Chapter 2.5

After the simple meal and tidying up, the two naturally moved toward the park’s walking trail. The sunlight pouring over the park was warm, and the breeze was gentle. Simply put, it was a day too beautiful not to walk.

“Thanks to you, Librarian, I had a wonderful experience.”

Sylvester, matching Marianne’s slow pace, struck up a conversation.

“Thanks to me? But… we’re just eating and walking in the park together.”

Marianne looked up at Sylvester and gave an awkward smile. She didn’t feel she had done anything deserving of such gratitude.

“Walking along the trail in Theater Park and eating such a delicious sandwich were both firsts for me. Doesn’t that count as a wonderful experience?”

“…Hmm, you’ve lived a slightly—just slightly—deprived life.”

After a brief hesitation, Marianne responded with a playful tone. Her voice carried a hint of mischief.

‘Was I too casual?’

As soon as she said it, Marianne regretted her words. It seemed that thinking he’d forget everything had made her too relaxed.

“If it weren’t for you, I might have continued living deprived.”

Sylvester gave a small smile.

“Even without me, wouldn’t you have come here at least once?”

“I might have visited the park, but I wouldn’t have eaten the sandwich.”

“…Why not?”

“Because I hate failing, so I wouldn’t have even tried.”

Sylvester smiled awkwardly, as if embarrassed. Marianne found his words somewhat unexpected. Avoiding failure rather than confronting it seemed to align with a fear of failing.

“Do you hate failing?”

“…Yes. It’s childish, isn’t it?”

After a moment’s pause, Sylvester answered. He continued speaking.

“Because of that childish mindset, there are many things I haven’t tried.”

“…”

“Like asking you out on a date.”

The moment Sylvester finished speaking, Marianne came to a halt. Her gaze turned toward a group of men standing in the middle of the trail. They were simply laughing and chatting. But the sight of their faces, their voices—high and low—made Marianne freeze.

Her shoulders instinctively hunched. Her gaze dropped from their faces to their chests.

“Librarian. Miss Marianne.”

Sylvester’s concerned voice reached Marianne’s ears. Taking a small, shaky breath, Marianne hesitantly grasped Sylvester’s arm. Then, as if to lead him, she tugged at his sleeve. Her heart raced.

Marianne hurriedly walked past the group of men. Sylvester, who had been observing the men with narrowed eyes, followed behind her. His expression was cold, unlike before.

When they had put enough distance between themselves and the men, so much so that their faces appeared blurry, Marianne finally stopped. The tension in her expression gradually eased. Sylvester, who had been wearing a stern face, swiftly changed his demeanor and smiled gently at Marianne. It was a kind smile, as if encouraging her to share whatever was troubling her.

Marianne’s tightly sealed lips slowly parted.

“…Well, it’s just…”

Marianne stammered, feeling compelled to explain her actions to Sylvester. Or perhaps, she simply wanted to say something to the person who was concerned about her.

“I’m afraid of groups of people, especially groups of men. When I was younger, I was bullied for a long time… just childish torment.”

“…”

“…So, like you said earlier, there are many things I haven’t tried.”

Recalling Sylvester’s earlier words, Marianne spoke. There was a hint of self-consciousness in her voice.

In truth, Marianne had no intention of revealing her long-standing fears to Sylvester, someone she barely knew. However, when their eyes met—Sylvester’s gaze as if urging her to let go of any worries, as if inviting her to share whatever was troubling her—Marianne found herself unintentionally exposing the thoughts she had kept hidden deep within.

“This is a secret. Truly.”

Marianne hastily added, followed by a small laugh. She felt foolish for urgently claiming something as a secret to someone who would soon lose all memory of her.

“…So now, we’ve exchanged one secret each, haven’t we?”

Sylvester leaned slightly toward Marianne and spoke softly. He did not ask Marianne why she felt fear or what caused it, just as Marianne had refrained from questioning him. Then, Sylvester added a single remark.

“You must also keep my secret, Librarian.”

That afternoon, in Theater Park, Marianne and Sylvester shared one secret each. However, since Sylvester was someone whose memory would soon vanish, it was as if Marianne alone had come to know his secret. A peculiar mix of guilt and regret welled up within her.

“…Yes. I promise.”

Marianne nodded and replied.

“It seems it’s time to end our walk.”

Sylvester pointed to the sign marking the end of the walking trail.

“Oh, already…”

Marianne’s words trailed off, sounding almost as if she were disappointed. She quickly masked her surprise with an awkward smile.

“I was glad to spend time with you today, Librarian. I’m also glad to have learned that you like Theater Park and pork sandwiches.”

“I’m glad too… that you enjoyed the sandwich, Marquis.”

Marianne’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she finished speaking, thinking she sounded foolish.

“Really?”

“I felt like I’d brought you to a place you shouldn’t be.”

“I do look like someone who wouldn’t come to places like this, don’t I?”

Sylvester asked playfully, pointing to himself. Marianne looked at him and slowly nodded.

“Oh, no.”

Startled, Marianne stopped nodding and quickly exclaimed.

“No need to worry. If it weren’t for you, Librarian, I wouldn’t have come here, so you’re not entirely wrong.”

Sylvester shrugged. Marianne’s eyes darted around, unable to find a place to rest her gaze. She felt guilty for nodding so obviously.

“Does it bother you?… That you nodded?”

“Uh, uh, yes.”

Marianne answered awkwardly. Seeing her discomfort, Sylvester’s expression grew just as awkward. Soon, as if he had made up his mind, Sylvester opened his mouth to speak.

“I don’t mind, but if you feel that sorry… could you grant me one request?”

“A request?”

“I’d like you to call me by my name instead of ‘Marquis.’ That’s my request.”

Sylvester smiled lightly as he spoke. His handsome face, now free of awkwardness and filled with vitality, somehow seemed cheeky.

“By your name…?”

Marianne hesitated. How many people in this country could call this man by his name? And could she? Was it even appropriate?

“But… Marquis, you call me ‘Librarian,’ don’t you?”

“That’s because I haven’t received your permission yet.”

Marianne and Sylvester’s eyes met. Once again, Sylvester seemed to monopolize the sunlight, shining brightly on his own. Marianne found it strange to see her own reflection in the sparkling eyes of such a radiant person. Yet, it didn’t feel bad.

A person’s eyes reveal the feelings they hold within. Right now, Sylvester’s gaze was filled with… excitement and anticipation. Marianne hoped his bright eyes would never lose their light. That was all she thought.

‘…The spell will break eventually.’

With that thought, Marianne spoke again.

“Then, please address me comfortably first, Marquis. I’ll also try calling you by a slightly more casual title.”

Sylvester blinked upon hearing her words.

“…Librarian Marianne?”

“…”

“Miss Marianne?”

Sylvester, now devoid of his earlier cheekiness, shifted his gaze from Marianne’s eyes to her eyebrows as he spoke.

“Yes. Commander Syl… Sylvester.”

“…That wouldn’t be fair.”

With a groan, Marianne glanced around briefly before leaning slightly closer to Sylvester, as if to share another secret.

“…Sylvester.”

Feeling equally awkward, Marianne lowered her gaze to Sylvester’s chin and whispered.

“I… I should head back to the library now.”

“If it wouldn’t be an imposition, may I escort you?”

Sylvester asked with a bright smile upon hearing Marianne’s words. Instead of answering, Marianne slowly nodded.

“On the way, shall we take some time to talk about our favorite things? After all, I promised to tell you one thing about myself each day.”

“…Yes.”

Their gazes shifted from each other’s eyebrows and chins back to their eyes. And at the same time, small laughter escaped their lips.

The warm sunlight and gentle breeze continued to envelop them on this particular afternoon.

* * *

“Nothing unusual happened, did it?”

“No, nothing.”

Marianne replied to Peter’s question. Peter and Erina, who had come to meet Marianne at her closing time, sighed, saying they hadn’t expected Sylvester to visit the library before lunchtime, dressed in casual clothes.

“Um, you two…”

Marianne, observing the expressions of the two mages, opened her mouth again.

“I don’t think you need to worry so much.”

“…Really?”

Peter asked, his face still filled with concern.

“Hmm, I don’t think I’ll be in danger or face any trouble. So, you don’t need to take extra time to follow me around……”

“That sounds like you have a strange sense of trust. Have you gotten closer to the Commander?”

Erina asked, narrowing her eyes at Marianne.

“No, it’s not like that. It’s just… a bit of trust has formed between people who share secrets, that’s all.”

Marianne mumbled her response. Peter’s curious round eyes glimmered, but fortunately, he didn’t press further.

“Then, we won’t unnecessarily tail the Marquis anymore.”

After a moment of thought, Erina spoke.

“But he’ll still probably visit you once a day, so if there’s anything strange or uncomfortable, feel free to let us know.”

“Yes, I will.”

Marianne replied.

“Oh, and we’ve started a new research project…”

Peter interrupted the conversation between Erina and Marianne.

“We’re looking for a way to break the spell cast on the Marquis, Librarian. Since the spell might malfunction and last three weeks, a month… or even longer.”

“I thought you said there was no way to break the spell?”

Marianne asked, her eyes wide.

“If there isn’t, we’ll create one. For now, we’re pulling in as many ancient texts as possible and combing through records. Just don’t expect too much.”

Erina said.

“In any case, the spell will likely break naturally before our research is complete, so don’t worry too much! And two weeks and a day is shorter than you think… You’ll probably only meet the Commander three or four more times.”

“Oh… Three or four times.”

Marianne muttered as she watched the mages exchange words.

“No matter how much the Marquis likes you right now, he won’t be able to visit often. He’s incredibly busy.”

Peter remarked casually. Sylvester had promised to share one thing about himself each day with Marianne. He hadn’t said it lightly. But regardless of his sincerity, Marianne didn’t expect to see him every day. As Peter had said, Sylvester was indeed a very busy man.

“I’ll trust you mages. Good luck.”

Marianne finished speaking with an awkward smile. Thinking about how few chances she had left to meet Sylvester made her feel strange. She didn’t know how to describe the peculiar emotion.

‘Is it because I won’t get to see his handsome face anymore?’

So, Marianne decided to think lightly and move on.