Chapter 5

“Hey, Costance!”

“Manager, don’t you see that look? Costance’s eyes, I mean. That guy’s in a bad mood right now.”

“That’s why I said we shouldn’t come!”

The men’s voices were audible through the window.

One of them had dark skin and seemed the oldest, another was tall with blond hair, and the last one was the youngest and spoke cautiously.

“How have you been, Costance!”

“Long time no see, Costance!”

The men who entered the library waved brightly at Sir Costance.

“Why are you here?”

He spoke stiffly.

“Some of us from the Logistics Department also have a day off today. We wanted to see our lovely junior’s face and confirm the rumors.”

“There’s already a rumor spreading throughout the unit that you’re living in the library, Costance.”

The blonde man, who was speaking to Sir Costance, noticed her standing behind and leaned his head to the side. The man with dark skin did the same.

Their eyes met hers.

“…Oh.”

Their eyes met hers.

They smiled as if they had found a very interesting prey. At their reaction, Sir Costance even reached out to shield her.

“Now that you’ve checked, please leave.”

“Oh my. I didn’t know you were such a romantic.”

The blonde man chuckled softly. He scrutinized her face and then glared sharply at Sir Costance.

“You, you rascal. The reason you haven’t dated until now is because your standards are sky-high!”

The men sparkled with interest.

“Is your name Vivi? It’s a pretty name.”

“Hello, Miss Vivi. I work in the Fleet Command’s Logistics Department… Ah, Costance!”

Sir Costance blocked the space between her and the men. His broad back completely obscured their faces.

“You’re being disruptive.”

“Such a stiff guy.”

She didn’t know how to stop the bickering between Sir Costance and the men. Leaving it like this would surely alert the seniors in the reading room.

“Um…”

She cautiously opened her mouth.

“Oh? She spoke.”

“She did.”

They seemed amazed, as if seeing someone talk for the first time.

“This is a library, so could you please keep it down?”

“Vivi. I’m sorry for these people…”

Sir Costance apologized on their behalf.

“No, there’s no need to apologize.”

“I’ll take them out. But first, I’ll help with the books to the storage room.”

Sir Costance tried to help her. He bent his knees and picked up the books scattered on the floor one by one.

“Books? We’ll help with that too, Miss Librarian.”

“We might not know much else, but we’ve trained bodies, so we’re good with strength.”

Then the other men began picking up books as well. Sir Costance tried to drive them out, saying they were a hindrance, but the men already had their hands full of books.

“Miss? Where should we move the books?”

Seizing the opportunity, the blond-haired man asked her.

“……Please move them to the storage room.”

She inadvertently led them to the storage.

“You guys are just a distraction to Vivi.”

“And you’re fine?”

“I was quietly reading a book here.”

“You must have been secretly eyeing Miss Vivi with those lecherous eyes.”

The men and Costance bickered as they walked.

At first, she thought they didn’t get along, but now they seemed like brothers who knew each other well.

“Miss Vivi.”

In the middle of their conversation, the blond-haired man called out to her.

“…Yes.”

“You’re so beautiful, you must have a boyfriend, right?”

She was the one being questioned, but Sir Costance, standing next to her, flinched. Because of that, her body also jerked

“Well, um, I don’t.”

“Really? That’s quite surprising. Then do you have an ideal type? Or any characteristics of the men you’ve dated so far……”

There were many personal questions. Not only the man who asked but all the men present were keenly listening to her answer.

Sir Costance didn’t take his eyes off her at all.

“I…”

“…”

“I think I like men with a clear forehead.”

It was a lie.

Sir Costance had a hairstyle that covered his forehead, and knowing this, she deliberately said the opposite.

Sir Costance didn’t react or say anything, so she quickly added,

“Actually, I have no intention of dating. Oh, we’ve arrived at the storage room.”

As she opened the locked storage room door, a cool breeze touched her body. The faint scent of old books wafted through. She asked the men to place the books in their spots and checked the number. None were missing.

While she shelved the books according to the classification table, she felt their eyes watching her from behind. Their gazes, capturing her every move as if watching an intriguing show, were burdensome.

She moved her hands busily and finished her work quickly.

“Are you done?”

Sir Costance asked. 

Did he think it was some grand task?

“Yes, it’s all done. Please, let’s go out.”

The men reluctantly exited the storage.

Even when she locked the storage room door, she felt their eyes on her from behind. She couldn’t even lock a door properly.

“Vivi?”

A familiar voice came from behind.

“…J-Julia?”

Julia was looking at her with wide eyes.

“It’s lunch break……. I was going to ask if you’d like to have lunch together.”

Julia glanced at the men. Then, the youngest-looking man among them approached Julia with a sly smile.

“Ahem. Sorry, Miss. We were helping Miss Vivi, but did we disturb you?”

“Not at all! Not at all, it wasn’t a disturbance. I’m actually thankful.”

Julia said, blushing slightly.

Even though it was a hallway, she was so excited that she raised her voice… If the director saw this, she’d surely lecture them.

“It seems the hiring conditions for librarians have changed recently.”

The blond-haired man commented.

“Pardon? What do you mean?”

“No, it’s just that Miss Vivi and you are both very beautiful. So I wondered if the hiring conditions now include having a beautiful appearance.”

This man was very skilled at flirting with women.

“Excuse me? Haha.”

Julia, who used to complain about arrogant noblemen, seemed to have forgotten those words, as her face was full of smiles.

Vivi worried that Julia might fall for that man.

“J-Julia! Let’s go have lunch. Which restaurant should we go to? Hmm?”

She grabbed Julia’s arm. But Julia didn’t budge. Her eyes were already fixed on the men in front of her.

“You said you’re going for lunch, right? How about joining us?”

The blond-haired man suggested to Julia. Sir Costance tried to intervene, but the man quickly poked his side.

“Oh, what should we do? We promised to have lunch with the director today.”

Julia expressed her regret.

“Oh dear. That’s very disappointing.”

“But we can do dinner! I finish work at 6, so anytime after that is fine. Of course, Vivi too.”

What? 

Julia dragged her into it as well.

“We’re available too. Including Costance here.”

The men didn’t back down and included Sir Costance.

“I heard there’s a new jazz café nearby. Manager Lance said it’s quite nice. How about a meal there?”

The men proposed. Julia’s face lit up instantly.

“That sounds great. Oh, should we match the numbers? Since there are four of you, we’ll bring two more people.”

“We’d welcome that. Right, Manager?”

The blond-haired man looked at his superior for agreement. Although it seemed like he was asking for permission, it was practically already decided.

Dinner, jazz café.

“Of course, that sounds great. And that jazz café is a very nice place. Then we’ll come to pick you up at 6, after your work ends.”

* * *

“What on earth are you thinking? Making dinner plans with people you’ve just met!”

After the plans were set, she quietly spoke to Julia beside her.

“People you just met? Is Sir Costance someone you just met?”

“I mean the others besides him.”

“More importantly, how could you not say anything to me when there are such handsome men around?”

Why was this turning on me again?

She sighed deeply, doing a dry wash of her face. She was worried about being seen alone with Sir Costance, but now this!

“They just helped me when I was in trouble. I told you!”

“Did you? Was that so?”

“But how could you make plans with them without knowing who they are?”

“You really don’t know how to judge people. Do those guys seem like ordinary men? They’re all soldiers working at the headquarters. They’re remarkable people; how can you pretend not to know? And did he say he was a manager? He’s exactly my type!”

“Even if their status is high, you said you don’t like arrogant men.”

“Vivi, that man wasn’t arrogant.”

Julia wouldn’t back down.

“……And do you have people to bring? Two of them at that!”

“Vivi, you’re really naive. Very, very.”

Julia smiled broadly and continued.

“There are plenty of people to bring. More than enough.”

“What?”

“I think there will be a fierce competition today. Just for those two spots.”