~Chapter 09~
Under the pressure to “say anything freely,” I forced an awkward smile and threw out a random topic.
“…It seems Her Highness the Princess really likes the young duke.”
“There’s no need to be jealous. I have no interest in her whatsoever.”
Jealous? Me? Of you?
Do you happen to know the term overinflated ego?
I wanted to punch that smug, pretending-to-be-charming face of his right then and there—but I held it in.
Unfortunately, he was my superior.
The young duke, as if he had been waiting for me to speak, began rambling on his own.
“The princess doesn’t love me. She loves my family.”
“…I see.”
“Many people are like that. For something as trivial as money. You can’t buy everything with gold, can you?”
…Is that something you should say in front of someone who just lost their parents and joined the knight order to earn money?
Did you think before speaking?
At nineteen, he should’ve been past his rebellious phase—but he still seemed stuck in it.
The duke character, Pierre, from Lady Maker felt more composed than this… maybe because that was his version from a few years later?
Come to think of it, the capture targets only really started appearing around year three.
“Um…”
I carefully chose my words.
If you think money is so trivial, why don’t you donate all your wealth and live as a beggar?—that nearly slipped out, but unfortunately, he was still my boss.
Still, maybe it was because he was handsome—watching him stare into the distance with a lonely expression…
“You… you’ll definitely meet someone wonderful someday!”
Damn it, I almost said “you’re being ridiculous” instead.
Pretending I’d just stumbled over my words, I quickly offered something positive.
The young duke stared at me, then smirked.
“You don’t think that person might be you, do you?”
“Mi—”
Are you insane?
“…I only intend to be of some small help.”
Dating your boss at work?
What kind of horrifying, nightmare scenario is that?
I quickly drew the line.
“I am, above all, a knight of the House of Edenrosa. I am here solely in that capacity.”
This is a workplace. I am an employee.
Nothing beyond work. Got it?
“Then you came here solely to devote yourself to me as a knight?”
“Yes.”
When your boss asks, Can you dedicate your life here?, the correct answer is always yes.
I replied with a serious expression.
The pay was good, and compensation matched the work. I intended to stay long-term—so saying I’d devote myself was only half a lie.
“…Even if I offer you no reward?”
“Yes.”
Why would you reward me?
My salary comes from the duke’s estate.
This is why rich kids are a problem.
They think their parents’ wealth is theirs.
…Though, admittedly, in a few years, it actually would be his.
“…Heh.”
For a moment, it seemed like he was looking straight at me—then he suddenly bent over.
“Young Duke?”
When I cautiously called out, his shoulders trembled—and then he burst into laughter.
“Hahaha—! Hahahaha!”
After laughing for quite a while, he wiped tears from his eyes and said:
“To devote yourself for such a reason, without expecting anything in return… I truly cannot understand people like you.”
What, have you never seen a loyal knight before?
Is this place secretly dysfunctional?
Why is it dysfunctional?
Are salaries delayed or something?
While I was seriously contemplating that, he called out to me.
“Good. Sir Eduke. I’ll give you the chance to devote yourself to me.”
“A chance…?”
Ah. When a boss says something like that, it usually means dumping annoying work on you.
My well-trained workplace instincts were screaming: This is disguised overtime.
And usually, there’s no refusing it.
“Don’t worry. I reward my people properly.”
“…What kind of task is it?”
Suppressing the ominous feeling, I asked.
With a playful smile, he answered:
“If you can somehow separate the princess from me, I will reward you.”
“…Separate the princess? Me?”
“Yes. Consider it an unofficial request.”
See? Annoying job, just like I thought!
This time, I couldn’t even hide my grimace.
Being in the same room as the princess alone was already mentally exhausting.
As if understanding my feelings, he patted my shoulder.
“There will be no penalty if you fail. Do as you wish. I’ll adjust your schedule so you can encounter the princess more often.”
Isn’t that basically forcing me?
I forced a smile and nodded.
Right. When the boss tells you to do something, you do it…
* * *
“Partner, partner, come in. Over.”
—What is it this time?
“The young duke is seriously annoying.”
After work, I clung to the communication device.
Mephisto must’ve been busy—he only replied after a long while, sighing.
—Is that all you had to say? I’m busy, so I’ll hang up now.
“Wait! Why are you living like such a busy Korean when you’re not even Korean?”
—Because of certain assignments someone gave me, I’ve been especially busy lately.
“Hmm… anyway, listen.”
Smoothly dodging his complaint, I told him everything that happened today.
“I’m screwed, right?”
—Yes. If you intend to carry out the task of ‘separating the princess from the young duke’… then yes.
Having quickly picked up modern slang from talking with me, Mephisto answered calmly.
—The princess’s obsession with the young duke is widely known, albeit unofficially. Because of that, daughters of other noble families tend to hold back.
“Huh? Just a week ago, someone tried a full-on physical approach.”
—Yes. That is them holding back. Only minor families resort to such crude methods. If a major house got involved, the knight order would already be in chaos. Wasn’t everything peaceful before the princess arrived?
“Ahh…”
—Even during your entrance exam, things became chaotic because of you, didn’t they?
I nodded.
“I see… then why not just block her from meeting him? Seems simpler.”
—She uses official matters as an excuse, making it difficult to refuse. Often, they attach their daughters under the pretext of gaining experience.
“And then send them charging in at night?”
—Exactly. If it works, great. If not, it can be dismissed as a foolish individual’s misconduct.
“Complicated~”
I clicked my tongue, then changed the topic.
“Anyway, is there no way to shake off the princess?”
—No. The young duke’s side doesn’t expect much either, so you could simply do nothing.
“I should at least pretend to try.”
If I didn’t, he might complain again.
—Emotional appeals are unlikely to work.
“Why? Can’t we just make her fall in love with someone else? It doesn’t seem like the young duke was her first love.”
—Her courtship is calculated. The real reason she clings to him is to block the Second Prince’s faction. The House of Edenrosa is neutral, but powerful enough to shift the balance.
“Ohhh.”
In the game, it was just: First Prince good, enemies bad, defeat them = happy ending.
I never knew the details.
Maybe things were different because this was years before the romance routes began.
“So the princess belongs to the First Prince’s faction, right? The current crown prince?”
—Correct. The First Prince currently holds a slight advantage, but both sides are evenly matched.
At that, I made a strange expression.
How should I describe this feeling?
Like realizing the futility of life.
Watching people desperately fight a battle with a meaningless ending.
“The First Prince wins anyway. The Second Prince isn’t even of royal blood.”
—…What?
“The Second Prince’s father isn’t the emperor. He’s… what was it? A dark mage? Something like that—”
—Wait. Just a moment.
Mephisto seemed to freeze.
There was a rustling noise, then a flash of light—he reappeared.
He must’ve used the Saint’s Heart.
I grinned at his shocked expression.
“So? I’m right, aren’t I?”
—…As I always say, please do not casually drop such heavy secrets…
“How am I supposed to know what counts as heavy or not?”
I shrugged.
“Anyway, that guy’s father gathers dark mages to hide the Second Prince’s identity—but later, he gets betrayed.”
—Dark mages are unpredictable by nature. That’s not surprising.
“So—can we use this to negotiate with the princess?”
I winked playfully.
“What she really needs is a weapon against that side, right? We give her that, and I get a bit of support in return. You too, partner.”
—…That was your real goal all along, wasn’t it?
“What are you talking about? Both are the goal.”
The young duke’s romantic mess.
The princess and the First Prince’s political problem.
I planned to solve both.
After all—
Why settle for one when you can get two birds with one stone?
