Chapter 11

The next day, I, still feeling a bit under the weather, had Wendy take over the counter duties for me.

The discomfort in my throat and nose was severe, and I occasionally had bad coughs.

In the back of the library, where the sun warmed the area but direct sunlight didn't reach, I was working on book repairs in a section mostly filled with specialized books that few people visited. Here, I wouldn't bother anyone even if I coughed. After placing the handkerchief I had just used to cover my mouth at the edge of the table, I turned my attention to the book that needed repair.

A book with about half its pages torn out.

I applied a little glue to the binding and carefully pasted it together. To ensure the page didn't shift while drying, I wrapped it with a wide ribbon-like band.

There were quite a few books that needed repair.

The smell of the stacked books and the soft sunlight of winter. I repeatedly closed and opened my eyes, trying to stay awake despite the drowsiness.

"Alicia-sama"

I jumped at the unexpected voice. The drowsiness seemed to vanish as the person approached without a sound.

"Ainhardt-sama"

His posture, straight and unslouched in his neatly buttoned uniform, was as beautiful as ever. When his violet eyes, sparkling like stars, narrowed, the sharp aura around him seemed to soften a bit. I managed to suppress my admiration, stood up, smoothed out the wrinkles in my skirt, and bowed.

"I'm sorry to disturb your work."

"No, it's fine. Is something the matter?"

"I thought you might like this."

Ainhardt-sama handed me a candy jar. The cork lid had a lemon drawn on it and was tied with a cute red ribbon.

"This is..."

"Lemon and honey candy. It's good for colds."

The jar was just the right size to fit in my hands, and inside were bite-sized candies shaped like sliced lemons. The sugar sparkled in the sunlight, looking very beautiful.

"You must have known I had a cold. My throat isn't feeling well."

"…That's good timing, then."

Ainhardt-sama's lips curved into a smile.

…Is a handsome smile this powerful? Feeling dizzy, I still managed to hold the candy jar firmly.

Maybe he heard my coughs, so I need to be more careful.

"Did you buy this for yourself, Ainhardt-sama?"

"No, I bought it as a favor. I wanted to thank you for recommending a book to me before."

"Introducing books is part of a librarian's duty, so you didn't need to worry about it."

"I see. Still, I would appreciate it if you accepted it as a gesture from me."

"Thank you. Then I will accept it without hesitation."

It's so beautiful that I almost don't want to eat it, but letting it harden would be even more wasteful. I decided to gratefully accept the kind gesture. The thoughtfulness made me smile.

Ainhardt-sama nodded and looked at the table where I was working. His gaze swept over the stacked books and the glue, and he asked curiously.

"What are you working on now?"

"I'm repairing books. They're still readable after repair, even if they're torn or pages are missing."

"It's detailed work."

"I don't mind such tasks. I feel happy when I can repair them nicely."

"I see. Thanks to you and your colleagues, we can enjoy well-maintained books."

"I'm glad to hear that."

It's heartwarming when library users say such things.

I want them to touch beautiful books, immerse themselves in the world of books, and perhaps love books even more.

I gently placed the candy jar on the table. The sunlight passing through the glass bottle created a rainbow of light on the table.

Even though I had received the candy and my task was done, Ainhardt-sama remained by the table. Was he looking for a book? Before I could ask, he spoke, his voice low and polite but firm.

"Has that young lady been causing you trouble recently? I see her around sometimes."

"Thanks to your reprimand before, there haven't been any issues. I really appreciate it."

"That's good, but if anything happens, don't hesitate to ask the knights for help. The barracks are nearby, and it's no trouble for a knight to step in, even for minor issues."

"I appreciate your concern, but it's a personal matter, and I don't want to trouble the knights..."

I blinked in surprise at the unexpected words.

It's very kind of him, but it's a bit difficult. Lowering my eyebrows, I shook my head, and then a warm sensation landed on my head. I recognized what it was, but the unexpectedness made it hard to process.

Ainhardt-sama was touching my head.

"If someone causes a disturbance in a public place and bothers everyone, it's no longer a personal matter. This place was created by His Majesty for learning, regardless of status. You work here by His Majesty's command, so protecting you is also our duty as knights."

"…Thank you."

To be honest, I was so focused on the warmth on my head that I couldn't think of anything else. I felt like I might faint, and I hoped no one would see me.

If one of Ainhardt-sama's followers saw me in this situation, I might not survive.

"Let me know if any interesting books come in."

"Of course, I will."

Ainhardt-sama smiled, patted my head, and left.

I bowed to see him off, and my face was probably red. My ears were hot, but it couldn't be helped.

I couldn't understand what he was thinking when he touched my head.

I sat down again and picked up one of the stacked books. Opening to the page marked with a bookmark, I saw the torn page. Reaching for the repair tape, my fingertips touched the candy jar.

Because the library is close to the knights' barracks, the knights often visit. The commander encourages them to read, which is a big reason. They borrow everything from tactical manuals to entertainment novels, various dictionaries, and books published in other countries. Among them is, of course, Ainhardt-sama. I think the librarians and the knights have a relatively close relationship.

But was Ainhardt-sama ever this close personally?

The news of the broken engagement must have spread, and people have seen me being harassed by the baron's daughter, so maybe they feel sympathy.

I sighed softly and poked the cork sealing the glass bottle with my finger.

The lemon color was cute. Looking at it, the warmth on my head seemed to return, but for some reason, Noah's face came to mind.