Chapter 27

Chapter 27. While the count was away from the mansion

She just has to go back to her daily life. She doesn’t know why Heinz came to this secluded library, but he would soon return to his place. She felt a little sad for some reason, but Henelone, who had made up her mind, quickly moved her hand and tore open the wrapping paper.

‘Now that I think about it, Fiona’s new book will be delivered as well.’

Shaking off Heinz was a very good thing. By any chance, Fiona’s new work might be caught between the books. Fortunately, only twenty books were delivered into the library. As expected, she gets the job done quickly. Henelone heaved a sigh of relief and began to examine the book, trying to calm her stuffy mind.

The inspection was simpler than expected.  First, check the book title, author, publisher written on the enclosed order form and check whether it was delivered properly. After confirming that no books had been delivered incorrectly, the process was completed by attaching a piece of paper with the registration number, classification number, and call code to the spine and cover of the book. However, unlike the classification number, which is simply organized according to the field of the book, the registration number was different for each book, so the number had to be written down by hand on each document.

“Because it’s philosophy… number 100. The registration number is… let’s see, number 1,846,891…….”

Henelone ran her fingers through the registration numbers of the books written on the document. She wrote the registration number of the new book in the blank space at the bottom. It was another name for the book that would now be called in the old library. 

Henelone, who had written the number on a small piece of paper, opened the book and placed it firmly on the front page. She can complete the inspection of a book by writing down the classification number and call symbol and attaching it to the spine. 

However, writing down the call code was the most difficult, so she decided to put it off until later. First of all, classification came first.

“Next is the essay……….”

But how should she get the book from the mailbox? There’s Heinz in the garden.

Henelone picked up the book and shook her head. She couldn’t bring herself to put the book in the secret room when Heinz’s eyes were flashing east and west. But is there a need to keep it in that room in the first place? If she wanted to read a book without Heinz’s knowledge, the mansion was better than the library. If she puts it deep under the bed, no one will know.

When she gets off work, she will send Heinz off first and then take the book back to the mansion. Henelone, who came to a clear conclusion, smiled happily and began the inspection again.

“Essays are literature, so number 800…”

“Young lady.”

“Nhhk!”

H-he shocked me… 

Somehow it felt like déjà vu. Henelone, startled by the voice coming from behind her, shook her head and awkwardly turned her head.

“Did you call me……?”

“I found this in the mailbox. Isn’t this a book?”

Doom.

Her heart fell into the abyss somewhere.

Henelone’s face turned pale when she saw the small package in Heinz’s hand. Why did you bring that…? The way he was turning the book in his hand around made her feel like he was going to tear off the wrapping paper at any moment. Cold sweat began to form on Henelone’s hands.

‘C-calm down. Just take it naturally.  naturally…..’

“…What’s wrong with your face?”

“Huh? My face, why……?”

Heinz turned his attention to the book in his hand. Suspicion slowly rose in his eyes as he looked alternately between Henelone’s face and the book.

“…What is it that makes you so shocked?”

“I-i-it’s nothing special. I think it’s my personal item……! G-give it to me.”

Henelone, looking completely calm, stretched out her hand unnaturally.

“The recipient is the old library.”

“Aaaah! No! It’s mine! No! Don’t tear it!”

Tear. The paper wrapping was torn mercilessly by Heinz’s hands. Henelone, who hurriedly got up from her seat, flopped down at the clearly visible title of the book.

“…<While the Count was away from the mansion>.”

“.…”

“…Haa.”

Henelone, unable to raise her head, quietly covered her face with her hands. Heinz, looking at her like that, let out a deep sigh, shook her head, and called her name in a heavy voice.

“Young lady.”

“…Don’t say anything. Why… why! Why did you tear it open as you please……!”

“Isn’t this definitely embezzlement? Using the government’s money to satisfy your own needs.”

Henelone, who had been struggling to cover her face, suddenly raised her head at the criticism she could not ignore. Embezzlement! Henelone swore that in her life she had never once committed such things. Henelone, with a red face and tears in her eyes, raised her voice and shouted.

“I bought that with my own money!”

“…Ah. You bought it with your own money….”

Heinz looked at Henelone blankly with his penetrating eyes. It was somehow a very subtle expression, so Henelone lowered her head to avoid his gaze and raised her hand again to cover her face.

Shame…! I want to stick my nose in the pond and die…!

The only consolation was that Heinz quietly set the book down in front of her without opening it.

…Maybe.