Chapter 2.2

“I… I don’t intend to be anyone’s laughingstock.” 

Marianne said, trying to make her voice firm.

“…Laughingstock?” 

Sylvester’s face took on a puzzled expression.

“So, if you’re doing this just for fun, to mock me…” 

Marianne trailed off, unable to finish her sentence. She wondered if she had been too harsh toward someone she was speaking to for the first time, especially someone of such high status.

Marianne’s and Sylvester’s gazes met. Sylvester’s handsome face darkened, as though a cloud had passed over it. He even looked slightly sad.

‘Did he accidentally drink some kind of magic potion?’ 

Marianne thought. 

…Come to think of it, wasn’t there something strange that happened yesterday? 

Suddenly, Marianne’s eyes lit up as she recalled visiting the mages’ research lab to deliver a book to Peter. Yes, the mages had asked her questions about the Marquis Sylvester.

But her thoughts didn’t continue for long. Sylvester’s gentle voice interrupted her.

“It seems I approached you too suddenly.”

“…Pardon?”

Sylvester, his face now stiff, took a step back from her. His previously smiling face had turned as cold as people often described, like ice. However, his gray-blue eyes, fixed on Marianne, still held a warm glow.

“…We should have taken time to get to know each other first.” 

Sylvester’s murmured words were carried away by the breeze. He continued speaking.

“From now on, I will tell you one thing about myself every day.”

Marianne blinked at Sylvester’s words.

“My name is Sylvester Amadeus.”

“…”

“I am the commander of the Imperial Second Knight Order, a mage, and the Marquis of Velarc.”

These were all things Marianne already knew. In fact, anyone living in Razette, the capital of the empire, would know this. Sylvester likely knew that as well. Yet he introduced himself directly to Marianne, just as he had said earlier, to let her get to know him.

Marianne didn’t understand why Sylvester had come to her with a bouquet or why he spoke such inexplicable words. But at least one thing was clear. The sincerity in Sylvester’s expression as he met her gaze and said his name was unmistakable.

“Even if we don’t go on a date… I’d like you to accept these flowers.” 

Sylvester said, extending the bouquet toward Marianne.

“Huh? Huh?” 

Marianne, caught off guard, accepted the bouquet Sylvester offered. As the bouquet changed hands, her hand seemed to brush against Sylvester’s fingertips.

‘Why am I accepting this?’ 

She thought. Regret came too late; the bouquet was already in her arms. Feeling awkward, Marianne fiddled with the bouquet in her hands.

“May I come see you again tomorrow?” 

Sylvester asked, his face tense.

“I…” 

Marianne opened and closed her mouth repeatedly, unsure of what to say. Sylvester waited patiently for her response.

Marianne could have told him “no.” She knew it would be better to refuse. But strangely, the words wouldn’t come out. Sylvester’s beautiful eyes were filled with nervous anticipation. They were the eyes of someone bracing for rejection, yet at the same time, they held a faint glimmer of hope.

Just once, just this once…

Taking a deep breath, Marianne closed her eyes tightly before opening them again. Her tightly closed lips slowly parted.

“My name is Marianne Lane.”

Before answering Sylvester’s question, Marianne decided to introduce herself, just as he had done. For some reason, it felt like the right thing to do.

“I’m a trainee librarian at the library. Oh, and I don’t have a title or anything like that.”

“…”

“And… I think we can meet tomorrow.”

In the end, Marianne chose the option that wouldn’t hurt him. Sylvester’s lips curled into a pleasant smile at her words. It was an oddly innocent smile, reminiscent of a child receiving candy.

“Then, I’ll see you tomorrow.” 

Sylvester said, his cheeks faintly tinged with pink. His previously trembling eyes now sparkled beautifully, free of uncertainty.

After wishing Marianne a pleasant remainder of her day, Sylvester gave her a slight bow and turned to leave. The black cloak symbolizing the Knight Order billowed gracefully in the wind, moving as elegantly as Sylvester’s steady stride.

“What just happened?” 

Marianne muttered to herself, recalling Sylvester’s face, which had now disappeared from view. Her shoulders and neck ached from how tense she had been. Her gaze then fell to the bouquet in her hands. The vibrant red and white flowers swayed gently in the breeze, radiating freshness.

…Do flowers like these even bloom in autumn?

“L-Librarian!” 

A familiar voice broke through Marianne’s thoughts. She turned toward the direction of the voice and saw Peter waving vigorously at her from behind a thick tree trunk.

“…Mage?” 

Marianne murmured.

Peter jumped over a low metal fence and began running toward her. Following closely behind him was another mage, Erina. Both of them looked pale, just as Marianne had when she received the bouquet from Sylvester.

“I’m sorry for spying on you! And for everything else!” 

Peter blurted out.

“We didn’t get to introduce ourselves last time. Just call me Erina, not by my title. Anyway, I’m really sorry, Librarian.” 

“…You were watching?” 

“Well, we got worried when we saw the commander—uh, I mean, the Marquis—walking around with this huge bouquet and a creepy grin, so we thought we’d better follow him…!”

“Calm down, calm down.” 

Marianne said, gently patting Peter’s shoulder to soothe him.

“As I feared, that bouquet… ended up in your hands.”

Erina said, speaking on Peter’s behalf.

“Don’t tell me… did the commander confess his love to you?” 

Peter asked, his voice trembling.

“Oh, no. He just…” 

Marianne trailed off, embarrassed.

“Just…?”

“He said he wanted to go on a date with me…” 

Marianne mumbled, her voice fading. A heavy silence fell over the three of them.

“I’m so sorry, Librarian.”

Peter groaned, clutching his head.

“What should we do?”

“…”

“Apparently, magic can work even between strangers.”

Magic? 

Marianne’s mind snapped to attention. It seemed that yesterday’s commotion in the research lab hadn’t been for nothing.

“…Does this have something to do with what happened early this morning?” 

“Yes.” 

Erina replied curtly, her blue eyes filled with both embarrassment and guilt.

‘I knew it.’ 

Marianne thought, letting out a sigh. Knowing there was a reason behind Sylvester’s strange behavior—why he seemed to act as though he loved her—brought her some relief.

“I’m really sorry. Truly sorry.” 

Peter said, looking as though he might burst into tears.

“…Could you explain what this magic is, exactly?” 

Marianne asked, clutching the heavy bouquet tightly to her chest.

The story she heard from Peter and Erina was simple. While drunk, the mages had cast a love-related spell to tease Sylvester, and Marianne had accidentally become entangled in it.

“So that’s why he asked me on a date. Because he felt… love?”

“Oh, but there’s one silver lining!” 

Peter said, glancing nervously at Marianne.

“You don’t have to worry about being stuck with the commander forever. It’ll only last for two weeks! After that, the magic will wear off. Right, Mage Erina?”

“Exactly two weeks. I promise.”

Erina said, trying her best to smile reassuringly.

“Can’t you dispel the magic right now?” 

Marianne asked, feeling overwhelmed.

“Well, ancient prank magic usually can’t be forcibly undone… but we’ll do our best.”

Peter said with an awkward laugh.

“…So I just have to wait it out.”

Marianne muttered.

“How can we ever make it up to you for this…” 

Peter said, sounding utterly defeated.

“…”

“I-I will continue to lend my magic to you, Librarian! I can even make potion bottles filled with all kinds of effects. If there’s anything else you need, please let me know anytime!” 

Peter hastily added, seemingly convinced that Marianne’s silence was due to her being upset.

“To prevent accidents like this, our Research Division 3 has decided to abstain from alcohol indefinitely.”

“Yes, that’s right!” 

The two mages exchanged hurried words while glancing nervously at Marianne.

“I’m fine.” 

Marianne said softly. Contrary to their concerns, Marianne wasn’t angry. She was just flustered. Although she had been caught up in an awkward situation, she felt relieved knowing that no one had intentionally tried to trouble her.

“Then, how should I treat the Marquis moving forward?” 

Marianne asked Peter.

“However you want!” 

Peter’s face brightened instantly at Marianne’s question.

“However I want?”

“Yes! Once the spell wears off, the Marquis won’t remember what happened with you. Only the two of us—the caster and you—will recall everything.”

“Oh…” 

Marianne blinked. Sylvester wouldn’t retain the memories, but she would. She felt a twinge of guilt, as though she were mocking or deceiving him unintentionally.

“So, you can treat him however you like—make him run errands, use him as a porter, scold and dismiss him if you don’t want to see him, or just keep him nearby to admire his face.”

Peter glanced around before continuing, 

“The commander—I mean, the Marquis—is really handsome, isn’t he?”

Marianne unconsciously nodded as the image of Sylvester’s sunlit face came to mind. Erina also nodded along with her.

“Still, just in case any unexpected incidents occur, Erina and I will follow the Marquis around every day! So don’t worry too much.”

Peter clenched his fists enthusiastically, showing his determination. He truly was someone who could switch moods quickly.