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Chapter 10
The library lounge was noisier than usual. The librarians from the upper floors had gathered there, listening attentively to Julia’s story.
Even the male civil servants paid close attention, saying there wasn’t much difference between them and soldiers.
“He seemed much better than I expected. I’m talking about Manager Lance. Before I even said I was cold, he took off his coat and draped it over me.”
Julia went on at length about last night’s dinner. Even during working hours, when breaks were scarce, she continued chatting secretly behind the director’s back.
“I thought he must be of noble birth because his manners were so refined, but apparently he isn’t. Isn’t that amazing? It means he rose to that position through sheer effort alone.”
The senior staff listening to Julia looked at her with envy.
Julia wasn’t the only one who had enjoyed the atmosphere the night before. Stories from Georgia and Katrina, who worked in the administrative office, had also spread.
They said Lieutenant Finn, though young, was responsible and mature, while Captain Elvin was warm and humorous, making it impossible to feel bored. Everyone had been satisfied with the dinner—except for one person.
“Vivi, how was it for you?”
“I heard you were alone with Lord Costans.”
From the beginning, the seniors had been curious about the evening she spent alone with Lord Costans. The reason they hadn’t asked sooner was likely because of the dark expression on her face.
Another reason was that Lord Costans, who had visited the library every day, had not shown up.
Because of these two factors, they had assumed the atmosphere between him and me last night had not been pleasant.
“It was nothing special.”
When I replied curtly, the seniors’ curious gazes deepened. They seemed eager to know what was lacking in the seemingly perfect Lord Costans.
“Why? Was he someone who relied on his looks and acted arrogantly? Did he constantly boast? Well, he is the heir to a marquis—what wouldn’t he be proud of?”
“…That’s not it.”
“Then was he cold and stiff? The kind who looks down on commoners?”
“That’s not it either.”
When I failed to give a clear answer, the seniors began speculating among themselves.
But they were all wrong.
Lord Costans was someone who could humble himself and spoke only the truth.
Though he seemed cold and reserved, it wasn’t intentional. Come to think of it, he had been kind and considerate in front of me. If that wasn’t a personality he had fabricated to seduce me, then he was a truly admirable man.
“Then what? D-don’t tell me he’s violent?”
“What? Why would you say that?”
For a moment, I had spaced out, and their shocking words startled me. As I asked in surprise, they pointed to my elbow.
“You hurt your other elbow. It wasn’t like that when you left work yesterday.”
“What? I’m injured? Where?”
“Right here. You even had it treated—why are you pretending you don’t know?”
At their words, I raised my arm and looked at my elbow. A large bandage and wound tape were neatly attached to an arm that had been spotless the night before. Judging by its size, it wasn’t a minor injury, yet I couldn’t remember how I got it.
“Huh? W-why are you taking it off? Vivi!”
When I peeled off the tape, the seniors gasped. Beneath it was a wound that had yet to heal, with blood still pooled inside.
“Ah, that must hurt. Are you okay?”
“It’s serious. I told you not to remove it.”
As they said, the injury was worse than I had expected.
It wasn’t just a scrape. Something sharp had pierced deeply into my flesh, leaving it torn. I must have bled a great deal, yet it had been properly disinfected and cleaned.
“…It hurts.”
When I murmured softly, the seniors looked at me strangely. I hadn’t even realized I was injured. Only after discovering the wound did I begin to feel the pain.
“Go to the hospital later. You might need stitches.”
“I will.”
I answered instinctively. What troubled my mind wasn’t the wound—it was Lord Costans. Drunk as I had been, my memories of last night were hazy, even how I had been taken to the hotel.
But after seeing the injury, what had happened while I slept came back to me like a painting.
‘The blood on the bed must have come from this elbow.’
Lord Costans had taken me to the hotel because he couldn’t leave me alone while I was drunk. He had also treated my injury.
Though the luxurious hotel seemed excessive, it was the closest one to the jazz café. And the reason my skirt had been lifted might have been due to my sleeping habits.
“By the way, Vivi, tell us more about Lord Costans.”
The seniors continued asking tirelessly.
The moment I realized nothing had happened between us, my heart grew confused.
First, I recalled how I had misunderstood him and acted awkwardly that morning. Embarrassment made my face flush.
Was that why he hadn’t come to the library?
‘You got drunk, got yourself injured, and after he treated you, you left without even thanking him.’
I was the one at fault.
“Vivi?”
“…He probably just came to dislike me.”
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
“W-why would you say that?”
“To begin with, as you said, Lord Costans doesn’t suit someone like me.”
What was I even saying?
The bothersome Lord Costans had distanced himself on his own. Yet strangely, my heart felt bitter.
The contradictory emotions weighed heavily on my shoulders.
“L-let’s get back to work. It’ll be lunchtime soon, and we still have a lot to do.”
Julia patted the seniors on the shoulders. As they returned to their seats, they glanced at me.
“…”
Pretending not to notice their stares, I quietly organized the piles of miscellaneous work.
I realized I was no different from anyone else. Perhaps I had enjoyed the attention of someone already famous.
At last, I returned to reality. Even now, I had to regain my composure and strengthen my resolve so that such incidents would never happen again.
Yes, I would learn from this experience and never make the same mistake again. Never again…
‘I should go to the hospital later.’
My elbow throbbed painfully. As I picked up my pen to continue working, the door to the reading room opened.
For some reason, my head turned toward it as if drawn by a magnet.
“…”
Lord Costans stood there.
T-That’s impossible.
I was stunned.
I had thought he wouldn’t return after yesterday.
Lord Costans appeared in neater attire than before. When he noticed me, he smiled faintly. I clearly saw that fleeting smile.
He picked up a book and sat in his usual seat.
Why… why had he come here?
“Vivi. Are you sure nothing happened with Lord Costans yesterday?”
Julia nudged my waist as she asked.
“…Nothing happened.”
“Don’t lie. Just tell me quietly.”
“It’s true. I made a fool of myself. I spoke rudely in front of him because I was drunk.”
“What?”
Julia looked flustered by my blunt honesty.
“And I think I tripped embarrassingly in front of him. I might have even thrown up.”
“What on earth happened last night?”
“That’s all.”
“O-Okay. I won’t ask anymore, so relax your expression.”
After studying my face, Julia returned to her seat.
There wasn’t a single lie in what I had said. Then why had Lord Costans come here?
To organize my thoughts, I headed to the restroom. As Julia had said, my reflection in the mirror showed a grave expression.
If I didn’t wash my face immediately, it felt like it might burst into flames. I splashed it several times with cold water. My flushed cheeks bothered me.
‘Let’s not think too deeply about it.’
Perhaps Lord Costans had simply come to read. After all, this was the largest library in town.
When I regained my composure and opened the reading room door, Lord Costans was standing right in front of it.
My body stiffened in shock.
“I-I’m sorry.”
I subtly stepped aside.
“Vivi.”
“Yes? …Ah. Is there something I can help you with? Please let me know.”
I didn’t want to talk about anything personal.
“Could you find me a book?”
Lord Costans also avoided personal topics. Relieved, I nodded slightly.
“O-Of course. What book is it?”
He mentioned a philosophy book, and I immediately went to the appropriate shelf and checked the third section. Finding it was easy.
“Here it is.”
When I located the book at once and handed it to him, Lord Costans showed a faintly dissatisfied expression.
“Ah… Is this not the one?”
“You are remarkably quick at finding books.”
“Well, I often read this philosophy book myself.”
“Could you find another one?”
“O-Of course.”
Without hesitation, Lord Costans told me the titles of three more books.
Each was from a different genre: one was a famous mystery novel, another a history book, and the last had an absurdly long title—likely a text related to the study of physiognomy or fate.
“Where was that book again…?”
Pretending to search busily, I glanced at Lord Costans. He was watching me intently.
“Are you feeling all right?”
My hand froze in midair. Lord Costans had brought up what happened that morning.
