Chapter 12
Gerard flinched when he saw Eloise’s moist eyes.
But he said nothing.
Leaning against the wall of the ultra-high-speed elevator powered by a massive Yellow Gem, he waited quietly for Eloise to compose herself.
Eloise looked up at the Yellow Gem covering the entire elevator ceiling.
The larger the Rainbow Hole, the higher the difficulty—and the larger the gem obtained from it.
‘With a yellow gem that size, dozens of mages must’ve gone in. And if you sold that thing, you’d be rich.’
As Eloise stared blankly at the ceiling, Gerard spoke.
“Do you like it?”
“Yes.”
A brief silence fell over the elevator.
Only then did Eloise realize how dangerously vague her answer had been.
Gerard was a man who received aggressive confessions all the time.
And on top of that, the two of them shared a similar misunderstanding in the past.
‘When I said I liked you back then, you got serious. I meant I liked you as a person, as a friend.’
For several days after that, Gerard had been distant.
In this life, Eloise wanted to avoid that kind of misunderstanding at all costs.
She hurriedly opened her mouth.
“Oh—no, I mean, what I like is the gem. The gem! The Yellow Gem up there! I definitely don’t mean that I like you, Sir Gerard!”
“Do you dislike me?”
Gerard’s brow furrowed.
“No! Not at all!”
Eloise panicked.
“Not at all?”
Eloise wanted to get along well with him.
She didn’t want any misunderstanding that they disliked each other.
‘What if he thinks I hate him and refuses my healing?’
That couldn’t happen.
“Right! Not at all!”
She clasped her hands tightly in front of her chest and met his eyes.
Can you see how much goodwill I have toward you in my eyes?
Maybe her desperation got through.
A pleasant smile appeared on Gerard’s face.
‘Wow… am I accidentally using a charm tactic?’
Eloise forgot her embarrassment and stared, entranced by his smile.
“Then that’s fine. I was asking whether you liked gems. You were staring at the Yellow Gem so intently.”
“Ah… right. That makes sense. That’s what I thought too.”
Relaxing, Eloise let her arms drop.
She felt relieved that he understood her sincerity—and embarrassed that she’d nearly created such an awkward situation over nothing.
Lowering her head, Eloise swallowed her inner thoughts.
‘Ugh. I really need to stop jumping to conclusions and acting before thinking.’
Meanwhile, Gerard’s gaze lingered steadily on Eloise.
Ding.
The elevator reached its destination, ending both Eloise’s self-reproach and Gerard’s quiet observation.
They stepped out as if nothing had happened.
“I think we got off on the wrong floor, Sir Gerard.”
Eloise pointed at the sign posted across from them.
“This is your office.”
“That’s right. And your office is right over there.”
Eloise turned to where Gerard pointed.
Her eyes widened.
“That’s…?”
“Right next to my office.”
The two of them had become neighbors.
***
Eloise sat blankly in the vast office.
“This is the Forecasting Team office. If you need anything, just tap the ring.”
After guiding her inside, Gerard returned to his own office.
Left alone, Eloise slowly took in the space.
Expensive furniture.
A top-grade carpet.
And an entire wall filled with viewing orbs.
This wasn’t “looking around.”
It was worth viewing—because every single item was extraordinary.
Even the chair she was sitting on…
“There’s a gold lion on the armrest.”
Startled, Eloise pulled her arm away.
Placing ink-stained hands on such precious gold felt disrespectful.
Gerard had told her to get comfortable, but she couldn’t even bring herself to touch the high-quality paper that looked like a fountain pen nib might slide on it.
She half expected people to burst in at any moment, shouting—
“There’s been a mistake! Freeze! This is no place for a low-ranking civil servant like Eloise Rubelia! Did you use that paper?! My goodness! We’ll deduct it from your salary!”
Imagining an official storming in with that tone made Eloise shiver.
She cautiously scooted forward, perching on the edge of the chair, legs trembling as she waited for someone to come announce the “mistake.”
Tick. Tock.
But time passed, and the office remained silent.
Then something caught her eye.
An engraving on the fountain pen.
[Eloise Rubelia]
Her name.
A sudden thought struck her.
She checked other items.
The nameplate.
The notebook.
The desk corner.
Even the books and reference materials filling the shelves—
Everywhere, boldly engraved:
Eloise Rubelia.
As if scolding her absurd doubts.
This is yours.
This is your office.
The message seemed to hammer itself into her mind.
“Really…”
Eloise plopped down into the chair.
This time, not on the edge—but fully settling into it.
She slowly spun the chair.
“All of this…”
The vast office. The luxurious furnishings.
“…is mine?”
Life returned to her eyes.
From that moment on, Eloise tested the pen, flipped through books, and rolled the wheeled chair from one end of the office to the other.
After thoroughly exploring, she suddenly stopped.
The expression drained from her face.
She’d realized something.
A team had been created for her.
She had an office.
But there was one thing missing.
“Salary negotiation!”
When work changes, pay should change too.
Considering how much the Bureau would save through her forecasts, her salary should be at least triple.
Civil servant pay was usually step-based—but her case was special.
There was definitely room to negotiate.
‘Of course! They created a department out of thin air for me!’
Eloise sprang to her feet.
Setting down the pen, she tugged at her uniform vest, steeling herself.
‘At least double my salary!’
Eyes blazing, she flung the door open—
And stopped.
Standing right in front of the door was a giant statue of David—
No, a giant Gerard.
From less than a step away, Eloise saw his pupils subtly shake.
His warm breath brushed her forehead.
“Ah!”
Eloise snapped back and stumbled away.
She nearly smashed her face into his chest.
“Why are you standing here?”
She asked, clutching her chest.
“I was about to knock.”
Gerard raised his fist, mimicking a knock.
“It’s almost lunchtime. Do you have someone to eat with?”
“Already?”
Eloise checked her watch in surprise.
Only thirty minutes remained until lunch.
She grew anxious.
‘I need to see Vice Director Morgana before she goes to eat!’
Negotiating before lunch was all or nothing.
Hungry Morgana might be irritable and uncooperative—
Or she might accept everything quickly just to leave.
Eloise chose to believe in the latter and looked up at Gerard.
“I have somewhere to go. Excuse me.”
But Gerard didn’t move.
“Do you already have lunch plans? With whom?”
“No! I’m going to see the vice director. I have something to discuss.”
“Ah… Raven. Perfect. I actually have business with the vice director as well. Let’s go together.”
Before Eloise could respond, Gerard turned and pressed the elevator button, waiting for her.
‘Didn’t you just ask about lunch?’
Blinking, Eloise remembered that the elevator used Yellow Gem power—
And hurried over.
As soon as she stepped inside, Gerard followed.
She suddenly realized she didn’t remember where the vice director’s office was.
While she searched her memory, a long finger pressed the button for the 20th floor.
One floor below Gerard’s office.
Only then did Eloise realize—
Her office was above the vice director’s.
In government buildings, higher rank meant a higher floor.
That realization sent chills through her.
Not because she felt unworthy—
But because her thinking was far more ambitious.
‘My office is above the vice director’s? Then… my salary too?’
Full of hope, Eloise knocked on the vice director’s door.
