“What’s the point if the pigeons don’t peck out your eyes? It’s so hot, I’m dying!”

I roughly swept my sweat-soaked bangs aside. After wandering around for hours under the scorching midsummer sun, my whole body was drained of energy.

The reason I had been roaming the capital all day was to find lace for Floria’s dress.

But I couldn’t find that damned Ralia or Rallia fabric shop anywhere.

“Dammit! Where the hell is it?”

Considering she could have summoned the owner to the palace, sending me out in this sweltering weather was clearly meant to harass me.

I was fuming at being tormented by strict Matilda while Floria remained unscathed.

I knew she had fallen for beautiful Floria at first sight, but still, to rattle someone like this…

I gritted my teeth, vowing to get revenge when I returned to the palace. But to do that, I first had to find the Ralia fabric shop.

“They said if I turn around here, it should be there…”

As I turned my head, I spotted a familiar face in the distance. With round glasses and silver hair covering his eyes, it was the librarian.

“But who are those people?”

The large men on either side of the librarian, who was clutching a book tightly, had their hands on his shoulders. Even at a glance, it was hard to see them as friends. It looked like a situation one step away from extortion.

“Of all the ways to meet, it had to be like this.”

I watched the three men disappear at the end of the alley. If someone as frail as me recklessly followed, I would only be a burden. The guards were too far away, and by the time I returned, it would be too late…

After hesitating for a moment, I slipped into the alley where they had disappeared. Walking deep inside, I saw the ruffians surrounding the librarian and threatening him.

Judging by the purse they were holding, they had already extorted money from him, but it seemed they also had their eye on the clothes and shoes he was wearing.

“Hey, I’m telling you nicely. Hurry up and take them off.”

“T-this is…”

The librarian was trembling but couldn’t seem to bring himself to undress, clutching his clothes tightly.

Just give them to them. It would be very awkward for a nobleman like him to strip in the streets, but wouldn’t it be better than getting beaten? I swallowed my frustration and cleared my throat. Hopefully, this method would work.

“Over here! They dragged him this way! Sir Knight, this way!”

I shouted at the top of my lungs, pulling from my diaphragm. Startled by my clamorous voice, the ruffians hesitated, exchanged glances, then quickly started to flee.

I waited until their retreating figures completely disappeared before approaching the librarian. He seemed to have relaxed, leaning against the alley wall and crouching down. He appeared quite shaken.

“Are you alright?”

“T-thank you.”

The librarian couldn’t even look me in the face and bowed his head deeply before taking off his glasses and wiping his eyes.

‘Could he be crying?’

The moment I thought that, he raised his head and looked up at me.

‘Oh my, oh my.’

The librarian gazing up at me with teary eyes was like a small puppy stirring protective instincts.

“I’m alive thanks to you.”

The librarian bowed his head again, and after a while, seemed to have calmed down. He put on his glasses and stood up.

“As a token of gratitude for your help…”

As he continued speaking, he saw my face and faltered. He seemed to recognize me now.

“Y-you’re the one I saw at the library before…”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Perhaps because I was an acquaintance, the librarian’s face flushed red in an instant. His pale, nearly white skin made his reddened face even more vivid.

“T-thank you for your help.”

The librarian couldn’t meet my eyes properly and looked like he wanted to run away at any moment. Was it because I, a mere maid, had caught him in this state? Or was he embarrassed to have been helped by a woman?

“It was nothing.”

“Then, I’ll be on my way.”

The librarian turned and ran out of the alley without looking back. I blinked, watching his disappearing back.

‘I wonder if I can ask him to find a book for me again with this.’

Having very calculating thoughts, I emerged from the alley and ran into him again after only a few steps.

“You have very clear eyes. Do you believe in God, by any chance?”

The librarian had been caught by a cultist roaming the streets and was being proselytized to. It had barely been a few minutes since he almost had his clothes stripped by ruffians, and he was already like this.

Shaking my head, I stepped in front of the cultist who was trying to drag the librarian away, saying he would share good words.

Perhaps startled by my reappearance, I felt him flinch behind me. I glared at the cultist who was looking me up and down with displeasure.

“You!”

The cultist’s shoulders jerked at my forceful tone. I narrowed my eyes, examining him closely.

“Have you had any family members pass away recently?”

“Excuse me? Oh, no. Not recently… But my grandmother did pass away twenty years ago…”

I quickly seized upon what the cultist blurted out, taken aback by my forcefulness.

“That’s right, twenty years ago! Your grandmother who passed away twenty years ago is hanging onto your shoulders right now.”

“W-what?”

The cultist looked at his shoulders one after another in surprise.

“On the right.”

I spoke to the cultist who had swiftly turned his head to the right shoulder.

“She says she’s very hungry. Instead of knoc- no, proselytizing to others, you should pray for your grandmother. She’s very angry and glaring at you right now.”

“G-grandmother is?”

The cultist jumped up in fright, not knowing what to do. I solemnly advised him.

“Hurry to a restaurant. Order the most expensive dish and set it across from you. Hurry. Right now. Quickly. Fast!”

At my urging, the cultist screamed and ran out into the street. I swept my hair back with a refreshed feeling and turned to the librarian.

“It hasn’t even been five minutes since you left the alley, has it?”

The librarian avoided my eyes with an awkward expression and spoke in a meek voice.

“Thank you again for your help.”

“Does this happen often?”

Wondering how he could get dragged away twice in just a few minutes, he nodded his head with an ashamed face.

“Then why do you go around alone without an escort knight?”

“I usually go with one, but today I left in a hurry and didn’t have time to call for them.”

I stared at the librarian as he answered, stammering. I had a premonition that if we parted ways like this, he would get dragged away by someone again.

“Where were you headed? I’ll go with you.”

“I-it’s alright!”

The librarian waved his hands in surprise.

“Your wallet was stolen too.”

“Ah…”

The librarian furrowed his brow slightly with a troubled look and glanced at me.

“Then, may I trouble you?”

“Yes, of course.”

It was actually better for me. If I built a rapport with the librarian, it would be easier to ask for his help regarding magic books later.

At my urging gaze, the librarian bowed his head deeply and started walking. I followed beside him and asked.

“Where’s your destination?”

“What about you?”

“Me?”

“Yes. We should go to where you were headed first.”

The librarian said, subtly putting distance between us.

“Calling me ‘maid’, just feel free to call me Reneola.”

“How could I casually address a lady by her name?”

“I think it’s better than being called ‘maid’.”

After a moment of silence, the librarian spoke.

“My name is Mathias Linton.”

“Then may I call you Mr. Linton?”

“Y-you may call me by my name.”

Mathias said, turning his head to the side. Seeing his reddened ears, I tilted my head quizzically. What was there to blush about while telling me to call him by name?

“Then I’ll call you Mr. Mathias.”

“Yes, I’ll call you Lady Reneola then.”

“You can just call me Reneola. I’m a maid, you know.”

If anyone saw Mathias, a viscount, calling me Lady Reneola, they would surely find it strange.

“Do you find it unpleasant to hear, by any chance?”

Mathias asked cautiously.

“No, it’s not that, but since you’re a viscount, Mr. Mathias, I thought others might find it odd.”

“The gazes of others are unimportant.”

It was a resolute answer, unlike the feeble impression Mathias had shown so far. As I blinked and stared at him, he lowered his head as if embarrassed and continued.

“Things like status or position aren’t very important when it comes to befriending people.”

Wow. I applauded inwardly. Having experienced hierarchical relationships based on status ad nauseam since transmigrating to this world, I instantly took a liking to Mathias, who had the right values.

‘He’s a good man. A bit frail though.’

Feeling pleased at the prospect of making a good friend after Silvia, I smiled brightly.

“I’m looking for the Ralia fabric shop. Do you happen to know where it is?”

“Yes, the place I was headed to is also near there.”

Oh, what luck. I hastened my steps, overjoyed at finally finding the damned Ralia fabric shop, and asked casually.

“Where were you going?”

“The Carrot Carrot Carrot Bookstore. I received word that a book I ordered a few days ago has arrived, so I was on my way to pick it up.”

At Mathias’s answer, I faltered. Where?

Mathias asked with an innocent face.

“Do you happen to know where it is?”

Of course I know. I know it very well. But why there of all places?

Can I take back what I said about accompanying you to your destination, even now?