A feeling of excitement was rising at the corners of my mouth, but I worked hard to control my expression so as not to notice Ethan, who was sitting next to me in the cart.
“If I think about it, the church you were volunteering at is located nearby, right?” Ethan asked suddenly.
I felt a slight pang of guilt, but replied with a casual expression: “Oh? Now that you mention it, I guess it is. I didn’t realize it.”
“Is volunteering fun?…No, I mean asking if volunteering is fun seems weird.”
“No, it's okay. Everything is better when it's fun. I even find it a lot of fun. Like I mentioned before, kids are so cool.”
“I understand”
After a short pause, Ethan spoke again, “…So, do you like girls?”
He asked, looking casually out the window.
“Excuse me? Yes, I agree. Of course, boys are just as cute and beautiful, but there’s something about girls that is… I don’t know, softer and more comfortable? They feel more comfortable in your arms.”
I had wanted so badly to talk about Elodie ever since the topic came up, but if we met her directly afterwards it would have seemed artificial.
Moreover, Ethan was an unnecessarily suspicious man, so I had to be careful.
“Does this mean... you like girls, but you don't mind having a boy too?”
“Hmm? Well, yes, of course. I find myself more attracted to girls.”
“I understand. This comforts me.”
"Excuse me? Convenience? What do you mean?" I tilted my head in confusion.
“Well, it's not guaranteed that things will go the way you want...” Ethan spoke with a slightly embarrassed expression.
What does that mean? Oh, right. Children do not have the right to choose their sex at birth, so it would not be fair to discriminate based on this.
“Of course. I would not love a girl more just because she is a girl, or love a boy less. That would be terrible.”
“...I understand”
Ethan seemed somewhat relieved at my words.
I frowned a little.
Was he worried that I would treat the orphanage children differently? What a strange thing to worry about.
At that moment, the cart stopped. Ethan got down first, then extended his hand to me. I took his hand and got out of the car.
“Wow, is this the place?”
It was exactly the old bookstore I had imagined.
The slightly worn sign and stacks of old books inside and outside the stained glass windows made it perfect. She wouldn't look out of place on a movie set.
“It's not a big store, but the owner is well-connected, so rare books come in every now and then. That's why I visit it regularly,” Ethan explained.
“Shall we go in?”
"Uh, wait. I want to use the bathroom first. Can you come in?"
Ethan nodded at my words and pushed open the library door, which creaked melodically.
I looked at my pocket watch.
It was a quarter past two. I asked Elodie to come in at two, so she should be here already.
If she was tired of waiting, she would read as usual. Then Ethan will discover it, and everything will unfold as in the original story!
I felt so excited that I couldn't stay still.
I wanted to go in right away and check on them, but since I told Ethan I was going to use the bathroom, I couldn't.
Trying to resist the temptation, I wandered outside for about ten minutes.
Everything should be fine now, right?
I opened the door carefully, making sure not to make a sound as I entered the library.
As soon as I entered, I was overwhelmed by the smell of old parchment.
The shelves were neatly lined with books, spaced apart like partitions.
Now, where are Ethan and Elodie...
I lifted the hem of my skirt and walked quietly, looking for them.
After passing by bookshelves, I finally saw Elodie.
Perhaps because she was feeling like she was on a mission, she was not sitting in her usual hunched position, but was standing and reading.
Of course, even this was indescribably charming.
Look how her eyes move with every word.
How cute... Wait a minute, but where's Ethan?
In the original story, Ethan should have approached Elodie, and they should have had an in-depth discussion about the book.
Is it possible that he hasn't noticed her yet? It is a very small library; This doesn't seem possible...
As I looked around anxiously, I saw Ethan finally appear in the hallway where Elodie was standing. He was carrying some books, most likely the ones he had chosen to buy.
He's here! Is this the moment?
Maybe I arrived just in time.
I quickly hid behind a bookshelf and looked out, my heart pounding.
I watched Ethan walk right next to Elodie without even looking at her.
'Huh?'
My eyes widened in disbelief.
'Wait, what is this? 'This shouldn't happen'
Despite my worrying thoughts, Ethan carelessly scanned the bookshelves.
No, what do you do? How can you observe books at this time?
Elodie, the most beautiful and charming angel, is right behind you! Your future daughter! Elodie you will love so much!
I mentally screamed, slamming my feet on the floor in frustration.
Not there! Behind you!
Maybe my desperate energy reached him telepathically because Ethan suddenly turned around.
I held my breath, convinced this time that Elodie would notice.
But again, Ethan passed by her without noticing her presence.
What on earth...?
As for Elodie, she was so immersed in her reading that she seemed not to feel the presence of anyone walking back and forth beside her.
I couldn't understand it.
Sure, many things have changed from the original story, but there shouldn't be anything that affects this meeting.
Originally, Ethan noticed Elodie because he thought, “Is that little girl reading such a thick book?”
'It's the same now. The only difference is that she's standing instead of sitting...wait.'
Suddenly I realized something I had never noticed before.
The book Elodie was reading was not very thick.
In fact, by normal standards, he was rather thin.
'Wait, is this page…'
From where I was, I could see the page Elodie was reading.
After examining it closely, I realized that it was full of illustrations.
Is this... a picture book?
Now it all makes sense.
It was normal for a child to read a picture book. That's why she didn't catch Ethan's attention.
Why, Elodie, why are you suddenly reading a picture book? You graduated from those books a long time ago!
Father Dreyfus even mentioned that Elodie borrowed books intended for adults.
Well, it's not that she couldn't read picture books at all, but… why now?
It felt like some cruel twist of fate.
As I was sighing in frustration, I suddenly heard Ethan's voice.
“…What are you doing there?”
Startled, I turned to see Ethan watching me from the other side of the bookshelf.
“Oh… are you back?”
“What do you mean ‘are you back’? You’re the one who came here. I was waiting.”
“Right. Haha.”
I let out an embarrassed laugh.
“……”
Ethan narrowed his eyes at me for a moment, then shrugged as if he decided it didn't matter.
He approached me and handed me one of the books he was carrying.
“Come in”
“...what is this?”
I took the book from him. Its slightly faded leather cover had a long title engraved on it:
[In the era when women couldn't become witches, the story of Elinor Grospellet from a humble family in the Chauntria Empire, overcoming all adversity, and giving up the love of her life, to become the greatest witch in the world]
I couldn't help but widen my eyes.
“Oh, this...”
“Yes. It's a prequel to the novel you enjoyed earlier.”
This was a book I found by chance in the Duke's library a while ago. The story of a witch and a half-human, half-horse hero – at its core, it is a romantic fantasy novel.
“How did a book like this get into the library?”
“Maybe it was my mother's story. Dad says she enjoyed romance novels. You may find similar stories if you search.”
What Ethan said was true.
I searched the vast library and discovered more romance novels, and I felt joy and nostalgia for my past life.
I was even grateful to the late Duchess for her collection.
A quick glance showed that this book looked like a prequel to a book I had read before.
“Oh my goodness, this looks like fun. Thank you. I will enjoy reading it.”
I leafed through the pages briefly before looking up, only to see Ethan watching me with a slight smile.
His gaze was warm – a look I had never seen before.