Chapter 19
Eloise had a generally round, cute appearance, but the things she said and did often hovered on the line between politeness and rudeness.
Strangely, it wasn’t unpleasant.
She may look careless, but I hear she’s frighteningly good at her job.
Noah recalled the report he had received about Eloise’s work performance before coming here.
“She’s diligent. Extremely fast at handling tasks. She fell behind in promotions due to early complaints during her initial period, but in terms of ability alone, she’s top-tier.”
“She ranked first in the Magi Administration entrance exam. Perfect scores in all training evaluations. That’s why they sent her to the toughest place, the Support Team.”
“It’s no exaggeration to say she built the Support Team’s work system within a year of joining. The healer reservation system too. She fought tooth and nail with mages to get it established. That’s why mages grit their teeth when her name comes up. In the Mage Tower, they call her a dead end.”
So she doesn’t look stubborn, but when she works, she pushes through decisively?
Fighting mages, of all people.
Those insignificant beings who could be reduced to ash by a single spell, yet dared to clash with mages without fear.
Of course, using attack magic on civilians was strictly illegal, but when mages lost their temper, did they really care about that?
Given Eloise’s personality, surviving in the Support Team likely required a good deal of luck.
Or perhaps mages softened because of her pretty face.
“Interesting. Very interesting.”
Noah laughed.
Eloise’s long eyelashes fluttered rapidly.
What’s wrong with him?
She wasn’t curious about why he was laughing, but it was deeply irritating.
She just wanted him to answer already.
“You’re having tea, right? What would you like?”
Noah’s laughter grew louder.
I was going to ask what her relationship with Gerard was, but there’s no need.
She was interesting enough without Gerard.
He would watch her a little longer.
And if he liked what he saw?
He could simply take her.
***
“His Highness the Crown Prince went to the Forecast Team?”
The moment Morgana arrived at work, she was hit with unpleasant news.
Her sharp eyes narrowed even further.
Yesterday, Morgana had personally confirmed that Eloise’s forecast wasn’t empty talk.
Just as Rainbow Holes appeared and mages and healers emerged, now forecasters had appeared as well.
It was divine providence.
Before she could even rejoice, an unwelcome guest with clearly impure intentions had barged into her territory.
“Why did His Highness come? For what purpose?”
“He didn’t share his purpose with us.”
Morgana pressed her fingers to her forehead and sighed.
She had forgotten how willful Noah was.
“Go to the Forecast Team immediately.”
“Yes, I’ll escort you.”
“And where’s Gerard?”
“He’s at the Mage Tower.”
The deputy director’s secretaries kept close watch on the Tower Master’s movements in case a Rainbow Hole suddenly appeared.
“Contact the Mage Tower. Tell him to come to my office.”
She intended to confront Gerard about what happened yesterday.
Teleporting her straight into the middle of the Magi Administration courtyard!
She had frozen, thawed, and frozen again—her appearance had been a mess, and her condition terrible.
Shouldn’t he have at least sent her to the infirmary?
Of course, Morgana knew.
Expecting humanity from Gerard was unreasonable.
But he had taken Eloise home and personally cared for her?
That alone had made the Magi Administration buzz all night.
Don’t tell me Gerard is trying to take Rubelia to the Mage Tower?
Morgana clenched her teeth.
Setting aside her desire not to lose talent, the Forecast Team absolutely had to belong to the Magi Administration.
The nature of their work demands it.
She disliked both the Crown Prince and the Tower Master.
This is why you can’t entrust important matters to men. They can’t see the bigger picture.
Determined not to lose Eloise Rubelia, Morgana grabbed the communicator.
“Expand the Forecast Team. At least two more members. Who to send? Ask Eloise Rubelia. Issue appointments immediately based on her preferences. No exceptions. Do exactly as told.”
Eloise Rubelia was a big fish she could not afford to lose.
We’ll have to offer her something better than whatever the Crown Prince proposes.
Regardless of Noah’s intentions, his visit turned out to be an advantage for Eloise.
***
Eloise heard about the plan to reinforce the Forecast Team around ten in the morning.
She accepted without hesitation.
And she immediately named her friend, Merlin Pardel, as her top choice.
She also requested Merlin’s promotion, a salary raise, and assignment to a single dorm room.
She had expected rejection, but the deputy director’s staff accepted everything.
Then they asked,
“If there’s anything else you need, please don’t hesitate to say so.”
“I’ll think about it a bit more. The Forecast Team isn’t fully organized yet.”
Eloise deliberately saved the opportunity with a reasonable explanation.
In truth, the Forecast Team didn’t have much work yet.
And there wouldn’t be much forecasting work in the future either.
What Eloise wanted to do in this free office, with people she trusted, was something else entirely.
Maybe it’s time to visit her.
Sara—the healer who remained one of Eloise’s regrets from her past life.
Eloise’s gaze darkened as she thought of her.
This time, she wouldn’t leave regrets.
She would do what Sara had desperately wanted to do.
Improve the treatment of healers.
First, the world needed to know how poor healers’ conditions were, and public empathy had to be built.
To do that properly, Merlin was essential.
Merlin was well-connected within the Magi Administration and widely respected.
Despite Eloise frequently clashing with mages, she had been able to stay in the Support Team because of Merlin.
Merlin had always smoothed things over with the mages on Eloise’s behalf.
I nearly got kicked out to the even worse field recovery team. She stopped that.
Eloise was always grateful.
She had been waiting for a chance to repay her, and now she did it all at once.
With a promotion and a raise.
And an office with sunlight.
“I really did all this already?”
Standing in the middle of her office, Eloise spread her arms wide.
Then she hugged herself tightly and spun around.
“Amazing.”
“Impressive.”
“Perfect.”
After generously praising herself, she turned to the window, emotion swelling.
“It hasn’t even been that long since I came back, and I’ve done this much. If I push just a little more…”
Maybe she’d reach the future she wanted sooner than she thought.
Eloise was filled with hope.
“Returned? From where?”
Eloise flinched.
The voice came not from behind, but from her left.
She spun around to see Gerard.
Her eyes widened.
“There’s a door there too?”
There was a door partially hidden by a bookshelf.
It connected directly to Gerard’s office next door.
“You didn’t know? I thought you did. More importantly, may I come in?”
“You’re asking too late. Knock first next time. What’s that door even for?”
“Let’s clear up the misunderstanding first. I did knock. There was no response, and given what happened yesterday, I thought you might have collapsed.”
“…How long were you watching?”
“How long would you like me to stay?”
“That you saw nothing.”
“Let’s go with that. I’ll erase the image of you hugging yourself and shouting compliments.”
“Gerard!”
Eloise shouted, her face flushing red.
She had forgotten and called him by name again, just like before.
For a moment, a soft curve appeared on Gerard’s lips.
Then he wiped his expression clean and added seriously,
“Praising yourself is a good habit.”
“…You said you’d forget.”
“I did. But I heard the Crown Prince was here. What did he want?”
Eloise was startled.
“How did you know?”
“Our offices are next to each other.”
In truth, Gerard had rushed back after handling urgent business at the Mage Tower, having received Morgana’s message.
It seemed Morgana had already taken the Crown Prince away in the meantime.
Still, he wanted Eloise’s answer quickly, so he skipped the explanation.
“His Highness asked a few questions about yesterday’s Blue Hole, thanked me for my hard work, and left.”
Gerard’s eyebrows drew together slightly, and the air around them cooled.
Eloise didn’t notice while preparing tea.
“That could’ve been handled through a report.”
“I suppose so.”
“There’s no reason for the Crown Prince to personally concern himself with you, is there?”
“Right. Maybe he was just curious about the forecasting ability?”
“That sounds like there’s no reason for him to meet you again.”
As Eloise turned back with two cups of tea, she sensed the conversation taking a strange turn.
It almost sounded like Gerard was deeply uncomfortable with her meeting the Crown Prince.
But there was no reason for that.
Was there?
