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I forced myself to suppress the smile that was slowly creeping up at the corner of my mouth.

“Why, doesn’t the work suit you?”

Dominic, looking thoroughly frightened, answered the moment I asked.

“W-well, we are, um, far from capable of carrying out His Highness the Crown Prince’s orders. The Chancellery tasks are also very backlogged.”

Since when did they start worrying about work? Ridiculous, honestly.

“Don’t worry. Other people have already handled it. Maybe because they attended the training thoroughly, they hardly have to work overtime and manage it fine.”

“T-then…”

Eldo’s face grew progressively pale. I landed a decisive blow on top of that.

“I’m saying there’s absolutely no problem cooperating with the Ministry of Justice. Besides, there are tasks they’ve been handling so suddenly changing personnel would probably not please the Supreme Justice. So it might be difficult.”

Whatever had been happening, their shining faces were gone, leaving only two disheveled, tired K-office workers. But I had no intention of accepting that. You take an opportunity when you have it.

“It seems the Crown Prince has been continuously requesting work from the Ministry of Justice anyway. We’ve decided to keep cooperating for the time being, so don’t worry about the Chancellery and feel free to go work over there.”

“Yes?”

“Gasp…”

I shrugged once.

“You were having trouble with the Chancellery work anyway. You weren’t thrilled about being trained by me. I was already bothered editing the reports Dominic wrote, so this will make things much easier. Wouldn’t Eldo, who isn’t from the Academy, feel more comfortable working with the Supreme Justice than with me? If you want, I’ll put in a recommendation—think about it.”

I preemptively closed the escape route.

In short, I was euphemistically saying, “The Chancellery no longer needs you two.” I could have stated it bluntly, but a tone of “it’s truly unfortunate but impossible” is better for inducing stress.

“What a relief,” I thought.

Watching how they’d been handling work, how frustrating it had been.

I pretended to be fine, unaffected, calm, but as subordinates I couldn’t ignore them. I had to keep monitoring and worrying about them. It was considerable stress.

Knock knock.

“Yes.”

Lukan came in.

“The Supreme Justice asked why the two secretaries aren’t here today. How should I answer?”

When Vespera’s name came up, Dominic and Eldo’s faces quickly darkened.

“Ah, it’s all over now. We’ll be going soon…”

“I’m quitting!”

Dominic bolted up from his seat. Lukan’s, Eldo’s, and my eyes widened.

“What do you mean by that, Secretary Dominic?”

Once he started speaking it seemed the dam had broken and words poured out of him.

“I can’t do this anymore! Is it acceptable to burn people out on absurd tasks for days on end like this?! No breaks, not letting us go home! And the work isn’t even progressing! I’m resigning effective today!”

Bang!

Dominic stormed out of the office.

He didn’t forget to neatly grab his bag as he left. The suddenness left the three of us in the Chancellor’s room and the other employees dumbfounded.

“I expected it, but seeing it in person is impactful.”

Satisfied that Vespera had handled things properly, I turned to the remaining one. Lukan nodded at my gesture and left quietly.

“So, do you feel the same?”

I clasped my hands and rested my chin on them as I asked. Surprisingly, Eldo hemmed and hawed and said he wanted to think about it for a few days. Since I wasn’t too attached, I ended the interview asking him to let me know once he’d decided.

Three days later.

“I want to remain in the Chancellery.”

Eldo’s decision was quite unexpected.

“Even if it’s hard, you seem to like working with the Supreme Justice.”

“That’s not it.”

I felt anew that his attitude had changed. I pressed him with silence.

His dry, stick-like frame stood straight as if it might collapse at any moment. His sharp, sly eyes seemed, unbelievably, almost keen. Was I going mad?

“I’ll cooperate with the Ministry of Justice’s tasks until the Chancellor is satisfied.”

I had thought Dominic was the difficult one, but perhaps it was this guy. His sudden change in attitude made him hard to dismiss.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“…”

Having taken care of Dominic, I felt like sending Eldo out in one fell swoop too. So I decided to be honest. I didn’t want us wasting energy on each other.

“Eldo. I know you have backing. I also know he’s not favorable toward me.”

“…!”

“And yet you want to stay here? The cooperation work is the least of it.”

Why wouldn’t I know? There are plenty of better ways to get rid of the two of them.

I could clear out their desks, demote them, assign them meaningless tasks then discipline them, and so on. But they’re people of the Crown Prince. For someone whose livelihood depends on the job it’s terrifying to imagine, but for those who came to obstruct me, such measures have limited effect.

Eldo licked his lips a few times. I waited to hear what he’d say.

“While cooperating on this task, I got a glimpse of one facet of the person I serve.”

He was referring to the Crown Prince’s absurd illegal acts.

“The work itself wasn’t hard. I often pulled all-nighters studying at the Academy. It’s just that he crossed far beyond what I could bear.”

“Crossed the line?”

“I’m from a small baronial family. To raise the family’s standing you have to accept and line up for certain things. But seeing the Crown Prince’s numerous illegal acts, frankly I don’t have the confidence. Especially regarding sexual harassment of women, that’s hard to overlook. Daughters of lower nobility like us often go through this. They’re oppressed by the other’s rank and dare not request a trial. It would harm the family. They live carrying nothing but shame.”

I guessed Eldo had a similar personal story. But I didn’t ask further.

“Is that a reason to stay in the Chancellery?”

He shook his head.

“At first I denied it, but now I recognize the Chancellor’s abilities. The forms you created, the work systems, the role responsibilities were all things I learned for the first time, but thanks to that the work has become interesting. I’m telling you purely because I want to stay.”

“Work is interesting? Are you really insane?” I thought.

Honestly, I don’t find the work itself enjoyable. Sometimes it’s rewarding when results are good. Regardless of his desires, risks clearly existed.

“You, a lackey of the Crown Prince… why on earth should I keep you?”

It was a direct pitch with no detour. His thin arm’s fist clenched.

“If both of you leave, new people of the Crown Prince will come in anyway. If at least I stay, you’ll be reassured. I’ll only pass on non-critical information.”

“So you’ll play double agent?”

His head dropped heavily, then he regained his posture.

“If it fails and I get out, I might be killed anyway. His hands are cruel.”

He exhaled a long, hollow sigh.

The Crown Prince’s movements… always reacting to orders from above would make progress difficult. Even Vespera would find it hard to obtain this level of insider information. Above all, I hated the idea of a new guy coming in. The Crown Prince had somehow kept Dorian even after Marcus fell from power.

“Fine. I’ll accept your proposal.”

“Thank you.”

“In return, work in the Ministry of Justice for one more week. You’ve earned my disdain up to now.”

He said a month would be fine, but knowing that overtime held no meaning for him, it no longer mattered.

“Somehow it feels like one more lunatic has rolled in.”

“It’s been a while since I’ve been here too.”

I looked up at the Magic Tower before me. It’s always such a fascinating building.

As the wizard I’d met before said, an invitation to the Magic Tower Master succession ceremony arrived. This event held at the Magic Tower could only be attended by magicians belonging to the Magic Tower and those in possession of an invitation. High nobles or royals couldn’t just go.

“I don’t see why you had to come.”

Vespera stood beside me in a quiet voice. She looked thoroughly displeased.

“I could’ve come alone.”

“Absolutely not.”

She seemed unnaturally hostile. Did she have bad memories with magicians? Fortunately, one companion was allowed. The succession hall, guided by the welcoming magicians, offered a wondrous spectacle of ornate lights and floating strange decorations crafted by magic that made one feel like they’d stepped into another world.

Vespera and I greeted the magicians we’d met on our last visit and waited for the ceremony to begin.

“The Magic Tower Master succession ceremony will now begin; please remain quiet.”

The order of events was simple. The Magic Tower Master would place the emblem—only a Magic Tower Master could bestow—on the successor, and that was it. A group that preferred solo performances.

A moment later, the elderly Magic Tower Master appeared on the white stone dais. Some magic seemed to illuminate only around him, making it radiant. Then Aidan, who would succeed him, walked in slowly.

“Huh? Something seems… different.”

The delicate contours that had seemed frail looked a bit bolder now. From a distance I couldn’t see clearly. The Magic Tower Master laid his hand on Aidan’s head and murmured something, and a mysterious violet light burst out intensely. After a moment, the light subsided and the Magic Tower Master draped the white robe embroidered with the Magic Tower emblem that he had been wearing over him.

“By this, Aidan Aurelius has succeeded the Magic Tower.”

When the declaration ended, the magicians shot firework-like lights from their fingers. It was a spectacle like fireworks. I felt excited too. Watching Aidan exchange congratulatory greetings with other magicians, I turned and our eyes met.

“Oh?”

I hadn’t miss-seen it. He’d grown taller. His lush violet hair and fine features remained but were more defined. The childlike youthful aspect had disappeared, giving off a more masculine vibe. He’s still pretty, but I wouldn’t mistake him for a woman now. Aidan waved at me.

“Coco!”

Like déjà vu, Aidan ran toward me. Since we’d grown close, I was about to give him a light congratulatory hug, but Vespera beside me cut it off like a blade.

But Aidan lightly dodged using teleportation.

“…!”

And he appeared right in front of me and managed to hug me.

A voice of displeasure sliced through the air.

“Take your hands off.”

Aidan responded, half-closing his eyes as if teasing.

“I don’t want to — what can I do about that?”

Is it just my imagination, or did sparks seem to fly between them?