SIDE STORY 03
“What if you fall, Teacher!”
“Ah, I’m fine—”
The maids, who had rushed over in alarm when they saw me perched on the windowsill, froze when they noticed Luce.
“L-Lord Luce is here…”
“Ah, h-hello…”
Their timid voices were full of shyness.
Understandably so. Even I would need my entire life to get used to a face this striking.
After the Empire and the Magus Tower began formal exchanges, Luce stayed at the palace as a mediator. Representing the Magus Tower, he had long since cast off the dull robes at my suggestion to appear more fitting.
A person with a face that already captivated women—and men—wore such elegant clothing like a nobleman, naturally drawing all attention in the palace.
Still… did he have to be this handsome? Irritation rose in me, but Luce, who had been quietly watching me, suddenly spoke.
“You said you wanted to do it with me.”
“…Pardon?”
“You said it. With me, Rinne. With your own mouth.”
From behind me came high-pitched giggles.
I wanted to turn around immediately and explain—shout that I never said such a thing, not even once—but the maids were already running far away.
“I’m doomed…”
Of course it was the loose-lipped Rita and Teak. Within half a day, the entire palace would know.
“Luce… you…!”
I slammed my hand on his shoulder in frustration, but Luce wore a face as if nothing was wrong. If anything, he seemed more annoyed.
He caught my striking hand with a careful touch that contrasted the anger in my movements.
“Look at this, Rinne. Even in front of me, your mind is on them.”
His thumb traced my skin subtly, sliding along my wrist and up my arm.
“Think carefully, Rinne. Whether I—”
His hand, now on my forearm, brushed along the tender inner flesh.
“—can restrain my anger.”
Flustered, I jerked my arm away.
“How can I not care! My reputation is about to spread across the entire palace! Why would you say something like that all of a sudden?”
“It’s not wrong.”
“So when did I ever say such a thing—”
[“Do you want to do it with me? You know, as family.”]
“You did…! I did say it with my own mouth!”
Did he really have to cut it so bluntly?
“Why now…!”
I buried my flushed face in my hands. Clearly, Luce was teasing me—he had said that in front of the maids on purpose.
“Why now, Rinne?”
His breath tickled my ear. Leaning close as if to kiss my neck, Luce murmured,
“I repeat those words to myself all the time.”
“Uh…”
“You may have just remembered them.”
Straightening his bent waist, Luce stood, then guided my waist down to the hallway. In an instant, he disappeared from my sight.
“…Ah.”
I was doomed. Luce was actually angry.
Instead of clearing the misunderstanding, I had made things worse.
A wave of self-reproach swept over me.
“Ah? Head of the department, not leaving yet?”
“Senior, I’m not officially the head yet…”
Lauren laughed playfully at my words.
“When the formal inauguration happens next month, you’ll officially be the head. Better to get used to it early!”
Lauren called me “head” casually, even though I wasn’t yet. That was so like her I couldn’t help smiling.
“What about you, Senior Lauren? Not leaving either?”
The moon had long since risen.
“Hm. Just tidying up my research notes~”
Lauren was always the last to leave, except for me. She always said she was organizing research notes, but I knew the truth: her notes were always perfectly arranged.
She stayed behind to watch over me, worried I’d be alone so late.
“Thank you, Senior.”
“For what?”
“Just… for everything.”
Ethan had advised me to rely on the department members—they were trustworthy people. And indeed, they were good people.
Lauren, who always stayed by my side, and Benjamin, who took care of the greenhouse I couldn’t always watch, were no exception.
They were always offering their shoulders to lean on.
The problem lay with me—stumbling along, trying to walk alone despite their support.
“Oh, by the way. Did you meet Lord Luce today?”
“Well… I did…”
“After Rinnegrim went to report to the Crown Prince, Lord Luce came. He waited for you for a while, then dashed off somewhere in a hurry.”
“Hm…”
My reaction must have seemed lukewarm.
“Did you fight?!”
Lauren had noticed immediately.
“No, not exactly… Luce was just a little angry.”
“Why?! You were busy, biting your nails while waiting for a commission you submitted just a few days ago!”
I realized her words a beat too late and screamed.
“Senior! How do you know that?!”
Lauren frowned, as if to ask what I meant.
“Who wouldn’t know? At least not among our department members.”
“R-Really?”
“Of course. Did you show a little?”
“Impossible…”
“Ah, but Lord Luce probably doesn’t know yet. We were careful. When he came, we all kept our mouths shut.”
Having my secret discovered, should I even be grateful?
“…I’ll go first, Senior. Don’t stay too late.”
“Eh? Are you embarrassed? It’s okay, Rinne!”
“It’s not okay…”
I trudged down the hallway, leaving the office. Turning a corner, I bumped into someone equally tired.
“Sorry. I didn’t see you… Huh? Rinnegrim?”
“Marien?”
The person staring at me with weary eyes was Marien, a member of the Finance Department. Half a year ago, he had gotten engaged to Benjamin.
“Good heavens, Rinnegrim… what’s wrong with your face?”
“Marien, you don’t look so great yourself… Whatever happened to the Finance Department’s beauty?”
“She died of overwork from the accounting. Long ago.”
Ah, of course—the Finance Department was at its busiest. I remembered Benjamin lamenting that his fiancée was so busy he could barely see her.
“Um, Marien.”
I spoke impulsively. She’s my friend; she can give honest advice. Benjamin wouldn’t gossip, so she probably didn’t know the details.
“Yes?”
“Uh, my friend has a bit of a problem… It’s, um, a relationship issue, and I’m not sure how to advise her. So—”
“You want my opinion?”
“Yes. If it’s okay with you, Marien.”
I thought she might refuse, but at the mention of a relationship, her usually dull eyes brightened. She grabbed me with surprising strength.
“Uh! I don’t have much dating experience either, but I’ll do my best. Since it’s Rinnegrim’s issue!”
“Marien. It’s not mine—it’s my friend’s.”
“It’s Rinnegrim’s friend’s issue!”
Dragged to the palace’s back lake, I plopped down beside Marien without caring about getting my clothes dirty.
“So, my friend… let’s call her Rin for convenience.”
“Ah, so your friend’s name is Rin.”
“Yes. Rin met someone, and at first, he made a terrible impression. But over time, she grew to like him. So she… made a kind of proposal.”
“A proposal? Rin did it first?”
“Yes. Somehow, that’s how it happened.”
Marien covered her mouth in admiration.
“What a remarkable woman. That couldn’t have been easy in the Empire’s social climate!”
I lowered my head and continued.
“Yes. But Rin became very busy… perhaps a bit neglectful? Her feelings haven’t changed; in fact, they’ve grown deeper. But the other person feels neglected. He thinks Rin doesn’t think of him because she’s so absorbed in work. He’s upset because he thinks she even forgot about the proposal she made before.”
“Hm. That’s understandable.”
“Rin also feels a little hurt. She wanted support for her work, but conflicts keep arising, which frustrates her. She never wants to break up with her partner. This has been going on for about a year.”
“So Rin proposed a year ago? Hmm… When was the engagement ceremony?”
“Engagement ceremony?”
I rolled my eyes. Better to be honest.
“We didn’t have a ceremony.”
“…You said she’s passionate about work. Are there many eligible people in Rin’s workplace?”
“Uh, yes, kind of? Rin’s partner complains sometimes, but he understands the nature of her work.”
“Hm.”
Marien pondered for a long time. What she said next was shocking.
“Rinnegrim’s friend. So Rin is being unfair.”
“…Excuse me? Why?”
“Oh, sorry. That’s just my opinion. About Rinnegrim’s friend.”
“No, it’s fine.”
The problem was that I was the friend in question. But Marien could give an objective perspective. I needed her advice.
“It’s okay, Marien. Friends sometimes need straightforward advice. What did Rin do wrong?”
Marien held up three fingers.
“I suspect there are three problems.”
“Three?”
“First, Rin needs to express her feelings.”
“Express…?”
The one thing I was least confident about came up first.
“What’s the point of having deep feelings if you don’t show them? If you don’t say it, the other person doesn’t know. Even if you’re busy and neglect your partner, assuming they’ll understand is selfish. Rin’s partner is probably anxious, wondering if her feelings have faded.”
