Chapter 5

For the employees of the Potion Management Department, lunchtime without Layton around was the only true time of freedom.

Most people napped at their desks or simply rested, but Tony used every minute to gossip.

As usual, no one knew where he had picked up the latest rumor. He was practically spitting as he talked excitedly about the 3rd Prince.

“Calling him a lunatic is a bit harsh.”

Even gentle, polite-speaking Kira frowned.

Whether she agreed or not, Tony continued.

“Everyone calls him a lunatic, not just me!”

Since nobody reacted, Tony pouted.
He was the type who was always starved for attention.

“What’s so strange about him?”

Someone finally asked, tossing him the attention he wanted.

Tony, delighted, dragged a chair to the center of the office and sat down proudly.

“Well, you know how the imperial family has dragon blood, right? So they’re all born with special abilities.”

“…….”

“The 3rd Prince has the ability to control fire, and when he was six, he blew up a door because the playroom wasn’t open.”

That must have been quite the child to handle.

Dana half-listened, spinning her fountain pen around her fingers.

Tony went on.

“Then when he was ten, the High Priest’s sermon went on too long, so he set his beard on fire!”

Edwin silently listened to the ridiculous rumors about himself.

In truth, the door he broke wasn’t the playroom, but the Emperor’s audience chamber.

He had simply been annoyed by a bribed official who begged for forgiveness for three days straight.
His father, the Emperor, was too soft to throw the man out—so Edwin did it with fire.

And as for the High Priest’s sermon… six hours was unreasonable.

He merely intervened on behalf of the bored listeners.

‘I really was brilliant as a child.’

Even looking back, he had no regrets.

Tony continued passionately, lamenting the dwindling lunch break.

“And then there’s the Rune Knight Order, the place where only the craziest elites gather! The 3rd Prince is the commander!”

“The Rune Knight Order… isn’t that the one responsible for defending the north from monsters?”

Kira asked, suddenly interested.

“Yeah! They say the country sends people there only when they’re too insane to handle!”

Was that so? Edwin casually recalled his subordinates.

‘They weren’t that bad.’

They were dumb and aggressive, sure—but obedient.

“Anyway, they’re terrifying and cruel, so stay away!”

With that, Tony returned to his seat.

Dana didn’t understand.

‘Why is he making such a fuss when we’ll never run into the 3rd Prince?’

Just then Edwin turned to her.

“What do you think, Senior? About the 3rd Prince.”

“Hmm.”

He looked surprisingly serious as he asked.

Seeing his expression, Dana burst into laughter.

“You’re scared of him, aren’t you?”

“…….”

She mistaken him for a big guy who was easily frightened.

Smiling, Dana teased him.

“Don’t worry. If you ever run into him, just hide behind me.”

“……Then will you stay with me?”

“Sure, why not.”

Edwin’s eyes sparkled at their suddenly warmer atmosphere.

There was no way he would waste such a perfect opportunity.

“I’m really scared, Senior.”

“You look like it.”

Dana laughed and patted his back.

Edwin accepted her touch happily—and realized something.
Dana was weak to other people’s vulnerabilities.

*** * ***

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

“Yeah, see you tomorrow!”

After saying goodbye to Kira, Dana began yet another lonely night shift, relying only on a dim magic lamp in the dark office—

“Senior.”

Or at least she expected it to be lonely.
But why was there someone’s voice?

Startled, Dana turned.

The person stepping in through the door was Edwin.
He was holding a picnic basket.

Dana stared blankly, caught off guard.

“I’m working overtime too.”

Edwin looked around with a smile.

“It’s just the two of us, right?”

He seemed to be emphasizing “the two of us”…

When Dana nodded, he sat beside her.

Cookies and apple juice were placed on her desk.

“What’s this?”

“You get hungry while working.”

“You’re working overtime too?”

“Yes. I also wanted to learn from you.”

He held a cookie piece up to her lips, urging her to try it.

Dana, without thinking, accepted it—and her eyes widened.

It was delicious.

Maybe it had been too long since she’d had something sweet… but even so, it was far superior to the cookies she’d eaten as a kid.

Crispy yet chewy, rich in flavor—it made her eyes roll back.

Before she knew it, she had eaten three cookies.
Then a juice bottle was gently pressed to her lips.

“Slowly. Drink some too.”

Dana nodded at Edwin’s gentle care.

‘This feels… like being taken care of.’

But she couldn’t bring herself to refuse his kindness.

Sweetness she hadn’t tasted in ages filled her with warmth.

“Thanks, Edwin. This is really good. Where’d you get it?”

“I packed it from home.”

Edwin smiled proudly as her cheeks puffed while she chewed.

Once she’d eaten enough, she opened her paperwork again.

“Isn’t it hard working overtime from your first day?”

“…We get overtime pay.”

Dana’s expression turned serious.

‘Does he also have financial issues like me…?’

It would be rude to ask directly.

So she simply changed the subject.

“But your family’s probably waiting for you.”

“Well… they don’t really welcome me.”

“…….”

Maybe Edwin was in a similar situation as she was.

Her face grew more serious.

‘No, it would be rude to assume.’

Even so, the thought wouldn’t leave her.

If he really was like her… she wanted to comfort him warmly.

So instead of saying anything, she just became more gentle toward him.

“Okay, then I’ll teach you while we work tonight. See these potion reports from various knight orders?”

“Yes, Senior.”

“Sort them by category. If you find any side effects or unusual cases, put them in the middle pile.”

“Understood.”

Edwin was smart.
He categorized everything accurately, even things most new recruits would need to ask about.

Having a competent newcomer was a relief—it made Dana’s work easier too.

After several hours of sorting reports, sleepiness started creeping in. Her full stomach didn’t help.

“…….”

Dana’s eyes kept closing.

Her head drooped again and again.

Not good! She shook her head hard.

Watching her, Edwin went somewhere and returned with a blanket.

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

“Really? Thank you…”

She gratefully laid her head on the desk.

Edwin draped the blanket over her shoulders.

Soon, her soft breathing filled the office.

“You must be exhausted.”

Edwin gently lifted her hair away from her face.

Her black hair slid softly behind her ear.

Ever since they parted on the battlefield, Edwin had been forced to imagine her face he couldn’t remember clearly—

What color her eyes might be, what her hair looked like.

The day Dana interviewed at the Ministry of Magic, he saw her from behind the curtain—and he would never forget her appearance for the rest of his life.

She was more beautiful than any image he had imagined.

Raven-black hair and straight blue eyes engraved themselves into Edwin’s heart.

Even her voice—he would never forget.

‘If I had known, I would’ve thought of you every night when I looked at the sky.’

Edwin smiled silently.

Now then…

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

That coworker—Kira, was it? Based on what she said, Dana seemed to work overtime constantly.

‘That can’t be good for her health.’

Why was she overworking herself?

Did she have circumstances he didn’t know about?

He had thought she was living well while he fought monsters.