“Sei, it’s common for aristocrats to help woman while they’re getting off carriages and escort them while walking.”
“Yes.”
“But at least, Al never gave accessories as presents.”
He stopped his teasing smile a while ago. The Director said so in a serious tone.
From his attitude, I knew that the Captain didn’t just casually give me this hair clip.
I looked at the box in my hand again. Now that I realised this, my face heated up again.
“Is it really okay for me to receive something this expensive?”
“Just take it if you don’t hate it.”
When I grumbled the Director quietly smiled and said in return.
I didn’t say anything. I just moved my neck and nodded.
“How do you do, Sei?”
When I went to the library to return a book I’d borrowed the next day. I met Liz in front of the door.
She also seemed to have just arrived.
It was rare for me to meet her in the corridor.
We never arrange to meet. I come to the library for work so the times I come also varied.
That’s why even if I come to the library, there are also times when I don’t meet Liz.
“Oh? You’ve changed your hairstyle today.”
“Yeah. It’s hot so I decided to do it up.”
“I see. That’s a nice hair clip you have.”
“Ah, thanks.”
The door squeaked open and I let Liz go in first.
Liz immediately when to find the book she wanted.
As for me, I handed the book I brought with me to the librarian and went to look for another book to borrow.
As expected, as soon as we met, Liz pointed out that I’d changed my hairstyle.
Liz was really fashion-conscious. She’d perfectly noticed that I had tied my hair up.
The hair clip was the one I received from the Captain. It was somewhat embarrassing so I inadvertently mumbled.
“Hey, Sei. That hairclip is really pretty. Would you mind letting me have a closer look at it?”
“I don’t mind but……”
She called out from behind me when I was standing in front of the medicinal herb books.
When I turned around, Liz had a beautiful smile on her face.
I don’t mind showing it to her but it was troublesome to do my hair up again after unfastening it. But I don’t mind showing it to her if I didn’t have to unfasten it so I answered.
I couldn’t show her while we were standing so we moved to where the desks were. I sat down on a chair and Liz stood behind me.
She didn’t touch it but she was looking at it very closely.
“This is good workmanship.”
“Thanks.”
“The embedded gems are really nice.”
“Really?”
“Yes…… Hey, who gave it to you?”
“Eh? Why?”
“Well, it seems a bit expensive for everyday use. That’s why I thought that someone must have given it to you. Was I wrong?”
“No, you’re right.”
“Did Hawk-sama give it to you?”
“H-how do you know that?!”
“How……? I think it’s pretty obvious.”
She was right about the Captain giving it to me. I was surprised and turned back, Liz looked shocked.
Eh, what’s with that?
Why is it easy to tell?
When I asked her about it, Liz sighed and lifted her index finger in front of me.
“First, rumour has it that Hawk-sama is always together with the same woman.”
“Wow.”
“I think that person is, of course, you.”
Seriously?
I haven’t heard that rumour, you know?
And what’s with “that”, huh?
Then, Liz lifted her middle finger.
“Second, the gems on your hairclip perfectly matches up with Hawk-sama’s eye colour.”
“You looked really closely, huh……”
“Of course, the gems give the hair clip a nice finish.”
“No, not that, I meant at Hawk-sama’s eye colour.”
“Hawk-sama’s eye colour is the Margrave family’s special trait so it is well-known.”
“I see.”
“Those are the two reasons that come to mind.”
“Still can people make a connection that quickly just because the gems match the colour of Hawk-sama’s eyes?”
“Yes, certainly. It’s well-known that Hawk-sama favours Sei.”
“Well-known?!”
“Besides, it’s common in this kingdom for men to give his colour to the woman he likes.”
“His colour?”
“Like the colour of his hair or the colour of his eyes. Men generally gift things that match the colour of their eyes.”
“I see.”
I didn’t know this.
So that means, the Captain likes……
No, no. Wait, wait.
It’s impossible for me to think further than that!
What should I do? Was it really okay for me to receive this?
Director, you definitely knew this, didn’t you?
Why didn’t you tell me!?
I wrapped my hands around my head while sitting and I heard Liz giggling.
“Sei, you’re so red.”
“I’m…… I’m not used to these kind of things!”
“Oh, is that so?”
Ah, I can’t believe Liz was lecturing me on love when she’s about 10 years younger than me. Liz watched me warmly when I lifted my face up. I’m really want to run away.