Chapter 9

Still unable to process the shock of meeting Cal at work, Ellie took him around the library as she’d planned that morning, showing him the reading room, the rare book preservation area, and every corner, introducing the staff and rooms. Everyone they met was surprised by Cal’s face, and Ellie learned to just laugh off the subtle glances sent her way. She took Cal into the break room, which happened to be empty.

“How did this happen? How did you…?”

“I’m interested in library work.”

Elysia recalled the intern application she’d seen that morning and groaned inwardly. A Royal Academy management major applied for an internship out of interest in library work? It was hard to believe. The blind application had no photo, and all she knew from the file was that detail.

But Ellie didn’t think for a moment that he’d come to the library because of her. That would be too self-centered. 

Hmm, maybe he really was curious about library work? Well, this was the Royal Library after all. The biggest library in the Kingdom.

“It’s a bit surprising, but… since it’s like this, I’ll teach you well. Do your best, Cal.”

Ellie held out her hand to Cal. Cal gripped her hand tightly and shook it.

Whatever the reason, Ellie resolved to teach him everything she could as his senior, since he really was here as an intern. But she overlooked one thing—her attitude toward Cal was no different than at Nyx. She called Calix “Cal” without hesitation and smiled brightly at him.

Since it was the first day, Ellie told him to get familiar with the layout, staff names, ranks, and faces, and handed him the staff directory and library map. Sitting next to Ellie, Cal looked at the staff directory with photos, pausing at Ellie’s picture and staring at it for a long time.

“Ellie. Do I need to submit a photo too?”

Ellie glanced at her own picture in the directory and laughed awkwardly.

“That’s the photo I submitted when I joined. You won’t need one yet, Cal.”

“Then do you still have this photo, Ellie?”

Cal pointed at her picture, and Ellie thought for a moment. She’d taken it for her job application and had no other use for it, so it was probably in a desk drawer somewhere. But instead of searching for the photo, Ellie looked at Cal.

“Why?”

“I want it.”

The man’s face, so honest about wanting her photo, was so serious that Ellie was momentarily at a loss for words.

“Th, …ahem. What would you do with it?”

She tried to stay calm, but her voice cracked. Ellie felt her ears burning and quickly turned her head to pretend to look at the documents.

“I want it. Can’t I have it?”

Ellie glanced at Cal’s face and was glad the office was empty. She didn’t want anyone to see a man with such a shining face kindly asking for her photo.

“Hm-hm. If I find it later, I’ll give it to you.”

She tried to sound cool, but wasn’t sure if she succeeded. Unable to control her expression, Ellie pretended to focus on the documents again, but couldn’t see a single word.

***

A week had passed since Cal appeared as an intern in the library. Now Ellie was used to seeing Cal at work.

As the week went by, Cal’s cute gestures increased. Sitting beside Ellie in the office, he would give her seductive smiles only she could see, cover the back of her hand with his own when standing up, and when walking together, would sneak a hand around her waist as if to hug her, avoiding others’ eyes. Ellie became used to such subtle skinship.

She always thought they shouldn’t be caught, but as mentor and mentee, they ended up alone more often, and her guard weakened. The library was a busy place with lots of people coming and going, but there were also plenty of spots with no one around, so several times a day she experienced the thrill of secret touches, making her heart race.

“Cal, can you help organize the books in the reading room?”

“Yes, Ellie.”

Ellie went with Cal to arrange returned books. The cart was heavy, so Cal was a big help. Pushing the cart into the shelves, the narrow space filled up.

“Just put them in order from here. I’ll do this side.”

Ellie put books in the empty spots according to the classification marks. Then there was a book that had to go on the highest shelf. She could bring a step stool, but that was annoying, and though risky, she thought she could reach it on tiptoe, so she clung to the shelf and stretched her arm.

“…One, two, mmph!”

The problem was that to insert the book, she needed to make space between the books. Standing on tiptoe with a book in her right hand and trying to push books apart with her left, she couldn’t keep her balance.

“Uh-oh…?”

She realized she was about to fall backward, but couldn’t move her arms or legs freely. In that moment, a firm body caught her from behind and pushed her back toward the shelf.

“Ellie, you need to be careful.”

Cal’s large hand covered Ellie’s hand holding the book. He easily slid the book into the spot she’d been struggling with.

Even after the task was done, Cal didn’t move away from behind Ellie. Instead, he intertwined his fingers with hers and squeezed gently.

“…You can’t do this here.”

“No one’s around.”

It was past checkout hours, so the reading room was deserted. But even though the shelves blocked the view, it was still a public space.

Cal stood even closer to Ellie. She felt his warmth right behind her and tensed up. Because she wore her hair up for work, her elegant neck was exposed, catching Cal’s gaze.

Cal, still holding Ellie’s right hand, bent his head and kissed her neck.

“Ah…!”

Ellie shivered in surprise. Her nape blushed pink. Even though he’d bitten and sucked her all over at Nyx last night, he hadn’t left a mark on her neck, so he wanted to leave one now on her clean skin.

“Ellie. I want to kiss you.”

“…You can’t.”

Cal turned Ellie around to face him. Thunk. The shelf shook briefly, causing a small noise. Worried they might bump into the shelf, Cal supported Ellie’s back and held her. While holding their breath in case someone came by, Ellie buried her face in Cal’s chest and listened to his heartbeat.