Chapter 7

Everyone’s attention was focused on her.

“Your ordered dishes are here.”

At that moment, the ordered dishes began to arrive one by one. Everyone gulped as they looked at the steaming food. Hands busily rearranged the positions of the dishes on the narrow table.

Yet, Sir Costance’s gaze remained fixed on her.

Once all the food arrived, the interrupted introduction resumed.

“…My name is Vivi Ferren. I’m 25 years old.”

“25 years old?”

Finn asked in surprise.

“Yes.”

“25 is still young, but I thought you were even younger. I thought we were the same age.”

Finn’s age was… just 20.

“Isn’t she even a year older than Costance?”

“R-really?”

“Who would think Vivi is a year older than this old-looking guy?”

Elvin also raised his voice, apparently quite shocked. It was always like this whenever the topic of age came up, so she didn’t like it.

“Uh… I think we should eat before the food gets cold.”

“Oh, right.”

Fortunately, the age conversation ended there and the meal began.

The men mainly talked about military matters, while the women discussed happenings in the library.

“But it’s interesting. I thought being in the navy meant working only on ships.”

“That’s not entirely wrong. Once you join the navy, you have to spend a few years on a ship. We all did.”

“Really? That must have been tough.”

“Many things happen, indeed.”

The conversation heated up, but Sir Costance and she remained silent. In truth, his expression had darkened slightly since she mentioned her age. 

Could he also be shocked by my age?

“Anyway, we should thank Costance today. The reason we went to the library was that rumors spread throughout headquarters. They said Costance goes to the library every day.”

Manager Lance placed a hand on Costance’s shoulder.

“He’s always reading in the same spot.”

Katrina answered this time.

“Isn’t he so upright? Operations officers have a lot of work.”

“Do they?”

“Especially someone as capable and sharp as Costance has an abundance of work. I bet this guy hasn’t stopped working for two years straight. The battalion commander, feeling sorry for him, gave him a golden week of rest, yet he’s reading books in the library……”

“That’s why there are so many rumors in the military. Like Costance has a secret lover hidden in that library.”

Captain Elvin added to the conversation. The problem was that both their gazes briefly turned to Vivi and then returned. It was a fleeting moment. The seniors didn’t notice, but she certainly felt it.

“No way. Most of the people who come to the library are elderly.”

“That’s right. And Sir Costance is always just reading books.”

Katrina and Georgia defended Sir Costance. The men nodded several times but didn’t erase their meaningful smiles.

“Then how about we hear Vivi’s story? I’m very curious about what such a beautiful lady like Vivi usually does and what she likes.”

Finn took this opportunity to ask her a question. The fierce look in Sir Costance’s eyes softened. The other men also looked at her with curious eyes.

“Finn is right. I’m also curious about Vivi’s ideal type. Do you prefer someone older or younger, Vivi?”

Captain Elvin asked abruptly.

“What? Oh, well, actually, I prefer older…”

“Oh dear. Young men under 25 are quite unfortunate then.”

The unfortunate young man under 25 was right next to her.

Sir Costance.

His shoulders, which were always straight, seemed slightly slumped. She finally realized why his expression had darkened

The men at the table seemed to know the truth and found it very amusing.

‘This is crazy.’

…It seems Sir Costance likes me.

If she didn’t realize it after all those hints, she’d be a fool. At this moment, she resented her keen perception.

‘But why does Sir Costance like me?’

And since when did he like me?

“What do you think of soldiers, Vivi?”

“Who do you prefer, the Air Force or the Navy?”

“Do you like the fleet?”

Lieutenant Finn and Captain Elvin asked her everything from basic to trivial questions. Even when she tried to evade, their eyes awaited her answers.

“I think they’re good.”

She answered honestly, not knowing what she was saying. In other words, she wasn’t in her right mind.

Whenever Sir Costance hesitated slightly, she’d flinch her shoulders, and if he smiled faintly, she’d unnecessarily extend her words.

This wasn’t like her. Even if someone showed interest, she usually didn’t care.

But a man who had come to see her a few days ago was slowly disrupting her pattern.

“Our Vivi is indeed pretty. When she first started working, word spread among the men in the village. There were probably more people than when Sir Costance came to the library. All sorts of men, really.”

Julia spoke as if she was boasting. Unlike Vivi, who tried to hide her feelings and speak nicely, Julia continued her tale like a storyteller. Thanks to her, the men’s expressions were filled with curiosity.

Sir Costance, who had maintained his composure, was no exception. He even stopped using his fork to look at Julia.

“It was the first time so many men came to the library.”

“…It wasn’t that much. Just a few people curious about my face came.”

Vivi quietly intervened.

“What are you talking about? The reading room was packed. Some of those men were well-known nobles from nearby, remember?”

“What? Th-that much…”

“From young boys to middle-aged men with wives, there was a variety. It was so confusing whether it was a library or a social gathering.”

Georgia added more to the story.

“So what happened?”

Even amid the many words exchanged, Sir Costance asked.

“What?”

Julia, who hadn’t expected him to ask, paused her exciting story.

“Did they harm Vivi?”

“Oh, th-that… Of course, there were many confessions, but Vivi turned them all down. Right, Vivi?”

“I-I turned them all down.”

“Still, she struggled for a few days. Even though Vivi rejected them, some men didn’t give up and kept flirting. One even waited until she finished work and followed her……”

Recalling that incident, Julia shook her head.

“Oh dear, that must have been tough.”

Manager Lance said sympathetically. As the atmosphere suddenly grew somber, there was no appropriate response.

“Well, it’s all in the past now. I’m okay.”

Vivi bravely dispelled the heavy air. As she forced a smile, Julia, next to her, nodded, joining in to lighten the mood.

“It’s not something to brush off easily.”

Just as the cheerful atmosphere seemed to return, Sir Costance spoke again. He turned his head to look at her worriedly.

“If anything like that happens again, please inform the police.”

“Th-thank you for your concern.”

“You can call me. No, please call me.”

Sir Costance ruined the atmosphere she had painstakingly lifted. He was being sincere.

It was indeed not something to brush off easily, as he said, but it had been a year already.

The man who had followed her daily had long stopped his visits after Julia’s warnings and the director’s threats. Yet, Sir Costance worried as if it had happened yesterday.

“Oh, Sir. Didn’t we already say it’s in the past? Besides, with you at the library every day, what fool would dare do such a thing?”

“Finn is right, Costance. Oh, by the way, Manager Lance, how about ordering some drinks now?”

Finn and Elvin stepped in.

“Drinks sound good! Would the ladies like a drink?”

“We’d love to.”

No one refused Manager Lance’s proposal.

“What kind of drink do you like, Vivi?”

“Something not too strong, please. I’m not a good drinker.”

“Oh, then I’ll recommend something for you. Something mild.”

She felt she couldn’t refuse Finn’s question, so she reluctantly answered. He didn’t force her and chose something seemingly milder than other drinks.

The ordered drinks arrived quickly.

As the drinks went down their throats, conversations flowed more frequently than before. Listening to those stories, she cautiously took a sip of her drink, grimacing at the bitterness. The alcohol smell reached her nose.

Unlike everyone else who quickly emptied their glasses, her drink remained almost untouched.

Occasionally, when her mouth felt idle, she picked at the remaining food. The gathering wasn’t as boring or uncomfortable as she had feared.

The conversation at the table was quite engaging. Manager Lance and Lieutenant Finn spoke wittily, but Captain Elvin was no less.

* * *

They had long been talking now.

“Really? Is that garden that beautiful?”

“It’s especially beautiful at night. Ah, would you like to go see it? Just the two of us.”

Julia blushed at Manager Lance’s suggestion. She had liked Manager Lance for a while. So, there was no reason for her to refuse.

“Then let’s go now.”

“N-now?”

“Is there a problem?”

“N-no! Not at all!”

Julia stood up abruptly at Manager Lance’s quick action. It was so sudden.

Not only her, but everyone at the table was dumbfounded, staring at Manager Lance.

Manager Lance casually grabbed his coat, tapping Elvin and Finn’s shoulders before leaving.

Vivi wondered what that meant.

And it wasn’t long before she figured it out.

“…They’re all gone.”

Before she knew it, only she and Sir Costance were left.

She couldn’t recall what excuses the remaining captain and lieutenant made to drag her seniors outside.