Sir Costans.
“Why have you come?”
Sir Costans spoke stiffly.
“Some of us from the Logistics Department got the day off today. We wanted to see our lovely junior’s face—and confirm a rumor.”
“The rumor that you’re living in the library has already spread throughout the unit, Costans.”
While speaking to Sir Costans, the blond-haired man noticed me behind him and leaned his head to the side. The dark-skinned man did the same.
Our eyes met.
“…Oh.”
“…This is insane.”
They smiled as if they had discovered a fascinating prey. At that, Sir Costans reached out and shielded me.
“You’ve confirmed it, so please leave now.”
“Well, well. I didn’t know you were such a romantic.”
The blond-haired man chuckled softly. He examined my face closely before glaring fiercely at Sir Costans.
“You rascal. So the reason you’ve never dated is because your standards are incredibly high!”
The men’s eyes sparkled.
“Is your name Vivi? Even your name is beautiful.”
“Hello, Miss Vivi. I work in the Fleet Command’s Logistics Department—ah, Costans!”
Sir Costans stepped between me and the man. His broad back completely blocked the man’s face.
“You’re being disruptive.”
“You stiff fellow.”
I didn’t know how to stop the quarrel between Sir Costans and the men. If this continued, the senior staff would notice the commotion and come out of the reading room.
“Um…”
I spoke cautiously.
“Huh? She spoke.”
“She did.”
They looked amazed, as if they had never seen someone speak before.
“This is a library, so could you please keep your voices down?”
“Vivi. Because of them… I apologize.”
Sir Costans apologized on their behalf.
“No. You don’t need to apologize.”
“I’ll escort them out. But first, I’ll help move the books to the storage room.”
Sir Costans tried to help me. He bent down and picked up the books that had fallen to the floor one by one.
“The books? We’ll help as well, Librarian.”
“We may not know much else, but we’re trained soldiers—we’re good with strength.”
The other men began picking up books as well. Sir Costans tried to drive them away, saying they were only in the way, but their arms were already full of books.
“Miss? Where should we move these books?”
Taking advantage of the moment, the blond-haired man asked me.
“…To the storage room, please.”
Before I knew it, I was guiding them there.
“Your presence only inconveniences Vivi.”
“And you don’t?”
“I was quietly reading books here.”
“With those sly eyes, you were secretly staring at Miss Vivi.”
The men and Costans bickered as they walked.
At first, I thought they didn’t get along, but now it was clear they knew each other well—like brothers.
“Miss Vivi.”
In the middle of their conversation, the blond-haired man called me.
“…Yes.”
“You are so beautiful. Surely you must have a lover?”
Though the question was directed at me, Sir Costans, standing beside me, trembled slightly. It made me flinch as well.
“Well… I don’t.”
“Really? That’s quite surprising. Then do you have an ideal type? Perhaps the traits of the men you’ve dated before…?”
There were many personal questions. Not only the man who asked them, but every man present listened attentively to my answer.
Sir Costans did not take his eyes off me.
“I…”
“…”
“I think I like men with their foreheads fully exposed.”
It was a lie.
Sir Costans had a hairstyle that covered his forehead, and knowing that, I deliberately said the opposite.
He said nothing, not even reacting. I quickly added,
“To be honest, I have no intention of dating. Ah, we’ve arrived at the storage room.”
When I opened the locked door, a cool, refreshing breeze brushed against my body. The faint scent of old books lingered in the air. With the men’s help, I placed the books in their spots and checked the number. None were missing.
As I arranged them according to the classification chart, I could feel their gazes behind me. Their eyes followed my every movement as if watching an interesting spectacle, which made me uncomfortable.
I hurriedly finished my work.
“Are you done?” Costans asked, as if it had been some grand task.
“Yes, I’m finished. Please come out.”
The men left the storage room with uneasy expressions.
Even as I locked the door, I could feel their gazes on my back. I couldn’t even lock a door properly under such scrutiny.
“Vivi?”
A familiar voice called from behind.
“…Ju—Julia?”
Julia stared at me with wide eyes.
“It’s lunchtime… I was going to ask you to eat with me.”
She glanced at the men. Then the youngest-looking one stepped forward with a playful smile.
“Ahem. My apologies, miss. We were helping Miss Vivi here. Did we cause any offense?”
“Not at all! Not at all. I’m actually grateful.”
Julia said, her face slightly flushed.
Even though this was just a corridor, she had raised her voice in excitement. If the director saw her like this, he would surely scold her.
“It seems the hiring requirements for librarians have changed lately,” the blond-haired man remarked.
“Pardon? What do you mean?”
“Well, both Miss Vivi and you are remarkably beautiful. I wondered if being a woman of great beauty had become a new requirement.”
This man was very skilled at flirting.
“Oh? Haha.”
Julia, who used to complain that noblemen were arrogant, now smiled brightly, seemingly forgetting her earlier remarks.
I worried she might fall head over heels for him.
“Ju—Julia! Let’s go have lunch. Which restaurant shall we go to? Hmm?”
I grabbed her arm, but she didn’t budge. Her eyes were already fixed on the men before her.
“You said you were going to lunch. How about dining with us?”
The blond-haired man suggested. Sir Costans tried to intervene, but the man quickly jabbed him in the side.
“Oh dear. I’ve already promised to eat with the director today,” Julia said regretfully.
“What a pity.”
“But dinner is possible! I finish work at six today, so anytime after that is fine. Of course, Vivi will join us too.”
What? Julia dragged me into it.
“The same goes for us. And of course, Costans here as well,” the men said, pulling him along.
“There’s a newly opened jazz café nearby. Section Chief Lance has been there and said the atmosphere is excellent. How about having dinner there?”
At their suggestion, Julia’s face lit up instantly.
“That sounds wonderful! Oh, shall we match the numbers? Since there are four of you, we’ll bring two more people.”
“We would welcome that. Isn’t that right, Chief?”
The blond-haired man looked at his superior for agreement. It seemed like he was asking permission, but in reality, the decision had already been made.
Dinner. A jazz café.
“Of course, that sounds delightful. And that jazz café is quite splendid. Then we’ll come to escort you at six this evening, after work.”
* * *
“What on earth were you thinking? Making dinner plans with people we just met!”
After the arrangements were made, I glared at Julia and whispered.
“People we just met? Is Sir Costans a stranger to you?”
“I meant the others, not Sir Costans.”
“More importantly, how could you not say a word to me when there were such handsome men?”
Why is the blame falling on me again?
I rubbed my face and let out a long sigh. I was worried about this situation—I didn’t want anyone to find out that I had been alone with Sir Costans!
“They only helped me because I was in trouble. I told you!”
“Hmm. Did you?”
“But do you even know who they are to make plans with them?”
“You really have no eye for people. Do they look like ordinary men to you? They’re soldiers working at headquarters. They’re quite impressive—how could I ignore them? And that section chief? He’s exactly my type!”
“Even so, you said you didn’t like arrogant men.”
“Vivi, he wasn’t arrogant.”
Julia refused to back down.
“…Do you even have two more people to bring?”
“Vivi, you’re truly foolish. Very, very foolish.”
Julia grinned and continued,
“There are plenty of people to bring. Plenty.”
“What?”
“I think there’s going to be an incredible battle of nerves tonight—just to claim two seats.”
