Chapter 30

Her voice was gone.

Unlike her, who was already exhausted, Sir Costance continued to kiss various parts of her body. His actions were full of devotion, as if he wasn’t tired at all. When she groaned, he would touch or massage the sore spots. Her anger dissipated due to his sincere care.

〈You know, Vivi. You shouldn’t trust men. Especially in bed.〉

Julia’s words from before came to mind. She wondered if that was wisdom born from experience. Vivi thought Sir Costance would be different, but in bed, he was just like any other man—an animal.

As her body relaxed, he resumed his actions.

“Sir…”

“Again with the ‘Sir’.”

He gently touched her back. She felt betrayed not only by him but also by her own body, which heated up so quickly at his touch.

“This is punishment for not calling my name, Vivi.”

“Seriously, Sir!”

Damn beastly man.

“It’s tiring…mm.”

“Vivi. Hmph.”

He was a fast learner. Initially, he was as inexperienced as she was, but not anymore. He was a monster.

“Don’t touch…”

He often touched her shoulder. To be precise, he touched the scar on her shoulder. Earlier, she had frequently touched the scars on his body, and now he was returning the favor.

“Even this scar is, mm, beautiful.”

“Everything is beautiful…”

“Yes, everything is beautiful.”

He seemed to have gotten used to saying “beautiful.”

She placed her hand on his hand, which was rubbing her scar. It was the first time she wasn’t scared after showing this scar. She had never shown this scar to anyone before.

〈Olive!〉

It was a scar from the explosion incident. Fortunately, the wound wasn’t severe, but the scar was clear.

Sir Costance grabbed her arms and pulled her closer. He urgently sought her lips, biting her lower lip lightly.

“Vivi.”

“Uh!”

“Don’t run away anymore.”

Their lips mingled.

* * *

The sunlight streaming through the window was dazzling. When she opened her eyes, she found his large arm draped over her chest.

There were scratch marks from her nails on his arm. She absentmindedly touched those marks with her hand.

She didn’t feel sorry at all for leaving those marks. Sir Costance had left marks all over her body after all. Compared to that, this was cute.

“Meow.”

A cat’s cry came from beyond the room. The white cat with blue eyes, Irini, entered the room, wandering freely as if it had just woken up.

“Hello…?”

At her greeting, Irini didn’t respond but raised its tail. When she extended her hand, Irini flicked its tail and lightly jumped onto the bed.

“Did you sleep well?”

“……Meow.”

Irini’s response was so cute that she kissed it. Then she felt his lips touch her hair.

“…I thought you’d give me a good morning kiss first.”

“Be grateful that I didn’t sneak away.”

“Were you planning to run away?”

He sat up in surprise. Yet, he still held her arm and waist tightly, as if she might actually run away.

His face blocked the sunlight. A soft light poured around him.

“My voice is gone because of you.”

“Ah.”

“My back hurts so much I can’t even move, so how could I run away?”

Only then did he realize how he had lost control last night. His face turned sullen. Last night he was a beast, but now he was just a cute guy.

“…I want to wash up.”

“I’ll help you wash. Then please give me a good morning kiss.”

Cunning. 

She burst into laughter at his obvious intentions.

* * *

A week passed since then.

Sir Costance returned to the base and didn’t visit the library as often as before. The librarians missed his presence and longed for his absence. Thus, the library returned to its usual routine.

“Uh, Vivi.”

Of course, not everything was routine for everyone. She frequently ran into the staff member who had confessed to her during the last company dinner. The man, who had been bold when drunk, couldn’t meet her eyes properly now, as if he was guilty.

“I’m really sorry about last time.”

“Okay.”

“So I want to apologize again…”

“Yes. Please be careful in the future.”

Her curt response made the man’s face harden.

She still couldn’t forget the humiliation and embarrassment she felt back then. She wished she could never have to greet this man again.

“Ah, but I don’t want to grow distant from you…”

“Hey, Vivi said she doesn’t like it! Where do you think you’re going!”

Julia suddenly appeared, glaring at the man fiercely.

“Who are you?”

“Me? We’ve worked together all this time and you don’t even know my name? That’s disappointing.”

Julia openly challenged him.

The man glared at Julia, who had suddenly intervened. The exchange of glances between them was intense. Worried that Julia might get caught up in something unnecessary, she grabbed Julia’s arm.

“J-Julia. Stop.”

“Stop what? Julia’s right, Vivi.”

“Senior Webley!”

Webley, the oldest among the librarians, also appeared. The man’s face turned pale, knowing Webley even if he didn’t know Julia.

“W-Webley.”

“Long time no see, Sync. If you keep crossing the line, I might report you to the director.”

“I just…”

“Can’t you see Vivi doesn’t like it? Besides, such behavior isn’t appropriate in the library. Not to mention your confession during the last gathering. Didn’t you realize how uncomfortable you made Vivi?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Apologize and pretend you don’t know her from now on. That’s all. Let’s just focus on our work.”

Webley skillfully sent the man away. Both Julia and Vivi stared at Webley.

“If he bothers you again, tell me.”

Noticing their gaze, the senior shrugged with a small smile.

“Senior, you’re amazing! Right, Vivi?”

“Yes, you were like a hero.”

“Enough. Let’s get back to work.”

The senior added, urging them to return to work before the director noticed their absence. They were heading back to the reading room.

“Vivi.”

Senior Webley stopped her, as if he had something to say.

“Yes?”

“I’m a bit worried. How about going home with me after work?”

“…Ah.”

“He might follow you. My ex-boyfriend did the same after visiting during the last event.”

It was indeed concerning. Recently, Vivi frequently encountered that staff member because he deliberately lingered near the reading room where she worked. Although Webley offered to wait for her after work, she declined.

“It’s okay. I don’t want to trouble you, Senior.”

“This isn’t trouble at all. I’m worried about you, Vivi.”

“No, it’s okay. If I get really scared, can I ask for your help then?”

After some hesitation, Webley nodded.

“Make sure you do.”

* * *

After tidying up her desk for the last time, she looked behind her. The library, with most of its lights off, was quiet. There was no one beyond the closed library doors.

The events of the day bothered her. With her shoulders hunched, she quickened her pace.

Then she spotted a man wearing a cap pulled low on a main street. He had changed out of his military uniform and was wearing a blue vest and pants. Seeing Sir Costance’s face, her tension melted away.

“Did you wait long, Sir?”

“When will you call me by my name?”

She laughed despite his grumbling.

Costance Orsi had returned to the base. Due to the nature of his operations and busy work, he couldn’t visit the library as often as before, but he waited for her after her work hours.

When she asked if it was hard for him, he replied that it wasn’t. When she told him to rest, he said seeing her was his true rest.

“How was your day?”

“Same as usual.”

She replied nonchalantly to his question. He narrowed his eyes, observing her expression.

“Why, why?”

“…Was there really nothing?”

“Why don’t you tell me first? Was there anything today?”

“There was.”

“What was it?”

“Finn caused trouble, and I was busy cleaning up after him.”

Finn was a lieutenant from the Operations Department they had dined with at the jazz café. After casually recounting his day’s hardships, he looked at her. It was her turn to speak.

“…Senior Webley was really cool today.”

“A man?”

He asked immediately.

“Did you forget already? I’m talking about Senior Webley, the librarian. The one who sat next to me.”

He remained silent. She couldn’t hide her surprise.

“Do you really not remember?”

Despite coming to the library so often!

“How would I know? I was only looking at you back then.”

His shameless words left her speechless.

“…Let’s go. Irini must be very hungry.”

Sir Costance tried to say something but stopped.

She and Sir Costance walked quickly down the sunset-drenched street. She enjoyed the time spent walking with him. Watching him, she thought she wanted to be with him forever.

Walking the streets like this, smiling at each other.

Like lovers.

Lovers. Though unspoken, both she and he knew they were lovers. Because he loved her, and she loved him.