Episode 12
Merlin blinked rapidly and twitched the corner of his mouth.
“R-right! I suddenly remembered something I forgot to do! I’ll be going now. Please enjoy your time!”
He stood up awkwardly and ran off in the opposite direction.
I stared at Mr. Smith.
He calmly took another sip of espresso and smiled.
“What is it? Should I order another coffee?”
…Mr. Smith… he’s not some villain hiding in the shadows, right?
The way he handled Sir Merlin was kind of suspicious.
“No, I’m okay. Let’s just finish and get back to work.”
After hearing my reply, he smiled warmly—like a flower blooming in spring.
“No need to rush. Time with you, Foy, is precious.”
“Uh… r-right.”
My cheeks flushed red. I thought to myself:
“Mr. Smith seems more protective than usual.”
“Why is he acting like this all of a sudden?”
My heart tried to leap toward him, but I slapped the idea away in my mind.
“Nope. Don’t get your hopes up.”
“He probably just feels bad for what I went through. That’s all.”
“So don’t go crossing any lines.”
He had been watching me quietly before he suddenly spoke.
“That trap plan—very clever. Did you come up with it?”
“Huh? Oh—yes, I did!”
“You’re sneakily sharp, you know. Smart, too.”
He winked with satisfaction.
“To be honest, when I first heard about the fake ledger, I panicked. I thought, ‘Did Foy really betray us?’ I was so stressed.”
I replied cheerfully on purpose.
“Don’t worry. Even if someone points a sword at me, I won’t sell out or betray anyone.”
Mr. Smith looked at me gently.
“No, you don’t have to stay here if it ever comes to that. If someone threatens you… just run away. Don’t get hurt trying to stay.”
He spoke as if he wouldn’t mind being left behind.
Like it was okay to let go.
“H-hey! That’s mean! I wouldn’t leave you behind, Mr. Smith!”
“Thanks. Even if you’re just saying that.”
He smiled calmly.
“But still… I’m scared of losing someone important again. So your safety comes first. That’s what’s best for me too.”
Again?
He didn’t say more.
“Losing someone important…”
…Well, I guess I do see Mr. Smith every day in this battlefield-like workplace.
It makes sense if he sees me as someone important now.
The cheerful glow in his face faded as he sipped his coffee again. He looked like a character from a sad painting.
There was a kind of pain behind his calm.
A deep sorrow he wasn’t ready to share.
“I wonder what happened to him…”
I wanted to know what left such a scar on his heart.
But Mr. Smith—our handsome and mysterious aide—never told me.
And honestly, everyone has secrets.
And I wasn’t the kind of person to pry.
As time passed, I slowly forgot about the pain Mr. Smith had shown me.
Especially because…
…our chaotic office was waiting for us.
Ugh. Somebody help me.
Because the number of people quitting rose from 3 to 4, Frisbee had to work even harder.
“Haah… I’m going to need a special midnight snack tonight just to survive…”
He slumped in his chair with dark circles under his eyes.
When he saw me, his face brightened.
“Oh! Foy senior!”
Ever since the whole incident, Frisbee had been acting a little differently.
Maybe he felt guilty for doubting me because of Vernon.
So lately, whenever he saw me, he acted extra kind.
“I brought some coffee in case you’re tired! The café across from the palace lets you bring your own cup for a refill!”
He brought drinks.
“Senior! I’ll take care of this! You should head home early!”
He protected my chance to go home.
“Here! Eat this! You need sugar while working!”
He kept fussing around me like a loyal puppy, wagging his tail.
“I’ll handle it. Go do your work.”
“But still…”
Whenever I pushed him away, he just got clingier. I think that was his way of saying sorry.
“I just feel so bad! You must’ve been so shocked. And I feel stupid for believing Vernon was my friend. I really want to make it up to you.”
He winked playfully.
“So use me however you want for a while!”
“You’re such a character.”
“I’ll stay close to you and help with everything!”
But then, a tall shadow loomed over Frisbee.
“Frisbee.”
Mr. Smith had appeared out of nowhere—just when we needed him.
“What happened to the task I gave you? Why are you hanging around here?”
“Ah—yes sir! Right away!”
Frisbee scrambled back to his desk.
Mr. Smith still seemed annoyed with him.
“Anyway, Foy,”
After shooing Frisbee away, Mr. Smith turned back to me with a gentle offer.
“Want to get some spicy stew for lunch?”
“Didn’t that place’s stew make your eyes water last time?”
“Not at all. I guess I’ve been stressed too, and now I’m craving something spicy.”
“Fine by me.”
“Then let’s go right now.”
We smiled at each other as we left the office.
Maybe Mr. Smith stared at Frisbee a little on the way out,
but I didn’t pay much attention.
He probably just wanted to check if he was doing his work.
Anyway, after everything that happened,
this peaceful lunch felt especially sweet.
“You’ve disappointed me.”
A man was kneeling on the floor, tears falling down his face.
A heavy boot pressed down hard on his thigh.
He didn’t even dare to scream. He just trembled, holding back the pain.
The man wearing the boot—a cold-eyed old nobleman—sipped wine calmly as he stood over him.
“Tsk. I placed two people on the inside, and you still messed it up. If you’re going to plant spies, you have to use them right. Letting them get exposed like this—how pathetic.”
His hair, once black, was now streaked with gray.
But one glance into his snake-like eyes, and no one would mistake him for a kind old man.
“When we eliminate someone, that’s fine. But letting the enemy eliminate our people? Unacceptable.”
He stepped off the man and went on lazily.
“Do you know how hard I worked to get that proud young brat, Vernon, into the emperor’s office? He even made ‘friends’ in there. And you ruined everything.”
“I… It was my fault…”
“Of course it was.”
The old man poured wine over his servant’s head.
He watched the red liquid drip down and then shook his head.
“…No. I can’t waste time sulking.”
He leaned back into the sofa with a crooked smile.
“I heard there’s another public event coming up. One where the emperor might show himself.”
His eyes landed on a newspaper article about a newly completed government building.
“Hey.”
The servant, technically a noble by blood, was now grovelling silently.
“I’ll give you one more chance. Find me a lowly, worthless commoner who sleeps in the streets.”
The servant flinched and looked up, wine stinging his red eyes.
“W-what kind of commoner do you want?”
“The usual. One who won’t cause problems.”
“C-can I ask what for—”
“Since when does someone of my status need to explain why I want a beggar?”
“S-sorry! That was out of line! Please spare me!”
“Tsk.”
Still staring at the article, the old nobleman gave his final order.
“We’re moving on to the next plan. Pick someone filthy enough to be useful.”
“Y-yes! Right away!”
The servant stumbled out of the room.
Left alone in the dim light, the old nobleman rubbed his forehead and sighed.
On his chest, a brooch glimmered.
It was the symbol of a noble family.
Specifically—the snake crest of the Greenmeldy royal bloodline.
To be continued…
