Chapter 22
Eloise gripped her teacup tightly with both hands and spoke.
“If you have something to say, please go ahead!”
One of the basic virtues of a subordinate was to make their superior feel at ease.
“Alright. First, since your forecasting ability was clearly proven in this Blue Hole incident, I’ll approve the salary increase you requested at the level you asked for.”
Eloise covered her mouth in disbelief.
A pounding sound echoed in her ears. It was her heartbeat.
“R-Really?”
Since it was such an unprecedented raise, Eloise questioned it reflexively.
Morgana nodded firmly.
Eloise bit down hard on her lower lip, her body trembling as she tried to hold back a smile.
‘I’m crazy. I actually did it!’
Eloise jumped to her feet and bowed deeply.
“Thank you, Deputy Director! I’ll never disappoint you!”
“You sound very reliable. Treatment that matches one’s ability is only natural, so there’s no need to be overly grateful.”
As Eloise sat back down, she looked at Morgana.
The smile that had felt terrifying just moments ago now seemed incredibly benevolent.
“And since the Forecast Team Leader said I should speak freely, I’ll ask directly. You met the Crown Prince this morning, correct?”
“Yes.”
“What did he offer you? Money? Jewelry? Gems? A house? Land?”
“……”
“Don’t tell me he proposed marriage.”
Morgana’s expression twisted sharply.
“No! None of that! None at all! He didn’t offer me anything. It was just an encouraging visit. He told me to keep up the good work.”
Eloise spoke desperately.
She didn’t want Morgana to misunderstand her relationship with the Crown Prince.
On the surface, they appeared cooperative, but within the Disaster Response Headquarters, the Norban Imperial Family, the Magi Administration, the Temple, and the Mage Tower all kept each other in check.
Eloise had never seen it herself, but she’d heard they even planted spies.
‘Is she suspecting me of being an imperial spy?’
That kind of misunderstanding had to be stopped.
“I will remain loyal to the Magi Administration. I even took the oath when I joined. Should I recite it?”
Before Morgana could stop her, Eloise raised her right hand.
“I solemnly swear that as a proud civil servant of the Disaster Response Headquarters, I will abide by continental law, protect the lives and property of all people, and faithfully carry out the duties entrusted to me.”
“That resolve, that spirit, is excellent. Eloise, you are truly a valuable asset to the Magi Administration. Never change the way you are now.”
Fortunately, Morgana didn’t ask further about the meeting with the Crown Prince.
“Of course.”
Eloise slightly turned her head as if letting the tea cool and let out a long breath.
And just as she thought she could finally take a sip—
“The Mage Tower Master visited as well?”
This time, was she being suspected as a Mage Tower spy?
Her hand trembled around the teacup.
She’d already used the oath. What else could she use to prove her loyalty this time?
After thinking carefully, Eloise spoke.
“Ah, that was because of report writing. I needed to leave detailed records about the monsters, so I asked Lord Gerard to come by.”
“Ah…”
Morgana flinched.
‘She’s lying?’
The Mage Tower Master had been the one Morgana called.
They had simply missed each other, and since Gerard had stayed in Eloise’s office for quite some time, Morgana had asked casually.
“I plan to communicate frequently with Lord Gerard in the future as well. There’s the issue of video orbs, after all. That’s alright, isn’t it?”
Instead of drawing a line regarding her relationship with Gerard, Eloise asked Morgana for understanding.
Morgana chose to pretend she hadn’t noticed the lie.
Aside from Gerard, everything else seemed truthful.
“That’s fine. Honestly, I don’t care who the Forecast Team Leader meets, as long as you remember one thing.”
“And what would that be?”
“The Forecast Team reports directly to the Deputy Director’s office. From now on, all reports come straight to me, and if you need anything, you tell me.”
“What? Does that mean…?”
“You may be called a team leader, but you’re effectively a section chief.”
“Oh.”
Eloise’s lips formed a perfect circle.
One shock after another left her stunned.
But she quickly regained her composure.
Being happy could wait. Right now, she needed to secure real benefits.
There was always the risk that she’d be monitored by the Deputy Director’s office without receiving the actual authority or privileges.
“Does being treated as a section chief mean I can attend major working-level meetings?”
From the section chief level onward, one gained a voice in the Magi Administration’s key decisions.
It was something Eloise had long desired.
“I would actually like to ask you to do that. Attend major meetings as a representative of the Magi Administration and offer innovative, fresh perspectives.”
Morgana smiled inwardly, satisfied.
***
“Rubelia? In one word, she’s ‘an eye for an eye.’ Treat her well, and she treats you well. Treat her like trash, and she bites back just as hard.”
Merlin’s testimony, often cited as Rubelia’s closest friend, had been spot on.
Watching Eloise smile in genuine satisfaction, Morgana’s anxiety slowly eased.
‘The Crown Prince failed to lure her. She won’t be defecting to the imperial side anytime soon.’
The Mage Tower’s dark hand still required caution, but the imperial threat being resolved was good news.
Morgana decided to drive a final nail into Eloise’s loyalty to the Magi Administration.
“Think of yourself as a section chief, even if only in name. And no matter what happens, contact the Deputy Director’s office immediately.”
Eloise’s eyes sparkled like a hyena spotting prey.
“Then does that mean I can point out other team leaders’ mistakes?”
“…You may provide guidance and corrections.”
“Kyaaah!”
Eloise screamed before she could stop herself, then hurriedly apologized.
“I’m sorry. But what you just said—could you send that as an official notice to all teams? Something like, ‘Active cooperation is required when the Forecast Team Leader provides guidance.’ That should be enough.”
“I’ll have it sent immediately.”
“Kyaaah!”
Eloise screamed again.
At that moment, she could think of only one thing.
‘Support Team Leader, you’re dead.’
Everything she’d suffered at the Support Team Leader’s hands flashed through her mind.
‘Now it’s my turn to pay you back.’
His work had been riddled with problems.
More than a few healers had suffered because of Colin’s incompetence.
This was a necessary step to save Sara.
Forecasting was important, but for now, she would focus on “guidance and correction.”
The curtain had risen on her revenge.
***
Before revenge, there was something she had to do.
“I’m working here from now on?”
It was time to fulfill her precious friend Merlin’s dream.
Eloise had prepared a desk for Merlin in one corner of the Forecast Team office.
Naturally, it was a spot flooded with morning sunlight.
After standing frozen for a moment, Merlin slowly moved and ran her hand over the desk.
A wide, sturdy marble tabletop. Elegant cabriole legs with graceful curves. Lockable drawers with decorative handles.
It was a desk no low-ranking civil servant would ever dare dream of.
“All of this…”
“It’s yours, Merlin.”
Merlin looked at Eloise.
The moment she saw the unwavering look in Eloise’s eyes, she knew.
It was all real.
Goosebumps rose across Merlin’s body.
“You’re insane! Eloise, you’re completely insane!”
Which, to Merlin, meant Eloise was amazing.
Merlin rushed over and hugged Eloise tightly.
The celebration ended there.
Merlin released her, stepped back, and bowed deeply.
“I will serve you with utmost sincerity, Team Leader.”
From friend to civil servant.
Merlin’s swift shift in attitude was deeply satisfying.
Eloise patted her shoulder.
“Alright, Merlin. Then shall we go handle our first task? Oh, and let’s speak casually with each other.”
“How could I dare speak casually to my team leader?”
“Our team does things differently. A horizontal team culture. Let’s try making one.”
Horizontal team culture.
She’d made it up on the spot because she wanted to be comfortable with Merlin, but it sounded convincing.
If lower-ranking officials worried less about their superiors, wouldn’t the organization become healthier?
New ideas might come out in meetings.
And if people saw each other as equals, workplace abuse might decrease.
Of course, if it was only lip service, it would be even more stressful.
But not in the Forecast Team.
“So… really? I can speak casually?”
Merlin asked.
“Yes. Really.”
“Okay. But seriously, tell me now. What is actually going on? You can really forecast Rainbow Holes? And what does it mean to be a team leader treated as a section chief? An official notice went to every team saying they have to cooperate with your ‘guidance.’”
Eloise smiled brightly.
“I’ll show you exactly what it means.”
She strode past Merlin and flung the door wide open, then turned back.
“Let’s go.”
“To get revenge.”
