Chapter 17

“I’m going to the reading room.”

“Ah, I’ll…!”

“No. Mr. Calix, you don’t need to come.”

Ellie left Cal behind and headed alone to the reading room, letting out a deep sigh. She was someone who was weak to beautiful things, so every time Cal looked at her with those puppy-like eyes, her chest tightened.

But it had been less than a day since she resolved to keep work and personal life separate after meeting Cal again. If she was already struggling like this, the days ahead would be even more difficult, and Ellie sighed repeatedly.

Arriving at the reading room, Ellie began handling loan requests, trying to forget about Cal. With closing time approaching, people wanting to borrow books crowded in, and Ellie’s plan to keep thoughts of Cal at bay seemed to be working.

At least until she faced the inevitable troublemaker who always appeared just as she was about to forget.

“Member, due to your previous overdue loan, you can’t borrow books until the end of the year. You can only use the reading room.”

“What? Stop talking nonsense and let me borrow now.”

The man, who ignored Ellie’s explanation and insisted on borrowing, looked like a noble at a glance. Ellie instinctively knew—ah, today’s troublemaker is this man.

“Member, as I said, you can’t borrow books.”

“Hey, do you know who I am? What’s your rank? Bring the person in charge!”

How could troublemakers always say the same things? ‘Do you know who I am? Bring the manager!’ She’d heard it so often it was almost comical.

Ellie was so used to it that she wasn’t surprised or flustered. She responded calmly and professionally, putting up a wall.

“Yes, I am Elysia Nord, librarian at the Royal Library. I’m the person in charge. No matter what you say, what can’t be done, can’t be done.”

Her attitude didn’t faze the man, but he soon scowled and slammed the desk.

“Do you even know who my father is!”

She wondered why that hadn’t come up sooner. Whoever his great father was, Ellie wasn’t afraid of nobles inside the library.

“Member, please don’t cause trouble here.”

“Shut up and just let me borrow!”

The commotion at the loan desk grew louder. With closing time near, there were few people in the reading room, which was a relief.

“Member, if you keep this up, I’ll call security.”

Ellie thought about putting this man on the banned list as she placed her hand over the call bell.

“Where does a mere librarian think—!”

Why would a noble bother coming to the library and causing a scene just to borrow books?

“What’s going on?”

As Ellie pressed the bell, a familiar voice ended the standoff. The man, who had been raising his voice, flinched at Cal’s appearance and stepped back. His attitude changed completely from the desk-slamming tantrum.

“What’s going on?”

Cal asked again, looking between Ellie and the man, but his gaze toward the man was icy.

The man saw Cal’s face and looked shocked, eyes wide.

“Mr. Calix. I called security, so it’s fine now.”

“It doesn’t look fine at all.”

“Ca… Calix…!”

The man muttered Cal’s name and quickly covered his mouth. Cal’s gaze landed on him again. As the man slowly retreated, the guards arrived, summoned by the call.

“He caused a disturbance in the reading room. Please escort him out.”

Following Cal’s explanation, the guards grabbed the troublemaker and dragged him out. Even as he was forced out, he didn’t resist. Usually, troublemakers grow even more aggressive when security arrives, but this was strange.

After things settled, Ellie busied herself with books, avoiding Cal’s gaze. But she could still feel his eyes on her.

“Why didn’t you call me, Ellie?”

“…I called security, didn’t I?”

“Not security. Why didn’t you call me?”

“…….”

Ellie didn’t answer.

She felt Cal’s presence behind her at the loan desk. Cal placed his hand over Ellie’s on the desk. Ellie flinched, but Cal held her hand tightly and sighed.

“How could you know what that man might do? It could have been really dangerous, Ellie.”

“…It’s not the first time I’ve dealt with troublemakers like that.”

“I’m here. Call me, Ellie.”

“…….”

“Just thinking you might be in danger makes my heart stop.”

“…Don’t do this here.”

Ellie pushed Cal away and stepped aside. Cal retreated at her gesture, but Ellie couldn’t bring herself to look at his face.

***

After work, at Nyx.

Ellie stood with the medicine the server had given her, lost in thought. Was it right to meet Cal here? She’d resolved to keep work and personal life separate, but her resolve had already wavered outside. Was it really right to meet him in this situation?

“Is there a problem, Miss?”

As Ellie’s hesitation dragged on, the server at the door spoke to her. Ellie finally shook her head.

“No. Nothing.”

Ellie swallowed the medicine in one go. As the door opened and she stepped inside, Cal approached as if he’d been waiting and grabbed her hand.

“Ellie.”

Cal looked anxious, but his expression relaxed as soon as he saw her. Ellie bit her lip unconsciously.

“Ellie….”

Cal held Ellie’s hand tightly and led her to their usual spot. He pulled the curtain for privacy, seated Ellie, and sat beside her.

“Calix….”

“Cal!”

As soon as Ellie started to speak, Cal corrected her.

“I told you to call me Cal.”

“…Okay. Cal.”

“Now tell me. Ellie, what did I do wrong…?”

Cal acted as if he’d been thinking about nothing else. Ellie placed her hand on Cal’s gaunt face. Even with his face so worn, he was still heartbreakingly handsome. It wasn’t just a matter of taste anymore.

“…Ellie.”

“It’s not your fault, Cal. I just had some things to think about.”

As Ellie tried to pull her hand away, Cal grabbed it and pressed it to his cheek, wanting more contact. It was so pitiful that Ellie felt tears prick her eyes.

“Why does your face look like this?”

She placed her other hand on Cal’s face and asked. There were deep shadows under his eyes, hollows beneath his cheekbones, and his once-healthy cheeks were pale.