LGYH 02

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

Episode 2

Edwin’s humming continued until he entered the Minister’s office.

Knock, knock. Paul announced that there was a guest. Or rather, he tried to announce it.

With a loud bang, Edwin opened the door and walked straight in without hesitation.

Since this wasn’t the first or second time this had happened, Paul silently went to get some tea.

Meanwhile, Derek Child, the Minister of Magic, doubted his own ears.

‘Is that guy humming right now?’

That lunatic? Why?

Whether Derek cared or not, Edwin naturally took the seat of honor on the sofa.

“Has His Highness the Third Prince arrived?”

Derek sat diagonally across from him with a smile as expressionless as a mask.

Edwin placed the wet book on the table and tapped his fingers lightly against it.

At the endless humming, Derek looked at Paul.

‘Am I really seeing what I think I’m seeing?’

Paul, who was coming in with the tea, nodded with a look of exhaustion on his face.

Derek looked at Edwin as though he was already tired of listening.

“I heard that you returned safely. I’m deeply honored that you came to see me before His Majesty the Emperor.”

“Cut the flattery.”

“Certainly.”

The two were longtime friends.

Derek, the second son of the Child Ducal family, had become the Third Prince’s friend simply because they were the same age.

And it had been forced upon him by their parents.

Because of his early education, Edwin had a personality that could go off in any direction without warning, and Derek was the only one capable of putting up with him.

Though Edwin himself didn’t seem particularly grateful for it.

“But what’s with the book? Is it something like…… a manual containing the secrets of assassination?”

“It’s a collection of poems.”

A lunatic with a collection of poems……. It wasn’t exactly a fitting sight. Derek had given up trying to understand him a long time ago.

“I can’t say I’m sorry for making you wait. You did show up so suddenly.”

“Really? I was thinking about killing you.”

Enough with the death threats……. Derek glanced at the clock. It was almost time for the grand meeting.

“Why did you suddenly come here?”

“Because I have something rather urgent to take care of.”

Something that urgent at the Department of Magic? Surely not…….

Hiding a sinister smile, Derek asked him,

“Is it related to Miss Dana Hartwin?”

In an instant, a gaze as cold as frost struck Derek.

“How do you know her?”

The oppressive aura the Third Prince displayed was extraordinary, as always.

Derek gave an awkward smile before speaking.

“How could I forget? During the last recruitment interview for new officials, you suddenly showed up and asked questions only to her.”

The Edwin Derek knew had never shown interest in anyone.

For such a Third Prince to take time out of his schedule and participate in the Department of Magic’s recruitment…… It was an extremely unusual occurrence.

And it stimulated Derek’s dark curiosity.

“What is this urgent matter?”

“I’m thinking of getting a job.”

Did I hear that wrong?

Today, one situation after another was making Derek question his hearing. He tilted his head.

‘Has he really gone insane after spending several years killing monsters in the north?’

No. The Third Prince had been insane since birth.

Edwin spoke to Derek, who was looking at him as though he couldn’t understand.

“Make a position for me in the Potion Management Division. By this week should be enough, right?”

Derek stared blankly at him at such shameless job hunting.

Regardless, Edwin stood up from his seat.

At the same time, he carefully tucked the water-soaked, battered book into his arms.

His movements were neat and refined, completely at odds with the madness inside his head.

“…….”

“…….”

Even after he left the Minister’s office, Derek and Paul couldn’t regain their senses.

Derek was the first to return to reality.

“Could Dana Hartwin’s workplace possibly be…….”

“Yes…… That’s right. The Potion Management Division.”

At Paul’s answer, Derek seemed to organize his thoughts, then chuckled.

“Just as I expected. The Third Prince and her are not in an ordinary relationship.”

Derek gave a mischievous smile. His eyes sparkled playfully.

“Watching the Third Prince struggle wouldn’t be so bad.”

“Pardon……?”

No way…… Don’t…… Please don’t……!

Paul shook his head without even realizing it.

But Derek did not disappoint his expectations.

“Make a position for him. As a low-ranking official.”

Derek raised the corners of his mouth, thinking it would be quite entertaining.

Paul glanced at him cautiously.

Despite Derek’s endlessly carefree appearance, he had a rather sticky and twisted inner nature.

‘Nothing will happen, right……?’

The only one feeling anxious was himself, a mere secretary.

“Dana, are you working overtime again today?”

Her colleague, Kira, looked at Dana worriedly.

“It’s just simple work today, so I think I’ll be done soon.”

Despite Dana’s bright smile, Kira couldn’t bring herself to leave easily.

“Dana, I understand your circumstances, but…… your health is more important than money.”

“I know, I know! Thanks for worrying about me!”

Go home already!

Dana pushed her by the shoulders and sent her away.

Watching her colleague’s retreating back, Dana murmured,

“Thank you, Kira.”

Whenever she felt a little warmth in her harsh life, her heart would grow warm.

“Well then, shall I start working overtime again today?”

Dana stretched and sat down in front of her desk. It seemed she was the only one working tonight.

Inside the dark office, she lit a single magic lamp and began writing reports.

“Let’s see, what do I have to do today…….”

Over the past few years, as medical technology had developed, potions had come to be used only to aid in recovering stamina.

Naturally, applications to the Potion Management Division decreased, and no new employees joined after Dana.

Thanks to that, the work became easier, but because she never knew when the department might disappear, she was always anxious.

“No side effects.”

Recovery potions were mainly sent to knights, from the Imperial Knights to the border guards.

They were required to report the effects and side effects of the potions, and organizing those reports was the job of the Potion Management Division.

It was something she had already done dozens, even hundreds of times.

Dana wrote the report with practiced ease.

How many hours had passed like that?

Dana finally rose from her stiff, aching body.

“Ugh, what time is it already!”

The sky outside the window was pitch-black. Perhaps because she had been working in the same position for so long, aches spread throughout her body.

She turned off the magic lamp and left work.

‘When I get back to the mansion, I’ll soak in some warm water. And then I’ll get a good night’s sleep…….’

Just how many hours would she actually be able to sleep?

Dana laughed bitterly to herself.

Although she was a noble young lady, there was no carriage waiting to take Dana home.

At least her workplace and mansion were close to each other, so that was fortunate.

Dragging her heavy body along, she opened the door to the mansion.

“Wahahaha!”

As always, the sound of her family’s laughter came from the dining room. It was a familiar sight.

“Miss, you’re home…….”

A maid cautiously approached Dana, watching her expression.

As Dana looked at the paper in the maid’s hand, she felt herself wake up completely.

“Don’t tell me…….”

“Yes, that’s right…….”

Dana accepted the demand letter with trembling hands.

‘Just how many zeros are there……!’

Sweat ran cold down Dana’s back at the enormous amount.

She rushed into the dining room where her family had gathered.

As always, the table was covered with expensive wine.

Her family was thoroughly drunk, completely unaware that Dana had arrived.

Dana’s older brother, Jamie, shrugged his shoulders and spoke to the Viscount and his wife.

“Father, Mother! I’m telling you, this time it’s definitely going to work! The merchant company we’re investing in is so incredible that…….”

“Jamie!”

Dana was the one who stopped him.

Dana shouted in disbelief.

“When did you borrow money again? This is driving me crazy, seriously!”

“My ears are going to hurt.”

Jamie picked at his ear.

His mother, the Viscountess, worried about her son.

“Our Jamie, are you all right?”

Her affectionate gaze turned vicious in the blink of an eye.

“Honestly, why are you such a difficult girl! A woman shouldn’t interfere in a man’s affairs!”

Dana’s father, Viscount Hartwin, was no different as he glared at her.

“Your only older brother says he’s doing something important, and instead of helping him…….”

It was always like this.

Whenever Jamie caused trouble and the Viscount and Viscountess indulged themselves in luxury, Dana was the only one who had to pay it all back.

Because of that, the Viscount’s estate had also had to be handed over to the country.

And yet they refused to give up their large mansion, luxurious dresses, or servants.

“That’s not an amount I can repay with my income!”

Dana shouted, unable to hold herself back.

The anger building inside her tore through her thoughts.

“Yes, there are limits to what you can do with your income.”

Jamie snickered.

“At least your face is decent enough.”

A sense of foreboding swept over her.

Dana instinctively felt her entire body growing cold.

“So, I was thinking…….”

Greed gleamed in Jamie’s eyes.

“You should get married.”

“…….”

“I got an investment from Viscount Hembern. He wants a third wife.”

Dana was rendered speechless at the words telling her that they were going to sell her off.

Her parents nodded as if they had already agreed to it.

“Ha-ha…….”

A vacant laugh escaped Dana’s lips.

The voices of her family members in front of her gradually faded away.

It felt as though every moment was moving in slow motion.

At that moment, something inside Dana snapped.

She instinctively knew.

Her affection for her family.

Her sacrifices for them.

They were all ending today.