Chapter 26

She stared blankly at the empty lecture hall. She checked each of the missing materials and cleared the magnets from the blackboard. Only after erasing the chalk marks did she find a moment to rest.

She sat on a bench behind the library.

The sun was setting. The voices of children leaving the library after other events ended were noisy and cheerful.

“……”

She recalled the back of the professor leaving the library without even a greeting to her. Professor Wecker had been invited by her senior, Webley, with great effort. Perhaps she might hear something about it later from the director or her senior.

“……Meow.”

At that moment, she heard a cat’s cry from inside the trees. When she looked up, a pure white cat was limping toward her.

Did it hurt its leg? 

The cat, which seemed to be no more than a month old, was thin and dirty. After looking around, she confirmed there was no mother cat nearby.

“Hello, kitty.”

She bent down and gestured to the cat. The cat, not afraid of people, approached her and rubbed its face against her hand.

“Want some water?”

She cupped water in her hand and offered it to the cat. The cat lapped up the water eagerly as if it were thirsty.

“Do you like cats?”

Her head naturally turned to the side. There stood the man who had argued with the professor earlier.

“As expected, it was you, Sir Costance.”

“Oh dear, I tried hard to disguise myself.”

Sir Costance chuckled as he removed his hat and glasses. His clear gray eyes and broad forehead were revealed.

“Are you alright?”

He sat down next to her.

“What do you mean?”

“You didn’t look well.”

“I just… wasn’t feeling well.”

She shrugged her shoulders as she spoke. Meanwhile, the cat that had finished drinking climbed onto her hand. 

Was it cold…?

She held the cat in her arms and stroked it.

“It seems quite sick. Could it have been hungry all day?”

“It seems so.”

“There isn’t any food for cats in the library…”

Leaving the poor cat behind felt heartbreaking.

“It seems like a kitten that hasn’t been born long, but it must be strong to still be living.”

Sir Costance said.

“Is that so?”

“Yes. It’s not easy for a kitten to survive on its own.”

“How pitiful.”

Come to think of it, the cat she raised when she was young was often sick and cried for food. Back then, there were many people besides her to take care of it, but this little one had no one.

“I think I need to take it to a vet. There are about 2 hours left until work is over, so first…”

The timing was off. There was no place to keep the cat until then. 

What if the cat ran away in the meantime?

“I will take it to the vet.”

“Pardon?”

She looked at Sir Costance. When he reached out his hand, the cat moved into his arms without hesitation.

“…It seems to like you, Sir.”

“There’s a large animal hospital at the intersection in front of the library.”

“But.”

“It will probably take about 2 hours for a consultation. It’s a popular hospital, you see.”

“……”

“The cat and I will be there.”

So please come to the hospital when your work is done. 

She smiled slightly at Sir Costance’s gaze. He was using the cat as an excuse to meet her.

The sly thought amused her. Normally, she would have refused, but today, thanks to Sir Costance, she was able to calm her mind. She had been thinking about how to express her gratitude, and this was perfect.

“Alright.”

“It’s the big animal hospital on the roadside at the intersection. The sign has a picture of a puppy.”

“I know the place.”

She checked the time.

“I better head back.”

Before going into the library, she looked at the cat in Sir Costance’s arms. A cute white cat with blue eyes… it reminded her of Olive.

* * *

“Vivi, could you help with this?”

“Yes.”

She cleared away the promotional materials and items. Collecting books as well, 6 o’clock approached quickly.

“Vivi!”

Her senior, Webley, approached her with a bright smile.

“Thank you so much for today.”

“I only made mistakes, though.”

“It was a sudden change of roles, so it would be more surprising if you didn’t make any mistakes. Is there anything you want to eat at the after-party later? I’ll treat you.”

“…After-party?”

She was taken aback by the unfamiliar term.

“Oh, didn’t you know? The director is treating us to a nice meal to celebrate the successful event.”

“The director isn’t the one paying, you know? They’re probably using the leftover event budget.”

Julia, who was moving boxes, commented as she passed by.

“Either way, there’s a gathering, Vivi.”

She hadn’t even considered the possibility of a gathering!

By now, the kitten and Sir Costance would be waiting for her after the consultation clinic.

“Vivi, do you have plans?”

Her senior noticed her expression and asked.

“…Yes.”

“What to do? It might be hard to skip. Everyone from the library is attending. Especially since you contributed significantly to this event. The director would be very disappointed if you miss it.”

Nothing was going her way today. Her senior glanced at the time.

“What time is your appointment? Where are you meeting?”

“At 6 o’clock. We agreed to meet nearby.”

“It’s hard to skip. You know the director’s personality. So quickly go explain the situation to the person you’re meeting.”

She wanted to, but she still hadn’t finished her tasks.

“I’ll take care of it.”

Her senior, Webley, understood her situation and spoke.

“…Really? Are you sure?”

“Yes. I owe you a lot today, Vivi.”

A halo seemed to shine behind her senior. She was a competent senior who quietly did her job. If it had been Julia who asked for the favor today, Vivi wouldn’t have agreed.

“The restaurant is a two-story place on Baton Street13, so come there.”

Upon hearing that, she hurried into action. She needed to go to Sir Costance!

* * *

She ran breathlessly without stopping and found the animal hospital with its lights off. She glanced nervously at the dark interior and tapped her feet. As expected, neither Sir Costance nor the cat was there.

This was the only animal hospital nearby…

‘Ah. What should I do?’

“……Meow.”

She heard a cat’s cry again from behind. Turning around, she saw Sir Costance standing there holding the cat.

“……Sir Costance.”

“They closed the door early, so we couldn’t wait inside.”

Sir Costance said with an awkward smile. 

Did that mean they were kicked out? 

She felt relieved that she hadn’t missed him, but quickly erased the smile from her face.

“I’m sorry.”

“What for?”

Sir Costance tilted his head, genuinely puzzled.

“I made you wait again.”

“It’s alright.”

“No, I’m always late. It was the same last time too.”

She recalled the incident at ‘Atlantis.’ Making such a wonderful man wait. And not just once.

“It’s really alright. You might think I’m a strange guy, but…”

“Pardon?”

“I even enjoy the time spent waiting for you.”

“Ah.”

Unable to respond, she stared blankly at Sir Costance. Speaking like that with such a beautiful face was unfair.

A dull thumping sound echoed inside her body. It started from her heart and pulled her inward. Heat rose in her tingling body, and her stiff face flushed.

Sir Costance smiled slightly and looked at the cat in his arms. The cat, now more familiar with him, snuggled into his arms and slept soundly.

“Oh, and they said this little one is fine. Just needs regular feeding, so I was thinking of stopping by a store…”

Sir Costance glanced at her. He was asking if she’d like to join him.

She wanted to go with him. She had never wanted to avoid a gathering so much before. She thought of breaking her promise and skipping the gathering.

But that brief impulse could lead to eternal reproach. Knowing the director’s personality, she couldn’t skip the gathering.

“Vivi?”

“……I’m sorry. I really want to go with you. Truly. But we’re supposed to have a meal together to celebrate the end of the event at the library.”

She spoke, suppressing her disappointment.

“I’m the one who found the cat, yet I keep leaving it to you. I’m sorry. I really don’t want to go to the gathering, I want to go with you, but it’s a difficult event to skip.”

“It’s alright. It can’t be helped.”

Sir Costance said calmly.

“I broke my promise with you again.”

“You’re right here in front of me. How can you say you broke your promise?”

Sir Costance asked.

“Go on. You’ll be late.”

She hadn’t exchanged many words with him, yet time had flown by.

“Vivi.”

He called her as she hesitated to walk away.

“Then, Sir Costance. Can I ask you to take care of the cat? I’ll come to your house right after the gathering.”

“……What?”

“Please tell me where your house is. I’ll come as quickly as possible. Really. I won’t break my promise this time.”

She had some sense of responsibility. She couldn’t just leave the cat she found entirely to Sir Costance.

Sir Costance blinked and finally opened his lips.

“It’s an ordinary house on Baton Street 5…”

“It’s not far from the restaurant! It will probably take about an hour, no, maybe two. I’ll see you then, Sir.”

“Uh, Vivi…!”

Before she turned away, Sir Costance called out to her.

“Yes?”

“……I’ll be waiting.”

Sir Costance’s voice reached her ears and her heart.