Chapter 10

The weather was good.

Eleanor enjoyed the light pouring through the car window and observed the passing scenery. The blue plane tree forest path that had continued since leaving the Claven Duchy disappeared, revealing a street lined with buildings made of brick and cement.

“Wow.”

Olivia, who had probably never been out like her mother, clung to the window and let out exclamations. Eleanor, recalling her own amazement when she first arrived at the station, gently pulled Olivia closer.

“You can see it when we get out, so sit safely.”

Olivia blinked innocently at Eleanor’s suggestion. She didn’t quite understand why she had to delay enjoying the moment, but since Eleanor said so, she accepted it.

“I didn’t expect the place you wanted to visit was a university.”

At Usher’s voice, Eleanor lifted her gaze from Olivia.

“Do you want to go to school?”

“Yes, if possible.”

Eleanor answered simply.

“What field are you interested in?”

“Education.”

Education. Usher nodded, digesting Eleanor’s answer. It seemed he finally understood why Eleanor had come to Southern without an engagement or marriage and sought a position as a tutor.

“Do you want to become a professor?”

“If I could, that would be nice.”

Eleanor spoke with a gentle smile. Usher, like an adolescent boy, stole glances at the smile that was clearly not directed at him.

A slender body, long blonde hair down to her waist, gray eyes, a faint smile.

In fact, thinking about it, Eleanor was just an ordinary lady one might see anywhere. Yet, she had an inexplicable charm that captivated him. Perhaps it was the somewhat poignant atmosphere as if she had a story, or the cat-like instinctive wariness that made her retreat when someone got close.

“We’ve arrived.”

It was the driver who stopped Usher, who was staring at Eleanor without regard for appearances. He parked the car in front of Southern University’s main gate and looked back at Usher.

“Oh, thank you for your hard work.”

Usher said, opening the door.

“What is this?”

“A school. A university.”

As Eleanor took Usher’s hand and got out of the car, Olivia asked in an excited voice. Eleanor calmly passed Usher, took Olivia’s hand, and explained the existence of the school.

“See you in two hours.”

Usher looked regretfully at the hand that had briefly touched his, then quickly followed the two after greeting the driver.

“It’s very large, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it’s bigger than I thought.”

Eleanor answered, looking up at the entrance more than three times her height. Olivia’s expression was not much different from when she pressed her face to the window, eyes sparkling during the outing.

Usher let out a small laugh, realizing this, and Eleanor quickly composed her expression. But she couldn’t do anything about the already revealed expression.

Eleanor, feeling embarrassed, closed her eyes tightly and opened them again.

“It’s okay. Southern University is the largest university in Ledan.”

“……”

“I haven’t attended it myself, but I’ve heard so.”

Usher emphasized that he hadn’t attended Southern University either, trying to ease Eleanor’s embarrassment.

“Shall we go in? It’s vacation, but the library should be open.”

Usher gestured ahead and walked first. Eleanor took Olivia’s hand and slowly followed him.

As Usher said, it was vacation, so there were few students walking around the campus. However, this made the tidy campus appear even clearer. The neat paths, wide lawns, large trees that had endured time with the school, and the scent of paper and ink tickling the nose from somewhere.

“You have to be quiet in the library, okay?”

Eleanor whispered in front of the library door. Not knowing what was what, Olivia nodded vigorously several times.

“…Wow.”

As they entered the large library, Olivia unintentionally let out a sound of admiration, then quickly covered her mouth with both hands. Even the Claven Duchy had a library, but not of this size.

The high domed ceiling, shelves lining the walls, numerous books filling the shelves. A librarian climbing a ladder to organize books. The comforting smell of old paper that might have seemed musty.

Her heart pounded with excitement. She instinctively knew. Someday, she would walk here as a student.

“I’ll sit over there with Olivia.”

Near the window, there were a few tables set apart from the bookshelves. Usher, noticing Eleanor’s sparkling eyes, took Olivia’s hand and moved to the table.

Thanks to this, Eleanor could freely move deeper into the library without interruption. After wandering between the shelves divided by subject for a while, Eleanor hesitated and pulled out a thick book on education.

“…Ah!”

At that moment, a couple of thick books were pulled out from the opposite side, revealing Usher’s face through the empty space. Eleanor, startled, took a step back without realizing it. The light pouring down behind him was so bright it was dazzling like his blonde hair.

As their eyes met directly, Eleanor blinked, speechless. The surroundings were silent, yet her heart pounded as if announcing its presence to the world. Blood circulated so quickly her fingertips tingled.

“I intended to wait quietly, but Olivia suggested playing a prank.”

Unaware of her feelings, Usher laughed mischievously.

“For someone your age to join in on a child’s prank.”

Olivia, who had been hiding, giggled softly. Indeed, she had the appearance of a little ghost from the Claven mansion. It was obvious, even without seeing, what kind of negotiation had taken place between them. Eleanor chuckled, calming her surprised heart. Then she placed the book back, blocking Usher from view.

The outing today was just to see what Southern University looked like, not to read books. Eleanor reminded herself of this fact as she walked out of the shelves. Usher and Olivia followed her down the hill at a quick pace.

“Eleanor, are you angry?”

“Ellie, are you mad?”

Eleanor glanced at Usher and Olivia, who were cautiously asking questions. It seemed like two invisible beast ears were attached above their heads. At that moment, Eleanor thought of a way to tease Usher. Wasn’t it a shame to be the only one surprised?

“What if I had screamed there? Olivia might, but you know you shouldn’t.”

“I’m sorry…”

There were a few students quietly reading in the library. At Eleanor’s frown and reprimand, Usher apologized cautiously. He seemed to genuinely think Eleanor was angry, judging by his rather serious face. Eleanor turned away without answering.

“I was going to treat you to a meal as thanks for showing me around the school.”

“……”

“If you’re really sorry, you should buy me a meal.”

Eleanor slightly turned her head and casually spoke to Usher, who was still watching her.

“Of course, I’ll treat you to a meal!”

Thinking it was the only way to be forgiven, Usher replied immediately. However, he soon tilted his head, pondering the words that sounded like a joke. As their eyes met, Eleanor couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter. Usher looked helpless. It was because, for a brief moment, he felt as if he had fallen into hell, worrying Eleanor might be angry.

“If you ask someone on a date, the man should pay, of course.”

But soon Usher smiled as if stating the obvious and added his opinion.

When Eleanor playfully said she’d look forward to it, Usher lifted Olivia, who was clinging to the end of his jacket. Olivia, surprised, wrapped her arms around Usher’s neck with wide eyes.

“You speak well.”

“I hear that often.”

Even holding Olivia, Usher matched his steps with Eleanor without difficulty. The exchanged glances were somehow intriguing.

Only Olivia, who thought they were fighting, tilted her head at the incomprehensible change in emotions between them.

* * *

After a hearty meal at the restaurant, they took a seat at an outdoor café near Southern Station.

While Usher and Eleanor looked at their menus, Olivia busily glanced around. It was her first time in such a crowded and unfamiliar place, so everything was both terrifying and exciting.

“A cup of coffee and…”

“I’ll have a cup of coffee too.”

Eleanor handed the menu back to the waiter after finishing her order. Naturally, she had let go of Olivia’s hand while holding the menu.

“Olivia, should I buy you some caramel?”

Usher, stroking his smoothly shaven chin, turned towards where Olivia had been. But the seat where Olivia had been sitting was empty.

“…Olivia?”

Eleanor, startled, called Olivia’s name and stood up. Near the bustling outdoor café, Olivia was nowhere to be seen.

“Olivia!”

“Sir Usher? Eleanor?”

As they called Olivia’s name, Cindy, always dressed flamboyantly, spotted Usher and Eleanor and approached.

“I thought you two were on a date, but I’m surprised to see you looking for Olivia here. Can you tell me why you’re searching for her here?”

Then she asked a question Eleanor couldn’t possibly answer. It was a voice mixed with a hint of suspicion and anger over something she had already guessed.