Chapter 24

“Do you pity me? Is it funny? It’s so pitiful it makes me want to die. But is that so wrong?”

She looked up at Julia.

“Julia, you’d feel the same way, wouldn’t you? So let’s just let it go like this.”

Someday, when Sir Costance turns away from me, Julia, I hope you’ll let it go like this too. Quietly…

“Vivi…!”

Julia hugged her. She cried like a child in her arms.

“I got rejected! I got rejected! How am I supposed to face him now? Huh?”

“Be shameless. Just act like it’s nothing.”

“Sniff… sniff. Yeah, being shameless is my specialty… But I really thought he liked me… hic! And that our family would be happy…”

“Just how far did you imagine this?”

“To the very end! I dreamed of Sir Costance saving our poor and precarious family…”

Julia really thought far ahead.

“Ugh, Vivi!”

“The pink dress. You’ll return it, right?”

“One…”

“What?”

“Could you let me borrow it for one more month? I want to wear it after losing weight.”

“Pink doesn’t suit you, Julia. Red suits you.”

“Waaah. Then I’ll return it tomorrow. For sure.”

“Yes. For sure.”

Just like Julia’s dragging words, their shadows stretched out.

* * *

A month had passed since the girl came to the lab.

The girl woke up early and had breakfast with the senior researcher, Rene. After that, she learned the necessary mandatory education and mathematics from Alres, the youngest researcher in the lab.

“Little miss, you learn one thing but know ten more.”

Alres was also handsome. His personality was gentle and good, so despite his relatively young age, he got along well with the researchers here.

The girl liked Alres too.

There wasn’t much of an age difference, and he always taught her well. Also, Alres never forgot to compliment her.

“Really?”

“Yes. Many find this equation difficult. Even those two years older than you struggle with it.”

“I… like equations. You just substitute and get the answer.”

“Then would you like to try learning higher mathematics?”

The girl nodded at Alres’s question. As long as Alres taught her, she didn’t mind if it was difficult math.

“Oh. There you are, Little Miss!”

“Tiago? What brings you here?”

Senior researcher Tiago spoke. At the mention of a kitten, the girl’s eyes lit up with interest.

“I want to see it.”

Tiago took out a black kitten he had hidden in his arms. It was a newborn. The kitten couldn’t even open its eyes properly, and a smile blossomed on the girl’s face.

“Isn’t it cute?”

“Yes, really…”

Tiago and Alres were proud to see the girl’s bright smile for the first time.

“But Tiago, is it okay to let a cat into the lab like that?”

“Rene said it’s fine. The head won’t strongly oppose it either, as long as there’s no cat allergy.”

“There might be, though.”

“Hmm… Little Miss, do you think the head… I mean, your father has a cat allergy?”

The girl flinched at Tiago’s question.

“…I don’t know.”

Ah, Tiago hesitated.

“…Oh no. I forgot to name the cat! Would you like to name it, Little Miss?”

Tiago hurriedly spoke to the girl whose smile had disappeared.

The girl gently touched the kitten in Tiago’s arms. The kitten yawned softly and accepted the girl’s touch.

“Olive…”

“Huh? Olive?”

The girl nodded.

“Yes. Its eyes are olive-colored. I want to call it Olive.”

Tiago and Alres smiled slightly at the girl’s words.

“Okay. Let’s call this kitten Olive from now on.”

* * *

“Look at this!”

“Oh my!”

The library event period had arrived.

Usually, children aged 12 or younger visited the library, but today adults also came to the library.

“Is that Sir Costance?”

The reason was likely the posters of Sir Costance on every wall of the library.

“The photo doesn’t do justice to his appearance!”

He was a model chosen to promote the library contest, but the problem was that the model was too handsome.

The photographer was also excited about Sir Costance’s handsome looks. They said his face was a work of art even with a casual shot. Thanks to this, the ordinary contest promotional material ended up looking like a fashion magazine.

“Vivi! Come here and help me!”

“Yes!”

The library was busy in the blink of an eye.

From the opening hours until now, she moved around here and there. In the midst of it, she had to give candy to the children visiting the library and repeatedly tell the adults who came after seeing the promotional material, “Sir Costance is not here.”

“Vivi!”

Just then, she heard a familiar voice from behind.

“Eugene! You should call her Vivi-noona!”

When she turned her head, a nun from the cathedral and the children from the orphanage were waving at her.

“You’re here, Sister. Hello, kids.”

“Vivi, I came to draw!”

Excited, Eugene forgot this was a library and ran up to her.

“Eugene, shh.”

When she brought her finger to her lips, Eugene finally stopped.

“Oh, sorry, Vivi.”

“You shouldn’t run here. Keep your voice down too. First, take this candy, Eugene.”

She handed two candies to Eugene. Then other children who saw the candy came to her and held out their hands.

“Is there no strawberry flavor?”

“I like grape flavor!”

Giving out candy wasn’t easy. Vivi rummaged through the candy basket to find the fruit-flavored candies the children wanted.

“I’m sorry. I should have warned them…”

The nun said with an embarrassed smile.

“No, actually, the library is noisier today because of the event. Just don’t run or make too loud a noise.”

“You must be busy, Vivi.”

“But I’m glad to see the children. Sister, please take some candy too.”

She offered the nun a candy with alternating red and white stripes. It was a refreshing candy that the children didn’t particularly like.

“You know, Vivi.”

“Eugene, you should say Vivi-noona!”

The nun immediately corrected Eugene’s words. Eugene’s face turned sullen.

“…Vivi-noona. I came to win a prize today. I practiced drawing until yesterday!”

“But you’re not good at it.”

“Hmph. You’re too young to understand, Anne.”

Vivi laughed as she watched the orphanage children bicker.

Besides Eugene, there were children full of ambition for the prize, each insisting they would do better. When one child raised their voice, the others would shush them, putting their fingers to their lips. It was so cute to see them being cautious and warning each other.

“Come to think of it, Vivi. I saw ‘that person’ when we entered the library just now.”

The nun whispered. She tilted her head, watching the children.

“What? Who is ‘that person’?”

“Your neighbor.”

The nun’s gaze fell on Eugene. Instinctively, Vivi looked around and returned her gaze to the nun in the empty hallway.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. Haven’t I seen that person a few times?”

The nun spoke confidently.

“Vivi!”

Julia’s voice called her from the reading room.

“Julia.”

“Let’s start preparing!”

“Yes, Julia!”

The contest was about to begin. They needed to prepare materials, paper, and other things before that.

“Let’s talk again later, Vivi.”

The nun noticed this and bid her farewell. She also said goodbye to the children, telling them they’d meet again later, and hurriedly climbed the stairs.

* * *

Thanks to Sir Costance’s active promotion, quite a few children gathered for the drawing section.

“Librarian, do you have any red paint? I’ve used it all.”

“Of course.”

“Me too!”

“Me too!”

The children, focusing on coloring with their lips pouted, all had bright eyes. The sight of the enthusiastic children made her smile naturally. Eugene, who had taken the front seat, was also engrossed in drawing.

“Vivi.”

Someone broke the silence. She noticed a senior gesturing through the slightly open door.

“Senior?”

“Could you step out for a moment?”

Hearing the earnest tone in the senior’s voice, she carefully stepped outside the room.

“Sorry for calling you suddenly.”

Outside the door was Senior Webley, who was in charge of another event. Hesitant to talk about the problem, she slowly opened her mouth.

“No, but why…”

“Vivi. I know it’s shameless, but could you switch roles with me?”

“What? Why?”

Her question caused Senior Webley’s face to darken.

“As you know, we invited a professor. Fortunately, many villagers came to listen to the lecture, but among them was my ex-lover.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I’m sure.”

A long sigh escaped the senior’s mouth.

“Did he come to see you?”

“Probably. I was the one who suggested breaking up first. He followed me around for days after that.”

Vivi noticed the senior’s trembling hands. It was more serious than she thought.

“So, I was hoping you could assist the professor in the lecture room instead. All you have to do is listen to the professor and attach any materials to the board when needed.”

“I don’t know much. I might fumble.”

“You’re smart. That’s why I’m asking you instead of Julia or another librarian.”

Senior Webley spoke earnestly. She seemed more desperate because she was someone who rarely asked for favors.

“Vivi, if you switch roles with me, I’ll help with the judging later. It would be tough to judge all those drawings and writings alone.”

“…Alright. It’s the 2-3 lecture room on the second floor, right?”

“Yes. Thank you, Vivi. I’ll do my best with the supervising, so don’t worry.”

Her senior hugged her once and went back into the room. It was a shame she couldn’t watch the children, but assisting with the lecture wouldn’t be bad.