Please Don't Propose! - Chapter 7
Translator and Editor: Hue and Tea
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Chapter 7
All eyes were focused on me.
“Your food is ready.”
Then, one by one, the ordered dishes started to come out. Everyone’s mouth watered at the sight of the steaming hot food. The hands arranging the dishes on the narrow table were busy.
Nevertheless, everyone’s respectful gaze was directed toward me.
When all the food had been delivered, my interrupted introduction resumed.
“…My name is Bibi Peren. I am 25 years old.”
“25 years old?”
Pin was surprised and asked again.
“Yes.”
“You’re young even though you’re 25. I thought we were the same age.”
Pin was obviously… just 20 years old.
“Moreover, aren’t you one year older than Costas?”
“Is that so?”
“Who would think that Bibi is one year older than this old lady?”
Elvin also raised her voice in shock. It was not a comfortable atmosphere when talking about age.
“Well… I think it’s better to eat before the food gets cold.”
“Oh, yes.”
Fortunately, the age talk ended there. The meal began.
The men mainly talked about military affairs, while the women talked about the happenings in the library.
“But it’s strange. I thought you only worked on ships because you were in the Navy.”
“That’s not entirely wrong. If you join the navy, you have to spend a few years on a ship. We all did that.”
“Really? It must have been tough.”
“A lot of things happened, of course.”
Although the story gradually heated up, Costas and I remained silent until the end. In fact, his expression was slightly dark since I mentioned my age earlier. Maybe he was also shocked by my age?
“Anyway, we have to thank Costas today. The reason why we went to the library was because the rumor spread throughout headquarters that Costas went there every day.”
Director Lance placed his hand on Costas’ shoulder.
“He always reads in the same place.”
This time, Katrina answered.
“Isn’t that naive? Operation officers have a lot to do.”
“Is that so?”
“Especially, Lord Costas, who is capable and has a good head on his shoulders, has too much work. He probably worked non-stop for two years. The general who considered this harsh gave him a golden week of rest, but he was reading books in the library….”
“So there were many rumors in the military. One of them was that Lord Costas had a lover hidden in the library,”
Lieutenant Elvin added. The problem was that both of their gazes were directed at me before returning to their original positions.
It was a brief moment, but I definitely felt it, even though the senior officers didn’t seem to notice.
“Really? But most of the people who come to the library are elderly,” I said.
“That’s right. And Lord Costas is always just reading books,”
Katrina and Georgia defended Costas. The men nodded their heads a few times, but didn’t show any meaningful smiles.
“Well then, shall we hear about Bibi? I’m very curious about what a beautiful woman like Bibi usually does and what she likes,”
Lord Pin took the opportunity to ask me a question.
Lord Costas’ piercing gaze suddenly relaxed, and the other men looked at me curiously.
“Lord Pin is right. I’m also curious about Bibi’s ideal type. Do you prefer older or younger men?”
Lieutenant Elvin asked bluntly.
“Huh? Oh, actually, I prefer older men…”
“Oh dear. That’s too bad for the men under 25,” he chuckled.
One of the unfortunate men under 25 was right next to me – Lord Costas.
I could feel his usually straight shoulders drooping slightly. It was only then that I realized why his expression had been so dark before. The men at the table seemed to be very pleased to know the truth.
‘This is making me crazy,’
I thought to myself.
‘It seems Costas likes me. It’s so obvious that I’d be a fool not to notice. But why does he like me? And when did he start liking me?’
“Bibi, what do you think of soldiers?” “Which do you prefer, the Air Force or the Navy?”
“Do you like fleets?”
Major Pin and Lieutenant Elvin asked me basic and trivial questions. Even if I tried to change the subject, their eyes were fixed on me, waiting for my answer.
“I think soldiers are great,”
I replied honestly, but I didn’t even know what I was saying. In other words, I wasn’t in my right mind at the moment.
If Lord Costas wavered even a little, I would twitch my shoulder. And if he smiled even slightly, I would keep talking unnecessarily long.
“I’m not usually like this. Even if someone shows interest in me, I usually don’t pay attention to it. But a few days ago, a guy started to notice my features.”
“Bibi is really pretty. When the youngest one came to work in the village, rumors spread among the villagers. There were more people than when I came to the library. All kinds of men were there.”
Julia spoke as if she were boasting. She was different from me, who tried to hide my true feelings and spoke only with pretty words.
Julia continued the story in an interesting manner like a storyteller. Thanks to her, the men’s expressions became even more curious.
Lord Costas, who had maintained his composure all along, was not an exception. He stopped eating and stared at Julia.
“Many men came to the library for the first time.”
“….Not to that extent. They were just curious about my face for a few minutes.”
I interrupted their narrative even as I had been listening quietly.
“What are you talking about? You filled the reading room. Did you forget that some of those men were famous nobles from the area?”
“Huh? It was diverse, from young boys to middle-aged men with wives. At that time, I was really confused whether this was a library or a social gathering.”
Georgia added more details.
“So what happened then?”
Amidst the numerous comments, Lord Costas asked a question.
“Pardon?”
Julia was excitedly talking but also stopped for a moment, not knowing whether or not he was asking a question.
“Did they harm Bibi?”
“Uh, that, of course, there were many confessions, but I know that Bibi rejected all of them. Right? Bibi.”
“I, I rejected all of them.”
“Still, it was hard for a few days. Even though Bibi rejected them, some men didn’t give up and kept pursuing her relentlessly. Some even waited for Bibi to finish work and followed her home.”
Julia shuddered at the memory and shook her head.
“Oh, that must have been tough.”
Director Lance tried to comfort her, but there was no suitable response as the atmosphere became gloomy suddenly.
“Well, it’s all in the past now. It’s okay now.”
I gathered the courage to dispel the heavy air. Julia nodded her head, joining me in lightening the mood.
“This is not something that will be easily overlooked,” said Lord Costas, as if the cheerful atmosphere had dissipated. Lord Costas turned his head and looked at the person next to him with concern.
“If something like this happens again, please inform the police.”
“Th-thank you for your concern.”
“You can call me anytime, or even better, just call me.”
Lord Costas had ruined the tense atmosphere he had just tried so hard to dispel with his words.
However, he was sincere. It had been a year since the man who had been following her every day had been stopped by Julia’s ambush and the director’s threat. Despite this, Lord Costas still worried as if it had happened yesterday.
“Hey, Senior. Didn’t you say it’s already in the past? And there’s a weirdo guy who’s always in the library every day, how could he do something like that?”
“Lord Pin’s right, Lord Costas. Oh, by the way, Director Lance. Shouldn’t we start ordering drinks soon?”
Pin and Elvin stepped forward.
“Drinks are great! Would the ladies like a drink as well?”
“We would love one.”
There was no one who refused Director Lance’s offer.
“What kind of drink does Ms. Bibi like?”
“Please give me something not too strong. I can’t handle it well.”
“Well then, I’ll recommend something light.”
He reluctantly answered Pin’s question, feeling like he had no other choice. Lord Costas picked something that seemed weaker than the others and ordered it.
The drinks arrived quickly, and as soon as they took the first sip into their mouths, the conversation flowed more freely. As everyone quickly emptied their glasses, Lord Costas’ drink remained the same level. Occasionally, he would pick up leftover food if he got hungry, and the worry he had shown before didn’t make this gathering uncomfortable or boring.
The conversation at the table was quite interesting, and Director Lance and Pin were both witty, but Elvin was not to be underestimated either.
How long had they been talking?
“Really? Is that garden really so beautiful?”
“Especially at night. Ah, would you like to go see it now? Just the two of us.”
Julia blushed at Director Lance’s suggestion. She had always been fond of him, so she couldn’t refuse.
“Well then, let’s go now.”
“N-Now?”
“Is there a problem?”
“Oh, no! Not at all!”
Julia quickly stood up from her seat at Director Lance’s prompting. It was so sudden that not only her, but everyone at the table stared at Director Lance in confusion.
Director Lance casually grabbed his coat and before leaving, he tapped the shoulders of Elvin and Pin.
I wondered what that meant.
And before long, I realized the intent.
“…Everyone has left.”
Only I and Lord Costas remained.
I couldn’t remember what excuse the remaining lieutenants and majors made as they dragged my seniors outside.
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Nony
The last few chapters have been so cute.
Villainess No.121
The first few chapter have been so realistic. It kina reminds me of a classic european movie. They’re so cute and shy. Donno how to express and show their love. I know the story is going to get pretty twisted, but i can’t stop wishing they maintain a cute and lovely relationship together. Without hurting eachother.🥲❤