Chapter 10
Morning, during preventive observation. I placed a small box on my desk. The lid had a tiny golden-stitched star. Inside were—
“Overdoing” Pin (for both bangs and heart)
Honey lemon water (mild)
Small baked cookie (immediate sugar supply)
Spare embroidered handkerchief (star motif)
Memo sheet: “Three-Line Consultation Card”
“That’s an adorable name,”
said Lord Roland with a laugh from the doorway.
Three official duties from morning onward — he was already in his “official” mode, the dignified version of himself.
Except… his bangs had fallen about 1.5° lower than usual.
(Observation note: angle = overwork index)
“Lord Roland, your angle shows ‘excess effort.’ Shall I use the pin?”
“Thank you… just a little.”
As I fastened the pin, he quietly closed his eyes.
The morning light touched his eyelashes — and the room gained one more patch of sunshine.
“Today’s preventive observation theme: ‘If you start to overdo things, write it on the Three-Line Consultation Card.’”
“Three lines…?”
“What you want to do, your deadline, and what you’d like me to help with — three lines.”
“So ‘what I’d like you to help with’ is part of it, huh?”
“I recommend ‘the cuteness of asking for help.’”
“…Alright. I’ll try it.”
He slipped the card into his breast pocket and left behind that forbidden little smile of his.
I didn’t miss that it looked just a little more hurried than usual.
＊
Late morning, in the royal palace corridor.
I was on my way to deliver supplementary papers on the herb tax rate when I turned a corner — and saw a familiar back come to a sudden stop.
“…Ah.”
Lord Roland’s documents scattered in the breeze.
How unusual — he always keeps them perfectly aligned.
We both crouched to gather them. I noticed the ink on one sheet’s edge.
“This is… a grant proposal for domestic herb cultivation research?”
“I was thinking if your lab could secure a stable supply of specimens. Relying only on imports has its limits, so… I wanted to start domestic test cultivation. It was supposed to be a surprise.”
“That’s… wonderful. Really. But you did this all by yourself?”
“I… like surprises.”
(Observation note: maiden-heart reaction — maximum output / adorable)
“Surprises are cute. Provided you don’t collapse.”
“I haven’t… collapsed. Probably.”
His gaze wavered slightly; his ears were brightly red.
…This called for sugar.
“Replenishment time. Cookie and honey lemon water.”
“Iris, you’re too well-prepared.”
“That’s what preventive observation is for.”
He took a bite and let out a relieved sigh.
When his bangs drooped another 0.5°, I re-secured the pin.
“Thank you. —This afternoon I’ll be heading out for inspection. The candidate site for the test cultivation area. I’ll be back by evening.”
“I’ll accompany you. I’ll summarize the key points of the documents in three lines.”
“Three lines… ah.”
He seemed to recall the card in his breast pocket.
Looking slightly embarrassed, he nodded.
