LGYH O5

You said we were going to your house, so why are we going to the Imperial Palace?
Episode 5

For the employees of the Potion Management Department, lunchtime without Layton was their true free time.

Most of the employees spent it taking naps or resting at their desks, but Tony used every bit of that time to gossip.

As usual, who knew where he had picked up the rumors, but he was enthusiastically talking about the Third Prince, spraying saliva everywhere as he spoke.

“You’re being too harsh calling him a lunatic.”

Kira, who always used proper and kind words, frowned.

Whether she objected or not, Tony continued talking.

“I’m telling you, everyone calls him a lunatic, not just me!”

When no one showed any interest, Tony made a sulky face.

He was always thirsty for other people’s attention.

“What’s so unusual about him?”

Fine, here, I’ll throw you a bone. Someone finally asked a question.

Excited, Tony dragged a chair to the middle of the office and sat down.

“Well, you know that the Imperial Family has the blood of dragons, right? That’s why they’re all born with unique abilities.”

“…….”

“The Third Prince has the ability to control fire, and apparently, when he was six, he blew up a door because the playroom wasn’t open.”

What an unmanageable baby.

Dana absentmindedly twirled her fountain pen, fidgeting with it as she half-listened.

Tony continued.

“When he was ten, apparently he set the High Priest’s beard on fire because his sermon was getting too long.”

Edwin silently listened to the nonsense rumors being spread about himself.

The door he had actually destroyed wasn’t the playroom’s door, but the Emperor’s audience chamber.

He had simply been annoyed because one of the bribed ministers kept crying and begging to be forgiven for three whole days.

His father, the Emperor, was too soft-hearted to throw him out, so as the filial son he was, he set the place on fire.

And as for the High Priest’s sermon…… six hours was a bit much, wasn’t it?

He had simply stepped in on behalf of all the bored people.

‘I was quite clever even as a child.’

Looking back on it again, he had no regrets about his choices.

Tony continued talking about the Third Prince, lamenting the dwindling lunchtime.

“And then there’s the Rune Knights, where only the greatest lunatics in the Empire are gathered! The commander of that group is the Third Prince!”

“The Rune Knights…… You mean the knights responsible for defending against monsters in the North?”

Delighted by Kira’s interest, he answered.

“Exactly! They say they send all the lunatics the country can’t handle over there!”

Was that so? Edwin recalled his subordinates.

‘They weren’t that bad, as far as I remember.’

They were stupid and belligerent. But they listened well.

“Anyway, he’s incredibly scary and cruel, so everyone should be careful!”

With that, Tony returned to his seat.

Dana couldn’t understand.

‘It’s not like I’ll ever run into him, so why is he making such a fuss?’

Just then, Edwin asked her,

“What do you think, senior? About the Third Prince.”

“I don’t know.”

Edwin’s face looked unusually serious as he asked.

Watching his solemn expression, Dana suddenly let out a little laugh.

“You’re scared, aren’t you?”

“…….”

Dana mistakenly assumed that despite his large build, he was actually quite timid.

Then she smiled and teased him.

“Don’t worry. If you ever meet him, hide behind me.”

“……Then will you stay with me, senior?”

“Sure. Why not?”

At the atmosphere that had grown closer than before, Edwin’s eyes sparkled.

There was no way he would miss such a good opportunity.

“I’m really timid, senior.”

“You look it.”

Dana smiled and patted him on the back.

Edwin happily accepted her pat.

And then he realized.

Dana had a weakness for people showing vulnerability.

“Dana, you’re working overtime again today, right?”

“Yeah, see you tomorrow!”

After saying goodbye to Kira, Dana began working overtime.

Once again, she was working alone in the dark office, relying on the faint magical lights……

“Senior.”

She had been expecting to work alone, so why was there another person’s voice?!

Startled, Dana looked toward where the voice had come from.

The person who opened the door and entered was Edwin.

He was carrying a picnic basket in his hand.

Dana stared blankly with her mouth open at the unexpected situation.

“I’m going to work overtime too.”

Edwin looked around and smiled.

“It’s just the two of us, right?”

For some reason, it felt like he was emphasizing the word ‘us’……

When Dana nodded, he sat down beside her.

Soon, several kinds of cookies and apple juice were placed on Dana’s desk.

“What’s all this?”

“You get bored of your mouth while working, don’t you?”

“You’re working overtime too?”

“Yes. I thought I could learn some work from you, senior.”

He held out a piece of cookie toward Dana’s mouth, telling her to try it.

Dana absentmindedly accepted the cookie from him and ate it, her eyes widening.

It’s delicious……!

Maybe it’s because I haven’t eaten them in so long?

No, even so, it seemed completely different from the cookies she had eaten as a child.

The crispy yet chewy texture and luxurious flavor made her eyes light up.

Before she knew it, Dana had eaten three cookies, and a bottle of juice touched her lips.

“Slowly. Drink some juice too.”

At Edwin’s gentle touch, Dana nodded obediently.

‘This…… feels like I’m being raised for slaughter.’

Still, she couldn’t bring herself to refuse his kindness.

The sweetness she had tasted for the first time in a long while gave her a boost of energy.

“Thanks, Edwin. It’s really delicious. Where did you get it?”

“I brought it from home.”

Edwin smiled contentedly as he watched her cheeks puff up while she chewed.

Once her stomach was somewhat full, Dana opened a document and asked,

“Isn’t it hard to work overtime from your very first day?”

“……Because there’s overtime pay.”

Hearing that, Dana’s expression became serious.

‘Could his family circumstances be difficult too, like mine……?’

It would be rude to ask directly.

Dana smiled and changed the subject.

“Still, your family must be waiting for you.”

“I don’t know. They don’t particularly welcome me.”

“…….”

Could Edwin perhaps be in the same situation as her?

Her expression became even more serious.

‘No, thinking like this is rude too.’

She tried to push the thought away, but it wouldn’t disappear easily.

If he really was in the same position as her…… she wanted to comfort him warmly.

Rather than letting her feelings show, Dana decided to treat him a little more kindly.

“Then I’ll teach you some work while we work overtime today. See these potion reviews from the various knight orders?”

“Yes, senior.”

“You organize them by category. If there are any side effects or unusual details, put them here in the middle.”

“Understood.”

Edwin was smart.

Even though he could have asked his supervisor about anything ambiguous, he classified the information accurately.

It was fortunate that such a capable new employee had joined. Thanks to him, Dana was also able to focus comfortably on her work.

How many hours had they spent organizing reports?

Perhaps because her stomach was full, sleepiness began to overwhelm her.

“…….”

Dana’s eyes kept closing.

Her heavy head repeatedly drooped.

I can’t fall asleep! Dana vigorously shook her head.

Watching her, Edwin brought a blanket from somewhere.

“How about resting for just ten minutes? I’ll wake you up.”

“Really? Thanks.”

That was exactly what she wanted to hear.

Genuinely grateful, Dana lay her head down on the desk.

Edwin covered her back with the blanket.

Soon, the sound of her steady breathing filled the room.

“You must be very tired.”

Edwin gently brushed her hair aside.

Her black hair softly fell behind her ear.

After parting with Dana on the battlefield, Edwin had to imagine her appearance countless times, even though he couldn’t quite picture it.

What color would her eyes be? What would her hair look like?

The sight of her that Edwin finally encountered from behind the curtain on the day of Dana’s interview for the Department of Magic was something he would probably never forget for the rest of his life.

Dana was more beautiful than any image he had imagined for so long.

Her jet-black hair and straight blue eyes pierced straight into Edwin’s heart.

Even her voice was something he could never forget.

‘If I had known this would happen, I would have thought of you every time I looked at the night sky.’

Edwin smiled silently.

Come to think of it……

‘Dana, you’re working overtime again today, right?’

Was her name Kira? From what that employee had said, Dana seemed to work overtime all the time.

‘That can’t be good for her health.’

Why did she cling to overtime work so much?

Was there some circumstance he didn’t know about?

He had always assumed Dana was doing well while he was away fighting monsters.

‘I need to find out for sure.’

Thinking that, Edwin pulled Dana’s blanket up a little more.

Thanks to that, Dana fell into a deep, sweet sleep.

Meanwhile, at the Imperial Palace……

“Where did my cookies go? You know I eat orange-jam cookies every time I attend to state affairs!”

The Emperor was making a sulky face.

The flustered attendant lowered his head.

“Th-that…… I heard His Highness the Third Prince took them.”

“Edwin?”

“Yes……”

“Hmph.”

Other snacks were brought out for the dejected Emperor, but his mood did not improve.

Unable to bear watching him like this, the attendant spoke up.

“Shall I say something to His Highness the Third Prince……?”

“To our youngest? No, no!”

That child is too scary. The Emperor shook his head.

“Hmph.”