Chapter 2
I was left speechless.
“If you put it like that, it sounds like he’d approve your resignation on the spot.”
For something said with a smile, it was terrifyingly brutal.
Creed knew better than anyone about the curse Lombre carried, about the kind of life he had lived. How could he say something like that so casually?
More than that—he wasn’t ignorant of how deeply those words could wound Lombre.
“I am scared I might die, sure. But that’s not why I want to quit.”
“Really?”
He looked genuinely surprised, and I nodded emphatically.
“Then why do you want to resign?”
Since he spoke so lightly, as if it were someone else’s problem, I straightened my posture and looked him squarely in the eye.
“Do you know what work–life balance is, Young Lord?”
“Work… life… balance?”
The term was completely unfamiliar to him. Of course it was.
This world didn’t have such a concept.
“It means maintaining a balance between work and personal life.”
“……”
“As you know, I’ve been by His Highness’s side nonstop since I was fifteen. And you’re saying I’m supposed to live the rest of my life like that too?”
No way. Absolutely not.
I never thought I’d learn about dying from overwork like this.
People say secretaries have no work–life balance, and executive assistants do all sorts of insane tasks—but this was crossing a line.
Why doesn’t this world have a Ministry of Labor? Or labor attorneys?!
“You said I’ve earned a lot of money, didn’t you?”
At my threatening posture, Creed flinched and nodded.
“What’s the point of earning a lot if I don’t have time to spend it?!”
My assets were enough to make anyone’s mouth drop open—yet I’d never even touched them.
If I hadn’t touched them, I certainly hadn’t spent them.
People probably thought I was rich because of my salary, but in reality, I was rich because I couldn’t spend it.
Money is something you spend after going home. But I was stuck in the annex office working all day—when was I supposed to use it?
The reason I’d started talking about resigning a few months ago wasn’t just this insane workload.
The original story was about to begin.
Once Lombre met the female lead, Aurora, and began developing feelings for her, my workload would naturally explode.
I wanted to escape before that happened.
The more I thought about it, the more chills ran down my spine.
In the novel’s side stories, the two of them had children and lived blissfully in love—while Amber was still drowning in work.
Just imagining the side story where they left their child behind and went on a few days’ trip made my head ache already.
“Am—Amber?”
Seeing my face go deathly pale, Creed called out to me carefully.
“This hair of mine.”
I pointed at my hair, which looked almost white when sunlight reflected off it.
“It wasn’t this color originally. This is all—”
Emphasizing every word, I continued,
“—gray hair caused by His Highness.”
If I kept working like this, I really would die from exhaustion.
Creed chuckled briefly at my joke—then suddenly froze.
His smiling lips stiffened, and the moment I realized his clear green eyes were looking past me, a cold sensation ran down my back.
Ah… no. Don’t tell me—
When I looked at him with a please don’t tell me expression, he rolled his eyes and avoided my gaze.
He’s there. Behind me.
I squeezed my eyes shut once, then turned around.
Sure enough, Lombre was standing right there.
I forced my lips into an awkward smile.
“Y-Your Highness. You were here?”
“To openly bad-mouth me in front of my own office—how insolent.”
I didn’t bad-mouth him…
But it wasn’t worth arguing.
I hadn’t insulted him. I’d only stated facts.
I earned a lot but couldn’t spend it—true.
My hair turning like this from stress—slightly exaggerated, but still true.
Even if he heard everything, what could he do? Dock my pay for a few months?
Money I couldn’t even use anyway.
Trying to look calm, I met his gaze.
I wasn’t short for a woman, but I still had to look up at him.
Whether it was his tall, solid frame or the eyes that looked like they could kill someone, he was terrifying.
Still, if he were the kind of man to kill me over mild complaints, he would’ve done so long ago—or thrown me out the moment I submitted my resignation.
“I’m curious about something.”
It was Creed who changed the subject.
“I’ve heard you want to quit, but I don’t think I’ve ever asked—what do you want to do after you leave?”
That was true. I’d talked endlessly about why I wanted to quit, but never about what came after.
And honestly, I didn’t have any grand ambitions.
I wanted to rest after ten years without a break.
If possible, travel to the southern continent.
Do nothing. Relax.
But if I said that outright, Lombre would definitely respond with something like, ‘If you have time to idle, you should serve the Empire.’
So I lied smoothly.
“Just… live my own life.”
“Your own life?”
Lombre murmured quietly, as if the phrase itself were unfamiliar.
Yes. My life.
I nodded firmly.
“Self-development. Finding hobbies. Dating. And if I meet someone nice, maybe even marriage.”
“……”
“I’ve already passed the marriageable age in the Empire.”
Among noble families, engagements usually happened in the late teens.
Even without one, those working in the palace typically married by their early twenties.
In the Hermann Empire, the usual marriageable age was nineteen to twenty-one.
I was twenty-five.
The reason I’d never received a serious proposal was because I worked under Lombre.
To the nobles who didn’t know the original story, Lombre was a “rotten lifeline.”
I didn’t particularly want to marry—but marriage was a common, socially acceptable reason for resigning.
“O-oh… I see…”
Creed reacted oddly and glanced at Lombre.
Tilting my head slightly to observe him, I could clearly tell—Lombre looked irritated.
Others might not notice, but Creed, his childhood friend, and I, his aide of ten years, both knew when he was displeased.
Was he upset because I said I’d marry before him?
He’d soon meet the female lead anyway. When that happened, he’d marry before I ever could.
As I struggled to understand why he was annoyed, Lombre finally spoke.
“There will never come a day when I approve the resignation of Amber Cedarwood.”
“…Excuse me?”
Never? Was that really necessary?!
The declaration hit me like a nuclear bomb, and I jumped up.
“Y-Your Highness, th-th-th-that—what do you mean?!”
I was so shocked I started stuttering.
How could someone be this cruel?
Never approve my resignation?
Just as I felt like collapsing, Lombre continued calmly.
“You will serve until retirement, and then continue working as a royal advisor for the rest of your life.”
Boom.
A drumbeat thundered over my head.
Not remotely funny—yet behind my fading consciousness, I faintly heard Creed laughing.
Ah. Dizziness.
Just as my body swayed and Creed reached out to support me—
“Prince Lombre.”
Everyone in the room turned toward the voice.
A palace attendant from the Lion Palace stood there, visibly nervous.
“His Majesty summons you.”
More work.
I swear another gray hair was about to sprout.
* * *
“A request for inspection has come from the Prefect of Frik.”
The Emperor’s low voice echoed ominously through the audience hall.
“They report severe nightly appearances of Monters.”
His red eyes lowered as he tapped the document.
He had only three children, including Lombre.
The hall was filled mostly with the princes’ attendants.
“Is there anyone willing to go?”
At his words, everyone began a silent battle of glances.
“Wouldn’t it be best for elder brother to go, since he has the most experience with expeditions?”
The second prince, Rinoel, spoke up.
The youngest prince glanced sideways and nodded eagerly.
They called it volunteering—but it was a draft.
And as always, the target was Lombre.
“Prince Lombre only returned from an expedition a month ago. Sending him again would be an unreasonable schedule.”
I stepped forward in his stead.
Even if the Emperor wished his son dead, this was too much.
And Rinoel’s transparent intent irritated me.
“Wouldn’t this be a good opportunity for Prince Rinoel to go instead? A local inspection would greatly broaden Your Highness’s perspective.”
I smiled brightly, pretending innocence.
Rinoel chuckled, clearly amused.
“How dare you interfere, Amber Cedarwood?”
“I was merely stating my opinion.”
I shot him a cold glare as he continued to enjoy the spectacle.
