Chapter 2.3

“But even if the memories fade… what if people misunderstand during that time? What if it causes trouble for him? Not that anyone would think that about the Marquis and me…” 

Marianne muttered, lowering her gaze awkwardly. The words felt embarrassing as soon as they left her mouth. Who would ever mistake her and Sylvester for anything? Standing next to Sylvester, she would only look like a servant running errands for him.

“The idea of the commander liking someone and chasing after…” 

Peter and Erina exchanged glances.

“No one would believe it.”

They both spoke in unison, their voices filled with certainty and accompanied by confident smiles. Marianne nodded in relief.

“…May I ask one more thing?” 

Marianne hesitated briefly before posing her question.

“Of course!”

“Is the Marquis the kind of person who deserves to be pranked like this?”

“Well, once you meet him a few more times, you’ll understand, but…”

Peter trailed off, unsure how to answer such an unexpected question.

“The Marquis I met today was incredibly kind and gentle… It made me curious. I’ve only met him briefly, so I can’t understand the struggles you might have faced.”

Marianne smiled awkwardly as she fiddled with the bouquet Sylvester had given her.

“A kind and gentle commander? That’s an odd combination.”

“Could the spell have altered his personality too?” 

Erina asked with a nervous laugh, rubbing her arms as though she had goosebumps.

“Can someone’s personality change because of love?” 

Peter replied, his tone serious.

“Maybe the spell amplified the very, very, very small kindness and gentleness hidden deep inside the commander.” Peter added, his expression still grave.

‘A man who wouldn’t even show kindness to someone he loves unless under a spell…’ 

Marianne thought. She began to worry that Sylvester might not lose his memory even after the spell wore off. If someone as powerful as the Marquis decided he didn’t want to breathe the same air as her, he could easily banish her from the library—or even from the capital.

The thought sent a chill down Marianne’s spine.

“But Librarian, did you know?” 

Peter’s voice cut through her spiraling thoughts. Marianne looked up, meeting Peter’s gaze.

“The Marquis enchanted that bouquet. The one you’re holding…”

Peter gestured toward the bouquet nestled in Marianne’s arms, lowering his voice as though sharing a secret.

“I didn’t know.”

“It looks like he cast a spell to keep the flowers from wilting. It’s a very advanced spell.”

“Wow… So these flowers will never wither?”

“No.”

Peter shook his head as Marianne examined the bouquet, her eyes wide with curiosity. He continued, 

“Even the most advanced magic can’t stop the natural end of time—death. I don’t know how long they’ll last, but they won’t stay fresh forever.”

“Still, that’s amazing.” 

Marianne murmured, gently stroking the vibrant flowers as though they had just bloomed. Were they cold because of the spell? The flowers already felt cool to the touch. Yet, for some reason, Marianne couldn’t bring herself to pull her hand away from the chilly petals.

Despite the low temperature spreading through her fingertips, a sweet fragrance tickled her nose once again.

* * *

“Don’t you think he looks even more handsome today?”

Marianne looked up at the voice beside her. The speaker was Anna, a senior librarian at the Imperial Library and Marianne’s mentor.

“Who?”

“Who else? The Marquis, over there.”

Anna pointed behind her.

“Oh…” 

Marianne let out a small sigh as she spotted Sylvester at a distance—not too far, but not close either. Soon, their eyes met.

‘Should I greet him?’ 

Marianne wondered. But her dilemma quickly became moot. As soon as their eyes met, Sylvester abruptly turned his head, avoiding her gaze.

‘…Has the spell already worn off?’ 

She thought. On reflection, it seemed plausible that someone as powerful as Sylvester could resist a spell cast on him, just as a healthy person might recover from a cold without medication. Feeling embarrassed, Marianne fidgeted with the thick arms of her glasses.

“Right?”

“Y-Yes. He’s very handsome.”

Marianne replied hastily to Anna’s question.

Her gaze returned to Sylvester, who was looking at a bookshelf. As Anna had said, he seemed different today. Perhaps… because he wasn’t wearing his usual uniform but casual clothes? Although, calling a nobleman’s attire “casual” might be a stretch.

“It’s still strange, though, isn’t it? The Marquis coming to the library.”

“…It is.”

“When did it start? A few months ago? He’s been coming consistently. No matter how great this library is, it can’t compare to his private collection. His personal library must be filled with rare books that even we don’t have here.”

Marianne nodded in agreement. Nobles of Sylvester’s stature rarely visited public libraries. In fact, it was almost unheard of. They had already established perfect libraries within their estates, mansions, and villas.

But unlike other nobles, Sylvester occasionally visited the library. According to Anna, he hadn’t stepped foot in the library before but suddenly started coming a few months ago.

‘Maybe he just needed a change of scenery.’ 

Marianne thought as she watched Sylvester study a shelf full of magical texts. Before long, he pulled out a book.

“A beginner’s magic book…?”

Both librarians squinted at the cover of the book Sylvester held.

“Why would someone ranked among the Empire’s top three mages suddenly need a beginner’s magic book?” 

Anna whispered to Marianne, puzzled.

“…Revisiting the basics is important.” 

Marianne replied, feeling oddly self-conscious as though she were speaking on Sylvester’s behalf. In truth, the beginner’s magic book wasn’t the only strange thing. Sylvester was holding the book upside down.

‘Is it even possible to read a book upside down? Amazing.’

Marianne thought, silently impressed. Meanwhile, Anna’s face was filled with questions as she watched the Marquis.

“Well, it’s none of my business what he reads. Still, seeing such a handsome face this early in the day is refreshing.”

Anna smiled brightly and turned to walk away. Marianne knew she should follow Anna, but for some reason, her feet wouldn’t move. Her gaze kept drifting toward Sylvester, who still held his book upside down.

‘Why isn’t he acknowledging me? He’s the one who said he’d visit tomorrow. At the very least, he could’ve nodded in greeting. Or… has the spell really worn off? If it has, that’s good for me. I won’t have to deal with awkward situations or figure out how to respond.’

Marianne pulled her gaze away from Sylvester and turned to follow Anna. Yet, for some reason, there was a heavy weight in her chest.

Sylvester stayed in the library all morning. Fortunately, he was no longer holding the beginner’s magic book but a much thicker tome instead. Even so, Marianne found herself struggling not to glance at him repeatedly.

Still, there were moments when she unintentionally looked his way. Occasionally, their eyes would meet, and when that happened, she would awkwardly nod or quickly turn her head, her cheeks flushing red with embarrassment.

It wasn’t until noon, during the librarians’ staggered lunch breaks, that Marianne realized Sylvester’s spell hadn’t worn off yet.

Just before lunch, Marianne was checking the borrowing status of the magical tomes under her care. That’s when Sylvester approached her.

“…Hello, Marquis.” 

Marianne greeted him first, surprised to see him standing about six steps away. She hadn’t expected to suddenly face his overly handsome features. Marianne was certain that no one in the entire Empire could remain unfazed in such a situation.

“…Hello, Librarian.” 

Sylvester replied, as if he had forgotten the greeting he had prepared. His words came two beats slower than hers. Then he added, 

“I apologize for the delayed greeting. I should have greeted you earlier when we passed by the bookshelf.”

“No, it’s fine.” 

Marianne replied hurriedly, noticing how Sylvester’s eyebrows drooped slightly, almost as if he were upset. His expression made her feel inexplicably guilty.

“I didn’t want to disturb your work, Librarian.” 

Sylvester explained hastily, as though offering an excuse.

“…Thank you for your consideration.”

Marianne replied, nodding slightly. It seemed the spell hadn’t worn off yet. A brief but not uncomfortable silence settled between them. Then, after clearing his throat, Sylvester spoke again, his gaze resolute.

“If you don’t already have lunch plans, would you…?”

But before he could finish, his words trailed off. Anna, who had suddenly appeared and stationed herself beside Marianne, interrupted him.

“Are you asking to spend lunchtime with Librarian Marianne?” 

Anna inquired. Sylvester nodded, replying, “Yes.” For a moment, a faint expression of annoyance crossed his face, as if wondering why Anna had intervened, but neither Anna nor Marianne noticed it.

“Oh, today…” 

Marianne hesitated, glancing at Anna. Her tone carried a hint of refusal. She had already planned to have lunch with Anna. Well, it wasn’t exactly a formal plan—just something they naturally did. Besides, the idea of suddenly dining with Sylvester felt overwhelming to Marianne.

“Oh, Marianne. This is perfect.”

Anna said brightly.

“Pardon?”

“I just remembered I have another engagement. You were going to have lunch alone today, weren’t you? I was worried about how lonely you’d be without me!”

“…What?”