Chapter 23

After finishing the last spoonful of the potage, I sighed with a sense of fullness. It took longer than usual, but I managed to finish it all today. However, I might need to tell them to reduce the amount for dinner to avoid discomfort. I rubbed my stomach, trying to ease the discomfort, and resolved not to forget to do so.

Wendy, sitting across from me, was eating the lemon mousse dessert. It was a cute dessert decorated with sliced lemons and mint, but I decided to skip it.

"Hey, who is Alicia's date?"

While scooping the mousse with an elegant spoon embedded with glasswork, Wendy asked me. Her voice was lowered so that only we at the table could hear.

I reached for the water pitcher, poured water into my goblet, and smiled.

"Didn't I tell you before that I have a favorite restaurant?"

"A place run by a couple, right?"

"Yes. I've become friends with someone I meet there from time to time."

"You must really get along. What does this person do?"

After finishing the mousse, Wendy placed the dish on her tray and pushed it to the edge of the table. Leaning forward with her elbows on the empty space, her cheeks were flushed. The interest in her eyes was evident, but it wasn't unpleasant; it was even endearing.

"I don't know."

"Huh?"

"All I know is their name. They always have their thick bangs down and wear glasses, so I can't even see their face clearly. But I still like them."

My voice, to my own surprise, was tinged with affection.

"I don't want to say this, but... are you okay with this?"

A worried look crossed my friend's face, and I smiled. The goblet on the table was beaded with water droplets. I wiped it with a napkin and took a sip. The cold water refreshed my throat. After a deep breath, I smiled again.

"Hehe, it's suspicious, isn't it? But I like them. I'm surprised by how much I do."

In the bustling cafeteria, no one paid attention to our conversation. Encouraged by the noise, I continued.

"What they do, what they look like, whether the person I see is their true self—there are so many things I want to know, but I can't ask. I'm afraid this relationship will end if I do."

"That's tough... But maybe the other person is also afraid to take the next step."

"The other person too?"

"Yes. Time might solve it, or one of us... or maybe both of us need to take the next step."

"Can I do that?"

At my honest words, Wendy only smiled gently. She reached out and touched my hand holding the goblet.

"You'll be fine, Alicia. When will you see your date next?"

"I don't have a specific meeting time. I just hope to run into them at the restaurant. But I won't be able to go for a while... about a month."

"That's sad. I hope you can see them soon."

"Thank you."

Wendy patted my hand and slowly withdrew it. She brushed her milk tea-colored hair behind her ear, and her gaze shifted to something behind me.

"Oh, it's snowing again."

"I hope it doesn't get worse. Is your mansion okay with the snow?"

Following her gaze, I turned to look over my shoulder. The snow was falling gently against a blue sky, so it probably wouldn't turn into a heavy snowfall.

"It's not that big of a mansion. The estate is worse. I heard the first-floor windows were buried in snow."

"Really? Is everything okay?"

"It's not good for security, so everyone cleared the snow."

Just thinking about it made me shiver, and I rubbed my arms.

Wendy chuckled and filled her goblet with water from the pitcher.

"The estate gets a lot of snow, but it's rare for it to snow so much in the capital."

"I was worried I wouldn't be able to come to work. Fewer people are visiting the library, so the snow is having a big impact."

"Oh, that's because Lord Einhard isn't here."

"Really?"

"He's been assigned to the northern fortress for a while. There were sixteen people in his unit... I think. There was a send-off ceremony a while ago, but it was early in the morning before Alicia came to work."

I had no idea.

I don't hear about Lord Einhard's duties, and we're not that close. Maybe a dedicated fan would know such things.

"Many noble families have connections to the knights, so we get such news. It was quite a scene. The women who came to see him off were waving handkerchiefs and crying as if it was a final farewell."

"I can imagine. Did you go to see him off, Wendy?"

"I... went to see the commander give his speech."

Wendy's eyes widened for a moment, and her face turned red. She lowered her gaze to the table and started sipping water from her goblet.

"Oh, you've always said he's wonderful... Do you have a crush on him?"

"I know it's unrequited, but I can't help how I feel."

Despite her sad expression, her pink eyes sparkled. They were so beautiful that I almost got lost in them.

Do I have the same look in my eyes? If my affection is so obvious in front of them, can I really hide my feelings?

I wanted to talk more, but the bell signaling the end of the lunch break rang. Looking out the window, I saw the clock tower's bell swinging.

People at the surrounding tables started to get up, and we stood with our trays in hand.

"About what you said earlier, it's true that there have been fewer female visitors in the past few days. It might be the same this afternoon."

"Quiet is good."

Wendy's firm statement made me laugh, and my tray wobbled.

We returned the trays to their designated place and hurried down the path to the library. Thinking about how Lord Einhard wasn't at the knight's station made me feel a bit strange.

I don't know why, but it was a strange feeling.