Chapter 18

It seems I drank too much at the Terriisu Café the day before.

The hot wine was so delicious that I kept drinking until Marc came to pick me up. I thought he might be exasperated, but when he said, "You must have felt like drinking," in a gentle voice, I was at a loss for what to do.

My head is a little sore, maybe because the alcohol is still in my system.

While rubbing my temples, I was returning the books that had been returned to the shelves.

The cart, which reaches up to my waist, has three tiers and is about eighty percent full. The books that the assistant ministers had used to prepare their reports were all returned at once.

Every time I moved the cart, the wheels made an unpleasant sound. Though it was faint, it was noticeable in the quiet library. I was thinking I should oil them later when—

"Alicia."

I already knew whose deep voice was calling my name.

When I turned around, there was the knight with the evening star eyes—Einhardt.

"Hello, Einhardt. Thank you for the lemon candy the other day."

"Yes, I'm glad it worked."

Einhardt's smile was so beautiful that I almost mistook it for a light shining on him. However, the smile soon disappeared, and he lowered his voice with a serious look.

"I heard from the captain that your ex-fiancé came to see you..."

"Yes, I was helped then."

"Is he here today?"

"Yesterday, Viscount Tostmann came to my house to apologize and said he had put his son under house arrest. So I don't think I'll see him again."

Indeed, Viscount Tostmann came to apologize in person yesterday afternoon. I heard this at breakfast this morning, and apparently, he looked quite haggard. According to my brother, he had been severely reprimanded by his grandfather.

"I see, that's good to hear."

"Thank you for your concern."

Einhardt's relieved expression made me feel happy, and I smiled in response.

"You've stopped working. What were you doing?"

"I was returning the books that had been returned to the shelves."

"That's a lot. And they all look heavy."

"Mostly history books since the founding of the country and various statistical materials."

"I see. Let me help you."

As I took a book from the cart, I froze at his unexpected words. In the meantime, Einhardt took the book from my hand.

"Ah, Einhardt, you can't. This is my job..."

"These are heavier than they look. Which shelf should this go on?"

"Einhardt, you can't."

The books are indeed heavy, but this is my job. I can't let a knight do it.

However, Einhardt ignored my voice and only smiled calmly.

"After I'm done, I have to practice with the captain. Can you hide me here for a bit?"

"This is a library, and I don't mind you being here, but..."

"Consider it a bribe. I won't back down, you know."

"...Thank you."

He winked playfully, and my heart felt like it had been shot. I mean, is there anyone who wouldn't be charmed by Einhardt's gestures?

I told myself it would be just a little and pointed to a shelf.

"Please put this book on the second shelf to the right."

"Is it this empty spot? Got it."

While he was putting the book back, I picked up another one. I tried to put a book back on a high shelf, but he took it from me.

"I'll do the high shelves. I can tell which number it is."

"Thank you."

Einhardt put the book away without using a stepladder.

Since he was doing the high shelves, I decided to do the lower ones.

I moved the cart and put more books back. I told him where to put them and occasionally explained the books. The time spent together was so gentle and comfortable, it was strange how good it felt.

I thought it would be just a little, but with Einhardt's efficient help, the work was done in no time.

We walked side by side down the aisle between the shelves, which was empty. The light coming in from the windows seemed to be getting darker, probably because the days were short.

"The novel you recommended was so interesting that I ended up reading all of the author's past works."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it. I like 'The Labyrinth.' Did you have a favorite story, Einhardt?"

"Me too. 'The Labyrinth' was the most interesting. I didn't expect everything to be turned upside down at the end."

"That was a shock. I reread it from the beginning and didn't expect the subtle foreshadowing to lead to that ending."

"Despite that, the aftertaste is refreshing, making me want to read it again and again."

Talking about our favorite novels, my voice naturally became lively.

I tried to keep my voice down and gripped the cart handle tightly.

"If you like that kind of story, I'm sure you'll enjoy a mystery novel."

"Please introduce me to one."

"Sure. ...Do you read anything other than mystery novels, Einhardt?"

"Frankly, I didn't read literary works until you recommended them. What kind of books do you like, Alicia?"

The section I was guiding him to was relatively popular.

When the women saw Einhardt, they let out silent screams. They glanced at me with puzzled looks, but lost interest once they realized I was a librarian. They probably preferred to stare at Einhardt.

"I read anything. Adventure novels, romance novels, and fairy tales I heard as a child."

"Today, I'll borrow a mystery novel, but next time, I'd like you to recommend an adventure novel."

"Understood. Do you not read romance novels?"

"Romance novels..."

We stopped in front of the shelf I was aiming for.

I traced the author's name on the bottom of the book and handed the one I wanted to Einhardt. His gaze, however, was directed to another shelf.

There were romance novels. All of them were ones I had read.

Einhardt sighed as he ran his long fingers over the spines of the books.

"Would reading these help me understand women's hearts?"

Surprised by his unexpected words, I blinked, and Einhardt shrugged.

"With this appearance, I get a lot of attention, but people's feelings are not so easily understood."

"Is that so?"

"I'm a much more timid man than you think."

Einhardt's words sounded somewhat self-deprecating, and I didn't know how to respond.

Einhardt, who had turned to face me, took the book I was still holding with both hands.

"So this is your recommendation. I'll borrow this book."

"Y-Yes, understood."

Einhardt smiled as usual, but it seemed to me that the stars in his eyes were trembling.

I couldn't take my eyes off his retreating figure until it disappeared from view.