<CHAPTER 03>

formatting rules: dialogues in , thoughts in , one sentence per line with two line breaks between sentences, and using your master character list for names. New characters at the end are noted.

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I was completely terrified and hiccupping, firing off excuses like a machine gun.

“I-I’m not joking, I really truly respect His Majesty the Emperor. I have absolutely no ill will, I really respect him, love him, and think he’s the best. Truly the greatest emperor in history, and I sincerely think he is an outstanding person, so… if you could just overlook this… would that be impossible?”

“Respect, huh.”

Lucas laughed as if he couldn’t believe it.

“No need to flatter. I won’t tell that fearsome emperor of yours anyway.”

“Really?”

It was a joke from before, after all. I cautiously observed his expression.

Would he really not tell? I rubbed my tingling, embarrassed cheeks.

“…B-but I truly do respect him.”

It was true.

As an administrator, my respect for the emperor, a rare wise ruler, was genuine.

“Right. I said I won’t tell.”

“I’m serious. Reading the social section of weekly journals is one of my hobbies.”

Judging by his expression, he didn’t believe me.

To prove my innocence, I recalled a newspaper article I had read yesterday.

“Among His Majesty’s policies, I particularly think the La Roen Duchy sanctions were the most groundbreaking.”

At that, Lucas’s eyes widened slightly.

His sharp gaze softened a little before returning to its usual indifferent look.

“Ah, so your claim of respect wasn’t entirely a lie?”

“I’ve been telling you from the start. It’s not a lie.”

Lucas lifted one corner of his mouth in an intrigued smile.

“Then Miss Pawell, what do you think about that sanction?”

“Uh, um… well… I think it was necessary. La Roen’s businesses had grown excessively.”

The La Roen Duchy was a representative extraterritorial area of the Empire.

About 150 years ago, it was granted to a prince. Since the prince was devoted to magic, he turned La Roen into a city specialized in magical research.

‘The problem was that wizards started selling somewhat illegal magic externally to cover research costs…’

Unauthorized magic that leaked became a headache for the Empire.

After thinking carefully, I continued my answer.

“I particularly like that they introduced a classification system in magical studies. Previously, magic circulated indiscriminately without any authorization system.”

The current emperor had grouped unauthorized magic as ‘dark magic’ and prohibited its unlicensed sale.

“Also, magic that was previously classified as intangible or intellectual property, and thus untaxed, could now be taxed. Overall, it was a groundbreaking policy that brought the previously extraterritorial La Roen Duchy under legal jurisdiction….”

Seems like it was the right answer.

Lucas looked at me with a surprised expression, then smiled mischievously as if plotting something.

“Miss Pawell.”

“Yes?”

“You said your next posting was to Dupee Palace? How about coming to a department directly under the Emperor instead?”

“What?”

“I didn’t know you were so interested in the Emperor.”

His tone carried a playful mischief.

Such a terrifying proposal had never come before.

A department directly under the Emperor?

“Well, if I had said so, they would have assigned you directly from the start.”

I would rather be punished by the direct department than face it indirectly.

“Is it too late? First, go to the palace and speak with the person in charge…”

“No, no, wait a moment.”

“Hm?”

Lucas handed me a business card, looking puzzled. What could this be about? I had no intention of going to such a fearsome department!

“Sorry, but I’m known to be timid, so a prestigious department is a bit…”

“Ah, certainly looks like your courage is lacking, huh.”

“Yes. That’s why the palace administrative officer is a perfect fit. Moderately complex work, not too large in scale.”

“But you know you can build courage too, right?”

I didn’t want to know how.

He was completely unpredictable.

‘Is he higher in status than I thought?’

Otherwise, he wouldn’t act so recklessly. The privilege of acting confidently is a trait of someone with power.

I quickly moved my feet to escape this uncomfortable street casting.

‘Let’s get him there and return to the reception hall quickly.’

It would take a while, but maybe some of the banquet food would still be there.

As we approached the end of the Maze Garden, I quickened my pace.

“Mr. Lucas, we’ve reached the Maze Garden entrance. You’re going to the reception hall, right?”

“Ah. For the reception.”

“What should we do? The reception seems to have ended… it hadn’t started when I came out.”

“No, it shouldn’t have ended yet.”

Despite being a latecomer, he nodded confidently. I was too anxious to argue.

“Alright, let’s go. Even if the event is over, some food should remain. You must be hungry?”

I decided to guide Lucas to the reception hall.

Putting aside the teasing from before, I couldn’t trust someone who had been working seven years in the palace yet got lost in the Maze Garden.

‘I can’t leave a lost person behind—it’s inhumane!’

After a few minutes walking through the external garden connected to the Maze Garden, faint orchestra music could be heard and the banquet hall appeared.

I smiled broadly and checked the layout once more.

“The direct department is on the second floor of the banquet hall, so go up the stairs.”

“Okay.”

“As soon as you enter, take the right staircase. Don’t get lost again.”

“Thanks for the kind guidance.”

I waved and smiled.

“I’ll be leaving now. I was out here for a bit, so my colleagues must be waiting.”

The sun had already set as we left the Maze Garden.

As dusk fell, the magical lights in the garden lit one by one.

Lucas, backlit by the lights, suddenly called me.

“Miss Pawell.”

“Yes?”

“Keep your eyes wide open at the reception and watch the Emperor.”

I tilted my head.

Reception? I thought it had already ended.

“It hasn’t ended yet.”

He seemed incredibly certain.

Even if it had ended, it should have finished twice over by now.

“Even if it hasn’t, my seat is at the very end… you won’t see much. Junior administrators sit at the last row.”

“Aren’t you curious about the Emperor’s face? It’s natural to wonder what kind of person he is.”

His tone was quite cheeky. Lucas added more to it.

“As you said, Miss Pawell, he carries rumors around like a goldfish carries…”

“Goldfish poop? That’s disrespectful to His Majesty!”

I was startled, answering hastily.

It seems even an emperor who carries employees with long grudges around is petty.

“Curious, right? You’ve never seen him before. But distance might make it physically impossible to see him.”

“Then open your eyes wide and see for yourself. I’m going in.”

Lucas stomped into the banquet hall with a spoiled, demanding air.

‘What on earth…?’

I entered after watching Lucas’s retreating figure.

As he said, the reception truly hadn’t started yet.

It was an hour past the scheduled time—bizarre.

‘Did he already know because it’s the direct department?’

The reception started long after I had entered.

The Emperor was farther than I expected.

Seated on the throne atop the fourth-floor stairs, he looked like a tiny black dot.

I barely saw him, but Lucas had grilled him enough about the direct department for me to know the details.

So, I had no idea the Emperor had made a gesture toward me from the price